This weekend marks Northern NSW Football’s Mental Health Round, with clubs from across the region coming together to raise awareness, encourage conversations and highlight the importance of mental wellbeing throughout the football community. Learn more HERE.
Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Maitland FC
Magic Park, Friday 8pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jason Konjarski is embracing the challenge of taking on league leaders Maitland FC at Magic Park on Friday night.
Magic know only a win will do if they are to keep their finals hopes alive.
They remain one point clear of Adamstown Rosebud JFC after missing the chance to create breathing room with a 3-1 loss to New Lambton FC in round 19.
Now they face the competition's benchmark, with Konjarski relishing the opportunity to test his side against the league leaders.
“It'll be a great challenge. We've had good games against Maitland all year. The girls are up for it, and we're going to tweak a few things and do something a little bit different to what we've done against them in the previous two games,” Konjarski said.
“I'm really keen to see how it works. Like we've said, our destiny is in our own hands when it comes to securing that finals spot, so all our focus is on finals football.
“They're an absolute force, so it's an interesting challenge. From a coaching perspective, it's a fun challenge because, at the end of the day, we've really got nothing to lose.
“Maitland have been expected to win everything this season. Apart from that one little slip-up against New Lambton, they've been as close to perfect as you can get.
“So it's a good coaching headache trying to work out the best way to approach the game.”
Despite losing both meetings this season, Broadmeadow have been one of the few teams capable of troubling Maitland's defence.
Before New Lambton's 2-1 win in round 16, Magic were the only side to score more than once against the Magpies, netting twice in both of their meetings.
While Broadmeadow have not defeated Maitland this season, Konjarski enjoys the fact they are one of the only sides to have consistently tested their defence.
“Teams have struggled to create chances against them, let alone score. We've scored four goals against them in two games, and we've heard whispers from a few people that they don't enjoy playing against us,” Konjarski said.
“Apparently, out of all the teams they've faced, we're the one they wouldn't want to meet in the finals. Whether that's true or just a rumour, it's a huge compliment as a coach, and I think it's filtered back to the playing group as well.
“If those rumours are true, it's something the girls can use as motivation to go out there and do something special.”
Away from the on-field challenge, round 20 also marks Mental Health Round across northern NSW, with Konjarski hoping the occasion promotes greater respect between players.
“With it being Mental Health Round, I would love for all clubs to educate their players on the importance of respectful communication on the field,” Konjarski said.
“Not just this weekend, but in every match.”
Maitland enter Friday night's clash in ominous form, winning their past three matches while scoring 14 goals and conceding just once.
Coach Ben Horgan expects another stern test against a side that has consistently challenged his team this season.
“They're a side that throws everything at you. They're capable of scoring against anyone and they've got some very good attacking players,” Horgan said.
“Wimberley Wright has had a terrific season and she's someone we'll definitely have to keep tabs on.
“It should be an exciting game.”
Despite guiding Maitland to 14 wins, one draw and just one defeat, Horgan believes there is still room for improvement before the finals.
“I think it [2-1 loss to New Lambton] reinforced that if we're not at our best, there are teams that can beat us,” Horgan said.
“Looking back, I don't think we actually played badly that day, but even if our level drops by five or ten per cent, we can become vulnerable. It highlighted a couple of areas we needed to tighten up.
“One is trusting our ability to combine through shorter passing sequences rather than always looking to play in behind for the wingers too early.
“That's definitely one of our weapons, but against teams that defend a little deeper you have to be patient and play a different way.
“We've got players who are excellent in tight spaces and can combine to break teams down, so it's about trusting that process.
“The other area is making sure we don't leave ourselves exposed to counter-attacks. Our defending has been pretty solid since that game [against New Lambton], but it's about staying switched on, even when we feel like we're controlling possession.
“We still need to be organised defensively so we don't get caught if we lose the ball.”
Newcastle Olympic v Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 3pm
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade knows his side's clash with Newcastle Olympic at Darling Street Oval on Sunday afternoon is pivotal to keeping their finals hopes alive.
Adamstown had the bye in round 19 and risked seeing the gap to fourth-placed Broadmeadow Magic stretch to four points. Instead, they remained just one point adrift after Magic fell to New Lambton FC.
While Slade knows his side's fate is no longer entirely in its own hands, he remains focused on ensuring Adamstown takes care of business.
“We know how important this weekend is going to be to keep our finals series aspirations alive,” Slade said.
“We've put ourselves in a position where we have to rely on other results now to make the finals. So every time Magic loses, it's obviously a positive for us.
“Hopefully Maitland can do us a favour, and then Charlestown Azzurri can do us a favour in the last game of the year. If that happens, we need to take advantage of the fixtures we've got ahead of us.
“I think it's pretty clear that we can only control what we do. The only way we can influence whether we make the finals is by taking care of our own job, starting this weekend.
“We're coming up against an Olympic side that'll probably want to put in a much better performance than they have over the last couple of weeks.
“Results haven't gone their way, so I'd imagine they'll be playing for pride. Avoiding the bottom of the table will be a big motivation for them as well.”
Adamstown must win on Sunday to keep the pressure on Broadmeadow. While Olympic claimed a 3-2 victory when the sides first met in round six, the Buds responded with a 4-2 comeback win in round 13 after trailing 2-0 at half-time.
Despite the slow start in that match, Slade believes the comeback remains a source of confidence heading into this weekend.
“What matters most is where you are after 90 minutes. Obviously, everyone would rather be 2-0 up than 2-0 down at half-time. But if you're 2-0 down at half-time and win 4-2, people tend to forget about the first half,” Slade said.
“That said, you can't keep making things difficult for yourselves. We speak about that with the players.
“But coming back from 2-0 down gave the group enormous belief. It was also the first time this club had beaten Olympic, so that had a massive positive impact on the playing group.”
Olympic will be desperate to claim their first points since defeating Charlestown Azzurri 3-0 in round nine back in April.
They enter the contest having conceded 38 goals while scoring just five across their past eight matches, with their finals hopes now officially over. Instead, their focus will be on finishing the season on a positive note.
With just two games remaining, coach Jacob Jones and his players will be eager to secure at least one more victory before their campaign comes to an end.
To do so, they will need to produce one of their most disciplined performances of the season. Staying compact defensively and capitalising on the chances that come their way will be key if Olympic are to end their difficult run and take something from the match.
New Lambton FC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Alder Park, Saturday 5pm
Lake Macquarie City FC will be eager to finish their regular season on a high when they host New Lambton FC at Alder Park on Saturday afternoon.
With the bye in round 21, this will be Lake Macquarie's final match before the finals. Their place in the top three is already secured as they sit on 25 points, but they will be keen to carry momentum into finals.
They bounced back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Maitland FC with a 1-0 victory over Charlestown Azzurri in round 19. While the winning goal came courtesy of an Azzurri defensive error, Lake Macquarie still produced an encouraging attacking display, registering 10 shots on target.
But they are yet to trouble New Lambton this season, suffering a 4-0 defeat in round six before falling 3-1 in round 13. To reverse that trend, they will need another clinical attacking performance while also limiting one of the competition's most dangerous forward lines.
New Lambton returned to league action after an unexpected month-long hiatus with a convincing 3-1 victory over Broadmeadow Magic.
The result extended their winning streak to seven matches and reinforced the outstanding form they had built before the break, with the finals series now firmly in sight.
Adding further strength to an already formidable squad was the return of Newcastle Jets A-League Women's captain Cass Davis. Introduced from the bench in the 71st minute against Magic, Davis continues to build her match fitness and shapes as a valuable inclusion heading into the finals series.
Having already defeated Lake Macquarie twice this season, New Lambton will be confident of making it three from three. If they can continue to convert their chances while remaining disciplined defensively, they will enter the finals with plenty of momentum.
Bye - Charlestown Azzurri