The Jets youth team were defeated 2-1 by South Cardiff FC in their Round 2 NBN State League clash at Ulinga Oval on Saturday.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets youth team were defeated 2-1 by South Cardiff FC in their Round 2 NBN State League clash at Ulinga Oval on Saturday.
The Jets fell behind in the 25th minute following a neat finish from South Cardiff-s Dino Fajkovic, before Nick Russell doubled the home side-s advantage with their second goal on the stroke of halftime.
Newcastle responded well after the interval and managed to get a goal back through a free-kick from Nick Cowburn in the 57th minute.
The Jets pushed hard in search of an equaliser but were unable to find a way past South Cardiff goalkeeper Josh Cox.
Jets youth team assistant coach James Pascoe said he was pleased with the way the Jets bounced back after falling behind in the first half.
“They got jumped a little bit in the first half and they found the pace and intensity of the first grade side from South Cardiff a bit much for them,” he said.
“They certainly adjusted very well after halftime and created enough good chances to actually win the game, but they just weren-t able to take them.
“It was definitely a good learning experience for those younger ones as part of their development.”
Pascoe said the character shown by the Jets players not to let the match get away from them after going 2-0 down was a positive for the side.
“As a young player at 2-0 down sometimes it can seem like a huge mountain to climb,” he said.
“But the key to us was to control the pace of the game. In the first half we found ourselves reacting to what they were doing a bit much, rather than being dominant ourselves.
“We made some adjustments at halftime and they came out and did a much better job in the second half.
The Jets have been without a number of first XI regulars in their opening two matches of the NBN State League season, allowing a number of younger players the opportunity to get experience playing against adults on a weekly basis.
“At the moment we-ve about around eight first-choice players out for various reasons,” Pascoe said.
“They-re either resting because they-ve just finished the season training with Gary (van Egmond-s) squad or they-re injured.
“In some ways it-s a good thing because it gives other boys who would have had to be very patient and wait for their chance the opportunity to come in and experience it all.”
Newcastle Jets Youth 1 (Cowburn 57-)
South Cardiff FC 2 (Fajkovic 25-, Russell 45-)
Emerging Jets results April 13 and April 14:
NBN State League 23s
U18 Emerging Jets 3 defeated South Cardiff FC 0.
NBN State League 19s
U16 Emerging Jets 3 defeated by South Cardiff FC 5.
NBN State League 17s
U15 Emerging Jets 4 defeated South Cardiff FC 2.
Women-s Premier League First Grade
U18 Emerging Jets Girls 3 defeated Valentine FC 0.
Women-s Premier League 18s
U15 Emerging Jets Girls 8 defeated Valentine FC 2.
Metropolitan State Youth League 13s
U12 Emerging Jets Boys 5 defeated Hunter Valley Football 0.
Metropolitan State Youth League 12s
U13 Emerging Jets Girls 1 defeated Hunter Valley Football Sky 0.
U11 Emerging Jets Boys 4 defeated Hunter Valley Football Maroon 0.
Metropolitan State Youth League 11s
U10 Emerging Jets Blue vs Hunter Valley Football Sky (no result available).
U10 Emerging Jets Red vs Hunter Valley Football Maroon (no result available).
Meanwhile, three Northern NSW Emerging Jets sides travelled to Valentine Sports Park, Parklea, to contest matches against Football NSW Institute sides on Wednesday. CLICK HERE to find out how they went.
