The Weston Bears avenged last year’s grand final loss with a 2-1 win over Lambton Jaffas in their first home game of the season on Sunday.
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Bears coach Trevor Morris originally dropped Lucas Gonzalez bringing in Wilson Edwards for his debut start, but Troy Hearfield, was a late scratching after battling illness all week, and Gonzalez went back into the run-on side.
The game at Rockwell Automation Park gave the locals the opportunity to have a look at the Bears’ new signings.
In the first 20 minutes it was fairly open, with both sides probing at each other’s defence. Alex Palozzi opened the Jaffas’ account in the 23rd minute when he converted his shot from the edge of the box.
The Bears didn’t have to wait long to adjust the scoreboard and bring them back into the game. Robert Macbeth capitalised on an error at the back, drawing keeper Brad Swancott and calmly placing the ball into the net.
Just prior to Macbeth’s equaliser, Morris made a big call replacing Gonzalaz with Brock Oakley who was struggling but uninjured. Weston were struggling in the midfield and in the end the injection of Oakley certainly was warranted.
The Jaffas had too much room and time in the engine room and something had to give in the end. Weston’s opponents lacked nothing in experience, with former A-League stars Jobe Wheelhouse and Michael Bridges on their playing roster.
Going to the sheds at 1-1 gave the Bears the chance to re-group and re-visit their game plan.
Keeper Tim Pratt, who made a solid start between the sticks last week, was again dominant in his area, defusing the Jaffas’ attack.
The Bears hit the front with 20 minutes remaining after clever build-up by striker Jason Cowburn. Holding up the ball he then cleverly played the ball in behind the defence and sent Garry McDermott towards goal. After one touch his next was on goal, calmly slotting the ball into the net under the advancing keeper.
The 2-1 lead certainly had to be defended with both sides having claims for a penalty but were turned down. In the end plenty of hard work and guts paved the way to give the Bears the much-valued three points on home soil.
Weston’s under 22’s had a 2-2 draw after being down 2-0, with Jamie Subat and Zac Sneddon scoring the important goals.
The under-19s started the day well, winning 3-0 with Jacob Golding, Blake Roy and Alex Mathias all getting their name on the team sheet.
The Bears will face South Cardiff on Sunday at Ulinga Oval in a tricky away game on a small pitch. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
The Bears’ Youth sides played host to Football Mid North Coast on Saturday with the under-17s winning 3-2, the under-15s having a 2-2 draw, under-14s a 1-1 draw and under-13s losing 5-0. They also play on Sunday, going to Arthur Edden Oval to confront the Lambton Jaffas.