The Newcastle Jets rounded out their Foxtel National Youth League season with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar at a rain sodden Wanderers Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Newcastle Jets rounded out their Foxtel National Youth League season with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar at a rain sodden Wanderers Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams struggled to adjust to the wet conditions but went into the half-time break locked at 1-1 after Jai Ingham’s stoppage-time strike cancelled out Kale Bradbury’s penalty for the Jets.
The second half was a scrappy affair and it took an opportunistic effort from Jets skipper Connor Chapman to break the deadlock and hand the hosts a largely unconvincing victory.
Sloppy conditions greeted both teams after overnight rainfall and the heavy pitch made it difficult in the early stages.
After a lackluster opening 10 minutes, it was the Jets who created the first chance through Ben Kantarovski but his mishit effort from the edge of the area was easily saved by Matt Acton.
The Roar gradually settled into the match and nearly opened the scoring in the 21st minute after a great switch from Kofi Danning found Ingham but his curling effort was deflected just wide of John Solari’s goal.
Newcastle responded almost immediately after a lightning counter attack found Bradbury on the right flank before the striker cut inside and fired a dipping shot which was saved by Acton.
A shocking back pass from Chapman nearly gifted the visitors the opener in the 25th minute but Roar striker Brandon Borrello couldn’t capitalise after losing his feet before Jets custodian Solari cleared the danger.
But it was the Roar who handed the Jets the opening goal with 12 minutes remaining in the half after Borrello needlessly brought down James Brown in the area and Bradbury slotted home the spot kick.
The goal seemed to spark Newcastle into action and the hosts began to gradually gain the ascendency in the later stages of the first half but were restricted to only half chances.
But it was the Roar who snatched an equaliser right on the stroke of half time after the Jets afforded Ingham too much room on the edge of the area before the attacker’s powerful effort deflected past a helpless Solari.
Brisbane started the second half by far the better side and looked certain to take the lead through Borrello but his goal-bound effort was superbly blocked by Jets defender Taylor Regan.
The match gradually opened up as the second half wore on as both teams looked to break the deadlock but periods of rain made it difficult to fashion clear cut chances.
But with the match petering out towards a draw, Chapman stepped up to give the hosts the lead in the 75th minute.
The central defender made a surging run from fullback and picked up the ball just outside the box before strolling through the Roar’s defence and squeezing a shot past Acton.
The Roar looked to run over the top of a tiring Jets outfit in the closing stages but were unable to earn a share of the spoils despite their dominance.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Bradbury 33, Chapman 75)
Brisbane Roar 1 (Ingham 45)
@ Wanderers Oval
Newcastle Jets: 1. John Solari 2. Nicholas Cowburn 3. Connor Chapman 4. Taylor Regan 5. Matthew Bilic (Benjamin Hay 58’) 6. Ben Kantarovski (Thomas Whiteside 45’) 7. Radovan Pavicevic 8. Michael Kantarovski 9. Kale Bradbury 10. Andrew Pawiak (Michael Finlayson 45’) 17. James Brown
Unused Sub – 20. Shaun Catlin
Brisbane Roar: 20. Matt Acton 2. Jack Hingert 3. Corey Brown 4. Lachlan Jackson 5. Jaiden Walker (Cameron Crestani 58’) 6. Benjamin Litfin 9. Jai Ingham (Shelford Dais 58’) 10. Devante Clut 11. Brandon Borrello 14. Kofi Danning (Shannon Brady 45’) 16. Patrick Theodore
Unused Sub 1. Fraser Chalmers
