Hamilton will celebrate the 100th appearance of captain Kyle Hodges when he returns from injury for the clash with Newcastle Jets Youth on Saturday night at Darling Street Oval.
RD 5 (2.30pm*): Saturday: Valentine v Adamstown*, Hamilton v Jets Youth (6pm), Edgeworth v Maitland (7.30pm). Sunday: Charlestown v Magic*, Lakes v Jaffas*.
The centre-back has missed Olympic’s opening two games, a 3-2 loss to Jaffas and injury-time win over Adamstown, with an ankle injury and will be a welcome addition against the dangerous Jets Youth attack.
** Northern NSW Football said special circumstances led to the move of Maitland’s rescheduled game against the Jets Youth to an artificial surface at Speers Point Park for Wednesday night.
Regular NPL matches are not typically played at the facility but NNSWF premier club development and compliance officer Gary Fisher said the change was needed. Poor drainage at Cooks Square Park and regular rain has contributed to Maitland not yet taking the field as the NPL approaches round five.
“It’s got to the stage where Maitland need to play some football,” Fisher said.
“The facility is available, the game is against the Jets Youth, and it’s technically the Jets’ home game. It’s not something we do every time, but given the circumstances, and with more wet weather this week, we’ve decided to go this way.”
Maitland were to host the Jets on Wednesday but Maitland City Council closed all grounds on Tuesday following more heavy rain.
Maitland football manager Michael Mirisch said the club had been unlucky with the weather and the timing of their games. Mirisch also said the club were writing a letter to council in the hope of gaining help to fix the drainage problems at Cooks Square Park.
source: Newcastle Herald
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