BATHURST ’75 Panthers FC may not have got the result they wanted against Roosters FC in their State League Division Two match on Sunday, but from the 5-3 loss emerged one big positive in the form of Jarred Portegies.
With ’75 missing three key players – Ricky Guihot, Garret Dowling and Garreth Willis – heading into the away match with one of the best teams in the competition, Rooke was on the hunt for a replacement with attacking flair.
He had seen what Portegies had done for the Western Panthers in the Super Youth League competition and offered the young talent a chance.
It was one Portegies well and truly took as he set up one of ’75s goals and was among the best players for the Bathurst outfit as he made his State League debut.
“We were so short on personnel in certain areas ... I needed a striker. I’d been watching him [Portegies] and when I approached him he was more than happy to step up for us,” Rooke said.
“He has a great attitude, he was actually probably one of our best players on the weekend. It was really great for him to set up a goal, it was great to see how he handled senior football.”
It was the second tough game in the space of 24 hours for Portegies, as on Saturday he was among the goal scorers for his Super Youth League side as they defeated Blacktown Spartans 4-2.
However, on Sunday the Roosters were just too slick for a Bathurst side which battled hard for the entire contest.
’75 actually enjoyed the lead in the opening stages after Dusco Miljkovic found the mark from a free kick, but the hosts rallied and scored the next two goals of the contest.
When Miljkovic headed home his second of the afternoon before half-time the game was locked at 2-all and while Roosters FC again took the advantage after the break, ’75 did not concede defeat.
A quick throw-in from Portegies saw James Christie catch out the Roosters’ defence and at 3-all the result was up for grabs. Unfortunately for Rooke and his men, it was the hosts who managed to finish stronger, but the ’75 mentor was not entirely disappointed.
“It was a pretty open sort of match, it was the one which got away from us I guess,” he said. “I am not disappointed with the guys’ effort though, we had a pretty skinny side but the effort they put in and the attitude turn around after last week [when losing 3-0 to Hurstville] was great – if we had played like that the week before we certainly would have beaten Hurstville.”
While the result means Bathurst missed out on a spot in the top four, they are still in reach of a finals position. They trail fourth placed Hurtsville by five points, but do have a game in hand on a number of their rivals.
Rooke still believes ’75 can qualify for the finals – a belief backed up by the effort against a Roosters outfit he rates very highly.
“I have no doubt in my mind they are the best team in the competition, they play very good attacking football,” he said.
“But I’ve got no doubt they are beatable, with our best squad of players I think we can beat them.”
ROOSTERS FC 5 defeated BATHURST ’75 3 (Dusco Miljkovic 2, James Christie)
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