Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Edgeworth Eagles
Magic Park, Sunday 1pm
As the second half of the season commences, Broadmeadow Magic head coach Jim Cresnar is preparing for ‘the biggest match of the year’, as they welcome Edgeworth Eagles to Magic Park on Sunday.
Magic returned to the top of the table last week with a 5-3 win over Charlestown Azzurri, combined with the Bears being defeated at home by Valentine FC.
The defending champions have not lost a game since the opening round - but that fixture was against Edgeworth, with Aaron Niyonkuru producing one of the goals of the year off a corner to shock Magic at the death.
Both sides find themselves firmly ensconced within the top four with only two losses between them, and Cresnar knows his side is going to have to be at their very best to ensure they stay there.
“We're making sure that our biggest thing is all around our consistency,” Cresnar said.
“The more consistent we are as a team, the more likely we're going to get the results.
“This year, the competition's slightly more equal, and you don't know who's going to be up for it as well.
“Our training has to be spot on this week in preparation. We've struggled against Edgeworth.
“We haven't beaten them, we've just got to turn up those results against Edgeworth.
“It's probably our biggest game of the year, I think. They’ve been one team that's continued beating us as well.”
Consistency has also been the story of the year for the Eagles. The side having been on a balance between delivering on the promise their potent attack holds, while keeping what made their defence so impenetrable last year.
Edgeworth discovered their attacking skill in their 4-3 loss to Belmont Swansea United, backing that up with a win over Charlestown and two high-scoring draws against Newcastle Olympic and Weston.
But last week the side produced arguably their best performance of the year, beating Maitland 3-1 at home, a result that would have been a clean sheet if not for an own goal in the last five minutes of regular time.
Combined with a 3-0 win over Cooks Hill United in the Hahn Australia Cup on Tuesday night, the visitors will come into the weekend with their tails up, despite an injury cloud over Stefan Cordwell, who left the field early last Saturday.
Their current form has given head coach Peter McGuinness confidence, but he is also under no illusion of the challenge that awaits him at Magic Park.
“We had to play without the ball for a bit [against Maitland]. It was good. It was what we needed. We needed a hard one,” McGuinness said.
“We needed a couple of weeks before last weekend where we tried to step up the intensity, it helped us in the Weston and the Maitland game, to be honest.
“I think it's a mindset, too. We're starting to find that balance for me. Goals will come and clean sheets will come if you're working hard for each other. I think that balance has been better. We've been more a collective as a group.
“They are always good clashes between the two clubs [Magic and Edgeworth]. I'm sure Sunday will be the same.
“They're always big games. They're ones you want to coach in. They're ones you want to play in. We'll want to win it as much as they do.”
Belmont Swansea United v Valentine FC
Blacksmiths Oval, Saturday 3pm
Valentine FC head coach Lee Sterrey is not getting carried away with his side’s improving form as they look to take on Belmont Swansea United at Blacksmiths Oval on Saturday.
Despite currently sitting in 11th on the table, the Phoenix fired a massive warning shot to the rest of the competition as to how high the ceiling of this young side is, shocking Weston Bears with a 2-0 win at Hunter City Motor Group Stadium.
The result cost the Bears their spot at the top of the table and puts Valentine back in a position to launch themselves out of relegation should they keep up their form.
But this week they travel to one of the hardest places to win in the whole league, with BelSwans having not lost there since the Bears defeated them in round four, the Mick Stafford-coached side having claimed several big scalps since then.
On the flipside, Valentine comes into this match having won three of their last four away games on the road, setting the stage for a fascinating clash.
They will also be bolstered by players returning from injury, most notably skipper Harry Lane and Reinhard Lloyd, as well as several new players from the transfer window.
But the side will be without Jake De Marigny as he moved to Newcastle Croatia in the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition.
Sterrey is encouraging his side to take a week-to-week approach to developing consistent performances.
“The boys were pretty chirpy after last week,” Sterrey said.
“It's only one game in a calendar season, so not getting carried away, but it was a good win and they deserve the points.
“It's just how young we are that they've got to learn at top levels about consistency and performance. We've got some new faces coming into the club. We left some space there for a few players in the window.
“[BelSwans] are a dangerous side. It was a very physical encounter game one. I think some players were maybe a little bit overawed with their first game in senior football because we are so young. Now they know what to expect.
“Mick Stafford has done a good job with them. They've played very strong all year. We're going to have to be at our absolute best to get points out of there.”
BelSwans have made winning a solid habit. Their round four loss to the Bears at home being the last time the side has gone down.
Firmly locked into the top three, the big improvers will also take confidence going into this match, having defeated the Phoenix 2-1 earlier in the year.
Boasting one of the most dangerous attacks in the league, the hosts will be looking to ensure they keep that strong run at home, especially as seven of their next eight matches will see them play on the road.
Maitland FC v Cooks Hill United
Cooks Square Park, Friday 8pm
Maitland FC will be fighting to keep their top five position on the table when they welcome a surging Cooks Hill United to Cooks Square Park in the first match of the round on Friday night.
After several heavy back-to-back losses that saw the visitors firmly in the relegation zone, the last fortnight has seen a dramatic return to form, with big consecutive home wins over Adamstown Rosebud and Kahibah FC.
Despite coming in off a short turnaround from a Tuesday night Hahn Australia Cup clash, head coach Jamie Dunning will be expecting his side to turn up, especially off the back of a strong performance at the front from experienced head Stephen Hoyle.
The visitors are in a good position to benefit this month with a game in hand on the table and will also be banking on causing an upset at the home of the Magpies, which has seen several surprise results this year.
Cooks Hill will be without Liam Wilson as he serves a three-match suspension after being shown a red card in their Hahn Australia cup match.
Aside from one Hahn Australia Cup victory over Valentine FC, the month of May has not started well for Maitland, the side being stunned at home by Charlestown Azzurri before a 3-1 loss last week against Edgeworth Eagles on the road.
Combined with conceding a last-gasp opportunity to defeat Broadmeadow at Magic Park, and the hosts are likely going to come into this match desperate for a positive result.
Should they lose, Lambton Jaffas, Newcastle Olympic and Charlestown are all within striking distance to overtake them on the table if they get up in their respective results.
Lambton Jaffas v Kahibah FC
Arthur Edden Oval, Saturday 2pm
Lambton Jaffas will be experiencing a sense of déjà vu when they run out onto Arthur Edden Oval against Kahibah FC on Saturday, with a top-five table position on the line for them.
In a scheduling twist, the two sides are set for back-to-back games at Arthur Edden Oval this week after also meeting in a Hahn Australia Cup fixture on Wednesday night.
When the teams met in the opening round of the season, Jaffas claimed a dominant 5-0 win at Fred Wright Oval, spoiling the league newcomers’ big day.
It has been a roller coaster for last year’s runners-up since then, but like previous seasons, the David Tanchevski-coached side has built themselves up slowly, winning three of their last four matches, including an impressive 2-0 victory over Newcastle Olympic away from home last week.
They face a Rams side in dire need of a win, who have dropped their last four games.
Kahibah have had a difficult month, facing the top three sides in consecutive weeks, but last week’s 3-0 loss to Cooks Hill saw the side crash back to earth, struggling to match the hosts’ energy.
But Kahibah can take confidence from Wednesday night’s 3-1 Hahn Australia Cup win over Lambton.
For the league newcomers, a second straight victory over Jaffas would be the perfect response to a difficult month. But they will need to start strongly at Arthur Edden Oval if they are to pull it off.
Adamstown Rosebud v Charlestown Azzurri
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 2pm
Adamstown Rosebud know that anything under three points will not be acceptable when they face off against Charlestown Azzurri at Adamstown Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Adamstown come into the second half of the season in a difficult position, sitting at the bottom of the table with only one win and a three-point gap between them and the 11th ranked Valentine FC.
Valentine opened up the gap when they stunned the Bears last week in Weston, meaning the Buds need to close the gap immediately to avoid being locked into last place.
It has not been for lack of trying, with the Buds coming back from a two-goal deficit to draw with top-three side Belmont Swansea United last week, ending a three-match losing streak.
But draws will likely not cut it this weekend, a fact also proving the case for Charlestown Azzurri.
Despite losing four of their last five games, the Blues have adapted well to life under new coach Josh Rufo, stunning Maitland away from home, winning their Hahn Australia Cup clash against West Wallsend, and going down swinging against Broadmeadow Magic.
The side sits just two points outside the top five, meaning victory here could prove invaluable as to where they finish this season.
With the Blues also defeating the Buds 2-0 earlier in the year, the visitors will come into this match confident they can swing the result in their favour.
Newcastle Olympic v Weston Bears
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 3pm
Rounding off the weekend, Newcastle Olympic will start the second half of the season desperate to take advantage of their extended time at home when they take on a hurting Weston Bears at Darling Street Oval.
Both sides come into this clash at critical junctures of their respective seasons, with the hosts sitting two points outside the top five, having won only one match in their last five.
After conceding valuable late leads against Edgeworth Eagles and Belmont Swansea United to draw on consecutive weekends, Olympic looked to be roaring back to life with a 6-1 win over Valentine FC, before Lambton Jaffas brought them back to earth last week.
The 2-0 loss sees Olympic in a precarious position, with the likes of Kahibah FC, Valentine and Cooks Hill United three points or less behind them, but Maitland FC, the side holding on to fifth place, just two points ahead.
Olympic need to deliver results to see off Jaffas and the Blues, but it is a feat they can achieve if they capitalise over the next fortnight at home.
Weston will be in the mood for a result, being stunned last week at home by Valentine and losing their top spot on the table to Magic.
History suggests the Bears' response will be swift: after losses against Charlestown and Broadmeadow Magic at home earlier in the year, they bounced back the following weeks with big away wins over BelSwans and Lambton.
They will have to pull off a win at Darling Street without import Mana Iwaski, who is serving a three-match suspension after receiving a red card against Valentine.