Kelley Strikes It Rich With Move Up Front For Azzurri

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday April 23, 2008

Josh Leeson BACK OF THE NET

DEAN Kelley's shift from the backline to striker has paid dividends for Azzurri's under 19s, with the 17-year-old racking up two hat-tricks in successive weeks.

The Hunter Sports High student scored all three goals in Azzurri's 3-0 win over Weston in the first round and backed it up with another treble in his side's 4-2 win over Hamilton Olympic on Sunday.

Kelley joined Azzurri last year. The Lake Munmorah resident wanted to test himself in the strong Northern NSW State League competition.

His sharp-shooting has been recognised by Hunter Combined High Schools selectors; Kelley will play in the NSW titles at Kellyville in western Sydney.

? A decision is expected today or tomorrow about when Sunday's washed-out game between Lake Macquarie and West Wallsend will be replayed.

"The rules state the game has to be rescheduled in three days and replayed in three weeks," NNSW Football operations manager Alan Nisbet said.

"This year we have four grades [including under 17s] so there's a chance we might have two grades on one night and two on the other."

The abandoned round-one match between Weston and Azzurri will be replayed next Wednesday at Weston Park.

First grade was cancelled at half-time due to lightning after Azzurri were leading 1-0.

? Four-time state league leading goalscorer Peter Juchniewicz will miss at least the next two games after tearing a thigh muscle during Hamilton Olympic's 3-2 loss to Azzurri on Sunday.

Juchniewicz was Olympic's major off-season signing but has only managed 40 minutes so far this season.

He initially strained the quad muscle during a trial against West Wallsend a week before the competition kicked off.

After sitting out the first-round match against his former club Edgeworth, Juchniewicz decided he was ready for Sunday's clash with Azzurri.

But he fears he may have made the injury worse.

"I made the decision to play when I probably shouldn't have, and about 40 minutes into the game I went to take a free kick and re-aggravated the injury," Juchniewicz said. "I'm not too sure yet what the damage is, but I think it'll be a couple of weeks."

? The West Wallsend old boys came together on Sunday at Johnson Park to celebrate the club's promotion back into the state league after a seven-year absence.

Rain dampened the celebrations and the club is now planning to organise another gathering of former players before the home match against Edgeworth in July. Organisers are hoping to attract most of the 1988 grand final side.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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