The Weston Bears went down 4-2 to Charlestown City Blues in heavy conditions at Lisle Carr Oval Whitebridge on Sunday.
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Bears coach Darren Elkin had to make changes to his starting XI with Mick Ryan out suspended and Garry McDermott out injured.
McDermott inquired his groin at training on Friday night and looks set to miss a couple of weeks.
Weston got off to the worst possible start conceding a goal in the third minute after a Daniel Bird cross was sent into the box.
Rhys Ferguson had a free header with his effort resulting in a goal to Charlestown with the ball going high into the net.
Weston replied two minutes later through a Nathan Morris free kick to the back post where Chris Cousins was unmarked and headed home to make it 1-1.
Both teams had further chances in the first half but were unable to find the net with both keepers on top of their game.
Charlestown extended their lead to 2-1 in the 52nd minute when a Cameron Hughes cross found an unmarked Kane Goodchild who finished from close range.
Two minutes later Bears keeper Tim Pratt was adjudged to have brought down Matthew Tull inside the box with the resulted penalty converted by Scott Smith making it 3-1.
A minute later Bears striker Jason Cowburn was sent off after a confrontation with referee Ryan Gallagher.
If it wasn’t tough enough having 10 men two weeks in a row the Bears were certainly up against it now.
Jamie Subat pulled it back to 3-2 with seven minutes left, giving his side a glimmer of hope and the Bears pushed forward with numbers.
Charlestown caught Weston on the break with Mitchell Wallace scoring their fourth goal and handing back-to-back losses for the Bears.
The under-23s, who had gone close last week with a 1-1 draw with competition leaders the Newcastle Jets Youth team, got a much-needed victory.
Winning 3-0 was certainly the injection of confidence this young side needed after leading 1-0 at half time with Sam Turnbull scoring.
The second half saw Jacob Montgomery and Daniel Toohey got their names on the scoresheet to wrap up an impressive win.
Due to the rain on Saturday night the under-19s and under-17s games didn’t go ahead as the playing surface was deemed not fit enough for four games.
The Bears’ three junior teams all played on Saturday with the 16s against Broadmeadow and 14s up against Rutherford at Rockwell Automation Park, Weston.
Weston’s 16s won 3-1 with goals to Jamie Ellis, Blake Rutherford and Jack Newman while the 14s won 3-0 with Brayden Mortimer, Alex Woods and Kurt Nightingale the scorers.
The under-15s lost 1-1 against second-placed Lakes and did better in the second half after a not-so-great first stanza.
This Saturday the Bears host Hamilton Olympic on home soil and will be looking to return to the winners’ list.
The ladder-leading Bears under-16s play second-placed Toronto-Awaba at Finnan Oval Number 2 at 12pm
Weston’s 15s play a double header this weekend, taking on Broadmeadow at Ulinga Oval on Saturday at 9.15am, and Hamilton Olympic at CB Complex Valentine on Sunday at 9.15am (the last of their wash-out games).
The under-14s have the bye in their A-grade competition.
