It was billed as a David and Goliath clash, an all-Newcastle derby, and a massive chance for one Northern NSW side to progress to the FFA Cup Quarter Finals for the first time.
In the end, Goliath proved victor as a rampant Newcastle Jets side ran home 5-1 winners and sewed up a spot in the competition’s latter stages for the first time in the Club’s history.
After dominating the opening minutes of the contest, the Jets took the lead through Panamanian import, Abdiel Arroyo who tapped home after just nine minutes.
Just as Newcastle seemed to be taking control of the tie, Edgeworth drew level on 16 minutes with Daniel McBreen unleashing a first time, 30-yard screamer to level things up at 1-1.
First start, first goal! Wes Hoolahan belts one in to restore our lead late in the first half! 🇮🇪 #EDGvNEW #FFACup #MadeOfNewcastle
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/Xi7cSeiPCG
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) August 21, 2019
The goal put a spring in Edgeworth’s step, with the 12-time NPL Northern NSW premiers dreaming of a massive cup-set.
However, Wes Hoolahan made that task tall in the 38th minute when he opened his Jets account on debut for the club. In the blink of an eye, Newcastle doubled their lead with Dimi Petratos converting from the spot after Matt Millar was fouled in the Edgeworth penalty area.
3-1 was the score at half time and after a slow start to the second stanza, it was Newcastle who would strike first with a decisive goal. Nick Fitzgerald made it 4-1 in the 61st minute with a tidy finish into the bottom corner – a deserved goal for an eye-catching first-half performance.
Dimi Petratos added his second, and the Jets fifth, for the night on 77 minutes after an Abdiel Arroyo strike deflected off him and dribbled past Edgeworth goalkeeper, Josh Low.
Arroyo, Hoolahan and Petratos earned themselves early showers with Sheppard, Simmons and Thurgate entering the fray with a little less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
With five goals and a first-ever FFA Cup Round of 16 victory in the bag, Newcastle fans can now look eagerly towards next Wednesday night’s Quarter Final draw.
