Match of the Round
South Cardiff FC 1-0 Toronto Awaba FC
South Cardiff FC coach Keelan Hamilton praised the defensive application of his side as the Gunners secured their first three points of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Toronto Awaba FC at Ulinga Oval on Saturday.
While the first half remained scoreless, South Cardiff looked the most likely to break the deadlock after creating several promising moments in the final third.
The Gunners' persistence was eventually rewarded in the 57th minute following a productive build-up down the left-hand side.
A dangerous cross into the box saw Daniel Keelan compete at the near post with a Toronto defender, with the ball scrambling over the line to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
South Cardiff looked to double their advantage and put the game beyond doubt, with Zayne Morphew-Watson unlucky not to score after his strike from distance rattled the post.
The Gunners' backline remained compact for the remainder of the contest, limiting Toronto’s chances as they searched for an equaliser.
The 1-0 win serves as a great stepping stone for South Cardiff, who had produced positive performances in the opening rounds without any points to show for their efforts.
Hamilton felt the game was a significant step forward in terms of the squad's work rate and defensive structure.
"It was a good improvement, particularly defensively and in our pressure,” Hamilton said.
“We got the goal and never really gave up a clear chance in the game, which was a real positive."
Hamilton noted that while the side still has areas to improve in possession, the victory provides a boost to the side's morale going into the Easter break.
"Three points just helps the mood around the camp and gives us a little bit of confidence heading into the break," Hamilton said.
"It’s nice to get the first one out of the way so we can get back to training and just keep working on our football.
“We’ve still got a long way to go, and we can get better in lots of areas, but I can't fault the players. I'm really proud of them.”
Toronto Awaba head coach Jarrad Hiles admitted it was a frustrating afternoon for his side, who struggled to find creativity in the final third.
"For us, it was pretty scrappy," Hiles said.
“We struggled in the front third and couldn't really create any clear-cut chances.”
After a mixed start to the season, Hiles is focused on finding more consistency from his side as they move into the next run of fixtures.
"Once they scored, they defended well, and we just couldn't break them down,” Hiles said.
“We made a couple of changes later on and looked a little bit better, but we just couldn't get that equaliser.
"We just need to stick with it and stay solid. It is still early in the season.”
Toronto Awaba will aim to redeem themselves in their midweek Hahn Australia Cup fixture against Singleton Strikers FC.
The Gunners will look to use this win to kickstart their campaign when they travel to face New Lambton FC after the Easter break.
West Wallsend SFC 1-2 Singleton Strikers
Singleton Strikers coach Jason Brewer praised his side’s desire and execution of their pre-match game plan as they secured their first three points of the season in a physical 2-1 win over West Wallsend SFC at Johnston Park.
The visitors wasted no time asserting themselves, employing a high press from the opening whistle that saw Jackson Cox open the scoring in just three minutes.
The match took a dramatic turn just sixty seconds later when West Wallsend's Jett White was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge.
For a West Wallsend side already struggling with confidence following a difficult start to the year, the opening 10 minutes quickly became a nightmare scenario.
At the seventh minute mark, the Bluebells found themselves two goals down and reduced to 10 men as Jagger Wholert found the back of the net to cap off a dominant opening period for the visitors.
The numbers were evened out in the 25th minute when Singleton's Lachlan Nicol received a second yellow card, giving West Wallsend hope of getting back into the contest.
The Bluebells started the second half positively and searched for a way through a resolute Strikers' defence.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 70th minute when Jarrod Purcell found the back of the net to provide a lifeline for the hosts.
Despite being pinned back for much of the second half, the Strikers' defensive structure remained resilient, holding on to their lead and claiming their first win of the season.
"The plan was to press high for the first 10 to 15 minutes, try and get a goal, and we luckily got two," Brewer said.
"I thought our defenders were outstanding.”
Brewer admitted that despite the strong first half, the second half was a challenge as West Wallsend pushed hard to get back into the game.
"In the second half, we went a bit defensive and put ourselves under a lot more pressure," Brewer said.
"They [West Wallsend] were pretty strong in the second half and changed their shape a bit; they were probably unlucky not to get the draw in the end.
"It was a very physical game, but it was just good to get those three points on the board."
For West Wallsend, their start to the 2026 season has gone from bad to worse, with the Bluebells still searching for their first point of the season after three rounds.
While the second-half fightback at Johnston Park showed positive glimpses, the club's defensive struggles remain a concern.
Following the defeat, West Wallsend will head to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to face Newcastle Croatia after the Easter break, as they look to turn their early season form around.
The Strikers will turn their attention to the midweek schedule, as they prepare to face Toronto Awaba FC in the Hahn Australia Cup on Wednesday night.
Cessnock City Hornets 1-1 Lake Macquarie City FC
Cessnock City Hornets and Lake Macquarie City FC shared the points at Turner Park after a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets got off to the perfect start when Zachary Kronholm found the back of the net in the 10th minute.
A well-placed long ball into Kronholm put him through on goal, where he remained composed to finish past the keeper one-on-one.
The opening goal continues a prolific run of form for Kronholm, who has now scored five goals in the first three rounds of the season.
Cessnock maintained their narrow lead throughout the remainder of the first half, but Lake Macquarie returned from the break with added pressure.
The visitors found their equaliser in the 51st minute through Marcus Field, restoring parity early in the second half.
Neither team could find a winner in a closely contested finish to the game.
While the Hornets had to settle for a draw, the result ensures they remain unbeaten after the opening three rounds of the HIT106.9 Northern League One season.
Cessnock will look to continue their undefeated run when they return to Turner Park after the Easter Break to host Toronto Awaba FC.
Lake Macquarie will also be at home for round four, where they host Dudley Redhead FC, who currently sit just above them on the table in third place.
Newcastle Croatia FC 3-4 New Lambton FC
New Lambton FC secured their first victory of the season in the round's most entertaining fixture on Sunday, scoring twice in stoppage time to claim an action-packed 4-3 win over Newcastle Croatia FC.
The match appeared to be leaning in favour of the hosts early on, thanks to a standout performance from Jake McGuinness.
The experienced attacker netted a hat-trick, with his efforts in the 35th and 43rd minute giving Croatia a 2-0 lead at the break.
These goals marked a significant milestone for McGuinness, who has now scored over 100 goals across all competitions for the club.
New Lambton began their comeback early in the second half through defender Callum Priestley, before Chienglet Gum Chienglet levelled the scoring at 2-2 in the 55th minute.
But McGuinness completed his hat-trick just five minutes later to restore a 3-2 lead for Newcastle Croatia.
With 10 minutes remaining, New Lambton turned to their bench and introduced Shota Sagara.
The move proved decisive as Sagara found the equaliser in the 90th minute.
Moments later, in dramatic fashion, Priestley scored his second of the afternoon to complete the comeback and secure all three points for the visitors.
It proved a heartbreaking finish for Croatia, who were minutes away from their second victory of the season.
The late turnaround highlights a mixed start to their debut season as they continue to adapt to the new competition.
Newcastle Croatia will look to bounce back in round four when they host a struggling West Wallsend SFC side in the match of the round.
The result moves New Lambton into fifth place on the table, positioned just outside the promotion play-off positions.
They will look to build on this result when they host South Cardiff FC at home in round four.
Wallsend FC 3-1 Dudley Redhead United
Wallsend FC moved to the top of the table on Sunday after securing a 3-1 victory over Dudley Redhead United at Ladbroke Gardens.
The meeting featured two of the strongest starters to the 2026 season, but it was Wallsend who gained the early advantage.
Bailey Ryan opened the scoring in the eighth minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The advantage was doubled in the 37th minute when Blake Carter converted from the penalty spot.
Dudley responded well after the interval and managed to reduce the deficit in the 71st minute through Charles Horsley.
Despite the shift in momentum, Wallsend remained composed and regained their two-goal cushion in the 82nd minute when Ryan found the net for his second of the afternoon.
The brace takes Ryan’s tally to four goals in the opening three rounds.
Wallsend comfortably maintained the two-goal lead until the final whistle to secure their third consecutive win.
The result ensures Wallsend's dream start to the season continues as they remain unbeaten and jump into first place.
Head coach Chris Gallagher has established his side as the benchmark in the competition's early stages.
Despite the defeat, Dudley showed their quality throughout the contest and remain in a strong position on the table, currently sitting in third place.
They will aim to bounce back after the Easter break, when they come up against Lake Macquarie FC at Macquarie Field.
Meanwhile, Wallsend will look to defend their position at the top of the table when they travel to Howe Park to face Singleton Strikers in round four.