JOEYS remain unbeaten and on top of the table after a tough match against North Armidale on Saturday, and it was a fast first-half as both teams tried to score the early goal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Joeys’ goalkeeper Alex Kovacs was injured in a one-on-one collision with a North’s player, Joeys’ central defender Stephen Gadd had to fill in and defend the net for the rest of the match. It brought Michael Cashel on in a defensive roll.
Joeys went 1-0 up minutes later with a beautiful cross from Marc Borgas, which found Jackson Haussler who managed to pressure the goalkeeper as he came up to catch the ball. Haussler slotted his 10th goal of the season.
Norths then scored the equaliser through an error in the Joeys’ defence.
Haussler said some great passing opened the game out wide, where Marc Borgas, made a great cross to find Brent Pedlow, who made a beautifully timed, powerful header into the net to bring the Joeys up 2-1 before half time.
“In the second-half, North Armidale came out searching for the equaliser, and again put pressure on the Joeys defence, and were given a questionable penalty when Trent Irwin contested a high ball with a North Armidale player,” Haussler said.
“The game opened up as both teams were pushing for the win.”
Joeys again opened up wide with a cross from Jackson Haussler, which the North Armidale goalkeeper could not control.
Callum Dolby hammered the ball in to the net from short range to put the Joeys up 3-2.
“It was not a great day for the Joeys as North Armidale equalised again and shortly after went up 4-3, with constant pressure on the our defenders,” Haussler said.
“Brent Pedlow then saved the day with a great shot with the outside of his foot into the top left corner to put the score to 4-4 before the final whistle.”
Haussler said credit should go to Stephen Gadd for stepping in as goalkeeper, pulling off some wonderful saves and almost keeping the penalty out.
Brent Pedlow had a great game and will be a bonus for the Joeys in games to come.
Joeys FC United will have to turn a notch up this weekend at home against South Armidale and try and keep its defence tight.