Match of the Round
Cessnock City Hornets 1-2 Newcastle Croatia
Newcastle Croatia head coach Joshua Popescu hailed a huge game for his side after a 2-1 win over Cessnock City Hornets at Turner Park on Saturday afternoon.
The result, aided by New Lambton FC's loss to Dudley Redhead United, confirmed Croatia's place in the promotion play-off series and moved them into third place with a round to go.
Finishing in third would mean avoiding a first-round meeting with an NPL Men’s NNSW side in the play-offs, giving this win extra significance for Croatia.
The game was far from straightforward for Croatia as Cessnock made the perfect start, with youngster Flynn Reeks breaking the deadlock inside three minutes.
Despite going a goal down early, Croatia were determined to waste no time getting back into the contest.
The visitors drew level through Beau McDonald in the 20th minute, before McDonald struck again just three minutes later, capitalising on a Cessnock mistake to complete the turnaround.
The visitors were able to maintain that pressure for the remainder of the first half and held firm through a few late Cessnock chances in the second half to see out the win.
Popescu was over the moon with the result and praised his side's growth since the club's return to the competition four years ago, having gone into the season in unknown territory.
"It's just such a good moment, it shows how far you've come in such a short period of time," Popescu said.
"To be doing this well now after our start to the season, I'm so proud of everybody."
Reflecting on the win, Popescu pointed to his side's composure after conceding an early goal as the difference in the contest.
"We went off to a shaky start, but we sort of found our rhythm in the game," he said. "
“We just clicked into gear, and then at half-time we regrouped and said we've got the biggest 45 minutes of our lives.
“We had to dig deep, hold our shape and stay composed, and we got the win in the end."
Looking ahead to a home fixture against Wallsend FC in the final round that could confirm third place outright, Popescu made clear his side won't be there to make up the numbers.
"I'm coming to show that we not only belong in this competition, but to put the comp on notice going into the semi-finals," he said.
For Cessnock, the result was hard to take given the effort put in, according to head coach Joshua Maguire.
"We started on fire, had them on the back foot, and I thought it was fairly even into half-time," Maguire said.
"We weathered their storm a bit and threw the kitchen sink at it in the last 10 minutes, but couldn't find a way through."
Maguire said the manner of the defeat reflected a season of fine margins for his side.
"You can't deny we weren't in that game until the last kick, and if we do that throughout a season, we'd be playing finals," he said.
"Nearly all our losses have been by one goal, so it's the little moments in this game that haven't quite gone our way."
With relegation no longer a threat and the promotion play-off spots unachievable on the table, Maguire said his side would take a free-swinging approach into their final game against New Lambton.
"There's no reason we're not thinking about a win to finish the season on a high," he said.
"Overall, it's been a positive season for this club, and there's a strong platform to build on."
With Cessnock closing out their campaign away to New Lambton, they will aim to end the year on a high after a season of narrow margins.
As for Croatia, they will look to confirm third place outright when they host Wallsend in their final game of the season.
Wallsend FC 7-0 West Wallsend SFC
Wallsend FC produced a famous derby day win on their Old Boys Day, thumping rivals West Wallsend SFC 7-0 to move top of the table after Lake Macquarie City FC’s 2-2 draw with South Cardiff FC.
Wallsend gave notice of their intentions early, with Cody Halpin opening the scoring in the 21st minute before Tyrell Paulson doubled the lead just four minutes later.
The rout continued when the Bluebells conceded an own goal in the 36th minute to make it 3-0, leaving the visitors searching for answers heading into the sheds.
After the break, the story remained familiar. Halpin struck again in the 49th minute to make it four, breaking any chance of a West Wallsend comeback.
As the scoreline seemed to settle towards the back end of the game, substitute Cameron Davies added a fifth in the 84th minute.
Halpin then completed his hat-trick a minute later in the 85th, before adding a fourth of his own in the 90th to cap off a 7-0 scoreline that will live long in Wallsend folklore.
The win completes the season double over their arch-rivals and, crucially, puts them ahead of Lake Macquarie at the top of the table, with automatic promotion now in their own hands.
For West Wallsend, the result is one to forget and sums up a season of inconsistency.
Having now lost four straight, their form has fallen away sharply since a mid-season upturn that had them eyeing a late top-four charge.
They remain seventh, but risk slipping to eighth if Singleton Strikers pick up a result in the final round.
Now looking ahead to Saturday, West Wallsend will host South Cardiff at home, looking to close the season on a positive after an inconsistent campaign.
As for Wallsend, they will travel to Newcastle Croatia in their final game of the season, looking to gain three points to confirm automatic promotion and the title.
Singleton Strikers 1-0 Toronto Awaba FC
Singleton Strikers claimed their most important win of the season on Old Boys Day, defeating Toronto Awaba FC 1-0 at Howe Park to secure their place in the HIT106.9 Northern League One for another season.
Both sides went into the fixture with major stakes attached, and it showed in a tight, physical opening 45 minutes.
Chances were hard to come by as both defences held firm, reflecting just how much was riding on the result.
The second half followed a similar pattern before Singleton found the breakthrough in the 70th minute, when a ball played into a dangerous area caused problems for the Toronto defence.
Unable to deal with it, the ball fell kindly to Jagger Wholert, who slotted home to give the Strikers the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
The goal opened the game up, with Toronto now needing to score.
Singleton continued to press and came close to doubling their advantage shortly after, before ultimately holding firm through a nervy closing spell to claim the three points.
The victory moves Singleton five points clear of Toronto with one game remaining, officially securing their survival and confirming their place in next season's competition.
While the season has been a difficult one for the Strikers, who have fallen from their promotion play-off position of last season, avoiding relegation on Old Boys Day will be a moment the club will remember for years to come.
For Toronto, the result leaves them in a precarious position heading into the final round, sitting just above South Cardiff FC on the table.
Should the Gunners win or draw in the final round, Toronto would need to beat league leaders Lake Macquarie FC themselves to survive.
The defeat will be viewed as a major missed opportunity, with three points here effectively enough to secure their safety.
It was one of their best chances to secure survival, and they will now turn to what looms as one of the club's most important games in recent history.
The Stags will start preparing to face Lake Macquarie at home in a final-round fixture, with three points being the objective to avoid relegation into the Zone League One competition.
Singleton will host Dudley Redhead United in their final game of the season.
Dudley Redhead United 1-0 New Lambton FC
Dudley Redhead United ended a six-game winless streak in style, defeating New Lambton FC 1-0 to confirm fifth place for the season on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tight, cagey affair, with neither side able to break the deadlock in the first half.
Dudley started the second half on the front foot, moving the ball with more purpose and beginning to create chances in the final third.
That pressure told in the 57th minute, when Riley Furguson headed home from a well-worked corner routine, once again showcasing Dudley's threat from set-pieces.
The hosts then defended excellently to see out the win, holding strong against a New Lambton side that made attacking changes in search of an equaliser.
While falling just short of the promotion play-off spots will be a disappointment, the result is a reminder of Dudley's capability and what they've built in just their second season in the division.
With one game still to play, they can be proud of a season that has established them as one of the top sides in this competition.
For New Lambton. the result drops them to fourth on the table below Newcastle Croatia, with third place now out of their hands heading into the final round.
Missing out on the points will sting given third place would spare them a first-round meeting with an NPL Men’s NNSW side in the promotion play-offs, particularly against a Dudley side that has struggled for form of late.
With Croatia facing a tough fixture against Wallsend FC next weekend, it's still all to play for in the final game of the season to finish third.
New Lambton themselves will return home to face Cessnock City Hornets FC, aiming to reclaim third place on the final day.
Dudley will look to close out the season in winning ways when they travel away to Singleton Strikers.
Lake Macquarie City FC 2-2 South Cardiff FC
Lake Macquarie City FC produced one of the biggest comebacks of the season, snatching a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat against South Cardiff on the Roosters’ Legends Day.
South Cardiff stunned the home side by opening the scoring in the 21st minute through Jemila Oko, catching Lake Macquarie cold on their own Legends Day.
Lake Macquarie responded by pushing for an equaliser for the remainder of the half, but South Cardiff stood firm at the back, restricting clear-cut chances and heading into the sheds 1-0 up.
The visitors carried that defensive discipline into the second half, continuing to frustrate the home side and limit them going forward.
With the clock running down, South Cardiff doubled their advantage through Jackson Pereira in the 87th minute, a goal that appeared to have the shock result all but wrapped up and Lake Macquarie’s automatic promotion hopes in real danger.
With the title on the line, Lake Macquarie refused to give up the fight in the closing stages.
Mason Rae pulled one back almost immediately in the 88th minute, before substitute Jayden Rogers broke South Cardiff hearts with an equaliser in the 90th minute to complete the comeback.
The game is a mixed bag for South Cardiff, with the point being a positive result against the then league leaders but will be gutted to have let a 2-0 lead slip in the final minutes.
A win would have lifted them out of the relegation zone ahead of Toronto Awaba FC.
Still, with Toronto losing elsewhere, South Cardiff head into the final round a point behind them but with a superior goal difference, meaning a Toronto loss to Lake Macquarie next week would leave them needing just a point at home to West Wallsend SFC to survive.
For Lake Macquarie, the draw is the more costly result on paper, ceding top spot to Wallsend FC after their 7-0 win over West Wallsend elsewhere.
Automatic promotion is now out of their hands, with the Roosters needing to beat Toronto next week and rely on Wallsend dropping points against Newcastle Croatia FC.
Lake Macquarie will know the result could prove a costly one but will be proud of their efforts to come back in the final minutes, giving themselves still everything to play for heading into the final round.
Lake Macquarie will travel to Toronto on Saturday in a must-win fixture, where they’ll need Wallsend to slip up points for automatic promotion.
For South Cardiff, they now head to West Wallsend needing a positive result of their own, while also relying on Toronto to drop points to stay in the division.