Congratulations to the Newcastle Jets Powerchair Football Club, our 2021 NSWPFA Reserve Grade Champions! Their win today seals the title with 4 matches to spare, while the battle for second really heats up. And in the Premier League, the Jets and Hills United Football Club scored comfortable wins to keep the battle for the championship alive.
A second win in a row for the Hills United reserves came in a close fought battle. Both teams had chances throughout, but a well-directed free kick from the yellow team’s Josh Ryan late in the first half sealed the result and lifted them from the bottom of the ladder and into second via goal difference. A spirited second half wasn’t enough for the red and black Wanderers to find a goal of their own, with Hills hanging on for the victory.
In the top grade, two early set piece goals in the first ten minutes to Jacob Cross and Chris Suffield, with both trading scoring and assisting duties saw Hills looking comfortable before Andrew Kim pounced on a loose Suffield clearance to set up Ben Keyte for a trademark sneaky finish inside the post to cut the deficit. A tight period saw Hills regain the momentum with a mirror image goal to Cross giving the yellows a two goal halftime lead. With Cross on a yellow card, Josh Ryan and Cross switched several times on and off the bench, and neither side could find a stranglehold on the second half. Suffield intercepted a late Wanderers goal kick, setting up Cross up front, with the defenders unable to deal with his attempted pass, wrapping up a solid result for the ladder leaders.
The Jets knew a win would give them the Reserve Grade title, and an early individual effort from Ryan Seck saw them lead early over a difficult Sydney FC Powerchair Team side. The sky blues found a foothold in the match, fighting back to keep the deficit to one at the half, and soon found a response with ten minutes remaining. But, as they have done throughout the season, an immediate Jets response through Seck again sealed the win and the title with 4 matches remaining. Congratulations Newcastle!
In the top grade, it was the senior players stepping up for the Newcastle Jets, with an early goal to Chris Hastas followed up by a double for captain Dimitri Liolio-Davis within the first 10 minutes to give the Jets a 3-0 halftime lead. The sky blues would hold on for a while, but a second half hat-trick to Jake Vidakovic saw Hastas provide the final pass on 5 consecutive goals, before James Kim and Ryan Seck finished off the rout. Sydney FC will look to bounce back next week while the Jets will continue working to keep the pressure on the ladder leading Hills United.
Round 12 Results:
Reserve Grade:
Hills United 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Newcastle Jets 2-1 Sydney FC
Premier League:
Hills United 4-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Newcastle Jets 8-0 Sydney FC