Lambton Jaffas 2-1 Edgeworth FC
Round 14 Rescheduled Fixture
Edgeworth FC coach Pete McGuinness was thrilled for his side to secure an important win for their campaign after they downed Lambton Jaffas 2-1 away from home on Saturday.
The Eagles arrived at Arthur Edden Oval in fine form and eager to continue their momentum with an upset against the 2023 premiers and champions.
Edgeworth broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after a low and hard strike from Riley Van Haren went in off the post and goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.
Seth Clark doubled the visitor's lead in the 75th minute after he ducked and weaved his way through Jaffas’ defenders before he fired a shot away from outside the penalty area. The ball flew through the air before it smashed into the back of the net.
Jaffas were able to claw one back in the final moments of the match, but it was a little too late, as Edgeworth returned home to Jack McLaughlan Oval with all three points.
Matthew Cahill’s shot on target deflected off an Edgeworth player and past goalkeeper Ben Conway.
McGuinness was very happy with his side’s performance and ability to get the job done against a tough opponent.
“I was very pleased with the boy’s performance,” McGuinness said.
“It was a big effort after a very busy schedule against a very good side.
Edgeworth has had to lean on the depth of their squad in recent weeks with illness, injuries and players away disrupting their starting 11.
“It was great to also utilise all of our squad over the last few weeks, especially on the weekend,” McGuinness said.
“Shows plenty of depth and good competition for places.”
But the win came at a cost for the Eagles as they added another name to their casualty ward with captain Pat Wheeler forced from the field with a knee injury.
Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said that he was disappointed not to get the win but was pleased with the effort shown by his side.
“I thought the boys played well and I thought we lifted in the second half and played really well,” Tanchevski said.
“If the game had gone for another 20 minutes we might have gotten a result.
“I don’t think that there was too much in the game, Edgeworth was really good.
“We fought hard and played good football but we didn’t create enough goal-scoring opportunities.”
The two sides will now draw their attention to their respective Australia Cup Round of 32 matches on Tuesday night before they return to the competition this weekend.
Jaffas will take on A-League grand finalists Melbourne Victory at Jack McLaughlan Oval while the Eagles have flown to Western Australia to face Olympic Kingsway Sports Club at Kingsway Reserve.
Jaffas' hopes of the premiership have become slimmer as the loss sees them fall three points back from league leaders Broadmeadow Magic.
After their Australia Cup match, they will be eager to bounce back in the competition and return to winning ways against New Lambton on Saturday.
The Eagles continue to fly high in third position on the table and have reduced the gap between the Jaffas in second to four points.
After their trip west they will have a quick turnaround before they return home to host Cooks Hill United on Saturday.
Newcastle Olympic 1-2 Weston Workers FC
Round 14 Rescheduled Match
Weston Workers FC made it four from four after they defeated Newcastle Olympic 2-1 at Darling Street Oval on Saturday.
The Bears opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a header from Blake Archbold at the back post that flew into the back of the net.
Christopher Hatfield doubled the visitors' lead in the 24th minute after they were awarded a penalty kick for a handball inside the area.
Olympic clawed one back late in the game after they were awarded a penalty in the 93rd minute. Substitute Lachlan Griffiths stepped up and calmly converted from the spot as he sent goalkeeper Gerard Roebuck the wrong way.
The loss sees Olympic drop out of the top five as they slide down to sixth position on the table.
But they are still on equal points with Valentine FC in fifth position which keeps them in finals contention.
They will be eager to bounce back when they take on New Lambton at Alder Park on Tuesday night in their round 20 rescheduled fixture before they travel to Adamstown Oval to face Adamstown Rosebud on Saturday.
Weston continues to sit eighth on the table with 28 points, two points outside of the top five.
Kew Jaliens will hope that his side can make a last ditch effort for finals when they take on Charlestown Azzurri on Wednesday in their round 17 match to play the final minutes of the game after the original match was abandoned due to injury.
James Pascoe and his men will then need to regroup and go again when they return home to Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
Lake Macquarie City FC 0-4 Charlestown Azzurri
Round 14 Rescheduled Match
Charlestown Azzurri finally returned to the winner’s circle after a 4-0 victory over Lake Macquarie City FC at Macquarie Field on Saturday.
The Blues opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a strong strike from Jack Gallagher from inside the penalty area.
Rene Ferguson doubled Azzurri’s advantage in the 20th minute after he found himself unmarked inside the penalty area and tapped in a crossed ball into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Roosters when they were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute after Jerome Abrahams was sent from the field for a second yellow card.
Charlestown capitalised one minute later with another tap-in goal from Ferguson to take the scoreline to 3-0 at the break.
The visitors put the game to bed in the 48th minute after Gallagher netted his second of the day off a corner kick.
The Blues have further cemented their spot in the top five and sit fourth on the table with 33 points.
They will look to secure back-to-back wins when they play the final minutes of their round 17 match against Weston Workers FC after the match was abandoned due to a head clash.
Lakes’ relegation fate looks to be all but set as they continue to sit at the bottom of the table.
Pete Preston will hope his side can turn things around for the final weeks of the season when they take on Weston next Saturday.
Valentine FC 3-0 Adamstown Rosebud
Round 14 Rescheduled Match
Valentine FC kept their finals hopes alive after a 3-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud at Croudace Bay Complex on Saturday.
Neither team could edge ahead in the first half but Adamstown created the best chance after the ball rattled the crossbar in the 41st minute.
But it was Toby Jensen who finally got the home side on the scoreboard in the 57th minute after he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Stuart Plant,
Phoenix doubled their advantage in the 87th minute when Aden Raftery hit a spectacular strike from the edge of the penalty area that flew into the back of the net.
Valentine pushed for a third goal before Jensen put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute when he sliced the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
The win moved the Phoenix into the top five, as they sat fifth on the table with 30 points.
Adam Hughes will hope that he and his side can secure their position in finals when they travel to Magic Park to take on Broadmeadow Magic.
Adamstown’s hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs continue to fade away as they sit 11th on the table, six points behind New Lambton.
They will be eager to finish the final weeks of the competition on a positive note and will hope to upset Newcastle Olympic for a second time this season when they go head-to-head at Adamstown Oval next Saturday.
Maitland FC 1-1 New Lambton FC
Round 14 Rescheduled Match
Maitland FC and New Lambton FC were forced to share points after a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at Cooks Square Park.
New Lambton broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Kent Harrison was brought down inside the penalty area.
Harrison stepped up and converted from the spot after he sent goalkeeper Matthew Trott the wrong way.
Maitland was given the opportunity to equalise in the 19th minute after they were awarded a penalty, but Braedyn Crowley was not able to capitalise as he sent his shot wide.
The two sides continued to create chances, but it was the Magpies who finally clawed one back in the 58th minute.
A corner kick found the head of Charles Cox, who made no mistake and nodded the ball with power past goalkeeper Kilian Mccarthy.
Each team continued to push for a winner but neither side could find the back of the net again and were forced to share the points.
Maitland remain in ninth position on the table with 25 points, five points outside of the top five sides.
They will hope to keep their slim finals hopes alive and secure three points when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval to face Charlestown Azzurri.
New Lambton continues to sit 10th on the table but has edged one point further away from the relegation play-off zone.
They will look to build on their form when they take on Newcastle Olympic in their round 20 rescheduled fixture on Tuesday night before they reset and go again against Lambton Jaffas on Saturday.
