Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas v Maitland FC
Arthur Edden Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
The premiership race will come down to the final day of the season as reigning premiers Lambton Jaffas welcome top of the table Maitland to Arthur Edden Oval on Sunday.
Lambton head into the weekend in third place, one point behind Maitland and one goal behind Broadmeadow on goal difference.
The Jaffas could retain the silverware if they win but the premiership could then come down to goal difference with Broadmeadow Magic should Damian Zane’s men be successful in their final match against last-placed Lake Macquarie City.
Maitland would win their first premiership since 2019 with victory over Lambton Jaffas. A draw would also be enough if Magic were unable to beat Lakes.
The final round of the season is the rescheduled round one fixtures which were postponed due to wet weather, which became a regular occurrence during a challenging season.
The Jaffas will need to rediscover their goal scoring form that saw them dispose of Adamstown Rosebud 9-0 a fortnight ago, following their goalless draw against Charlestown Azzurri last weekend.
The encounter promises to be another chapter in the recent history between the two clubs. The Jaffas were awarded last year’s premiership after the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Lambton holding a one-point lead over Maitland who they were due to play in the final round.
Maitland were clinical in their victory against Edgeworth last weekend, putting three past the Eagles in the first half to run out 3-1 winners at Cooks Square Park.
Magpies attacking duo James Thompson and Braedyn Crowley will again be at the forefront of the visitors’ quest for glory, with the two combining for a staggering 38 goals this season.
Jaffas were 3-1 victors the last time these sides met in their rescheduled round 12 match earlier this season but Maitland were dominant winners in their fifth preliminary round Australia Cup match against the Jaffas, winning 6-0.
Jaffas coach Shane Pryce said it was important for his side to head into the finals in good form which needed to start with a win over Maitland this weekend.
“Coming into this time of year you want to be on an upward rise,” Pryce said.
“You want your players and team to be in form and playing well, so we have a chance to turn that around against a top two side. So we will want to turn up and give it a good crack so we can have a bit of momentum into finals.
“There is still a lot to play for. Last year is last year and we want to win something now. If the premiership slips away, then we will want to go and win the grand final. After [this weekend’s] game we will know which one we have to concentrate on.”
Maitland assistant coach Gav Wolfe said his side would be wary of the reigning premiers’ many attacking threats.
“Lambton have got a really strong squad,” Wolfe said.
“They have great squad depth and obviously at the money end of the season we expect them to be there, as well as Broadmeadow Magic. It will be a tough game for us this weekend.
“They have a really strong midfield and their front third are in a rich vein of form too with Kale [Bradbery] and James [Virgili] scoring a lot of goals in the last couple of weeks. So we are going to have to be on the ball defensively.”
Lake Macquarie City v Broadmeadow Magic
Macquarie Field, Sunday 2.30pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Damian Zane said it would be a fantastic achievement if they manage to win the premiership on the final day of the season. But it will not define their season.
Magic, one point behind Maitland, head to Macquarie Field needing to beat Lake Macquarie City and hope the Magpies fail to beat Lambton. If Jaffas were to beat Maitland, Broadmeadow would need to better Lambton’s goal difference, where they already hold a one-goal advantage.
Zane said he expected a touch match despite Lakes occupying last place on the table.
“I thought Lakes were fantastic against Cooks Hill [two weeks ago],” Zane said.
“On the day anything can happen if you don’t turn up with the right mindset. It’s good we had a tough game and got the three points [against Cooks Hill] but I think there is a lot to play for this weekend, whether it’s first or second.
“Whatever happens this weekend we have the semi-finals next weekend so we want to be playing well at this time of year, so we will be looking at a big performance.”
Zane said it would be a great achievement if Broadmeadow were able to secure their first premiership since 2013, with Magic having not won the title in the NPL era. But whether they win it or not, their season has already been a success. Magic have exceeded expectations this season following the departure of several key members of its squad.
“We went a bit of a different direction this season. It was a bit risky going with a younger squad and they have performed and exceeded expectations. The premiership would be unbelievable but either way, we have had a fantastic year that I am proud of,” Zane said.
“To start the year the way we did with two losses and I think we were tipped in the paper to come sixth. It is a credit to the leaders in the group and the group as a whole. But at the end of the day, [the premiership] is not in our hands so we will just be focusing on Lake Macquarie.”
Lake Macquarie will look to send coach Keelan Hamilton out on a high by climbing off the bottom of the table.
Lakes will welcome veteran Steve Piggot as head coach for next season, with Hamilton making a return to former club Maitland in the NPL Women’s NNSW competition next season.
It has been a bitterly disappointing year for Lakes, with the struggling side picking up just two wins during their campaign, leaving them likely to fnish last should they be unsuccessful this weekend.
Lakes will need to improve from their last fixture against Magic in round 11, with Magic notching a resounding 5-0 win.
Newcastle Olympic v Weston Workers FC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
As well as the race for the premiership, the battle for the top five will also come down to the final day of the season.
Newcastle Olympic can secure their place by collecting three points against Weston Workers at Darling Street Sunday.
Olympic occupy the much-coveted fifth spot on the table coming into the match with 31 points, with sixth-placed Valentine behind only on goal difference. Seventh-placed Edgeworth are also in with a shot on 29 points.
This leaves the home side viewing Sunday as a must win clash, as either Valentine or Edgeworth could be able to leapfrog Joel Griffiths’ men should Olympic be unable to defeat Weston. Edgeworth hosts Valentine on Sunday.
Weston have nothing but pride on the line coming into the match, as the Bears look to set the foundations for the beginning of a new era under incoming coach Kew Jaliens.
Weston will also be desperate to see off stalwart Nathan Morris in a way befitting of a champion, with the veteran considering retirement after playing more than 300 games with the Bears.
Weston coach Anthony Richards said his side would look to end the season positively after missing finals contention.
“If we are good enough to beat Olympic, we could jump a spot on the table,” Richards said.
“We have a bit to play for to be honest. We want to end the season on a good note. It could be Nathan Morris’ last ever game for Weston Workers Bears too. The guy has been with the club for over 300 games so we want to send him out as a winner.
“There will be some new faces for the match. Zac Sneddon is finished for the year and there is still an injury concern with Morris but we are hoping he can get some time. There will be a couple of guys that will have a game so that Kew Jaliens can have a look at.”
The Bears and a 10-man Olympic played out a tough 2-2 draw earlier this season.
Edgeworth FC v Valentine FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
Edgeworth and Valentine will be matched for desperation when they face off at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Sunday.
Edgeworth come into the fixture with a slim hope of stealing fifth spot on the table but will have to take all three points against Valentine while hoping Weston can upset Newcastle Olympic.
The Eagles will rue missed opportunities that have left them now needing to count on other results to potentially make an appearance in the finals, with Peter McGuiness’s men struggling to find consistency this season.
Valentine are level points with fifth-placed Olympic and could sneak into the finals should Olympic fall short in their clash against Weston. In which case, Adam Hughes’ men will need to pick up at least a point due to a far inferior goal difference.
Valentine enjoyed the weekend off following consecutive victories against Weston and Charlestown Azzurri, the latter an emphatic 4-0 win that sent a warning shot across the competition.
Edgeworth coach Peter McGuiness said there were some doubts over key players heading into the match but the Eagles would be fired up regardless.
“It will be a tough game against a good side this weekend,” McGuiness said.
“We have Sascha Montefiore back from suspension but still some doubt on Jeremy Brockie, Jackson Pereira and Tyson Jackson. [Valentine] has had a very good season but it’s the same situation for both teams.
“All we can do is go out there to win and hope that other results go our way.”
Valentine coach Adam Hughes said his side had prepared well for the clash following their weekend off.
“We are fully fit and preparing hard this week,” Hughes said.
“The loads of training last week were a lot higher than what we would do and then the players had the weekend off. Edgeworth have got good players there and Peter [McGuiness] has them playing a decent brand of football and I watched them play last weekend against Maitland. There are certain things we have seen that we will look to get at.
“We will just have to be prepared and focus on ourselves. Then we can get out there and win the match, both teams will be going after three points. I think it will be some end-to-end football, especially towards the end depending on the scoreline.”
Cooks Hill United v Adamstown Rosebud
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Sunday 2.30pm
Cooks Hill United coach Dave Tanchevski says he is expecting an exciting clash when they welcome Adamstown Rosebud for their final match of the season on Sunday.
Cooks Hill have shown glimpses of their potential in their inaugural season in the top flight NPL Men’s NNSW competition and will come into Sunday’s clash hoping to chalk up their sixth win of the campaign.
Cooks Hill took premiership hopefuls Broadmeadow down to the wire in their meeting last weekend, with only an 89th minute Magic penalty deciding the result.
But the hosts could find Sunday even tougher, with a large portion of their regular squad for the final match of their campaign unavailable.
Jacob Pepper is injured, while Pat Bond and Riley McNaughton will be unavailable. Josh Benson and John Griffiths are also suspended.
Rosebud will attempt to avoid a last-placed finish after being rooted to the bottom of the table for most of the season.
Rosebud strung together two consecutive victories in rounds 20 and 21 to leapfrog struggling Lake Macquarie City but sit just one competition point above Keelan Hamilton’s men.
Cooks Hill and Rosebud played out a seven-goal thriller in round 12. Cooks Hill prevailed 4-3 courtesy of four goals from Bailey Newton.
Tanchevski said it should be an exciting match between two teams eager to end the season on a high.
“It was an exciting game the first time we played them,” Tanchevski said.
“[Adamstown] have a few good individual players in Kaleb Cox, Anthony Wood and Denis Fajkovic. They also have some good young players they are working to develop who can compete on their day.
“They will be looking to finish the season well, with nothing to lose for each team it should be an exciting game.”