Match of the Round
West Wallsend SFC v South Cardiff FC
Johnston Park, Sunday 2pm
West Wallsend SFC coach Bailey Cox expects a tough encounter when they go up against South Cardiff FC at Johnston Park on Sunday at 2pm.
The Bluebells won one out of three encounters with South Cardiff in 2024, but a dominant 4-1 win in round one and more depth in their squad in 2025 will boost their confidence when they welcome the Gunners to Johnston Park.
“It will be a tough encounter but it should be a good game,” Cox said.
“They break fast and catch us on the counter, so we need to make sure we’re up for it.
“We have a different squad this year and better eyes on the promotion so we’ll come out faster.”
West Wallsend narrowly missed out on the promotion/relegation play-off final but showcased that they can put a National Premier League side to the test pushing Adamstown Rosebud to the very end.
Cox was hopeful the added depth in his side will get them promoted in 2025.
“We were pretty close with the squad we had last year but lacked depth,” said Cox.
“We have focused on adding depth into our squad this year and hopefully that will get us there.
The Bluebells welcomed back Matt Paul to their squad last Saturday after he missed the 2024 season with an ACL injury and he wasted no time putting his mark on the competition.
“Having Matt back is unreal. We missed him heaps last year,” Cox said.
‘Having Dain [Greentree] back as well is great.
“They’re both left footed so we can now go both ways and open up the way we play.
The HIT106.9 Northern League One season has gone from 27 rounds in 2024 to just 18 in 2025 and Cox is determined to come out firing.
“We always start a bit slow, only winning two out of our first five matches last year, so hopefully this year we come out faster,” Cox said.
“There’s more on the line each game, you can’t afford to slip up when there’s only 18 matches.
"Every game is make or break.”
The Bluebells are uncertain if skipper Bryson Cox will be available on the weekend after reaggravating a calf injury 30 minutes into their round one match.
South Cardiff coach Perry Mellon was quietly confident to face West Wallsend after defeating Lake Macquarie City 3-2 in round one.
“It was a difficult round one performance, round one is always difficult. Everyone is nervous and excited and it can become a bit chaotic which ours did,” Mellon said.
“We handled it all really well and found a way to win.
“Westy is always a good and difficult challenge. They bring a big crowd so we’re excited.
“We will be quietly confident after a good win but they had a good win as well so it will be a good match.”
The Gunners won just one game and conceded 12 goals in the first five rounds of 2024 and will be looking to get a better start to their 2025 campaign after a long pre-season.
“It’s been a different prep, starting much later,” said Mellon.
“We’ve had more time to work on a range of things and obviously the less goals you concede is better and will be a focus point.”
Despite being confident in his side, Mellon sees the BlueBells as the team to beat in 2025.
“It will be a physical match, they are always physical and play a good brand of football,” Mellon said.
“Realistically they are the team to beat.
“But we will always back ourselves and we normally play really good against the better competition.”
The Gunners will be at full strength on the weekend, ready to fight for their second win of the season and take all three points away from West Wallsend in front of their home crowd.
Kahibah FC v Thornton Redbacks FC
Kahibah Oval, Friday 8pm
Thornton Redbacks coach Scott Winslade is confident in his side ahead of their match-up against Kahibah on Friday night at Kahibah Oval.
Thornton went down 4-1 in their opening match and will be searching for their first win of the season when they travel to Kahibah Oval.
Despite his side’s loss, Winslade remained confident in the season ahead.
“It was a 10-minute blip at the end of the first half where we lost concentration and they took full advantage,” Winslade said.
“I’m still confident in the side and the season ahead.
“Obviously, Kahibah will be one of the stronger sides and it will be a good game.
“I’m sure that all the boys will want to put right what went wrong as soon as possible.”
Winslade believed his side will need to remember to get back to the game plan if they go behind on Friday night.
“They just switched off at critical times and when they scored their first goal we never got our composure back” Winsalde said
“So definitely when situations go against us we have to re-centre ourselves and get back to the game plan.”
Friday night will be the first time Winslade and Kahibah’s new coach Blair Newham go head-to-head in HIT106.9 Northern League One.
But the two share a history going up against each other in the NPL Men’s NNSW reserve grade coaching Charlestown Azzurri and Newcastle Olympic.
“We don’t agree with each other,” said Winslade.
“We had a couple of disagreements on the sidelines last year.
“But new club’s and new season so who knows what will happen this year.”
Winslade has confirmed all of Thornton’s side will be available for selection with ‘the egos damaged more’ after round one.
Kahibah will hope to make it two from two on Friday night when they return home for the first time this season.
The Rams came out firing in their round one 3-1 win after Daniel Byrne got his first hat-trick of the season in the first seven minutes of his 2025 campaign.
They will need to work on tightening defence after awarding Wallsend FC two penalties, potentially walking away with just one point if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Jacob Zissis stepping up for his team and saving both.
Kahibah will have a confidence boost when they face the Redbacks after having two wins and one draw against the side in 2024.
The Ram’s most dominant win against the Redbacks came in round 26 netting seven goals and conceding just one.
Kahibah had just one win in their first four matches in 2024 and will be determined to rewrite the script on Friday night.
Toronto Awaba FC v Wallsend FC
Lyall Peacock Oval, Friday 8pm
Toronto Awaba FC will look to keep the good times rolling when they face Wallsend FC under Friday night lights at Lyall Peacock Oval.
The Stags will be on a high after defeating the new kids on the block Dudley Redhead United 1-0 last Saturday in front of a home crowd.
Toronto will need to treasure possession and convert their chances on Friday to secure the win after being unable to extend their lead against a determined Thistles’ goalkeeper.
Something the Stags didn’t have a problem with in 2024 was defeating the Red Devils, which they did all three times they went head-to-head netting 13 goals and conceding just one.
Stags side will be boosted with Connor Fitzpatrick returning to the side after serving the last match of his suspension from the 2024 season.
Wallsend will hope to right their wrongs on Friday night after going down 3-1 last Sunday when they closed out round one against Kahibah FC.
The Red Devils will need to tighten their defence when they face the Stags after conceding three goals in just seven minutes.
Despite being awarded two penalties, Wallsend was unable to equalise with the Rams and walk away with a point.
They will be determined to get more than one past the Stags on Friday night and put a halt in their winning streak away from home.
Dudley Redhead United v Singleton Strikers
Lydon Oval, Sunday 2pm
Dudley Redhead United will be set on securing all three points on Sunday when they host Singleton Strikers at Lydon Oval for the first time at 2pm.
The Thistles’ will be looking for their first win of the season and what better place to do it than their home ground where they will play for the first time this season.
Dudley went down 1-0 to Toronto Awaba in round one but coach Mark Wilson believed his side took lots away from their first game in the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition.
They will need to be quicker and stronger on the ball this weekend to score their first goal in Northern League One.
The Thistles’ will welcome back Joey Soergel on Sunday after he missed round one due to suspension from the 2024 Zone Football League One grand final.
Skipper Damian Cox will also be available for selection after serving the remainder of his 2024 suspension but the Thistles' are uncertain if he will take the field following a knock to the knee on Tuesday night.
Singleton will be searching for back-to-back wins on Sunday after defeating Cessnock City Hornets 2-0 in round one.
The Strikers will be looking to secure their lead early after scoring both goals late into the second half last Saturday.
Singleton only won two of their first five games in 2024 and will be searching for a consistent rhythm to open the season.
Cessnock City Hornets v Lake Macquarie City FC
Turner Park, Sunday 4:30pm
Two teams searching for their first wins of the season will close out round two on Sunday afternoon when Cessnock City Hornets host Lake Macquarie City FC at Turner Park.
Lake Macquarie went down 3-2 to South Cardiff in their first hit out of the new season despite a strong contest.
The Roosters looked like they were walking away with one point but fell short in the 90th minute after a controversial challenge awarded South Cardiff a penalty.
They will need to control their composure and remain disciplined to walk away with all three points on Sunday.
Cessnock fell short to Singleton 2-0 in round one despite an end-to-end contest.
Coach Josh Maguire believed his side rued their missed chances, particularly in the first-half when they faced the Strikers.
They will need to convert their chances and treasure possession on Sunday if they are to secure their first win of the season.
The Hornets had just one win in their first eight games in 2024 and will be hopeful to have a better run at the start of their 2025 campaign.
