The Jets Youth will play Broadmeadow in the first round of the NBN State League Finals Series on Sunday afternoon.
The Newcastle Jets Youth Team will play the Broadmeadow Magic in the first round of the NBN State League Finals Series at Wanderers Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The winner of the fixture will have an opportunity to play Hamilton Olympic the following week in a Grand Final qualifying match, while the loser will be forced into a sudden-death playoff match against either Charlestown City or Edgeworth.
Broadmeadow have had the wood over the Jets this season, winning both of the matches played between the two sides.
The Magic picked up a 2-0 victory in round eight, with same score line eventuating when the two teams met in the final round of the season on Tuesday night.
Jets Youth coach Clayton Zane said his side were looking forward to having the chance to redeem themselves after that loss.
“Obviously we-re not too concerned about who we match up against during the finals, we-ll play the same way regardless,” he said.
“But considering we lost the match last week, it-ll be a good chance for us to go back and try and get one over them this time.”
The Jets are expected to be bolstered by the return of a handful of first team squad Members who missed last round-s game due to their first team commitments in a trial match against Rockdale City Suns.
“We-re hoping to have a minimum of two or three of the young boys from the first team squad, but it will be dependent on who gets game time with the first team on Saturday against Wellington,” Zane explained.
“The game against Broadmeadow was in the balance last time so I think if we can have one or two first team boys in the squad, that should help us a fair bit.”
Zane said more composure in front of goal was the key for the young Jets to notch their first win over the Magic this season.
“If we were more clinical in that last third, I think we could have won that last match,” he said.
“The game was always in the balance and whoever got the first goal was always going to win.
“We had a couple of good one-on-one chances and we said to the boys at halftime we need to be a bit more composed in front of goal.
“Defensively it was a good display and the midfielders did well, so we-re looking for improvement in the final third, so if we get someone like James Virgili back, that will give us more of a cutting edge and make us a little more clinical.”
Match details:
NBN State League Finals Series
Newcastle Jets v Broadmeadow Magic
Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow
Sunday, August 19
Kick-off 3pm
