Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas 0-6 Broadmeadow Magic
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar was thrilled to snap Lambton Jaffas’ 27-game winning streak with a dominant 6-0 win at Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Lambton were unbeaten in 27 NPL Men’s NNSWF competition matches and were looking to continue that run to maintain their advantage at the top of the table.
The Jaffas were without veteran A-League goalkeeper Ben Kennedy who was welcoming his first child, which meant reserve grade shot stopper Alexander Bozinovski was called into the side.
Magic opened the scoring in the 10th minute after the scraps of a corner kick found the feet of Bailey Wells, who smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Wells then turned provider as his free kick curled into the penalty area and onto Riley Smith, who knocked the ball past Bozinovski.
Jaffas were reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute after Reece Papadimitrios was shown a straight red card for match official abuse towards the assistant referee.
Things went from bad to worse for Jaffas after they conceded an own goal in the 61st minute when Sam Webb stretched out to deny James Cresnar from scoring but guided the ball into his own net.
Magic extended its lead again in the 70th minute when Wells crossed to substitute Sam Donnellan who hit the ball on the half volley past the reach of Bozinovski.
Magic refused to take their foot off the gas and netted two more in stoppage time to take the final score to 6-0.
Alexander Rose struck the ball hard and low under Bozinovski in the 93rd minute before captain Jeremy Wilson put the nail in the coffin with a spectacular strike in the 94th minute.
Cresnar was pleased with his side’s performance but was shocked by the margin.
“Our performance was very solid. We stuck to our game plan [which was] very pleasing for the team. For the individuals it was a good moment [for] Magic considering we haven’t beat [Lambton] in over two years,” Cresnar said.
“First of all we didn’t concede. Defensively and attacking wise we were very strong.
“I definitely thought it would have been a lot closer.”
Cresnar said he was happy with his side’s composure against the top team and that they would take a lot of confidence as they head into the back end of the season.
“I think the self-belief was there. Our biggest challenge was to carry the game for the 90 minutes and put our chances away,” Cresnar said.
“It was six different goal scorers which is great to see. It gives us more flexibility and means we remain in a good position. We can take a lot of positives out of that game.
“I think it gives us and other teams confidence to know that anyone can be beaten depending on the day. I know they haven’t been beaten in a long time in the competition.”
The win moves Magic one point behind Jaffas in their hunt for the premiership.
Cresnar will hope his side can build on its momentum when they travel to Cooks Square Park to face Maitland FC on Saturday.
Jaffas will be desperate to bounce back to retain its position at the top of the table.
They will have to respond on Wednesday when they travel to Darling Street Oval to take on Newcastle Olympic in their rescheduled round 16 fixture before they return home to welcome Charlestown Azzurri next weekend.
Lake Macquarie City FC 2-4 Maitland FC
Maitland FC returned to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Lake Macquarie City FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday.
The Roosters scored first from an own goal in the 11th minute. Theodor Skarp headed the ball towards goal off a corner kick before it hit a Magpies player and trickled into the back of the net.
Maitland levelled in the 22nd minute through Jackson Burston. Cobe Preston pushed away Matthew Hoole’s free kick but Burston was able to pounce on the loose ball and tap it into the goal.
James Thompson edged the Magpies ahead in the 38th minute after he tapped in a cross from Braedyn Crowley to take the score to 2-1 at half-time.
Crowley got his own name on the scoresheet in the 49th minute after he ducked and weaved past his defender before he struck the ball low and hard into the net.
Maitland struck again 10 minutes later to take the score to 4-1 as Crowley netted his second of the afternoon.
The Roosters clawed one back in the 67th minute after they were awarded a penalty kick. Jordan Preston stepped up to convert comfortably as he sent goalkeeper Matthew Trot the wrong way.
The win for Maitland moves them up to sixth on the table, two points behind Newcastle Olympic in fifth.
The Magpies will hope to make it back-to-back wins when they return home to Cooks Square Park to host Broadmeadow Magic on Saturday.
Lakes continue to sit at the bottom of the table with four points and will be desperate to move out of the automatic relegation zone. They return home to Macquarie Field to host Cooks Hill United on Saturday.
Edgeworth FC v New Lambton FC
Match postponed due to wet weather.
Cooks Hill United 6-0 Adamstown Rosebud FC
Cooks Hill United continued its unbeaten streak with a dominant 6-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
The home side came out of the blocks firing before they opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Carter Smith as he tapped in a cross at the far post.
Cody Nancarrow got his name on the scoresheet in the 31st minute after Smith whipped the ball onto his head.
Smith netted his second of the afternoon in the 65th minute after he stretched out to slice the ball past goalkeeper Brendan Short off a free kick to triple his side’s advantage.
Substitution Joel Clissold found the back of the net in the 73rd minute before Nancarrow netted his second of the day int he 78th minute.
Smith secured a hat-trick in the 92nd minute to put the cherry on top for Cooks Hill and take the final score to 6-0.
The win was Cooks Hill’s third in four, with the side unbeaten in those four matches to sit eighth on the table.
They will hope to continue their momentum when they take on Lake Macquarie City FC at Macquarie Field on Saturday.
Adamstown remains 11th on the table and will look to bounce back when they host Edgeworth FC at Adamstown Oval on Saturday.
Weston Workers FC 1-0 Valentine FC
Weston Workers FC bounced back in style after a 1-0 win over Valentine FC at Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday.
An early goal from the Bears secured three crucial points to get their season back on track.
Dominic Archbold netted the only goal of the match in the eighth minute after a defensive mistake from the Phoenix.
A miscommunication between goalkeeper Brodie Volkiene and defender Cooper Verstegen over who would collect a long ball allowed it to trickle past the two of them which allowed Archbold to sneak in and tap the ball into the empty goal.
Weston remains ninth on the table with 19 points, three points behind Cooks Hill United in eighth spot.
Kew Jaliens will hope that his side can string back-to-back wins together when his side hosts New Lambton FC on Sunday.
The loss was Valentine’s second defeat in a row as they go three matches without a win.
Adam Hughes and his side fell to seventh on the table, three points outside of the top five.
They will be desperate to get their season back on track and return to the top five when they travel to Darling Street Oval to face Newcastle OIympic on Sunday.
Charlestown Azzurri 1-2 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic secured back-to-back wins to move into the top five with a 2-1 victory over Charlestown Azzurri at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Lachlan West opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a powerful shot from Jason Hoffman’s shot was saved by Ben McNamara. West pounced on the loose ball and tapped it home.
Jye Rodway doubled Olympic’s advantage in the 28th minute with a superb strike from outside the penalty area that whirled past McNamara.
The two sides continued to create goal-scoring opportunities but neither could capitalise until the final seconds of the match.
Azzurri clawed one back in the 94th minute when Olympic goalkeeper Adam Pearce spilled the ball off a corner kick after pressure from the Blues.
The score remained 2-1 to give Olympic their second win in five days and move them up to fifth position on the table.
They will hope to strengthen their finals position when they face Lambton Jaffas on Wednesday night before they go head-to-head with Valentine FC.
The loss was Azzurri’s second defeat in a row as they have fallen to fourth on the table.
James Pascoe will be eager for this side to turn things around when they host Edgeworth FC on Wednesday night before they face league leaders Lambton on Saturday.