ADAMSTOWN president Andrew Licata said there were no excuses for the performance against Maitland last Friday but that “one game doesn’t make a season”.
Rosebud were routed 9-1 by Maitland at Cooks Square Park in a Northern NSW NPL record-equalling margin. It matched Broadmeadow’s 10-2 win over the Jets Youth in 2016.
Licata said Rosebud were missing Luke Rutledge, who is serving a four-game ban for match official abuse in a trial, and Robbie Turnbull. They also lost Connor Heydon (ankle) early in the match, and experienced keeper Benn Kelly was on the bench in his return from injury.
Licata, though, said Adamstown were “just poor” on a hot day against a strong Maitland side.
“The young boys got overwhelmed early and it made it hard to come back,” Licata said. “But one game doesn’t make a season. That’s one game in 129 years of this club. It’s a blip on the radar.”
Under rookie coach Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, the new-look Rosebud made an encouraging start by reaching the final of the pre-season Heritage Cup and drawing 2-2 with the Jets Youth in round one. They lost 1-0 to Hamilton in round two.
** Valentine coach Darren Sills hopes to have former Blacktown striker Daniel Ott back on his roster after round six.
Ott is yet to play an NPL match for Phoenix because of a slight Achilles tear and has been replaced by Matt Paul on their PPS list. Sills plans to restore Ott to the roster and keep Paul.
Sills said Ott had shown his quality in trial games and he was keen to have him up front with Joel Wood.
