Stags' Winter Of Discontent Continues
Newcastle Herald
Monday June 9, 2008
TORONTO Awaba would be excused for thinking their club is cursed.
Yesterday defender Linkon Knott suffered a season-ending knee injury before the Stags' 3-0 loss to Weston at Lyall Peacock Field.Knott was due to return for the Stags yesterday from a hamstring injury, but he went down with a suspected snapped cruciate ligament in the warm-up.Knott joins other senior players Peter Becklar, Adam Routledge and Matt Darr on the sidelines for the rest of the season.Stags coach Troy Halpin said he expected the injury to end 29-year-old Knott's Northern NSW State League career."It's his second [knee injury] in a couple of years, and he has already had a knee reconstruction," Halpin said. "At the end of the day I need my experienced guys. I cannot afford to lose them."The lack of experience killed the Stags, who have won just one of their nine outings.Weston showed no mercy when Toronto's midfield repeatedly turned over the ball.The Bears cashed in with three goals in 15 minutes mid-way through the first half."We fell asleep at vital times, which happens when you have a lot of young guys," Halpin said. "You switch off and you get punished."Weston coach Michael Boogaard said his side had maintained their composure for the entire match."We finally put two halves together," Boogaard said. "We started with five in the midfield and changed the defensive system in the second half I was very happy with the clean sheet."Jason Cowburn opened the scoring in the 31st minute when he capitalised on a through-ball. Five minutes later Chris Cousins leaped above a pack of players to head in a cross.The rout was completed when Weston's best, Robbie Turnbull, stole the ball in midfield and pierced the Stags defence with a through-ball for Rhys Tippett, who fired home through the legs of Toronto goalkeeper Paul Marrone. Azzurri maintained their competition lead, beating South Cardiff 1-0 yesterday at Lisle Carr Oval.Peter Juchniewicz scored his second goal in injury time to give Hamilton Olympic a come-from-behind 2-1 win over West Wallsend on Saturday.Today, Edgeworth host Valentine Phoenix and Broadmeadow host Lake Macquarie.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald