Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Adamstown Rosebud FC
This game was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
Maitland FC 1-2 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic co-coach Paul DeVitis was thrilled with how his side bounced back against Maitland FC after a 2-1 victory at Cooks Square Park on Saturday afternoon.
Maitland had the chances in the first half but Olympic got on the scoreboard first in the 48th minute. Olympic screamed down the pitch in a team effort before a one-two between Kane Treble and Musa Kamara allowed Treble to get in behind the Magpies' defence and slot the ball into the back of the net.
Olympic thought they had doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute but Musa Kamara was denied by the woodwork.
Jye Rodway did take Olympic to 2-0 in the 72nd minute when he smashed the ball past Matthew Trott.
The Magpies also hit the woodwork in the 78th minute before they clawed one back 10 minutes later through Regan Lundy with a powerful strike.
DeVitis was thrilled with his side’s immediate response after a heartbreaking Australia Cup loss to Edgeworth FC on Wednesday night.
“We were shattered after the Cup game and I was worried about how we would respond but everyone realised that we had to move on and okay at out best again straight away. It has really shown the character of the team,” DeVitis said.
“It helped us to bounce back knowing that the game against Maitland was so important.
“This was our third game in in seven days and they were each really difficult matches. To get a win at the end of that run was really impressive.”
Olympic’s co-coach praised his side in their second-half efforts to secure a big three points for their season.
“I was disappointed with how we played in the first half but the second half was one of the better halves we have played all year,” DeVitis said.
“I was impressed with our ability to play the way we had asked them to. In the first half, we were a bit direct and weren’t patient but in the second half our build-up play was a lot better, which was delightful to see.
“We are very happy with the win because it was important for the table. We have created a bit of distance between us and Maitland.”
The win keeps Olympic in sixth position on the table with 10 points. They will have a quick turnaround when they go head-to-head with Adamstown Rosebud FC on Tuesday night in their round 10 rescheduled fixture at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. They will then face league leaders Lambton Jaffas at Darling Street Oval on Sunday.
Maitland have fallen down the table to ninth position with 15 points. Mick Bolch and his side will also have a mid-week catch up game when they take on Edgeworth FC at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Wednesday night before they remain on the road to face Adamstown on Saturday.
Lake Macquarie City FC 0-2 Valentine FC
Two first half goals secure a vital 2-0 win for Valentine FC over Lake Macquarie City FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday afternoon.
The Phoenix wasted no time, opening the scoring in the first 20 seconds of the match through Nicholas Martinelli.
Moments after kick-off, Lakes could not clear the ball away from their penalty area before Martinelli pinched the ball and broke through the defensive line to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Kobe Preston.
Martinelli struck again in the 35th minute to double Valentine’s advantage after he found himself in front of the goal with no defenders on him and sliced the ball into the back of the net.
In a bizarre shake-up, the game was forced to move fields over to Synthetic 2 in the 60th minute after the pitch lights went out.
The two sides had their chances in the second half but Valentine were able to hold onto the win.
The win helps to secure Phoenix’s place inside the top six for another week, as they maintain fifth position with 22 points.
Adam Hughes and his side will look to make it three from three when they return home to Croudace Bay Complex to host Cooks Hill United next Saturday.
Lakes sit at the bottom of the table with three points and will be desperate to lift themselves out of the automatic relegation zone when they face New Lambton FC next Saturday.
Weston Workers FC 1-2 Lambton Jaffas
League leaders Lambton Jaffas continue their undefeated streak with a 2-1 win over Weston Workers FC at Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday afternoon.
Matthew Cahill got the away side on the scoreboard in the 39th minute when he sliced the ball into the back of the net.
The Bears struck back in the 45th minute with a skilful run and shot from Aaron Niyonkuru to stun the Jaffas.
Jaffas looked to have doubled their advantage when the ball hit the back of the net in the 49th minute but it was chalked off due to a foul on the goalkeeper.
The points looked to be shared before Riley Mcnaughton secured all three points for the Jaffas after he scored a late 88th minute winner with a spectacular header off a corner kick.
Jaffas have not lost a game this season after 13 wins and one draw, with the victory over the Bears extending their lead at the top of the table to four points.
David Tanchevski and his side will remain on the road when they travel to Darling Street Oval on Sunday to face Newcastle Olympic.
Weston continues to sit seventh on the table with 16 points but now has Cooks Hill United and Maitland FC one point behind. The Bears will venture to Magic Park next Sunday to go head-to-head with second-place Broameadow Magic.
Charlestown Azzurri 1-4 Cooks Hill United
Cooks Hill United upset Charlestown Azzurri with a 4-1 win away from home at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
The Blues were without key defensive duo Nigel Boogaard (holiday) and Taylor Regan (suspension) and were unable to keep a hungry Cooks Hill side out.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a strong tackle and cutback from Daniel Yaxley allowed the ball to fall to the feet of Cody Nancarrow in front of goal, who made no mistake and smashed it past goalkeeper Ben McNamara.
Yaxley provided another assist in the dying seconds of the first half after his narrow shot at goal was saved by McNamara but fell to Carter Smith who tapped the ball into the back of the net.
The Blues struck back in the 48th minute with a header from Rene Ferguson off a high cross into the penalty area.
But Smith extended Cooks Hills lead in the 77th minute before he secured a hat-trick and all three points for his side after they were awarded a penalty kick in the 92nd minute.
The win sees Cooks Hill jump up the table into eighth position with 15 points. Chris Zoricich will hope his side can secure back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign when they travel to Croudace Bay Complex to face Valentine FC next Saturday.
Azzurri will be eager to bounce back and maintain their position in third on the table when they welcome Edgeworth FC on Sunday.
Edgeworth FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
This game was postponed due to wet weather conditions.