Match of the Round
Singleton Strikers 1-1 Kahibah FC
Joshua Frazer Whitten’s equaliser 12 minutes from full-time earned Singleton a hard-earned point against Kahibah in the HIT106.9 Northern League One match of the round on Saturday night.
Singleton welcomed Kahibah to Howe Park fresh from a week off following the wash out of their round seven clash with Lake Macquarie City. While Kahibah were looking to make it three wins in a row following victories over Toronto Awaba and Dudley Redhead United.
Singleton were without Ryan Bercli (knee) and Corey Cleaver (unavailable) while Kahibah coach Blair Newham went into the match with a full strength squad.
The match remained goalless at the break before Kahibah’s half-time substitute Riley Ferguson gave the visitors the lead just 15 minutes after his introduction.
Kahibah looked like holding on for an important three points as they chase promotion in their centenary year, only for Frazer Whitten to secure a point for the Strikers late on.
The result saw Singleton slip to fourth, while Kahibah missed the opportunity to keep the pressure on leaders Toronto Awaba at the top.
The draw extended Singleton and Kahibah’s unbeaten runs to four matches. They will look to continue those records when they travel to South Cardiff and Cessnock respectively on Saturday.
Though Kahibah will first have to get past South Cardiff when they host the Gunners in their rescheduled round six match on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Singleton’s round seven clash with Lake Macquarie City has been rescheduled for Wednesday 21 May.
Toronto Awaba FC 6-0 South Cardiff FC
A blistering first half helped set up Toronto Awaba’s 6-0 drubbing of South Cardiff on Friday night.
The Stags were rampant at Lyall Peacock Field despite going to extra-time in their Australia Cup fifth preliminary round defeat to NPL Men’s NNSW heavyweights Edgeworth midweek.
Toronto Awaba took the lead through Nick Roberts after just eight minutes. Roberts had a second for the night and sixth for the season nine minutes later before Jarrod Purcell made it 3-0 midway through the first half.
Luke Callen added a fourth for the hosts two minutes before half-time to give Toronto Awaba a commanding advantage at the break.
An own goal 10 minutes into the second half made it 5-0 before Damon Green completed the rout one minute from full-time.
The win saw Toronto Awaba extend its lead to seven points at the top of the table as the Stags chase a return to the top tier of senior men’s football in northern NSW. South Cardiff remain fifth, three points outside the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Finals Series places.
It does not get much easier for the Gunners who face a tough week. South Cardiff will look to bounce back from their heavy defeat to the leaders Toronto Awaba when they take on second-placed Kahibah in their rescheduled round six match on Tuesday night before backing up to welcome fourth-placed Singleton to Ulinga Oval on Saturday night.
Toronto Awaba could take another step towards automatic promotion when they host third-placed Lake Macquarie City on Friday night.
West Wallsend SFC 4-5 Lake Macquarie City FC
Lake Macquarie City stole a vital three points with two goals in the final three minutes to secure an incredible 5-4 victory over West Wallsend in one of the games of the season on Saturday.
West Wallsend flew out of the blocks at Johnston Park, taking a 2-0 lead after eight minutes thanks to goals from Jed Conway and Tyler Rankmore.
Lakes pulled a goal back midway through the first half through Callum Stalling, before the hosts reestablished their two-goal lead thanks to Rankmore’s second goal nine minutes into the second half.
But the game turned on the hour mark when Lakes sent on Markus Wolscher.
Wolscher pulled a goal back two minutes after his introduction, before Jordan Preston’s penalty four minutes later saw the visitors level.
West Wallsend clawed back their lead on 71 minutes when James Lowe scored to put the Bluebells back in front.
But Lakes would not surrender.
Wolscher’s second goal levelled the scores three minutes from full-time. And, just when it looked like the see-sawing contest would finally end in a draw, Lakes took the lead for the first time in the 89th minute through Cade Thomson to spark wild celebrations on the Lakes bench.
The incredible result saw Lake Macquarie City climb to third, while West Wallsend missed the chance to close the gap to the top four.
Lakes will look to continue their momentum when they take on runaway leaders Toronto Awaba on Friday night. While West Wallsend will look to bounce back when they meet Dudley Redhead United on Sunday.
Thornton Redbacks 1-0 Cessnock City Hornets
Thornton climbed off the foot of the HIT106.9 Northern League One table with a much-needed 1-0 victory over Cessnock City Hornets on Sunday.
Zac Skippen’s goal just before the hour mark proved to be the match winner at Thornton Park with Josh Maguire’s side unable to conjure an equaliser.
The three points saw the Redbacks join the logjam of clubs on seven points, with West Wallsend in sixth and Wallsend in 10th also within four points of the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Finals Series places.
Cessnock are also part of the pile up of clubs on seven points following their third defeat in a row. The Hornets will look to bounce back when they host Dudley Redhead United in their rescheduled round six match on Wednesday night before welcoming Kahibah to Turner Park on Saturday.
Thornton will look to build on their momentum when they face Wallsend FC away from home on Sunday.
Dudley Redhead United SFC v Wallsend FC
Match postponed due to unplayable pitch following wet weather.
