Match of the Round
Newcastle Olympic FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 2pm
Newcastle Olympic coach Paul DeVitis believes a statement win in Sunday’s red and blue derby against Broadmeadow Magic at Darling Street Oval can spark a return to form and a late-season surge towards the finals for his men.
Olympic are currently in a surprising slump, having failed to win at all in their past six matches. Their most recent four fixtures have all been draws on home soil and they are determined to return to winning ways against their rivals this Sunday.
Both sides’ coaches agreed that Olympic were the better team when the two sides met in round six back in March where Magic prevailed 2-1, and DeVitis is confident they can turn that result around on Sunday.
“It’s a big game and we’re always excited for the derby against Magic,” DeVitis said.
“The last time we played them was a while ago now, but I thought we were unlucky not to at least get a draw out of that. It’s a long time ago though so we’re not worried about that one. We’re focused on Sunday at home.
“We’re in a weird run at the moment with four draws in a row, which is not very common, so we’re working so hard to break that streak and get the win.
“If we can make that happen against Magic of all teams, that could push us home strongly towards the end of the season.
“We know it’s going to be hard. They’ve won most of their games this year.
“Both sides are battered and bruised with injuries and suspensions, so it will be about who stands up.”
Olympic are currently fifth on the table with three sides below them within one win, so Sunday’s match is also about maintaining their advantage in the finals race.
Broadmeadow are currently a point behind Edgeworth Eagles in second place and earned their 11th win in 13 matches when they beat Lambton Jaffas 2-1 at Arthur Edden Oval in a rescheduled round 13 clash on Tuesday night.
It was another game where coach Jim Cresnar thought his men were outplayed by the opposition, but they just keep on finding ways to get the job done and continue to push Edgeworth in the premiership race.
Cresnar understands Olympic are hungry for a win, especially with derby bragging rights on the line, and he said they will need to be much better on Sunday.
“The conditions were hard to play in. The ground and the facility and the lighting made it difficult, so well done to the players for getting the outcome,” Cresnar said following Tuesday’s win.
“Lambton were the better team and outplayed us, and we were lucky enough to get a result.
“This Sunday it’s the blue and red derby. It’s great for football, first of all. It’s great for the supporters, the clubs behind it and their sponsors.
“Everyone wants to win it and it’s important for both teams to get an outcome.
“We were very lucky to win against Olympic last time, but we were good enough to get the result that day.
“I know Olympic will be without Roy and missing that experience will be a loss for them, but in the terms of the way we approach it, we’ll just be focusing on our strengths.”
The two rivals are both ready to fire despite being undermanned on the attacking front.
Magic will miss Riley Smith for the season and Bailey Wells for another week through injury as well as Jarred Baker and Cody Nancarrow overcoming their own injuries.
Olympic will be without suspended duo Roy O’Donovan and Nathan Toby.
New Lambton FC v Maitland FC
Alder Park, Saturday 2pm
New Lambton FC boss Shane Pryce says his men have found a renewed sense of belief after securing their first win of the season as they gear up to host Maitland FC at Alder Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles only took three points from their first 13 games of the campaign following three draws and 10 losses.
But a 2-1 victory on home soil in a rescheduled round 13 clash against Charlestown Azzurri on Tuesday night has given them the boost they need as they look to avoid relegation.
Defender Caleb Reed opened the scoring in the ninth minute and then doubled his side’s lead 10 minutes later, and they were ahead 2-0 until Tyran Cousins headed one home for Charlestown in the 82nd minute.
New Lambton held on, just, and Pryce said there was a special atmosphere in the sheds after the match.
“It was a mix of relief and enjoying that winning feeling being back. It’s been a while,” Pryce said.
“We sat back a bit and invited them in, but that was always going to happen. We got a bit of luck, with them hitting the woodwork, but it was just so good to get the monkey off the back.
“To be quite honest, there probably wasn’t much belief before (Tuesday night) because we’ve gone such a long period not knowing how to win.
“You always want to turn that corner, and hopefully that was it for us.
“We’re up against a well-organised and well-coached side in Maitland now. We’re going to have to be at our best.
“We’ve shown that we can match it with teams, but inconsistency is our biggest problem this year, so we need to address that, and if we turn up on the day, we’ll be competitive.”
New Lambton are now six points behind Cooks Hill and Valentine in last place, while Maitland are sitting eighth, three points outside the top five.
Lambton Jaffas FC v Weston Bears FC
Arthur Edden Oval, Saturday 2pm
Lambton Jaffas and Weston Bears are preparing to meet twice in five days, with the first of those clashes to be contested at Arthur Edden Oval this Saturday.
This will be their first league battle of the season after their round six fixture at Rockwell Automation Park was postponed and is yet to be played.
It is scheduled to be held next Wednesday, and both sides are eager to land the first punch at Lambton’s ground on Saturday.
The sixth-placed Jaffas are desperate for a victory, having lost three of their past five matches and not won in their most recent two.
They were in action in a rescheduled round 13 clash at home against Broadmeadow Magic on Tuesday night and went down 2-1 after opening the scoring in the 70th minute, blowing a chance to enter the top five.
Weston on the other hand are entrenched in the top five as they sit third. They are eight points ahead of Lambton with three games in hand on them following eight wins, a draw and just two losses this year.
The Bears were initially scheduled to play on Wednesday but their round 13 catch-up game against Newcastle Olympic was postponed to allow them to watch the Australia Cup Round of 32 live draw.
They learned that they will travel to Melbourne to face Heidelberg United.
Cooks Hill United FC v Adamstown Rosebud FC
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Saturday 2:30pm
With their Australia Cup destiny now clear, Cooks Hill United turn their focus back to a tightening NPL survival scrap as they host a resurgent Adamstown Rosebud at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday afternoon.
Cooks Hill dropped to 10th during the week as Adamstown won their rescheduled round 13 fixture 4-2 away from home against Valentine FC.
The Rosebud came from 2-0 down at Croudace Bay Complex to earn the three points and climb out of the relegation zone into ninth.
Chris Moylan’s men are now on 13 points, with their round 17 opponents just one behind them on 12.
Cooks Hill were initially scheduled to play on Wednesday but their round 13 catch-up game against Maitland FC was postponed to allow them to watch the Australia Cup Round of 32 live draw.
They learned that they will travel to South Australia to take on Adelaide Croatia Raiders, but they have a job to do in the league before then to not only fight for finals football but to also avoid a relegation battle.
Both sides have only won one of their past five matches, making this match even more crucial as they look to build some momentum for the run home.
Edgeworth Eagles FC v Valentine FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 4:30pm
High-flying Edgeworth Eagles will look to extend their unbeaten run in the 2025 campaign to 14 matches when they host Valentine FC at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday evening.
Peter McGuinness’ men are currently enjoying a 10-game winning streak and are ranked first on the table with 35 points after 11 wins and two draws.
Broadmeadow Magic are just a point behind them, so Edgeworth know they need to rise to the occasion each week to stay on top.
Valentine are currently second last but are just three points from seventh.
They were demolished 7-1 at home when these two teams last met in round six and will be determined to highlight how much they have improved since that day in March.
Both sides contested their rescheduled round 13 fixtures at home during the week, with Edgeworth defeating Belmont Swansea 4-1 at Jack McLaughlan Oval and Valentine being outscored 4-2 by Adamstown Rosebud.
Those results saw Edgeworth return to the top of the table after Broadmeadow took a temporary lead on Tuesday night, while the Phoenix dropped from 10th to 11th.
The Eagles’ midweek win was inspired by a Ryan Feutz hat-trick that saw the gun striker go six goals clear at the top of the golden boot race with 18.
Feutz has now scored in 10 consecutive games and has only failed to find the back of the net in one of the 12 games he has played this season.
Belmont Swansea United FC v Charlestown Azzurri FC
Blacksmiths Oval, Sunday 4:30pm
Two sides eager to return to winning ways will face off when Belmont Swansea United host Charlestown Azzurri at Blacksmiths Oval on Sunday evening.
BelSwans have lost their past two matches, including a rescheduled round 13 clash against Edgeworth Eagles at Jack McLaughlan on Wednesday in which they were outscored 4-1 by the league leaders.
Mick Stafford’s men were six games unbeaten before this two-game run and they are eager to get back to get back in the winner’s circle as they hunt a top five spot.
They are currently just three points behind fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic in seventh and are daring to dream that finals football could be on the cards in their maiden NPL campaign.
Azzurri have not won in four games, with Tuesday night’s rescheduled round 13 defeat against New Lambton ending a run of three straight draws.
James Pascoe’s men were beaten 2-1 by the team at the bottom of the table and are looking to regroup quickly ahead of their trip to Blacksmiths on Sunday.
These two teams finished all square at 2-2 last time they met in round six back in April after Kane Woolston scored a last-minute equaliser.
They are both confident they can go one better this weekend and get the win.
