Despite a gallant performance by Newcastle Jets Youth at Darling Street Oval on Sunday afternoon, they were edged out 1-0 by league leaders, Hamilton Olympic.
Image © @rawprawn25
A 22nd minute goal by Thomas Spencer was enough to snatch all three points in a closely contested match.
The Jets started the better of the two sides and created the first meaningful chance of the game in the eighth minute. With the home side committing numbers forward, Kristian Brymora
played an early ball over the top to Cameron Joice who had a clear run at goal, but was denied by Olympic shot-stopper Danny Ireland.
Olympic nearly took the lead eight minutes later when a cross from Andrew Swan was sliced just past the far post by an attempted clearance from Ryan Ensor. However, the league leaders didn’t have to wait long to find the net. With just over 20 minutes gone, the Jets coughed up possession and an early ball was played over the top of the defence to find Spencer who smashed the ball across Pierce Clark from close range.
The Jets caught Olympic napping less than a minute after the restart when a low cross from Tom Waller was blazed over from close range by an unmarked Brymora when it seemed certain he would find the net.
Olympic would have doubled their lead on the hour, if not for a superb save from Clark. Goodchild crossed for Ben Koina at the back post, whose close range header was somehow diverted over the bar by Clark.
Clark’s second half heroics continued as he denied Spencer from close range in the 73rd minute and Koina again in the 76th minute, who saw another close range header acrobatically saved by the Jets custodian.
The Jets almost had a late equaliser when Brymora flicked a Rhyan Smith cross towards goal, but his touch bounced just wide of the far post.
Despite a late push for an equaliser, Jets Youth were kept scoreless for only the second time this season with Olympic maintaining their spot at the top of the league.
Clayton Zane’s side will play Lambton Jaffas at Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday 6 August 2016 in their next match. Jets Youth are currently seventh in the PS4 NPL NNSW standings on 18 points, while Jaffas are eighth with 16 points.
Hamilton Olympic 1 (Spencer 22’)
Newcastle Jets Youth 0
Darling Street Oval, Hamilton
