Match of the Round
Toronto Awaba FC 5-0 Cessnock City FC
Toronto Awaba maintained its place at the top of Northern League One with a 5-0 victory over Cessnock City on Saturday.
Ethan Wilson opened the scoring after five minutes at Lyall Peacock Field. And things got worse for the visitors 20 minutes later when Cessnock goalkeeper Max Hampton was sent off.
Wilson added his second just past the half hour mark before Nicholas Roberts made it 3-0 20 minutes into the second half.
Jarrod Purcell made it a four-goal lead with Toronto Awaba’s fourth goal 14 minutes from full-time.
Harrison Relf added a fifth for the Stags late on.
The win saw Toronto Awaba extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, while Cessnock slip to sixth.
Singleton Strikers 1-1 Thornton Redbacks
Singleton failed to keep pace with leaders Toronto Awaba after Thornton held the Strikers to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Thornton took the lead after five minutes at Howe Park through Liam Hardy.
But the hosts hit back seven minutes later through Callan Hungerford.
Both sides desperately chased a winner but it was not to be as the points were shared.
The draw saw Singleton remain second but slip to four points behind the Stags, while Thornton remain in last place.
The Strikers will turn their attention to their Australia Cup fifth preliminary round match against Belmont Swansea United on Tuesday.
Belmont Swansea United 1-2 Wallsend FC
An 84th minute Ben Keelan winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 win for Wallsend over Belmont Swansea United on Saturday.
It was a goalless first half at Blacksmiths Oval with Belswans taking the lead six minutes into the second half through substitute Blayke Reeves who headed home at the back post.
But the visitors hit back four minutes later through Matthew Williams to level the score.
Keelan then popped up six minutes from full-time to secure the result for the Red Devils.
The win was enough to see Wallsend climb into the top five, while BelSwans slipped to seventh.
Belswans will turn their attention to their Australia Cup fifth preliminary round match against Singleton on Tuesday night.
Kahibah FC 4-3 West Wallsend SFC
Kahibah defender Heath Kepreotes scored a winner 14 minutes from full-time to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over West Wallsend on Sunday.
Brendon Robertson gave Kahibah the lead just before the half hour mark at Kahibah Oval.
West Wallsend hit back three minutes before half-time through an own goal.
The Bluebells then took the lead moments before the break through Quinn Macneill.
Kahibah pulled themselves level on the hour mark before Robbie Turnbull put them in front from the penalty spot.
West Wallsend levelled again in the 72nd minute through Spencer Clarke to make it 3-3.
But Kepreotes popped up four minutes later to finally seal the points for the hosts.
The win saw Kahibah climb to third, while West Wallsend remain eighth.