James Virgili and Sam Walker starred as Broadmeadow overcame a spectacular strike from rookie Tim Stewart to beat Newcastle Olympic 3-1 in their Northern NSW NPL catch-up game on Wednesday night.
Walker scored twice and Virgili converted from the penalty spot, after earlier setting up a goal, in the second half at Darling Street Oval in the round three fixture.
Magic looked the better side early, threatening in the third minute with a shot across the face of goal from Virgili. Cody Carroll’s 26th-minute header was knocked onto the woodwork by Olympic keeper Nate Cavaliere.
However, it was Olympic who struck first with an amazing 30-metre strike from Stewart. It was the teenage midfielder’s first NPL goal in just his fourth top-grade game.
Olympic striker Dino Fajkovic went close twice to doubling the lead early in the second half but Walker was next to score in the 54th minute. Virgili found space and delivered a cross which was spilled by Cavaliere, who then blocked a follow-up shot from Carroll only for Walker to knock home the rebound.
Rooke was brought down on the edge of the area in the 64th minute and Virgili slotted in the penalty.
Walker delivered the finishing touch for Broadmeadow in the 76th minute when Olympic failed to clear a rebound from another Carroll free kick. Olympic, who were already without Kyle Hodges, Blake Green and Tom Curran, lost striker Kent Harrison to injury moments earlier. Magic had Alex Kantarovski leave the field with a groin strain in the 13th minute.
The win took Magic to nine points and eased the pain of a 1-0 loss to Edgeworth on Sunday. Coach Anthony Richards was most pleased his side’s sound defence, which was breached only by Stewart’s wonder goal.
“I think that’s only the time our coaching staff have clapped a goal from the opposition, it was amazing,” Richards said.
He said Carroll, Rooke and Jeremy Wilson, who came on for Kantarovski, were among his side’s best.
“That was Jeremy’s first game back from illness and he was terrific,” he said. “Cody has been a bit quiet but he was back to his best tonight and Mitch was good again I thought.”
Also last night, Lambton Jaffas defeated Valentine 4-0 at Edden Oval, Lake Macquarie scored their first win of the year, downing Adamstown 2-1 at Macquarie Field, and the Bears beat a 10-man Maitland 1-0 at Weston Park.
Maitland lost James Thompson to a straight red card for referee abuse in the 37th minute.
Weston scored through Lukas Straker in the 69th minute off a cross from Chris Hurley.
Kale Bradbery scored in the fifth minute and in first-half injury time to set up the Jaffas’ victory over last-placed Valentine.
Kaleb Cox (68th) made it 3-0 and Scott Pettit scored from the spot in the 73rd after a handball from Phoenix.
Chris Berlin was the hero for Lake Macquarie against his former club, scoring in the sixth minute with a header and in the 33rd with a quality long-range strike.
Tallan Martin pulled one back for Adamstown in the 70th minute and Lakes lost Michael Bru to a second yellow card in the 83rd but the Roosters hung on to win.
Round five on the weekend features Jaffas against Magic at Edden Oval and Olympic versus Maitland at Darling Street Oval on Saturday. On Sunday, Lake Macquarie host Edgeworth, Valentine welcome Adamstown and Charlestown travel to Weston.
George Tsamouras Football Journey 