An Andrew Nabbout hat trick combined with a fine first half strike from Roy O’Donovan and a delicate Dimitri Petratos chip helped Newcastle Jets to secure a 5-1 friendly win over Broadmeadow Magic on Wednesday night.
Ernie Merrick’s men were playing the second match of their 2017 pre-season campaign on Wednesday, having last week defeated one of Magic’s PS4 National Premier Leagues (NNSW) rivals Weston FC 2-0 in the Coalfields.
Like last week against Weston Irishman O’Donovan opened the scoring. After evading his marker inside the box O’Donovan rifled a fierce right foot strike beyond Magic custodian Nick Giantsopolous.
Nabbout had the chance to double Newcastle’s advantage in the 26th minute, however his header flew over the bar. The former Negeri Sembilan attacker did manage to extend the Jets’ lead ten minutes later when he curled a clinical strike into the back of the net.
Shortly after half time Magic reduced the deficit when Scott Pettit finished well from an acute angle after defensive error by Newcastle.
But the setback proved to be momentary for the attack-minded Jets side, who went close to making the score 3-1 on four occasions before Nabbout finally secured his brace. Nabbout tapped home from close range after scholarship player Joe Champness had fired a shot into the woodwork in the 66th minute.
Ten minutes before full time Nabbout secured his hat trick. After rounding substitute Broadmeadow shot-stopper Brad Mackenzie, the former Melbourne Victory player slid the ball into an empty goal.
Petratos – who was lively throughout – finalised the scoring in the 85th minute when he sent a sweet chip over Mackenzie to make the score 5-1.
Jets boss Merrick said his side had shown improvement from their first friendly effort against Weston eight days earlier.
“The things that I wanted to see an improvement in I definitely saw an improvement,” Merrick said after the match.
“We scored five goals so you can’t really complain about that.”
“I think the back four can’t do their job unless you’ve got two solid midfielders who do that screening job, and I thought Wayne (Brown) and Ben (Kantarovski) were first class really.”
“Wayne and Ben really controlled the middle, they broke up attacks, they played out simply and kept possession well,” he said.
The Jets’ next trial match will be a behind-closed-doors clash with Central Coast Mariners on the Coast on Wednesday 26 July 2017.
Broadmeadow Magic 1 (Pettit 47’)
Newcastle Jets 5 (O’Donovan 13’, Nabbout 36’ 66’, 80’, Petratos 85’)
Venue: Magic Park, Broadmeadow
Attendance: 1,000 (approximately)
Newcastle Jets: 1. Jack DUNCAN (Gk) (20. Glen MOSS (Gk)), 3. Jason HOFFMAN (29. Jake ADELSON (T)), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI (18. Johnny KOUTROUMBIS), 7. Dimitri PETRATOS, 9. Roy O’DONOVAN (12. Mario SHABOW), 10. Wayne BROWN, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (13. Ivan VUJICA), 19. Kosta PETRATOS (24. Joe CHAMPNESS), 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (C), 22. Patrick LANGLOIS (Youth)
Substitutes not used: Nil
