Magic in the News
The Newcastle Herald‘s Craig Kerry caught up with Magic Gaffer Anthony Richard to talk about our solid win versus Weston Workers Bears FC. GO MAGIC!!!
Magic coach Anthony Richards doesn’t believe his side can catch Edgeworth for the premiership but he’s more than happy with how they are building for the other piece of major silverware in the Northern NSW NPL.
Broadmeadow led Weston 4-0 until the 89th minute on Saturday at Magic Park before the Bears scored two consolation goals in the round 10 contest.
The 4-2 victory lifted second-placed Broadmeadow to 22 points, still five behind Edgeworth (27), with three games each left in the COVID-19 shortened premiership. Weston stayed on 14.
The Eagles overcame a determined Valentine 2-0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday with goals to Josh Rose (71st minute) and Kristian Brymora (93rd) to move a step closer to a record 13th Northern NSW top-division premiership.
The top two clubs have broken away from the pack and Richards is focused on Magic keeping second spot, which will bring two bites at the cherry and home finals in the top-five play-off format returning this year. Newcastle Olympic are next best on 17 points.
“Edgeworth can’t lose it from here, and we won’t catch them because they won’t lose the games,” Richards said.
“It’s just about us finishing as high up the ladder as we can and trying to get some of these injured players back. That’s our focus at the moment, getting some players back on the park.”
Magic may not get Alex Kantarovski back from injury this year, while Jeremy Wilson and David Ifield should return in the next two to three weeks.
Skipper Luke Virgili was missing on Saturday after becoming a father during the week but he should return next round.
“It was a bit of a throw-together side, but they did really well,” Richards said.
“Ryan Ensor played centre-back and he’s usually in midfield, Jacob Dowse played left-fullback, so they did good. I was really happy.
“The first half was really good especially. Our energy levels were good and that’s the important thing for us. If our energy levels are good, we do well.”
Magic led inside the first 45 seconds on Saturday when Sam Walker hit a half-volleyed strike home.
Jarred Baker bounced a volleyed shot over young goalkeeper Brendan Short in the 23rd minute and John Majurovski scored with a header off a Jacob Dowse delivery right on half-time for 3-0 at the break.
Short was luckless again in the 71st minute when James Virgili’s deflected shot looped over him.
Chris Hurley starred for the Bears late, setting up Aaron Niyonkuru in the 89th minute and scoring himself in the 92nd with a powerful, low strike past Kane Runge.
At Edgeworth, Brymora laid the ball off for Rose to score the opener before getting the last touch on Pat Wheeler’s blocked shot.
At Edden Oval, Lambton Jaffas and Charlestown Azzurri played a scoreless draw to move together to 14 points.
Both sides hit the woodwork, Jaffas missed two clear-cut chances and Azzurri had a goal denied for offside.
Newcastle Olympic beat Maitland (13 points) 1-0 at Cooks Square Park in Sunday’s only game.
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