The Infrabuild 1st grade side returned to winning ways, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hills United
The Youth boys were put under heavy pressure early on in the first half, with Hills United putting in several dangerous corners. The second corner of the game was punched clear by Jordan Baylis, with the follow-up effort being cleared off the line by Kyle McSeveney. Xavier Bertoncello and Alex Nunes combined well soon after to almost open the scoring. Xaviers low cross fell to the feet of Nunes, but he couldn’t get a touch as it agonisingly ran past him.
Janni Rafty came close to opening the scoring. Will Dobson, Alex Nunes and Kierry James all combined well down the left side of the pitch, with James floating a cross to the back post, which was met by Rafty. Rafty directed his header towards the goal, only for the keeper to save it. Angus Muddle had a chance just moments later, as he fired a shot from distance, with his effort sliding narrowly past the post for a Hills United goal kick.
Rafty had another chance to open the scoring, as he struck his effort from outside the box well, but it was straight at the keeper who was able to keep hold of it. Recent A-league debutant Garang Arou had a chance to open the scoring, as Kierry James found him open at the back stick. Garang took his effort on the volley, and could only manage to fire it back over the crossbar. Hills United went straight down the other end, and almost grabbed a goal themselves. They chipped the ball over Baylis, with the ball crashing into the crossbar and down onto the line, where Baylis was able to grab hold of it. There were shouts from the Hills faithful that it crossed the line, but the referee disagreed.
Hills United were finally able to make their pressure pay off with four minutes left in the half, as they scored a header from another delivery. The Youth boys went into the sheds down 1-0 . During the break, Murray Peart was brought on for Kierry James.
Following the break, the Youth boys came out firing, with Garang finding Will Dobson inside the box. Dobson took the ball past his defender before shooting low and hard, but only finding the side-netting. At the 60th minute, Nunes and Rafty were taken off for Oli Cockle and Ethan Debono.
The two subs would have an instant impact, as they both combined to equalise the score at 1-1. A quick one-two between Garang Arou and Ethan Debono led to Ethan driving into the box, before cutting a ball back across the face of goal to an unmarked Oli Cockle. Oli made no mistake, calmly tapping the ball into the open net.
Minutes later, Ethan Debono stepped up again, as he took the ball past his man before lashing his shot into the roof of the net, straight over the head of the Hills United keeper. From 1-0 down to 2-1 up, the Youth boys had taken the lead and they now had to defend it. Billy Eick was brought on for Angus Muddle with ten minutes left.
Hills United pushed hard for an equaliser, having two close penalty shouts which were both waved away by the referee. Cory Everett came on for Xavier Bertoncello with three minutes remaining. Hills United threw everything they had at the Youth squad, but the Jets defended well, and managed to cling on to a 2-1 win.
Ben Van Dorssen had a strong performance at the back, whilst Ethan Debono secured the Doughheads player of the match, after an electric performance off the bench where he got a goal and assist. Earlier in the day, the U20s had a dominant 6-1 win over Hills United.
