Match of the Round
Edgeworth Eagles FC v Maitland FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 2pm
Edgeworth Eagles coach Peter McGuinness says his side will need to adopt a new attacking approach following the departure of striker Ryan Feutz this week as they prepare to host Maitland FC at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday.
Feutz has left Edgeworth following two seasons at the Eagles, during which he impressed with his performances in front of goal.
The 2024 golden boot winner and current leading goal-scorer has now linked up with former Edgeworth teammate Seth Clark at Sydney Olympic in the NPL NSW competition.
The striker arrived in May last season and cruised to the golden boot with 27 goals in just 17 games, and this season he had notched up 18 goals in 13 games to sit five clear of Maitland skipper Braedyn Crowley, who the Eagles will be eager to contain this Saturday.
McGuinness wished Feutz well and said that while the striker would be a significant loss for the remainder of the season, his departure would give other players a chance to step up.
“He’s signed a contract to go to a club that’s guaranteed B-League, and it’s the next step in his football journey,” McGuinness said.
“I’m disappointed we haven’t got him for the rest of the year, but it is what it is. I still have all the faith in the world in our roster, and I still think we can do really well.
“When you lose a player like Ryan, you have to rethink how you approach games and what your style of football is going to be.
“We lose that threat in behind now, because the guy was so quick and so potent. You get him one v one in space and it’s trouble for the opposition.
“Sometimes when you have someone like Ryan who scores so many goals, it can sort of hinder your combination play because you look for the quick and easy solution.
“We have a lot of creative players in our team, and this will give them an opportunity to step up and show what they’ve got.”
Edgeworth are currently undefeated and on top of the table with 38 points following 12 wins and two draws so far this season.
McGuinness is expecting a tough game from Maitland this Saturday, whom he labelled a well-coached side that play quality football.
Edgeworth beat Maitland 4-0 when the sides met at Cooks Square Park back in round seven in April, but the league leaders are bracing for a much tougher contest this time around.
The Magpies are full of confidence after climbing into the top five on Wednesday night when they drew 0-0 with Broadmeadow Magic at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in a rescheduled round nine clash.
That match was abandoned in the 88th minute after the lights went out due to a blackout.
Maitland produced some impressive football on the synthetic surface, which seemed to suit their style of play, and they will now need to do the same on a grass surface that will likely be chopped up and bumpy following this week’s rain.
Their assistant coach Nick Harmon said the Magpies were ready for what would likely be their toughest battle of the season.
“I’m expecting probably our toughest challenge of the season,” Harmon said.
“I have a lot of respect for Pete McGuinness and his team. They’ll be well drilled and well set up.
“They are fairly consistent and they’re not at the top because of one player. Ryan makes a big difference in the final third, but their creativity comes from many other areas. They’ll still have plenty of attacking threats.
“We’re coming into a part of the season where we didn’t start so strong but we’re starting to find our feet and what’s working for us. We’ve got guys like [Braedyn] Crowley and Daniel McFarlane who are really starting to show their experience for us, which is promising.
“I think this is going to be a top game.”
Newcastle Olympic FC v Lambton Jaffas FC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 4:30pm
Newcastle Olympic coach Paul DeVitis labelled Sunday’s fixture a must-win game for his men as they prepare to welcome Lambton Jaffas to Darling Street Oval.
Olympic are without a win since April 11, having picked up just four points from draws in their past seven outings, which has seen them bow out of the premiership race and this week drop out of the top five.
They were tipped by many to finish at the top of the table but have only won four of their 15 games so far this season as they sit in sixth place, just one point behind Maitland.
They are in danger of slipping to seventh this Sunday as they are just one point ahead of the Jaffas.
DeVitis thought his team deserved at least a point out of their 1-0 loss at home against Broadmeadow last weekend but admitted they haven’t been doing enough to get the job done recently.
They will be boosted by the returns of attacking duo Roy O’Donovan and Nathan Toby this weekend, while Rhys Cooper is also a chance to return for what will be their sixth home game in a row.
DeVitis said his entire playing group were eager to reward their loyal fans at Darling Street Oval.
“It’s been a bit strange to play so many home games in a row, but it’s been great to play there. It’s such a good venue,” DeVitis said.
“We haven’t been getting the points, but our fans are loyal and are sticking by us, which is good to see.
“Now, it’s so important that we win. Three points is the be-all and end-all against the Jaffas because we are both in the same predicament this year.
“Let’s be honest, every game we play now means there’s one less game remaining for us. There are five teams battling for two finals spots, so every game is must-win.”
Lambton are looking to bounce back from a 4-1 loss at home against Weston Bears last weekend and are well aware that a victory against Olympic could see them climb into the top five.
Weston Bears FC v Belmont Swansea United FC
Rockwell Automation Park, Saturday 2pm
Weston Bears will be looking to continue a golden run of form when they host Belmont Swansea United at Rockwell Automation Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears are currently ranked third despite having played fewer games than any other side this season and are on a five-game winning streak after taking down Lambton Jaffas 4-1 away from home last weekend.
Despite being 10 points behind first-placed Edgeworth Eagles and second-placed Broadmeadow Magic, Weston are well and truly in the premiership hunt given they have played three less games than Magic and two less games than Edgeworth.
Kew Jaliens’ men are also four from four at home in the league this season and are determined to extend that to five with another strong showing on Saturday.
BelSwans currently hold the longest active losing streak at three matches, having been beaten by top four sides Edgeworth, Broadmeadow and Charlestown Azzurri since they cruised past Cooks Hill United 4-1 earlier this month.
Before that streak, they were the toughest team to beat outside of the top three and they are eager to reinstate that resilient reputation against one of the premiership contenders on Saturday.
Mick Stafford’s men are also looking to avoid a clean sweep against Weston after being beaten 3-0 by the Bears when they last met back in round seven.
Cooks Hill United FC v New Lambton FC
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Saturday 2:30pm
New Lambton FC’s season is hanging by a thread as they prepare to travel to Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field to challenge Cooks Hill United on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss on home soil last weekend after playing more than 20 minutes with nine men against Maitland FC, with an injury time goal seeing them go down for the 11th time in 15 games.
They are currently last as they sit six points behind 11th-placed Valentine, and now with just seven-more games left to play, they must start winning to have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.
Cooks Hill are also desperate for a win this Saturday as they eye off a finals push.
Their coach Chris Zoricich was pleased with the result but certainly not the performance when his side snapped a three-game losing streak and defeated Adamstown Rosebud 1-0 at the Athletics Field last weekend.
It was an important victory for Cooks Hill as they moved three points clear of the relegation zone to now sit just four points outside the top five.
But Zoricich is well aware that they will need to be much better if they are to make a finals push during the back-end of the season.
Adamstown Rosebud FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 4:30pm
Broadmeadow Magic’s depth will continue to be pushed to its limits when the defending champions travel to Adamstown Oval to challenge Adamstown Rosebud on Saturday evening.
Magic entered Wednesday night’s rescheduled round nine clash against Maitland FC without attacking guns Bailey Wells, Riley Smith and Jarred Baker, among others.
They added Ben Diamond and Luke Corcoran to the injury ward after they were both forced off in the first half.
That match at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility finished locked at 0-0 after going well past its scheduled finish time due to a 30-minute delay when the lights went out due to a blackout in the 88th minute.
They never came back on, and the match was abandoned.
The draw saw Magic join Edgeworth Eagles on 38 points but remain second on goal difference, and they may well be playing for top spot if Edgeworth drop points against Maitland this Saturday.
The Rosebud are currently battling to stay out of the relegation zone as they sit one point above 11th-placed Valentine in 10th on the table.
They pushed Magic all the way to full-time in a 3-2 loss when the sides met at Magic Park back in round seven and they are now eager to flip the script and secure their fifth win of the campaign.
Charlestown Azzurri FC v Valentine FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 2pm
Charlestown Azzurri will be looking to further solidify their top-five status when they welcome Valentine FC to Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The fourth-placed Azzurri earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory away from home against Belmont Swansea United last weekend. The win saw them move further clear of six of the eight sides below them, who all keep dropping points as the battle for fourth and fifth heats up.
James Pascoe’s men had been on a run of poor form themselves, having won just one of their past seven matches prior to their trip to Blacksmiths Oval to drop out of the premiership hunt, but they are in the box seat to finish fourth with the current top three looking likely to finish ahead of them.
Charlestown cruised past Valentine 5-1 away from home when these two sides last met in round seven, but they are expecting a much tougher contest this time around against a Phoenix outfit that have improved since then.
Cas Wright’s men have won two of their nine games since they were thumped by Azzurri back in April.
They also pushed top-three sides Edgeworth Eagles, Broadmeadow Magic and Weston Bears all the way to the final whistle in close contests.
They are currently ranked 11th but have played more games than any other side this season, so a win this Saturday is crucial in their fight to avoid a relegation battle later in the year.
