Match of the Round
Charlestown Azzurri 0-3 New Lambton FC
New Lambton FC coach Craig Atkins said that he was thrilled to see his side secure a clean sheet as they defeated Charlestown Azzurri 3-0 despite a wayward second half at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Azzurri looked eager to continue their positive run of results when Riley Gardner charged downfield and launched a strike from the edge of the penalty area. Goalkeeper Janalli Haynes produced an excellent save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar before gathering it safely.
The two sides continued to trade possession in an end-to-end contest until New Lambton broke through first.
Caitlin Pickett sent the ball towards the back post, where an unmarked Tara Andrews met it with a diving header that found the bottom left corner.
New Lambton quickly doubled their lead in the 42nd minute after Lauren Allan cut the ball back from the byline to an unmarked Sienna Fraser-Kelly, who calmly slotted it under a diving Danielle Bartels and into the back of the net.
The late goals were enough for the Golden Eagles to take a 2-0 lead into half-time despite a tightly contested first half.
New Lambton entered the second half determined to find a third goal but a strong Azzurri backline and some wayward finishing made it appear unlikely.
But a Fraser-Kelly and Allan link-up eventually paid off, with Allan racing into the penalty area and lifting the ball past the advancing Bartels and into the net.
While the Golden Eagles continued to push for a fourth goal, the score remained 3-0 at full-time as they secured their fifth consecutive win.
“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge playing Azzurri up at their home field but full credit to the girls. We started really well and I thought we created a lot of chances, especially in that first half,” Atkins said.
“It got into a bit of a tighter battle because we couldn't capitalise on our chances but they stuck to it and scored a couple just before half-time, which gave us a nice buffer going into the break.
“Second half, the girls had to adapt to Azzurri’s change in formation and the game plan probably didn't go as well as we wanted it to.
“We probably didn't stick to the game plan for that last 45 minutes but we got a clean sheet, which is really important, and got that third goal as well.”
Charlestown Azzurri coach Alicia Ferguson felt her side was reacting rather than anticipating when it came to New Lambton’s first half goals.
“It was a bit of a shame that we conceded the two goals in quick succession,” Ferguson said.
“I think the first one, there was a bit of defensive confusion and Tara finished it really well with the header.
“The second one, funnily enough, I didn't actually see the goal scored because I was trying to work out what changes I was going to make at half-time.
“I felt like we were a little bit off. We were reacting more than anticipating in the first half, so I was trying to work out whether I was going to change the formation and personnel.
“I think conceding in quick succession was a bit disappointing and that's something that we need to address, how we respond once we concede and making sure we don't concede again so quickly.”
Ferguson acknowledged that her side needed to reflect individually and collectively before their next match.
“We lost that game today and I think we just have to reflect on that as a team and individually,” Ferguson said.
“I think New Lambton played well, not taking anything away from them and they scored three goals, but we could have done better in that game and I think the players understand that.
“So that's where we reset, reflect and then go again.”
Charlestown will look to respond on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Darling Street Oval to take on Newcastle Olympic.
Meanwhile New Lambton will be eager to continue their winning streak when they welcome Maitland FC to Alder Park on Saturday afternoon.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 3-0 Broadmeadow Magic
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade said he wanted his side to match Broadmeadow Magic’s intensity and they did exactly that as they secured a 3-0 victory at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Friday night.
Broadmeadow Magic started strong, with Wimberley Wright forcing Adamstown goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon into an important save just four minutes into the contest.
But as Adamstown settled into the match, they began to build pressure and were rewarded in the 20th minute. Georgia Cook delivered a long ball into the penalty area that found Tanya Jones, who headed home into the bottom left corner to give the Buds the lead.
Adamstown continued their strong performance when Jones doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute, finding the back of the net with a spectacular long-range strike from around 40 metres out.
Both sides continued to battle for the remainder of the half but it was Adamstown who took a 2-0 lead into the break.
A renewed Magic outfit emerged after half-time and nearly found a way back into the match in the 61st minute.
Wright made a strong run onto a through ball from Jessica Wallace but Sneddon raced off her line and to the edge of the penalty area, forcing Wright to lose control of the ball.
The second half remained tightly contested, with Magic continuing to search for a breakthrough. But Adamstown’s defence stood firm, while Sneddon continued to deny any scoring opportunities.
Despite Magic’s efforts, Adamstown put the result beyond doubt when Marry Ntsweng collected the ball well outside the penalty area from a short free kick and unleashed a strike into the top-left corner to seal a 3-0 victory.
It was the first time this season that Adamstown had neither conceded first nor conceded at all and Slade was delighted for his side.
“I’m really, really pleased for the girls,” Slade said.
“Honestly, I know it's been a bit of a talking point throughout the competition and I've brought it up a few times myself but it's great to keep a clean sheet and not go behind.
“But not only that, to go 1-0 and then 2-0 up and build some momentum within the game was really pleasing.”
Slade credited the win not only to his side’s commitment to their football philosophy but also their ability to match Broadmeadow Magic physically and mentally throughout the contest.
“We actually spoke about just matching Magic. We knew they were going to come out hard. They're obviously a very direct, physical team that plays fast football and we knew they wanted to make a strong start,” Slade said.
“Their season is in a similar position to ours, they want to play finals football. So we had a good chat about matching their energy and making sure we didn't lose the game in the first 15 or 20 minutes.
“It was about staying true to our philosophy while also matching the grind and competing in every moment.”
The victory lifts Adamstown into fourth place on the table but Slade was remaining grounded despite his side's rise up the table.
“It’s where everybody wants to be, us included,” Slade said.
“I’m happy to be in fourth but everybody still has to play each other.
“It’s always good to take three points from teams that are in direct competition when you're fighting for a finals spot.”
Adamstown will look to strengthen their position when they host third-placed Lake Macquarie City FC at Adamstown Oval on Sunday afternoon, while Broadmeadow Magic will have the bye.
Lake Macquarie City FC 2-1 Newcastle Olympic
Lake Macquarie City FC returned to winning ways when they defeated Newcastle Olympic 2-1 in a hard-fought battle at Macquarie Field on Sunday afternoon.
As both teams looked to snap recent losing streaks, an end-to-end contest unfolded for large periods of the first half.
Lakes’ Brooke Summers came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute with a shot from just inside the penalty area but a diving save from Isabella Aquilina denied her.
It appeared the sides would head into half-time locked at 0-0 but a determined Lakes effort quickly changed that.
Alyssa Togo-Paragalli lofted the ball from halfway into the penalty area just before the break for Chelsea Lucas to tap it into the left side of the goal after it bounced over the top of Aquilina to send Lakes into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Olympic entered the second half with fresh energy and found an immediate equaliser after kick-off. Eva Donnelly played the ball forward where Ava McGann sliced her finish under a diving Morgan Ross, who was high off her line, and into the bottom-right corner.
Maddy Howard had a chance to give Olympic the lead shortly after when she charged into the penalty area but her effort drifted narrowly over the crossbar.
It was a similar story to the first half for the remainder of the contest as both teams battled for momentum but Lakes’ persistence paid off in the 84th minute.
Olympic’s Jess Evans headed clear a Larissa Ryan shot but Keziah White reacted quickest to the deflection and launched the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the back of the net to restore her side’s lead.
White’s strike proved to be the difference as Lakes secured a 2-1 victory to snap their three-game winless run.
Lake Macquarie City will look to build on the result when they travel to Adamstown Oval to face Adamstown Rosebud on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle Olympic will hope to bounce back and end their five-game losing streak when they welcome Charlestown Azzurri to Darling Street Oval.
Bye - Maitland FC