Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Alder Park, Saturday 2pm
New Lambton FC head coach John Bennis says his side are expecting a difficult challenge on Saturday afternoon as they host league leaders Lake Macquarie City FC at Alder Park in what shapes as one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
New Lambton head into the contest having played midweek, defeating Toronto Awaba FC 5-2 on Tuesday night after two consecutive washouts left them without a game.
Sitting third on the table, Bennis knows the stakes heading into the weekend and acknowledged the quality of a Lake Macquarie side that has been in exceptional form.
The visitors got the better of New Lambton 2-0 in their first meeting this season, a result that will not have been lost on Bennis heading into Saturday.
"Lake Macquarie have got some good players who have played at high levels and they're going to be strong," Bennis said.
"In the first game [against Lake Macquarie] we probably made a couple of vital errors at the wrong time that led to their goals, so we're expecting a tough hit out."
Despite the challenge ahead, Bennis said the squad's attitude heading into the back end of the season had been a source of real pride.
"We want to keep applying pressure to the top end of the table and hopefully get some results," Bennis said.
"The boys have worked really hard this year, especially coming back from relegation last season.
“They've brought themselves together and should be really proud of what they've done so far."
Lake Macquarie arrive at Alder Park in the form of their lives, having won their last four matches, including a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle Croatia that moved them to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Wallsend.
Head coach Michael Body said the mood within the camp was strong but acknowledged the work is far from done.
"We are at the top, which is obviously where you want to be at this time of year, but we're under no illusions," Body said.
"There are still four games to go and while we're tied at the top with Wallsend we can’t afford to stop winning. As always, it's one week at a time."
Body was measured in his assessment of the title race, acknowledging the pressure that comes with sitting at the top.
"The players know where they stand and what the stakes are," Body said.
"We just have to keep putting our best foot forward and deal with it week by week."
Reflecting on the first meeting between the sides, Body was quick to credit New Lambton's quality while expressing confidence his side would be better prepared this time around.
"In terms of playing style, I think New Lambton are the best team with the ball in the competition," Body said.
“They challenged us in that first game, especially in the first 45 minutes.
"We're going to have to be really well prepared on Saturday if we want to get the three points."
With both sides having the two best defensive records and Lake Macquarie possessing one of the strongest attacks, expect a tight and fiercely contested affair at Alder Park.
A win for Lake Macquarie would strengthen their grip at the top of the table and keep their automatic promotion charge on track.
For New Lambton, three points would close the gap to Lake Macquarie and put them in a strong position to secure their place in the top four heading into the final rounds.
Newcastle Croatia v Singleton Strikers
LMRFF - 3, Saturday 4.30pm
Newcastle Croatia host Singleton Strikers at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday afternoon with the home side treating the fixture as a must-win in their battle to hold onto a top-four place.
Croatia arrive having lost their last two matches, a run that has placed their top four position under pressure with just three rounds remaining.
It has been a familiar story for Croatia throughout the season in that they have been defensively vulnerable but devastating in attack. They have shown they can trouble any side in the competition if their forward line fires.
Having failed to keep a clean sheet all season, Croatia know they will need their attacking threat to do the talking once again if they are to claim the three points they need.
Expect another entertaining, attack-minded performance from the hosts as they look to keep their promotion play-off hopes on track.
Singleton arrive sitting five points clear of the relegation zone but eight points adrift of the top four, leaving them in a relatively isolated mid-table position.
While a top four finish looks extremely doubtful at this stage, the Strikers know a loss here could drag them back into the relegation conversation, a position they will be eager to avoid heading into the final rounds.
Singleton's priority heading into Saturday will be a disciplined defensive performance, as they look to take points from a high-scoring Croatia side that will be highly motivated.
A win for Singleton would ease their relegation concerns and give them a comfortable buffer heading into the final weeks of the season.
For Newcastle Croatia, three points are essential to hold their place in the top four and keep their promotion play-off hopes on track.
South Cardiff FC v Dudley Redhead United
Ulinga Oval, Sunday 1pm
South Cardiff FC host Dudley Redhead United at Ulinga Oval on Sunday afternoon with both sides entering the fixture with plenty at stake at opposite ends of the table.
South Cardiff have lost their last three matches, a run that has left them avoiding relegation on goal difference at this stage of the season.
With Toronto Awaba FC finding form in recent weeks and closing the gap, the Gunners know that points need to come quickly if they are to avoid the drop.
Their defensive record has been reasonable given their position but a return of just one goal in their last five matches tells the real story of their season.
Finding form in the final third is now a matter of urgency if they are to avoid the drop.
Dudley enter the fixture having managed just one win from their last five, though their strong start to the season sees them sitting fifth on the table, level on points with Newcastle Croatia just above them.
With Cessnock City Hornets FC just behind them and the top four spots tightly contested, Dudley know they cannot afford to drop points against a side sitting near the bottom of the table.
That said, their 2-1 win over South Cardiff in the first meeting this season was far from comfortable, and Dudley will be aware that the Gunners are capable of making life difficult for any opposition.
With both sides having plenty to play for, expect an intense and physical contest that neither team can afford to lose.
A win for Dudley would likely see them re-enter the top four with just three games remaining.
For South Cardiff, three points would provide vital breathing room from bottom-placed Toronto and ease their relegation concerns.
West Wallsend SFC v Toronto Awaba FC
Johnston Park, Sunday 1pm
West Wallsend SFC host Toronto Awaba FC at Johnston Park on Sunday afternoon, with both sides entering the fixture with vastly different objectives but just as desperate for points.
West Wallsend will look to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Cessnock City Hornets FC last weekend, a result that stung given they conceded a late winner having twice drawn level in the contest.
With just a handful of games remaining, the Bluebells know that anything less than three points here would place their promotion play-off hopes in serious jeopardy.
A win, however, would put them straight back into the top four conversation and keep their promotion dreams alive heading into the final rounds.
Toronto arrive at Johnston Park off the back of a 5-2 midweek loss to New Lambton FC, a result that will have dampened the mood somewhat after a promising run of results in recent weeks, including a positive 2-2 draw against Wallsend FC in their previous fixture.
That performance showed exactly what Toronto are capable of on their day and they will be looking to replicate that level as they continue their fight for survival.
Currently sitting at the bottom of the table, the Stags view every remaining fixture as a must-win, and a positive result here could see them climb above South Cardiff FC and out of the relegation zone for one of the first times this season.
With both sides desperate for points, expect a tense and competitive encounter at Johnston Park.
A win for Toronto would likely lift them above South Cardiff and out of the relegation spot.
For West Wallsend, three points are needed to keep their promotion play-off hopes alive heading into the final weeks of the season.
Wallsend FC v Cessnock City Hornets FC
Ladbroke Gardens, Sunday 3pm
Wallsend FC host Cessnock City Hornets FC at Ladbroke Gardens on Sunday afternoon in a fixture that carries significant weight for both sides.
Wallsend head into the contest frustrated after their round 15 fixture was washed out, leaving them to dwell on a 2-2 draw with bottom-placed Toronto Awaba FC in round 14.
It is a result they will view as two points dropped rather than one gained, having conceded late to the competition's bottom side.
That result saw them slide to second on the table, with Lake Macquarie City FC now ahead of them on points.
With the title race as tight as it has ever been, Wallsend know they cannot afford to drop any further points.
A win this weekend would go a long way to reclaiming top spot and keeping their hopes of automatic promotion to the NPL Men’s NNSW firmly alive.
Cessnock arrive at Ladbroke Gardens in great form, having won their last three matches, two of which were decided by dramatic late winners.
The Hornets sit sixth on the table, just one point behind the promotion play-off places, a remarkable turnaround for a side that was staring down a potential relegation battle just weeks ago.
While they will be aware of the size of the task ahead, Cessnock will take confidence from their 2-2 draw with Wallsend in their first encounter this season, a result that proved they have the quality to match it with the league's best.
With both sides having plenty to play for, expect a tight and physical contest at Ladbroke Gardens.
With the teams around Cessnock having a game in hand, a victory for the Hornets would temporarily push them into the top four, an unthinkable position just a month ago.
As for Wallsend, a win would see them reclaim top spot with just three games remaining in the season.