The Bears welcomed the Jets youth to Thomas & Coffey park on a dull, damp, day but there was certainly nothing dull about the football on display.
In front of a good crowd a very even, competitive, game unfolded. The young Jets struck in the 20th minute and took their lead to the sheds at half time. Both sides pressed for goals in the second half with both the Jets youth keeper and Weston's Tim Pratt (left) producing several great saves. However, it was the Jets youth who took their chance and added a second which was enough to see out the game 2-0.
It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces in the crowd and they wouldn't have been disappointed with the football on display from the Bears.
The U19s also went down being edged out 1-0.
The U14s also had a fine 1- 0 win against Broadmeadow with Dylan Bentley the scorer.
Well done everyone and...
C'Mon you Bears!!!
This week as we look to welcome the Newcastle Jets Youth team to Weston I couldn’t help but have a chuckle at a preview of the game on the Jets website.
There was the usual wrap up of the Jets Youths previous game. Exploring the positives and negatives of the result and sowing the seeds for ‘next time’ – all good stuff.
Looking forward to what might be mentioned about the upcoming game I read on and reached this …
“The Jets face their longest road trip in the NBN State League so far this season when they travel to Weston on Saturday”
It raised an eyebrow. I’m sure a lot of you have been on road trips. Newcastle to Coffs is a road trip. Newcastle to Tamworth is a road trip. Newcastle to Bathurst is a road trip.
The distance and time from Newcastle to Weston is not a road trip – you wouldn’t even get a brief summary of Rob Macbeth’s night out in that time.
Shaking that off I carried on reading some good points re not having a home ground, the challenges that brings and the resilience it builds for the players.
Then I hit this……
“It’s a bit of a trip this weekend so it’s another challenge for the boys.
“They’re going to learn to spend 45 minutes to an hour in a car and then prepare themselves to play a game.”
Now I don’t mind a bit of creative licence but c’mon!
It might well be 45 mins for some, it could be 20 mins for others but generally you would be looking at 35 mins from the centre of Newcastle to Weston.
Having to deal with 45 35 mins in a car? Well, players do it in the Sydney Premier League and every other State League we might want to bring up. Dare I mention that a number of our players will work 45 hours in a mine, make family time, train 2 nights a week then drive, in a car, to prepare themselves for a game.
In Australia travelling is par for the course and therefore the road trip. It’s never been easier to travel and we’ve never been more educated in how to prepare. However, when discussing the next round of the NBN State League and basically comparing a trip to Weston in the same terms as a trip to Perth is hilarious.
Since 1907 football has been played at Weston and this weekend we welcome the newest Club to one of the oldest. The Jets have fantastic support in our community and this was demonstrated in last years pre-season when almost 2000 people turned out on a cold Wednesday night, in Weston, to watch the Bears take on the Jets. We hope you enjoy your visit and can join us back in the Club after the game.
Yours in Football
Duncan Nisbet
President
Scorer for Weston was Jayden Hinds.
U15s table can be found here
C'MON YOU BEARS!!!
