Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 1-3 Maitland FC
Maitland FC coach Ben Horgan praised his side’s patience in their 3-1 victory over Adamstown Rosebud JFC at Adamstown Oval on Sunday as the Magpies were crowned premiers.
The Magpies needed just one point to secure the premiership outright, but the challenge appeared difficult as Adamstown hit the ground running with an immediate attempt on goal.
As the sides settled into the match, they continued to test each other defensively, but it was Maitland who would break through first.
Sophie Stapleford aimed to send the ball from the byline across to Georgia Amess, but a diving save by Olivia Sneddon saw the ball deflected to Marion Dunbabin, who tapped it into the back of the net.
Adamstown searched for a response and Marry Ntsweng looked likely in the 21st minute as she launched the ball towards goal but struck the woodwork.
The pressure from the Buds paid off in the 24th minute when Maitland goalkeeper Annabella Thornton attempted to stop the ball after Charlotte O’Connor played it back, but her foot slipped.
Ntsweng pounced on the loose ball, beating a scrambling Thornton and Josie Morley to find the back of the net and level the scores at 1-1.
The sides traded momentum and shots as they looked to create an opening, and in the 42nd minute Maitland looked likely when Renee Pountney charged down the park and sliced the ball to Stapleford inside the box, only for Sneddon to deny her and send the sides into half-time at 1-1.
The Magpies hit the ground running after the break when substitute Ceanna Frost had an immediate attempt on goal, but Sneddon continued her impressive first-half performance.
Amess restored Maitland’s lead in the 67th minute when she found the end of a fantastic Natalia O’Driscoll pass and charged into the box before sending the ball into the bottom-left corner.
Maitland continued to apply pressure as Adamstown attempted to hold on and claw one back.
The fightback was made more difficult in the 76th minute when Tanya Jones fouled Sophie Nenadovic in the penalty area. Elodie Dagg stepped up to the spot and calmly converted to extend the lead to 3-1.
Despite Adamstown’s best efforts, they were unable to lessen the deficit, with Maitland securing a 3-1 win and the premiership.
The result also saw the Buds miss out on finals by one point, bringing their season to a disappointing close despite a strong showing against the newly crowned premiers.
“We knew it's always different playing on a smaller pitch like Adamstown, and we would have to be a little bit more patient,” Horgan said.
“I think the first half, everything was very rushed from panic. In the second half it took time to break down a good team when they're organised, but we were much more patient at working the ball around. We got players high up the pitch and more connected, and eventually we got the breakthrough.
“We just had to be patient, be better in possession, and the energy that the subs brought when they came on was really valuable.
“CC [Ceanna Frost] running at tired defenders, Nat [Natalia O’Driscoll] and her ability to break lines, Hope [Cleur] was great, and all the subs did a good job coming on, including at left back.
“It was good getting a big, tough 90-minute battle in going into finals, because we know we're going to have more tough games ahead.”
Horgan was thrilled for his side to be crowned premiers and secure their third trophy of the season.
“That [being premiers] for me, is the big one because it's the mark of consistency over the long season,” Horgan said.
“So it was always, in my mind, the one you really need to make sure that you secure to prove that you've been the best team over the course of the season.
“It was tight all the way because New Lambton kept winning. They didn't drop many games either, so we had to make sure we kept playing well week in, week out over the long season.
“It is a hard thing to do, so full credit to all the players for the consistency and the level that they've been able to maintain over the whole season.”
Adamstown Rosebud coach Martin Slade, while disappointed with the loss, was impressed by his side’s performance.
“The girls played well today. We tried something different. Overall, we came up a little bit short, but I hope that we gave Maitland a run for their money and certainly made them work for it,” Slade said.
“Congratulations to Maitland, the coaching staff and the players. I hope they go on and have a great finals series from here.”
Slade believed the season was decided by ‘almost’ moments, with those missed opportunities ultimately affecting Adamstown’s finals position.
“The result today, 3-1 against Maitland, didn't define our season. The three draws that we had earlier on against Broadmeadow Magic and Charlestown twice, they were the games that we needed to win to cement a place in finals,” Slade said.
“Ultimately, you're looking at the ladder, and it will say that we haven't been good enough, which is fine.
“But the performance today goes to show what we've been about all year, which is almost, but not quite there.”
Maitland will now host New Lambton FC in the major semi-final.
Broadmeadow Magic 1-0 Charlestown Azzurri
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jason Konjarski admitted it was not his side’s best performance but was thrilled to secure a spot in the finals after they defeated Charlestown Azzurri 1-0 at Magic Park on Sunday.
Magic needed a win to move into fourth and secure a spot in the finals, and that desire was evident from the first whistle.
As the first half went on, Magic dominated large sections of possession, but wayward shots and strong defensive pressure saw them unable to take the lead.
The moment Magic had been waiting for came in the 20th minute when Megan Janikowski launched a free kick from just in front of halfway into the penalty area. As Charlestown defender Taren King attempted to clear the ball, she instead deflected it into her own net to hand Magic the 1-0 lead.
Charlestown’s Jannali Hunter searched for an equaliser in the 34th minute as she launched the ball from outside the box towards goal but sent it over the crossbar.
Azzurri began to control larger sections of possession as the half went on but were unable to capitalise on their chances, heading into half-time trailing 1-0.
The Blues started the second half the way they ended the first: full of energy and hunting for an equaliser.
Azzurri continued to push forward and spent large portions of the half in the final third, but Magic’s defence stood firm and continued to deny them a clear path to goal.
Magic were forced to weather the pressure in the closing stages but held their composure to protect the 1-0 lead until the final whistle.
The win saw Magic climb into fourth and return to the finals series after missing out in 2025. Meanwhile, the loss saw Charlestown’s season come to a close with the side finishing sixth on the table. However, the 1-0 loss in round 21 highlighted the improvement of the side following a 10-0 defeat to New Lambton in round one.
“We just got the job done, and that's all we knew we needed to do, so I'm happy. The performance wasn't great, but at the end of the day, we got done what we needed to do,” Konjarski said.
“The group of players we have this year compared to last is chalk and cheese, but the way they apply themselves, the way they train, the way they show up, and what they need to do on and off the field, it shows with the results that we've had. I can't fault any of the girls.
“They deserve everything they get at the moment, so it's really good to see the performances that we've been putting in.”
Konjarski praised his players’ ability to rise to the occasion and is eager to see if they can continue that momentum into the finals.
“I challenged them and said it's all knockout football, so we know exactly what we need to do within knockout football to stay in the game,” Konjarski said.
“They applied themselves and got a gritty 1-0 performance. They deserve to be in the finals.
“I'm just excited to now see how finals football goes. We've had performances that show that we can match it with the best. Can we keep that run going? I think, yes.
“It's up to the girls now, but there's no pressure on us to do anything.”
Magic will now face Lake Macquarie City FC in the minor semi-final.
New Lambton FC 10-0 Newcastle Olympic
New Lambton FC closed out the final round of the season the same way they started it: with a 10-0 victory, this time over Newcastle Olympic at Alder Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Lauren Allan whipped a corner into the penalty area for Cassidy Davis, who headed it into the goal.
Davis then assisted New Lambton’s second in the 24th minute, launching a free kick into the penalty area for Tara Andrews to head into the back of the net.
Despite numerous attempts, New Lambton were unable to capitalise further and went into the sheds leading 2-0.
It was a second half Olympic will want to forget, but one New Lambton will relish after a dominant 45 minutes.
A second for Andrews in the 52nd minute and an Olympic own goal from Isahbella Threlfo in the 54th saw New Lambton quickly extend their lead to 4-0.
Brianna Trappett took the lead to 5-0 in the 66th minute as she charged down the field unmarked and beat defender Jess Evans as she entered the box, sending the ball into the bottom-left corner.
Allan added a goal of her own in the 72nd minute when she made her way down the park and launched a powerful shot from just inside the box into the back of the net.
Back-to-back goals for Andrews in the 75th and 77th minutes saw her take her tally to four goals and New Lambton’s lead to 8-0.
Andrews then locked in her fifth and sixth goals in the 83rd and 85th minutes to take her season total to 32 goals and seal New Lambton’s dominant 10-0 victory.
New Lambton will now enter the finals series on the back of a dominant win before facing Maitland FC in the major semi-final.
The loss saw a season Olympic will want to forget come to an end, with the side finishing last on the table as they look to rebuild in 2027.
Bye - Lake Macquarie City FC