Newcastle Strike Back
Michael Kmet

National Soccer League - Round 20
Friday 16th January, 2004
at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Jobe Wheelhouse 21')
defeated
BRISBANE STRIKERS 0

Newcastle United’s seven game winless streak came to an end with a hard fought 1-0 win over the Brisbane Strikers at Energy Australia Stadium Friday night.

United’s win came through a goal from Australian Under 20 international Jobe Wheelhouse, who was amazingly diagnosed with Shingles the day before the match. It was a mighty effort from the midfielder playing in the striker’s position, and though tiring badly late in the game still kept running and trying till the final whistle despite cramping several times.

Newcastle pressed early in the game with some promising play from recent AIS graduate Joel Theissan on the left. Theissan was a late inclusion in the strating line-up with the withdrawal of skipper Robbie Middleby, whose injury plagued season continues.

It was Theissan who engineered Newcastle’s first opportunity in the 8th minute. A low cross by the youngster skidded across the wet deck. This caused a goalmouth scramble which fell to Jobe Wheelhouse outside the box. Wheelhouse sent a thundering drive that went straight to the chest of Brisbane goalkeeper Scott Higgins.

Seconds later Wheelhouse should have put Newcastle ahead when Esala Masi sent him free. Wheelhouse’s shot was well saved by Higgins.

Newcastle hit the lead in the 21st minute through a fine header from Wheelhouse. A pin-point cross from Craig Deans found Wheelhouse on the penalty spot who headed low and hard and left Higgins with no chance.

This was Newcastle’s first goal in four games.

Brisbane was dealt a blow in the 36th minute when Higgins had to leave the field with an elbow gash injury after a clash with Scott Thomas. Until Higgin’s return in the 40th minute captain/coach Stuart McLaren took the gloves leaving them a man short. Fortunately for Brisbane, they were not punished.

Brisbane nearly grabbed an equaliser in the fourth minute of first-half injury time when a deflection from a Royce Brownlee shot had Newcastle custodian Tom Willis stretching at his best.

Brisbane came close again in the 59th minute when a Josh Rose shot was thwarted by Willis diving acrobatically to his right.

Brisbane was pressing hard in the latter stages of the game and Newcastle was appearing to wilt on the heavy pitch as the away team was gaining ascendency.

Luke Morley squandered another Brisbane chance in the 70th minute with a rash shot that skewed across goal.

However, this was as close as Brisbane could get as the final whistle signalled an excellent victory for the home team.

Newcastle coach Ian Crook was naturally glad to get the monkey off his team’s back.

“Tonight wasn’t pretty”, Crook said in the post-match press conference. “We’ve played so much better than tonight’s game this year and got beaten… I am really happy with the result.”

“Brisbane are well organised and worked their socks off. They are a much better team than most people have given them credit for this year.”

Stuart McLaren was naturally disappointed.

“We didn’t play as well as we can and didn’t adapt to the Newcastle style of play and the conditions tonight. Newcastle pressured us early and didn’t allow us build from the back which is our normal style of play.”
 

National Soccer eague - Round 20 - 16th January  2004 at Energy Australia Stadium

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Jobe Wheelhouse 21')
defeated
BRISBANE STRIKERS 0
 

Crowd: 2,181

MATCH STATS:

NEWCASTLE UNITED

1 Willis
2 Deans
5 Thomas
6 Prentice (Mitchell +64’)
8 Wilson
10 Johnson
11 Tsekenis
14 Wheelhouse
17 Masi
24 Eagleton
43 Theissen (Libbesson +79’)

Subs
12 Mitchell (Prentice -64’)
18 Musialik
35 Libbesson (Theissen -79’)
42 Kennedy (GK)

Yellow Cards: Wilson 27’, Theissen 44’, Thomas 73’
Red Cards: Nil

Brisbane Strikers

20 Higgins
2 Dodd
4 McCloughan
5 McLaren
6 Grierson
7 Fitzsimmons
10 Brownlie
11 Brain
12 Pilic
19 Rose (Scuderi +69’)
21 Morley

Subs

8 Webber
9 Hilton
17 Scuderi (Rose -69’)
30 Watson (GK)

Yellow Cards: McLaren 48’, Dodd 90’+
Red Cards: Nil

Referee: Peter Green 8/10

Pitch: 9/10

Game rating: 6/10

Best Players :
3 – Jobe Wheelhouse (United)
2 – Craig Deans (United)
1 – Joel Theissen (United)

Match Report by Michael Kmet'

 

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