Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic FC v Edgeworth Eagles FC
Magic Park, Saturday 2pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar said that the premiership is on the line when they host Edgeworth Eagles at Magic Park this Sunday as the sides prepare to face off in the biggest game of the season so far.
The 2024 grand finalists have been the two best teams again this season and are locked on 50 points with three matches remaining.
They have both won 16 of their 19 matches, drawn two and lost one to establish themselves as the premiership and championship favourites.
Only goal difference separates them heading into their rescheduled round 12 clash, with Edgeworth on top of the table, but Sunday’s fixture is a chance for them both to stand up and ensure the premiership is theirs to lose with two matches remaining.
“It’s an exciting game for both teams, and whoever comes out favourably will be in a very strong position,” Cresnar said.
“I think whoever wins this game will probably win the comp.
“Edgeworth have been very consistent this year. They have the best defensive record, and Magic hasn’t beat them in the normal rounds over the past two years either.
“We’ve been consistent in our training over the past few weeks, and if the players aren’t up for this game, they’ll probably never be. There’s plenty of motivation there.”
Magic have Valentine FC and Cooks Hill United at home in the final two games of the regular season, while Edgeworth have a much tougher run with Weston Bears away and Charleston Azzurri at home.
Both teams are confident they can get the job done during the final two weekends, and Edgeworth coach Peter McGuinness agreed with Cresnar’s prediction.
“He’s probably right. I think whoever wins this one is in pole position to go on with it,” McGuinness said.
“I can’t see whoever wins this one slipping up enough in the final two games, but it’s football. Anything can happen.
“We’re looking forward to this game. It’s been a busy schedule, but the boys are up for it.
“We’ve had a few games where we’ve laboured a little bit and there’s been a bit of fatigue recently.
“But I saw enough in the second half (of a 3-2 win away from home against Newcastle Olympic last Sunday) and against the Jets (in a 3-0 friendly loss at home on Tuesday night) to know the boys are in a good headspace going into this one.
“It’s a very big game.”
Edgeworth were trailing 1-0 at half-time against Olympic at Darling Street Oval on Sunday and were facing a second loss in three matches before an inspiring second half performance guided them to a 3-2 victory.
McGuinness said he was proud of his side’s efforts and resilience in that match and wants them to emulate their second half performance for 90 minutes against Magic.
They will be without one of their goal-scorers from that game as Flynn Goodman is away this weekend, but they are hopeful they will have Jackson Brady available as the club appeals a three-game suspension he received after being sent off against Weston Bears last week.
Adamstown Rosebud FC v Belmont Swansea United FC
Adamstown Oval, Sunday 2pm
Adamstown Rosebud coach Chris Moylan labelled Sunday’s fixture a must-win game as his side prepare to host Belmont Swansea United at Adamstown Oval.
These two teams are locked in a relegation battle, with BelSwans ranked ninth with 16 points and Adamstown ranked 11th with 14 points.
The Rosebud were part of the promotion/relegation play-off final series against the Northern League One teams last season and Moylan said that was something he does not want to experience again in 2025.
Sunday’s match is a chance for them to battle their way out of that relegation zone, with two of their final three matches to be played against last-placed side New Lambton FC on the run home.
“We’ve identified three of these last four games that we’ve ended up with as must-win games. We’d pencilled that in at the start of the season and nothing’s changed,” Moylan said.
“I’ve been happy with our effort in most of the games we’ve played in the past six weeks. We certainly gave Weston a run last weekend. I was proud of that effort.
“If we can carry that form, that energy and that commitment into this game, we should be fine.
“Our defence is a little bit sharper this time to when we last played BelSwans (a 5-3 loss at Blacksmiths Oval in round one). We’ll be better prepared defensively this time around.”
Belmont Swansea snapped a six-game losing streak last Saturday when they secured their first clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 draw at home against New Lambton.
They are now looking to win for the first time since mid-June and secure their spot in the competition for 2026 as they continue to battle for survival in their first season since being promoted.
New Lambton FC v Lambton Jaffas FC
Alder Park, Friday 8pm
A highly-anticipated derby clash will kick off the rescheduled round 12 fixtures when New Lambton FC host Lambton Jaffas at Alder Park on Friday night.
New Lambton’s hopes of remaining in the competition are hanging by a thread as the last-placed side sit seven points behind 11th-placed Adamstown Rosebud.
But with two of their final four matches to be played against Adamstown, they still have a chance of survival that would be significantly boosted if they can score their second win of the season on Friday.
The Golden Eagles’ coach Shane Pryce said that his men would be up for the fight and were relishing the opportunity to spring a derby upset.
But he is well aware that they will need to go to another level as they challenge a side that scored seven goals last weekend.
The Jaffas registered the largest win of the season last Saturday when they demolished Valentine on home soil at Arthur Edden Oval, and their attack is likely to be bolstered as they prepare to welcome back mid-season signing Carter Smith from injury this week.
David Tanchevski’s men are currently fourth on the table, but three teams outside the top five are nipping at their heels.
A win this Friday would ensure they remain firmly in the finals picture with just two matches left to play.
Valentine FC v Maitland FC
Croudace Bay Complex, Sunday 4:30pm
Valentine FC will be hoping to bounce back from the biggest defeat of the season when they host Maitland FC at Croudace Bay Complex on Sunday evening.
The Phoenix travelled to Arthur Edden Oval last Saturday and went down 7-0 against the Lambton Jaffas to slide to 10th on the table.
They are just two points ahead of 11th-placed Adamstown Rosebud with four games to go, so they are well and truly in a battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
Valentine’s number one priority this Sunday is solidifying their defence that had been improving across the second half of the season but suffered a setback against the Jaffas.
They are hoping to be boosted by the return of defender Hiroumi Ikeda, who was sent off in a 2-1 win against New Lambton FC earlier this month and received seven extra matches on his suspension due to match official abuse.
The club are appealing that suspension this week and are hopeful he will be available to play against Maitland.
The Magpies showed they can cause headaches in this year’s post-season when they pushed Broadmeadow Magic to full-time in a 2-1 loss last Sunday, but they have to get there first.
Adam Hughes’ men are currently sitting fifth on the table with 25 points, but have Charlestown Azzurri (24), Newcastle Olympic (22) and Cooks Hill United (21, with a game in hand) all close behind.
A win against Valentine on Sunday would fend off that chasing pack, for at least another few days.
Weston Bears FC v Charlestown Azzurri FC
Rockwell Automation Park, Wednesday 8pm
A hungry Weston Bears will host a determined Charlestown Azzurri in their rescheduled round 12 match at Rockwell Automation Park next Wednesday night.
Weston are in the midst of a jam-packed schedule, with this fixture to be their third in a week after they went down 2-0 in their Australia Cup Round of 32 clash away from home against Heidelberg United FC on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday’s State Cup final against Cooks Hill United that will double as a rescheduled round 14 fixture.
The Bears are third on the table and cannot finish the season any higher or lower, so their challenge will be managing the squad on the run home whilst also building some momentum for the post-season.
Charlestown are looking to snap a three-game losing streak in this game. They have only managed to secure one point from their past four matches, which has seen them slide from fourth to sixth and has left their finals hopes in danger.
With Lambton Jaffas and Maitland FC to have already played their rescheduled round 12 games by Sunday night, Azzurri will be aware of what the outcome of this game will mean for them.
They will either be playing to get back into the top five or playing to stay in touch with the two teams that they are trying to overtake.
They are currently a point behind Maitland and two behind Lambton with just three matches remaining, so regardless of the other two sides’ results, this is a game that James Pascoe’s men cannot afford to drop.
Cooks Hill United FC v Newcastle Olympic FC
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Wednesday 8:30pm
Two teams playing to keep their finals hopes alive will go head-to-head next week when Cooks Hill United host Newcastle Olympic at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Wednesday night.
Cooks Hill are currently ranked eighth on the table but are just five points behind fourth-placed Lambton Jaffas with two games in hand on them.
Chris Zoricich’s side will have a chance to make some ground on the teams ahead of them when they challenge Weston Bears in the State Cup final this Saturday at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. A match that will double as a rescheduled round 14 clash.
Regardless of that result, Wednesday’s game against Olympic will be must-win for them.
They are full of confidence at the moment after taking down Adelaide Croatia Raiders on Wednesday night in the Australia Cup Round of 32, and they are determined to go into this match with silverware in the cabinet following Saturday’s State Cup final.
Olympic have well and truly underachieved so far this season and will be fighting to keep their finals hopes alive in this game.
A team that was widely tipped to finish first in the pre-season is currently ranked seventh, but they are just three points outside the top five with four matches left to play.
Finals football is well within the grasp of Mick Bolch and Paul DeVitis’ men, but they have to win this game to stay in the hunt.
