Match of the Round
Singleton Strikers v Kahibah FC
Howe Park, Saturday 7:30pm
Singleton Strikers coach Doug West believes preparation will be key when they host Kahibah FC on Saturday night at Howe Park.
Singleton didn’t take the field in round seven due to wet weather conditions but enter this weekend on a three-game unbeaten streak as they have not lost since round three.
“I would have preferred to play coming off the momentum that we had built over the last couple of weeks,” West said.
“Disappointed we didn’t play, which means it’s very important to get two quality sessions in this week ahead of Kahibah who will be a very tough opposition.
“It’s probably just focused on making sure that we do the right things in the preparation and lead up this week as best we can.
“Getting everyone to training, making sure they’re fit and healthy and making sure we focus on the things that are going to ensure that we are prepared correctly for the opposition.”
The Strikers have conceded eight goals this season, the second lowest behind Toronto Awaba FC and Dudley Redhead United on seven, something West attributed to goalkeeper Stuart Plant.
“I think in two of the games, our goalie was the best on the field and that’s a sign that he had a great game, and the opposition created a lot of opportunities,” said West.
“I think if Stuey [Plant] wasn’t in goals we may have had a lot different story to tell with the defensive record.”
West has been vocal on wanting strong one-on-one defending and more intensity from his side which he believed they have done.
“I think definitely we’ve spent a lot of time focusing on defence and intensity,” West said.
“All those tactical plays that make a solid defence and very hard to break down because we know that we may play a lot of games against teams where we don’t have the ball this year.”
Singleton will be without Ryan Bercli (knee) and Corey Cleaver (unavailable).
Kahibah are also on a three-game unbeaten streak and has not lost since round three.
The Rams have found the back of the net the second most times this season, but coach Blair Newham wanted to see better discipline from his backline after conceding nine goals so far this season.
“We’ve been good recently, and I asked for a bit of discipline from my back four and in our last game, we got our first clean sheet of the season,” Newham said.
“So, I’m really happy with that. Still a bit wasteful in front to be super critical but pretty happy at the moment.”
In Kahibah’s centenary year Newham understood the positive outcome for the club if they were to be promoted which he believed was not an added pressure on his side.
“The players have bought into what we’re trying to do,” said Newham.
“The drive there for promotion is huge from within the club. Obviously, I haven’t really used that word yet, but it is something that the club is really striving to work towards.
“So, the external factors for the boys, whilst it’s not an added pressure on them, I think they have all bought into the actual community of the club and how much it means to a 100-year club like Kahibah to be at the top level.”
The Rams sit second on the table just five points behind league leaders Toronto Awaba with a game in hand, but Newham was not getting ahead of himself.
“It’s a positive thing, but it is still only early doors,” Newham said.
“We’re not yet halfway through the season and our game against Cessnock will sort of finish off round one, and then we’ll get a real sort of look at where we really are.
“But I think on our day we’ve proven we can beat anyone, so that’s the type of confidence I want our boys to play with anyway and just take the next game as it comes and not look too far forward towards that pointy end of the season.”
Newham has confirmed all players will be available for selection.
Thornton Redbacks v Cessnock City Hornets
Thornton Park, Sunday 2pm
Cessnock City Hornets coach Josh Maguire is optimistic heading into his side's clash with Thornton Redbacks at Thornton Park on Sunday afternoon.
Cessnock enters round eight after a 4-2 loss against Toronto Awaba, but Maguire was happy with his side’s performance.
“I’m feeling optimistic that we can go there against Thornton and get a result on the back of our performance against Toronto,” Maguire said.
“I asked for our team to play better than what we did against Wallsend, and everyone focused during the training sessions leading up to that.
“We had a game plan that we sort of executed for 75 minutes against a really good team and pushed them all the way, which I was happy about.
“To have that team that’s obviously top of the league and push them all the way and go in at half-time leading, it’s something that we can take into Sunday’s game and then obviously Wednesday and then Sunday again with three games in seven games.”
The Hornets will need to hold on tightly to any lead they obtain after losing a 1-0 lead at half-time against Toronto, which was something Maguire believed his side can do.
“I think it’s our mindset that we’ve talked about at the start of this season is to actually go for wins,” said Maguire.
“So, we get into that lead against Thornton and obviously hold onto it and can we keep playing our style of football and not go in our shell.
“Just try and hold on to that lead because I think that invites pressure.”
Thornton will be thirsty for their second win of the season after falling short in the past two rounds.
The Redbacks lost by one goal in round six and round seven after they pushed their opponents until the very end.
They will need to capitalise early and keep their foot on the gas for the remainder of the match when they face the Hornets after going down 3-2 in round seven despite sitting with a 2-2 draw at half-time.
Toronto Awaba FC v South Cardiff FC
Lyall Peacock Oval, Friday 8pm
Toronto Awaba FC will want to keep their momentum alive when they host South Cardiff FC at Lyall Peacock Oval under the Friday night lights.
The Stags have only lost one competition match this season and sit at the top of the table, leading most goals scored and least number of goals conceded.
Toronto enters the weekend after playing in round five of the Hahn Australia Cup midweek. They went head-to-head with NPL NNSW side Edgeworth Eagles pushing them all the way until the end and into extra time before going down 4-1.
They will need to maintain their high work rate in the front third to get through a physically dominant South Cardiff defence and continue their run at the top of the table.
South Cardiff will be determined to maintain their drive after they won their first game since round one when they defeated Thornton Redbacks 4-3.
The win jumped the Gunners from eighth to fifth with a game in hand after their midweek clash with Kahibah FC was postponed.
The Gunners will need to control possession and apply consistent pressure up front to break down Toronto’s backline and walk away with their third win of the season.
West Wallsend SFC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Johnston Park, Saturday 4:30pm
Lake Macquarie City FC will be eager to return to the pitch when they take on West Wallsend SFC on Saturday at Johnston Park.
Lakes were unable to take the field in round seven due to wet weather conditions and will be hopeful the unscheduled week off didn’t hinder momentum after their dominant 6-1 win over Wallsend FC in round six.
The Roosters have found the back of the net 16 times in their first six matches of the competition, the same amount they scored in the entirety of season 2024.
They will look to add to their tally with the aim to jump to third on the table with a game in hand.
West Wallsend enters round eight still searching for their second win of the season after they went down 2-0 to Wallsend FC in round seven.
The Bluebells fell to sixth on the table but a win in round eight could launch them as high as third.
They will need to piece together a full 90-minute performance and have full focus which coach Bailey Cox believes they have lacked in recent weeks.
Dudley Redhead United v Wallsend FC
Lydon Oval, Sunday 4:30pm
Wallsend FC will search for back-to-back league wins when they travel to Lydon Oval on Sunday afternoon to go head-to-head with Dudley Redhead United.
The Red Devils had a full 180 in results in round seven after their worst loss of the season. They went down 6-1 to Lake Macquarie City FC in round six and entered round eight with the aim to gain respect which they did after they defeated cross-town rivals 2-0.
Wallsend have had three clean sheets this season but will need to tighten defence after conceding 15 goals so far, the second most in the league.
It will be Wallsend’s second match in five days after going down 8-1 to NPL NNSW side Cooks Hill United in round five of the Hahn Australia Cup.
Unlike the Red Devils, Dudley was unable to walk away from their derby clash in round seven with a win after they went down 2-0 to Kahibah FC.
It was just the second time this season the Thistles were held scoreless despite scoring the least number of goals of any team so far this season.
Regardless of finding the back of the net only five times, the Thistles have conceded the least number of goals equal with league leaders Toronto Awaba.
They will have to continue their strong defence and need to capitalise on their chances to walk away with all three points.
