Magpies give club legend the perfect send-off as rain disrupts play, again
After eight seasons with the Magpies and 145 NPL appearances, Trott hung up the gloves after Maitland's thrilling, and much-needed, 1-0 win over Lambton at Cooks Square Park on Saturday night.
The victory was sealed at the death, when strike weapon Braedyn Crowley headed in off a corner in the 88th minute.
The goal, on Old Boys Day, had players, coaching staff and spectators in raptures.
"We're slowly starting to build some momentum," Thompson said post-match on Saturday.
"The boys worked really hard, and to get a goal late in the game and be able to celebrate with our old boys on Old Boys Day really gives a good feeling around the club at the moment.
"Matt Trott played his final game and retired today ... that was probably the most important thing of today's game."
Crowley celebrated as though the Magpies had won the grand final, so big was the moment for the club.
The 28-year-old ripped off his shirt and ran to the crowd, joined moments later by an ecstatic Trott.
Crowley, who was booked for his goal celebration, took his season tally to nine to be equal with suspended Weston striker Chris Hatfield and one behind Edgeworth's Ryan Feutz.
Maitland improved to 11 points and eighth position with the win, which came on another rain-affected weekend of NPL Northern NSW that has at least one club with three games to catch up as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Magpies are now within three points of the top five as they look to Wednesday night's rescheduled clash with Belmont Swansea.
The Magpies could be set to unleash some new recruits against Belswans.
Thompson said goalkeeper Taylor Pate was returning to the club from Magic and Maitland have also signed Japanese attacking player Yuhei Sato, who parted ways with Lambton in March.
At the time, Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said they cut Sato loose but the Tokyo 23-year-old maintains he left the club in search of a different training environment.
"The reason I joined Maitland was simple - it was because of coach Adam [Hughes]," Sato told the Newcastle Herald.
"When I joined training, I honestly didn't expect to find this level of quality in Australia. I had almost forgotten what real, high-level football felt like - what I experienced back in Japan.
"Now that I'm here, I'll do everything I can to take Maitland to the grand final - and to the FFA Cup Round of 32, which I missed last year due to injury."
Sato played match minutes for Maitland in reserve grade on Saturday.
"He'll be available for selection for Wednesday," Thompson said.
"He's been really sharp in training and is definitely an attacking threat, and I'm interested to see how he goes with some more minutes in the top grade. He's going to be another string to our bow."
Maitland will also bring in Canadian centre-back Brayden Borutskie, who is awaiting an international clearance before he can play.
Both teams were backing up after midweek Australia Cup fixtures. Lambton's was decided in extra time.
"We knew we were going to be up against it," Tanchevski said.
"We had 120 minutes on Wednesday night and we had a fair injury list for this game, then BK [goalkeeper Ben Kennedy] did his calf about 10 minutes in and came off as well.
"We were really good in the first half and created a number of chances but didn't capitalise. In the second half, I think we just died out."
Sixth-placed Jaffas (13 points) will add striker Carter Smith to their roster from Valentine in the NPL transfer window, which opens on Monday.
Third-placed Weston (19) beat 11th-placed Valentine 2-1 at Weston on Saturday. Brock Beveridge opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute.
Phoenix went level at 1-1 in the 35th minute when Bears defender Chris Hurley headed into his own net.
Aaron Niyonkuru sealed the win when he slotted a parried shot in the 54th minute.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night against unbeaten leaders Edgeworth.
On Sunday, the Olympic-Belswans (Darling Street Oval) and New Lambton-Adamstown (Alder Park) matches were washed out.
Edgeworth and Azzurri's round-11 exchange at Lisle Carr Oval on Friday night was also postponed, as was Cooks Hill's fixture against Broadmeadow at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
Maitland's director of football Reece Thompson reckons the Magpies could not have crafted a better send-off for retiring goalkeeper and club legend Matthew Trott.
After eight seasons with the Magpies and 145 NPL appearances, Trott hung up the gloves after Maitland's thrilling, and much-needed, 1-0 win over Lambton at Cooks Square Park on Saturday night.
The victory was sealed at the death, when strike weapon Braedyn Crowley headed in off a corner in the 88th minute.
The goal, on Old Boys Day, had players, coaching staff and spectators in raptures.
"We're slowly starting to build some momentum," Thompson said post-match on Saturday.
"The boys worked really hard, and to get a goal late in the game and be able to celebrate with our old boys on Old Boys Day really gives a good feeling around the club at the moment.
"Matt Trott played his final game and retired today ... that was probably the most important thing of today's game."
Crowley celebrated as though the Magpies had won the grand final, so big was the moment for the club.
The 28-year-old ripped off his shirt and ran to the crowd, joined moments later by an ecstatic Trott.
Crowley, who was booked for his goal celebration, took his season tally to nine to be equal with suspended Weston striker Chris Hatfield and one behind Edgeworth's Ryan Feutz.
Maitland improved to 11 points and eighth position with the win, which came on another rain-affected weekend of NPL Northern NSW that has at least one club with three games to catch up as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Magpies are now within three points of the top five as they look to Wednesday night's rescheduled clash with Belmont Swansea.
The Magpies could be set to unleash some new recruits against Belswans.
Thompson said goalkeeper Taylor Pate was returning to the club from Magic and Maitland have also signed Japanese attacking player Yuhei Sato, who parted ways with Lambton in March.
At the time, Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said they cut Sato loose but the Tokyo 23-year-old maintains he left the club in search of a different training environment.
"The reason I joined Maitland was simple - it was because of coach Adam [Hughes]," Sato told the Newcastle Herald.
"When I joined training, I honestly didn't expect to find this level of quality in Australia. I had almost forgotten what real, high-level football felt like - what I experienced back in Japan.
"Now that I'm here, I'll do everything I can to take Maitland to the grand final - and to the FFA Cup Round of 32, which I missed last year due to injury."
Sato played match minutes for Maitland in reserve grade on Saturday.
"He'll be available for selection for Wednesday," Thompson said.
"He's been really sharp in training and is definitely an attacking threat, and I'm interested to see how he goes with some more minutes in the top grade. He's going to be another string to our bow."
Maitland will also bring in Canadian centre-back Brayden Borutskie, who is awaiting an international clearance before he can play.
Both teams were backing up after midweek Australia Cup fixtures. Lambton's was decided in extra time.
"We knew we were going to be up against it," Tanchevski said.
"We had 120 minutes on Wednesday night and we had a fair injury list for this game, then BK [goalkeeper Ben Kennedy] did his calf about 10 minutes in and came off as well.
"We were really good in the first half and created a number of chances but didn't capitalise. In the second half, I think we just died out."
Sixth-placed Jaffas (13 points) will add striker Carter Smith to their roster from Valentine in the NPL transfer window, which opens on Monday.
Third-placed Weston (19) beat 11th-placed Valentine 2-1 at Weston on Saturday. Brock Beveridge opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute.
Phoenix went level at 1-1 in the 35th minute when Bears defender Chris Hurley headed into his own net.
Aaron Niyonkuru sealed the win when he slotted a parried shot in the 54th minute.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night against unbeaten leaders Edgeworth.
On Sunday, the Olympic-Belswans (Darling Street Oval) and New Lambton-Adamstown (Alder Park) matches were washed out.
Edgeworth and Azzurri's round-11 exchange at Lisle Carr Oval on Friday night was also postponed, as was Cooks Hill's fixture against Broadmeadow at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
Maitland's director of football Reece Thompson reckons the Magpies could not have crafted a better send-off for retiring goalkeeper and club legend Matthew Trott.
After eight seasons with the Magpies and 145 NPL appearances, Trott hung up the gloves after Maitland's thrilling, and much-needed, 1-0 win over Lambton at Cooks Square Park on Saturday night.
The victory was sealed at the death, when strike weapon Braedyn Crowley headed in off a corner in the 88th minute.
The goal, on Old Boys Day, had players, coaching staff and spectators in raptures.
"We're slowly starting to build some momentum," Thompson said post-match on Saturday.
"The boys worked really hard, and to get a goal late in the game and be able to celebrate with our old boys on Old Boys Day really gives a good feeling around the club at the moment.
"Matt Trott played his final game and retired today ... that was probably the most important thing of today's game."
Crowley celebrated as though the Magpies had won the grand final, so big was the moment for the club.
The 28-year-old ripped off his shirt and ran to the crowd, joined moments later by an ecstatic Trott.
Crowley, who was booked for his goal celebration, took his season tally to nine to be equal with suspended Weston striker Chris Hatfield and one behind Edgeworth's Ryan Feutz.
Maitland improved to 11 points and eighth position with the win, which came on another rain-affected weekend of NPL Northern NSW that has at least one club with three games to catch up as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Magpies are now within three points of the top five as they look to Wednesday night's rescheduled clash with Belmont Swansea.
The Magpies could be set to unleash some new recruits against Belswans.
Thompson said goalkeeper Taylor Pate was returning to the club from Magic and Maitland have also signed Japanese attacking player Yuhei Sato, who parted ways with Lambton in March.
At the time, Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said they cut Sato loose but the Tokyo 23-year-old maintains he left the club in search of a different training environment.
"The reason I joined Maitland was simple - it was because of coach Adam [Hughes]," Sato told the Newcastle Herald.
"When I joined training, I honestly didn't expect to find this level of quality in Australia. I had almost forgotten what real, high-level football felt like - what I experienced back in Japan.
"Now that I'm here, I'll do everything I can to take Maitland to the grand final - and to the FFA Cup Round of 32, which I missed last year due to injury."
Sato played match minutes for Maitland in reserve grade on Saturday.
"He'll be available for selection for Wednesday," Thompson said.
"He's been really sharp in training and is definitely an attacking threat, and I'm interested to see how he goes with some more minutes in the top grade. He's going to be another string to our bow."
Maitland will also bring in Canadian centre-back Brayden Borutskie, who is awaiting an international clearance before he can play.
Both teams were backing up after midweek Australia Cup fixtures. Lambton's was decided in extra time.
"We knew we were going to be up against it," Tanchevski said.
"We had 120 minutes on Wednesday night and we had a fair injury list for this game, then BK [goalkeeper Ben Kennedy] did his calf about 10 minutes in and came off as well.
"We were really good in the first half and created a number of chances but didn't capitalise. In the second half, I think we just died out."
Sixth-placed Jaffas (13 points) will add striker Carter Smith to their roster from Valentine in the NPL transfer window, which opens on Monday.
Third-placed Weston (19) beat 11th-placed Valentine 2-1 at Weston on Saturday. Brock Beveridge opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute.
Phoenix went level at 1-1 in the 35th minute when Bears defender Chris Hurley headed into his own net.
Aaron Niyonkuru sealed the win when he slotted a parried shot in the 54th minute.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night against unbeaten leaders Edgeworth.
On Sunday, the Olympic-Belswans (Darling Street Oval) and New Lambton-Adamstown (Alder Park) matches were washed out.
Edgeworth and Azzurri's round-11 exchange at Lisle Carr Oval on Friday night was also postponed, as was Cooks Hill's fixture against Broadmeadow at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
Maitland's director of football Reece Thompson reckons the Magpies could not have crafted a better send-off for retiring goalkeeper and club legend Matthew Trott.
After eight seasons with the Magpies and 145 NPL appearances, Trott hung up the gloves after Maitland's thrilling, and much-needed, 1-0 win over Lambton at Cooks Square Park on Saturday night.
The victory was sealed at the death, when strike weapon Braedyn Crowley headed in off a corner in the 88th minute.
The goal, on Old Boys Day, had players, coaching staff and spectators in raptures.
"We're slowly starting to build some momentum," Thompson said post-match on Saturday.
"The boys worked really hard, and to get a goal late in the game and be able to celebrate with our old boys on Old Boys Day really gives a good feeling around the club at the moment.
"Matt Trott played his final game and retired today ... that was probably the most important thing of today's game."
Crowley celebrated as though the Magpies had won the grand final, so big was the moment for the club.
The 28-year-old ripped off his shirt and ran to the crowd, joined moments later by an ecstatic Trott.
Crowley, who was booked for his goal celebration, took his season tally to nine to be equal with suspended Weston striker Chris Hatfield and one behind Edgeworth's Ryan Feutz.
Maitland improved to 11 points and eighth position with the win, which came on another rain-affected weekend of NPL Northern NSW that has at least one club with three games to catch up as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Magpies are now within three points of the top five as they look to Wednesday night's rescheduled clash with Belmont Swansea.
The Magpies could be set to unleash some new recruits against Belswans.
Thompson said goalkeeper Taylor Pate was returning to the club from Magic and Maitland have also signed Japanese attacking player Yuhei Sato, who parted ways with Lambton in March.
At the time, Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said they cut Sato loose but the Tokyo 23-year-old maintains he left the club in search of a different training environment.
"The reason I joined Maitland was simple - it was because of coach Adam [Hughes]," Sato told the Newcastle Herald.
"When I joined training, I honestly didn't expect to find this level of quality in Australia. I had almost forgotten what real, high-level football felt like - what I experienced back in Japan.
"Now that I'm here, I'll do everything I can to take Maitland to the grand final - and to the FFA Cup Round of 32, which I missed last year due to injury."
Sato played match minutes for Maitland in reserve grade on Saturday.
"He'll be available for selection for Wednesday," Thompson said.
"He's been really sharp in training and is definitely an attacking threat, and I'm interested to see how he goes with some more minutes in the top grade. He's going to be another string to our bow."
Maitland will also bring in Canadian centre-back Brayden Borutskie, who is awaiting an international clearance before he can play.
Both teams were backing up after midweek Australia Cup fixtures. Lambton's was decided in extra time.
"We knew we were going to be up against it," Tanchevski said.
"We had 120 minutes on Wednesday night and we had a fair injury list for this game, then BK [goalkeeper Ben Kennedy] did his calf about 10 minutes in and came off as well.
"We were really good in the first half and created a number of chances but didn't capitalise. In the second half, I think we just died out."
Sixth-placed Jaffas (13 points) will add striker Carter Smith to their roster from Valentine in the NPL transfer window, which opens on Monday.
Third-placed Weston (19) beat 11th-placed Valentine 2-1 at Weston on Saturday. Brock Beveridge opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute.
Phoenix went level at 1-1 in the 35th minute when Bears defender Chris Hurley headed into his own net.
Aaron Niyonkuru sealed the win when he slotted a parried shot in the 54th minute.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night against unbeaten leaders Edgeworth.
On Sunday, the Olympic-Belswans (Darling Street Oval) and New Lambton-Adamstown (Alder Park) matches were washed out.
Edgeworth and Azzurri's round-11 exchange at Lisle Carr Oval on Friday night was also postponed, as was Cooks Hill's fixture against Broadmeadow at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
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- Sydney Morning Herald
Two down, three to go: McIntosh wants to equal Phelps, but she'll have to beat another GOAT first
Now, fresh off winning three individual gold medals in Paris, she has declared her bold ambition to take out five individual world titles this week. She's nearly halfway there, with the 200m butterfly, 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley still to come. 'My goal was to get my hand on the wall first, so to get that done is good,' McIntosh said. 'I'm not super happy with the time, but honestly, at a world championships, my goal is just to go as fast as I can against my competitors. 'Still happy with the gold and hoping to keep up my streak next time.' Since the world championships began in 1973, only one swimmer – Phelps – has claimed five individual golds in a single meet. Katie Ledecky won four in Kazan in 2015, while Phelps' quintuple of individual wins in Melbourne 2007 was the prelude to his eight-gold masterclass at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. McIntosh's most difficult assignment will be the 800m freestyle against Ledecky, widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all-time, on Saturday. The Canadian is the only swimmer to beat Ledecky across the distance in 15 years and it will be a mouthwatering duel. For swimmers at this level, the challenge isn't the racing; it's the recovery. On Sunday, McIntosh had just 22 minutes between her 400m freestyle final and the 200m IM semi-final. Throw in warm-ups and warm-downs and media commitments and refuelling, it's as arduous as it sounds. McIntosh's performances at Canada's trials were electric. She broke three world records in the same meet, taking Titmus' 400m freestyle mark, plus all-time bests in the 200m and 400m individual medleys. No woman had achieved that many world records at a single meet since the Netherlands' Inge de Bruijn at Sydney 2000. Meanwhile, Australia's Alex Perkins picked up her first longcourse medal after finishing third in the women's 100m butterfly. World record holder Gretchen Walsh overcame illness to win in 54.73, ahead of Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk (55.84) and Perkins (56.33). 'I couldn't be happier,' Perkins said. 'I tried not to expect anything going into that final. 'I think [my improvements] have probably just come from the confidence in racing and having that self belief and backing myself a little bit more.' Australia still leads the medal tally after two days, with two golds, one silver and a bronze. They will look to extend that advantage on Tuesday when Kaylee McKeown lines up for the 100m backstroke - the event she has won at the past two Olympics. Loading McKeown is keeping expectations in check, despite having beaten American Regan Smith multiple times in the past. Smith qualified 0.23 seconds faster for the final, but both swimmers looked to have something in reserve. 'I'm just here for a good time,' McKeown said. 'I don't really care if I come first or if I come last. I just want to find the love for the sport again. 'I didn't actually want to do the 100. I wanted to come in and do 200 and relays.'
