NPL Women’s NNSW
Charlestown Azzurri 1 (5) - 1 (3) Newcastle Olympic
Charlestown Azzurri coach Heath Whyte was thrilled for his side to pick up where they left off last season after they were crowned the 2025 Women’s HMRI Charity Shield champions on Friday night.
The Blues and Newcastle Olympic were forced into a penalty shootout at Jack McLaughlan Oval after a hard-fought 90-minute battle before Azzurri took home the first piece of silverware for the new year.
The first half was a tussle of momentum and possession between the two teams each desperate to start their season on the right note.
Azzurri’s newest signing Madi Gallegos switched her defensive duties for an attacking position and was a key part of Whyte’s game plan to cause havoc on Olympic’s defenders.
Olympic’s own new recruit Maddy Howard showcased her dominance across the park and threatened the Blue’s defensive unit.
Sophie McDonald from Olympic was forced from the pitch midway through the first-half due to a quadriceps injury and youngster Olivia Weeks came on as her replacement.
Despite attacking opportunities from the two sides in the first half, the scoreline remained at 0-0 into the break.
A-League veteran striker Melina Ayres made a surprise appearance off the bench at the start of the second half and had an instant impact with her high-intensity and pinpoint passes.
Azzurri finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute through Gallegos after a mix-up from Olympic’s defence.
Jorja Brown launched the ball into the penalty area where it looked that Olympic’s goalkeeper Tallon Convery would clear it away. But she got tangled with teammate Jess Evans which allowed the ball to trickle through for Gallegos to pounce on and slot into the goal.
But it didn’t take long for Olympic to find the equaliser after Howard slotted a specular free kick in the 79th minute.
Howard curled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area around Azzurri’s wall and into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Neither team could find the winner within regulation time which moved the match into penalties.
Jayna Fraser, Ayres, Sienna Fraser-Kelly and Brianna Williams converted their kicks for Azzurri, while Elodie Dagg, Laura Hall, Amelie Hingston each hit the back of the net for Olympic.
But Danielle Nicol sent her attempt over the crossbar for Olympic before Gemma Simon slotted home her strike to secure the win for the Blues.
Weeks was named the Player of the Match.
Whyte was thrilled to get the result and start the new season on a high.
“It was very nice to start the way we finished off,” Whyte said.
“I think for an early game in the season they did really well.
“I was really happy with how both teams stood up and the manner in which the game was played.
“It is good to see we have some great combinations and that the girls are really enjoying their football and company.”
Azzurri’s coach praised his side for sticking to the game plan and holding strong defensively throughout the match.
“We worked on our defensive shape and we didn't quite get it right in the first-half but we made some adjustments at half-time and I think in the second-half we were really quite good,” Whyte said.
"Our back line was really disciplined and worked hard.
“I think the only thing we missed tonight was a bit of ball security and we gave it away too cheaply. But if that is the only thing we missed and the girls executed the rest of the strategy I am happy.”
Newcastle OIympic’s coach Craig Atkins was disappointed not to get the result but was pleased with his side’s ability to stay in the game.
“It’s a tough way to lose on pens but overall can't fault the girls and will put us in good steed for the season,” Atkins said.
“Neither team gave an inch but that is what we want; high-intensity games of football.
“Full credit to the girls for the fight back at the end. Obviously missing a number of players today and then watching some of our promising young girls come through was outstanding.
“I am proud and disappointed but overall it was another good hit out. We will move forward positively and confidently into round one.”
NPL Men’s NNSW
Lambton Jaffas 2 (3) - 2 (0) Broadmeadow Magic
Lambton Jaffas' captain Ben Kennedy was not surprised his side came from behind to take home the 2025 Men’s HMRI Charity Shield against Broadmeadow Magic.
It was a match filled with drama from start to finish with three red cards, high intensity and a penalty shoot-out.
Kennedy was the match-winning hero for the Jaffas, after he pulled off two spectacular penalty saves to win the game 2 (3) - 2 (0) at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Friday night.
One minute's silence was observed before kick-off and the teams each wore black armbands after Charlie Turner, the son of well-known football personality Chris Turner, passed away suddenly during the week.
The game got off to an explosive start with both teams desperate to start their 2025 season with a win.
But it didn’t take long for Magic to break the deadlock after Jayden Stewardson snuck the ball past goalkeeper Ben Kennedy in the eighth minute.
Jaffas tried to respond but it was Magic who doubled their advantage after they were awarded a penalty when Jimmy Oates took Baker down inside the area.
Baker converted from the spot with a strong strike past the reach of Kennedy.
Jaffas were dealt a further blow when Oates was given a second yellow card and sent from the pitch for a late tackle on Baker.
David Tanchevski’s men kept the deficit to 2-0 as they went into the sheds at the break.
Broadmeadow made a tactical change at half-time, with goalkeeper Taylor Pate replacing Lewis Alverez.
But the tide changed when Magic was also reduced to 10 men after Nik Kacev was sent off for violent conduct in the first minute of the second half.
It didn’t take long for Jaffas to make the most of the shift in momentum as new signing Joseph Langlois hit the back of the net in the 50th minute.
Langlois sliced the ball low and hard from the edge of the penalty area through a sea of players and into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Jaffas injected their new star striker Shusuke Kirahara who made an instant impact off the bench.
Things went from bad to worse for Magic after they went down to nine men in the 69th minute. James Cresnar was given a second yellow card for a late tackle at the end of the penalty area in the 69th minute.
It looked as though Jaffas would be unable to use their extra man advantage to even the score until Yuhei Sato gave them a lifeline in stoppage time.
Kirahara was brought down inside the penalty area by Jeremy Wilson which resulted in Jaffas being given a penalty kick. Sato converted from the spot to lock the score up at 2-2 and take his side into penalties at the full-time whistle.
Sato stepped up for the first penalty of the shootout and converted his second spot kick of the evening before Kennedy denied Jack Simmons with a strong save to give Jaffas the advantage.
Langlois then netted his second goal of the day and Kennedy batted away Wilson’s attempt. Nikolai Topor-Stanley buried his attempt in the bottom left-hand corner of the goal before Ryan Ensor sent his attempt sky-high over the goal and sealed the win for Jaffas.
Sato was named the player of the match.
Kennedy said he never doubted his side to be able to overcome the hurdles they faced to snatch the win.
“I thought we were the better side even when we were 2-0 down,” Kennedy said.
“I thought we played much better than them. They [Magic] kind of went into their shell a little bit, they have a habit of doing that. We thought if we could get one goal then we could get another one.”
“I thought it was a good game it was two sides that don’t really like each other and a good build up to the season.”
Jaffas coach David Tanchevski was proud of his side’s resilience to get themselves back into the game.
“I was really happy with the boys’ response. I think a lot of people had written us off this year with losing a lot of experienced players but hopefully this shows we are going to be a competitive team again this year,” Tanchevski said.
“At half-time I said we are 2-0 down and one man short but let's just keep calm, keep creating opportunities and stick to our game plan. Credit to the boys, they reacted really well.
“This gives us a mentality that we are a winning group.”
Broadmeadow’s captain Wilson was disappointed with how his side managed the game.
“We played well for about 30 minutes. I think it was our game to lose and we definitely lost it on our own,” Wilson said.
“If we didn’t lose the two players, I don’t think that we would have lost.
“I think that we need to gel a bit more and get a bit more disciplined.
“At half-time the message was for the first 10 minutes just stay disciplined and don’t concede and we did the opposite.
“If we can keep all of our players on the pitch, I think we showed that we are a pretty good team still. We have hopefully learned some lessons.”
