Maitland FC 3-1 Edgeworth FC
Maitland are within touching distance of the premiership after scoring an impressive 3-1 win over Edgeworth on Saturday.
With Charlestown Azzurri holding leaders Lambton to a goalless draw, the Magpies were able to climb above Jaffas with victory in their rescheduled round 14 match.
Maitland are now one point clear at the top heading into the final round, leaving their premiership destiny in their own hands.
The Magpies travel to Arthur Edden Oval in the final round, knowing a win over Lambton will be enough to secure the title.
As positive as the result was for Maitland it was as equally deflating for Edgeworth, who now face an uphill battle to sneak into the top five.
Edgeworth face Valentine in the final round needing to win while hoping Weston can beat fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic for the Eagles to make the finals.
Maitland opened the scoring in the ninth minute at Cooks Square Park through Flynn Goodman. Braedyn Crowley shook off concerns surrounding his fitness to double the lead when strike partner James Thompson play him into the penalty area, with Thompson celebrating his 100th NPL Men’s NNSW match in fine style.
With their season hanging by a thread the Eagles halved the deficit just after the half hour mark when veteran Josh Rose found Jeremy Brockie in the penalty area through a lofted cross that Brockie nodded home comfortably.
But it was the Magpies’ afternoon much to the delight of a parochial home crowd as Thompson again played provider, this time for Joseph Melmeth to smash home.
Maitland went into the break with a 3-1 advantage and held it for the rest of the match.
Despite the victory, Maitland assistant coach Gav Wolfe said there was plenty of room for improvement in their performance.
“We were happy with how we played in the first half,” Wolfe said.
“Scoring three goals in the first half was a good way to start but I guess from an improvement perspective, we were disappointed because we feel we left three of four goals out there. We are going to have those chances next week and then come into the semi-finals.
“It's a bit of a glass half full, three goals in the first half and a 3-1 result at the end of the game but we feel like we left a few goals out there.”
Cooks Hill United 0-1 Broadmeadow Magic
An 89th minute penalty helped Broadmeadow snatch a 1-0 win over Cooks Hill United on Saturday to keep Magic in premiership contention.
The victory sees Magic climb to second on the table, one point behind new leaders Maitland. Broadmeadow are level on points with Lambton, though Magic have the slenderest of advantages on goal difference.
While Lambton host Maitland in the final round, Broadmeadow travel to Macquarie Field to face bottom of the table Lake Macquarie City. Should Maitland fail to beat Lambton and the Jaffas be unable to improve their goal difference sufficiently, Magic could win the title with a victory over Lakes.
Magic was tasked with Cooks Hill outfit solely playing for pride at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field but Damian Zane’s men were made to work for the result.
Magic finally found their breakthrough in the 88th minute when forward Damon Green was pulled down in the penalty area.
Magic’s Jarred Baker calmly converted from the spot to steal the three points and give them a chance of taking home the premiership in their final match of the regular season next weekend.
Zane said his side would focus only on their match against Lake Macquarie next weekend but it would be a fantastic achievement for his side to take home the premiership.
“We had plenty of chances today, we were probably a bit wasteful,” Zane said.
“We probably haven’t had our two greatest training weeks due to field availability but to our credit, we remained calm today which is a good sign for the semi-finals. We were patient and got our penalty, it was good to see that our young strike force, particularly Jarred Baker, took the responsibility and slotted it in.
“There is a lot to play for next weekend, whether it is first or second. This season we went a bit of a different direction and it was a bit risky having a younger squad but they have performed and exceeded expectations so far.”
Lambton Jaffas 0-0 Charlestown Azzurri
Charlestown Azzurri secured a place in the finals series with a crucial point against Lambton Jaffas on Saturday.
Charlestown were faced with the possibility of crashing out of the top five following three defeats on the trot, while Lambton would have moved one step closer to the premiership with victory against the out-of-sorts Azzurri at Arthur Edden Oval.
Charlestown will now be able to enjoy their bye in the rescheduled round one fixtures in the final round next weekend before heading into the finals.
Lambton were fresh from a 9-0 demolition job against Adamstown Rosebud last weekend but were unable to make headway through a stoic Azzurri side.
Lambton will now turn their attention to a blockbuster final match against Maitland, needing a victory and a favourable result from the Broadmeadow Magic-Lake Macquaire match to take home the premiership.
Jaffas coach Shane Pryce said his side struggled to break down a resolute Azzurri outfit that had their season on the line.
“I don’t think we were 100 per cent on top of our game,” Pryce said.
“We had a few chances but nothing clear cut. We are just sort of disappointed with our overall performance. I think Charlestown just showed a bit more desperation than us, they had a bit more on the line than we did.
“We played to hold on and not lose, not to win. That was probably the difference in the end. Coming into this time of the season, you want to be on an upward trajectory and we have a chance to turn that around next weekend against Maitland.”