‘There’s talent there’: Stanton earmarks Eli Adams trajectory as Jets claim first win
Chris Macpherson 
Rob Stanton at the post-game press conference following Newcastle's 2-1 over Macarthur. Photo: Poletti/Round Ball Australia
Eli Adams led Newcastle from the front with a brace in their win over Macarthur, and coach Rob Stanton was measured but clear in his praise for the former Melbourne Victory player after his composed and mature showing.
It was a crash back down to Earth for Macarthur who, despite dominating the majority of major stat categories, were reeled in from a one goal half time lead thanks to an Eli Adams double.
Macarthur led shots on target seven to two, possession 64 per cent to 36 per cent, and xG 2.71 to 0.62, but still succumbed to the visitors just five days after they put in the most dominant display of Round 1, putting Perth Glory to the sword 6-1.
Macarthur opened the scoring in the 19th minute as Marin Jakoliš continued his hot streak of finding the back of the net in Bulls colours.
Some drastic last line defence from Ryan Scott before half-time and Thomas Aquilina after the break kept the margin to one before the Jets could find their way onto the score sheet.
It was the former Brisbane & Melbourne Victory youngster Eli Adams who stole the headlines at Campbelltown Stadium scoring twice.
His first was in the 56th minute with a calm left foot that stranded Filip Kurto, before a quick release from Ryan Scott at the opposite end set Ben Gibson up to thread a ball through for Adams, who struck from outside the 18-yard box again with his lethal left three minutes later.
Adams’ brace was enough for the Jets as they managed to hang tight in a concerted defensive effort for the remaining 31 minutes including a penalty save from Ryan Scott to maintain their one goal buffer and secure three points for the first time this season.
Newcastle coach Rob Stanton was glowing in the potential he sees in Adams, and was unsurprised that similarly to Clayton Taylor in the previous campaign, that Adams had hit the ground running.
“If you look at Eli, there’s talent there, I saw talent and I believe,” Stanton said.
“If he [Eli] can bring other areas out in his game it will shine,” in reference to the undoubted talent that was on display at Campbelltown, but clearly indicating the youngster still has improvement to come.
The manager also outlined an aspiration to continue to get minutes into Adams as part of his development.
“It’s very hard to be a good player if you aren’t consistently playing,” Stanton said.
“Today he showed he did the hard work.
“I’ve given him a shot and I am not surprised he scored two goals. I see those actions in training and it’s just going to give him a boost.”
Speaking on the young emerging brigade alongside Adams, Stanton was strong in his praise for the potential his side has.
“There’s heaps of them we have given plenty of minutes to. and they’re starting to become the players I know they can be.”
Newcastle will now head into the bye off the back of the victory, whilst Macarthur will head to Melbourne to take on the Victory next Sunday.