The Newcastle Jets have run out convincing 9 – 0 winners in their friendly fixture against a Mid North Coast Select side in Port Macquarie as part of their annual #JetsTour fuelled by Greater Bank
The fixture saw a near full strength outfit take the pitch in front of a 4000-strong crowd, with the Jets netting 7 goals in the opening half.
The Jets were full of running from the outset and put plenty of pressure on their hosts, with Daniel Georgievski getting the scoring underway with a strike from the top of the area.
Jason Hoffman starred with a first half hat-trick from the right wing and was the beneficiary of some quality service from Steven Ugarkovic and Matthew Ridenton in midfield.
Ugarkovic would also lay on an assist for Nigel Boogaard, who tipped on a cross with a cheeky headed effort.
It would be the first of a rare double for the skipper, as he flew above the pack at the set piece following a well-placed corner from Matthew Ridenton.
Joey Champness was enterprising up front and had a few opportunities go close, before eventually finding the back of the net in the 38th minute.
Despite the score line, Mid North Coast scrambled well around their penalty area and pulled off a couple of sharp saves to keep things interesting and have the crowd on their feet.
After a heavy training session in the morning, Clayton Zane rang in the changes at half time and brought on his younger brigade to give them some valuable game time.
The Jets played a majority of the second half a man down and ultimately finished with two players off the filed, with Joe Champness taken off with a tight hamstring as a precautionary measure.
Port Macquarie local, Angus Thurgate had the crowd fired up after finding the back of the net late in the second half. Ivan Vujica also scored in the closing stages, with the defender putting on a show for the crowd after breaking a goal-scoring drought.
The moments:
10’ | 0 – 0 | CHANCE! Wicked ball in from Vujica, as his curling cross causes havoc in the area, Ugarkovic goes close to finishing the loose ball but Mid North Coast scramble to keep scores level #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
14’ | 0 – 1 | GOAL! Georgievski gets us on the board! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
17’ | 0 – 2 | GOAL! Hoffy threads one into the bottom corner to double our lead! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
19’ | 0 – 3 | A third! This time it’s the skipper! As Boogs tips on a header after Ugarkovic dips a ball into the area #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
21’ | 0 – 3 | CHANCE! Mid North Coast again scramble well to deny us, as Hoffy almost had a double after being played through by Georgievski #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
25’ | 0 – 3 | CHANCE! Hoffy makes a run deep into the area before cutting a ball back to Champness, who has his strike well blocked! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
30’ | 0 – 3 | CHANCE! Lovely cross from O’Donovan to Ridenton at the back post, Mid North Coast’s keeper moves well to deny his headed effort #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
31’ | 0 – 4 | GOAL! Hoffy has a double! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
35’ | 0 –5 | GOAL! Boogs has one from the set piece, as Ridenton floats in a well-placed corner. A rare double for the skipper! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
38’ | 0 – 6 | It’s Joey Champness this time! After a having a number of efforts blocked, he makes a darting run into the area and finishes sharply across the face of goal #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
42’ | 0 – 7 | A hat-rick for Hoffy and now we have seven! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
44’ | 0 – 7 | CHANCE! Roy goes close after getting in behind the Mid North Coast defence, but is denied by a wonderful diving effort from their keeper! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
53’ | 0 – 7 | CHANCE! Sharp work from Vujica as he almost creates another chance with a dangerous cross, Mid North Coast again scramble well to avert the danger #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
65’ | 0 – 8 | GOAL! Thurgate gets us on the board for the second half with a sweet strike form the top of the area #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
71’ | 0 – 8 | CHANCE! Roy makes a menacing run toward goal and takes aim from a tight angle, only to be denied by sharp effort from Mid North Coast’s keeper! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
80’ | 0 – 9 | GOAL! Ivan Vujica gets on the board! #MNCvNEW #JetsTour
Ground: Port Macquarie Regional Stadium
Attendance: 4,200
Newcastle Jets:
3. Jason HOFFMAN 4. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 9. Roy O’DONOVAN, 13. Ivan VUKICA, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 20.Glen MOSS, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Joseph CHAMPNESS, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 1.Jack DUNCAN, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 22.Lachlan Jackson, 28.Patrick LANGOIS, 32.Angus THURGATE
Goals: 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (14’), 3.Jason HOFFMAN (17’, 31’, 42’), 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (19’, 35’), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (38’), 32.Angus THURGATE (65’), 13.Ivan VUJICA (80’)
