Match of the Round
Toronto Awaba FC v Kahibah FC
Lyall Peacock Oval, Saturday 2pm
Kahibah FC coach Blair Newham says his side are playing for everyone that loves the club when they go head-to-head with Toronto Awaba FC at Lyall Peacock Oval on Sunday afternoon.
It’s a first vs second match of the round with automatic promotion up for grabs.
Toronto are sat at the top of the table but Kahibah are just two points behind them and are eager to claim the top spot.
“We’ve played just about every game since that defeat to Lakes as a semi-final or a grand final, so the boys have been up to those big pressure games the entire time,” Newham said.
“This is going to be potentially one of the games of any season. It’s a massive moment for the club, in our 100th year so everyone’s going to get behind it.
“We have players that have come over into this league with a lot to prove that maybe didn’t get the NPL experience or opportunity that they deserved and there’s a number of them in that sort of area.
“There’s also a number of boys that have been at the club for some time that are towards the twilight end of their career that it means a lot to.
“But with the amount of time that the committee and the community spend around this team I think everyone’s playing not just for themselves but for somebody else that loves Kahibah Football Club, so I think that’s the motivation.”
The Rams have not lost since their round three defeat to Lake Macquarie City and have recorded seven wins and two draws.
Until round 13 they were the only side to take points from the current league leaders when they defeated the Stags 4-2 in round five.
But if they do not replicate their round five victory Newham cannot fault the dedication his squad has put in this season.
“I cannot fault their commitment to the cause and even if it wasn’t to be this weekend we would still continue to push because that’s just the pride that this group’s got,” Newham said.
“We think we deserve to be in the conversation for promotion, and we’ll continue to work hard for that.”
The Rams will welcome back Daniel Byrne to the squad after he missed round 13 due to sickness but will be without Robbie Turnbull (suspended), Tyson Masters (calf) and Johnny Middleby (sick).
Toronto Awaba coach Jarrad Hiles knows his side will be fired up to rectify the round five defeat and bounce back from their 0-0 draw with Thornton Redbacks in round 13.
“I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, it’s first v second and it's pretty close on the table,” Hiles said.
“The game is always pretty intense, and they beat us in the first round, so we look to rectify that on Saturday.
“The boys will be keen to get back out there, and they know what’s at stake but as I’ve been saying all along not to get too far ahead of ourselves because anything can happen and there’s still plenty of football to be played. The boys will be itching to get back out there.
“I don’t think too many words from me will need to be said to fire them up. They’ll be up for it.”
Before their 0-0 draw with Thornton Toronto had not dropped points since round five, Hiles credits this to his side’s ability to adapt each week.
“They’re playing some good football,” Hiles said.
“Our pitch isn’t in the best shape; it’s a bit hard to play on. It’s just sort of rock hard now and a few bumps, but they will still try and get it down and play.
“But the boys have been playing some good footy.”
Hiles could not confirm if Damon Green and Nick Roberts would return to the squad after they missed round 13 due to ankle injuries.
Cessnock City Hornets v Wallsend FC
Turner Park, Saturday 2pm
Two sides battling to escape relegation will go head-to-head when Cessnock City Hornets host Wallsend FC at Turner Park on Saturday afternoon.
Cessnock will be on a high when they enter the match after they defeated Singleton Strikers 2-0 in a rescheduled round 10 match.
It was the Hornets first win since the beginning of April after five losses in a row and being held to two draws in recent weeks.
The last time the two sides met Wallsend walked away with all three points after they narrowly defeated Cessnock 1-0.
Cessnock will hope to keep the good times rolling and rectify their round five defeat to boost them away from the bottom of the table.
The Hornets will welcome back Jed Horder after he served a one match suspension.
Wallsend FC will be eager to return to winning ways after they were narrowly defeated 3-2 at the hands of Thornton Redbacks in a rescheduled round nine match.
The Red Devils sit at the bottom of the table but are just one point behind their round 14 opposition in ninth.
A win this weekend could see them sit as high as sixth on the table.
They will welcome back Matt Williams after he served a one match suspension.
Lake Macquarie City FC v Thornton Redbacks
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Saturday 4:30pm
Lake Macquarie City FC will look to put a stop to their losing streak when they host Thornton Redbacks at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday afternoon.
Lake Macquarie City were defeated 3-2 by Dudley Redhead United SFC in round 13, their fourth loss in a row.
They remained fourth on the table but need three points this weekend to remain in the race to feature in the promotion/relegation play-off series.
The Roosters will need to strengthen their defence after conceding 30 goals this season, the most of any team but will be confident in knowing they have netted 27 goals, the third most of any side.
They will be eager to right their wrongs and not repeat the 3-1 defeat Thornton handed them in round five.
Thornton will be playing their second match of the week on Saturday after a midweek clash with Wallsend FC in a rescheduled round nine match.
The Redbacks were victorious 3-2 after they led 2-1 at half-time.
The win boosted them to sixth on the table and will be hopeful to further distance themselves away from the risk of relegation.
Thornton will need to replicate their dominant round 13 defence and take advantage of their chances to walk away with all three points.
Dudley Redhead United v South Cardiff FC
Lydon Oval, Sunday 2pm
Dudley Redhead United will look to keep the good times rolling when they host South Cardiff FC at Lydon Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Dudley won their first game in four matches when they defeated Lake Macquarie City FC 3-2.
The Thistles sit at sixth on the table but a win this weekend could see them sit as high as fourth.
They will need to push in the final third and take advantage of their chances after they have only scored five times in just as many matches to walk away with all three points.
The last time the two sides met the Thistles were victorious 2-1 and they will be eager to repeat their round five performance.
South Cardiff will enter round 14 after a last minute 1-1 draw with Cessnock City Hornets in round 13 and the news that interim head coach Mark Trenter left the club last week.
The Gunners played round 13 with no head coach and were behind until the very end in their clash with the Hornets until a last-minute penalty goal added them to the scoreboard.
They sit eighth on the table but a win this weekend could also see them sit as high as fourth.
South Cardiff will need to tighten their backline after they have conceded 29 goals this season, the second most of any side.
West Wallsend SFC v Singleton Strikers
Johnston Park, Sunday 4:30pm
Two sides eager to return to the winners’ circle will face off when Singleton Strikers travel to Johnston Park to take on West Wallsend SFC on Sunday afternoon.
West Wallsend had the potential to enter the top four for the first time since round five but were defeated 2-0 by Kahibah FC in round 13.
They sit one point behind Lake Macquarie City FC in fourth and three behind the weekend’s opponents in third.
The last time the two sides met they could not be separated and walked away with a 1-1 draw.
The Bluebells will need to capitalise on their chances to walk away with all three points, something they have struggled with in recent weeks scoring only two goals in their past three matches.
Singleton Strikers enter the match after a midweek clash with Cessnock City Hornets in a round 10 rescheduled match.
The Strikers sit third on the table, 12 points behind Kahibah FC in second.
They have won two of their last five matches and will be eager to get the upper hand against the Bluebells.
