NPL Men’s NNSW Round 18 Review: Maitland take huge step towards title with late win over Magic
Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic 2-3 Maitland FC
Maitland returned the favour from their last gasp elimination from the Australia Cup as they delivered their own injury-time winner through James Thompson to down Broadmeadow 3-2 on Saturday.
Maitland were sensationally eliminated from the Australia Cup at the hands of Broadmeadow Magic in their last meeting, with Damian Zane’s men stealing the result with two injury time goals to snatch progression to the round of 32.
Maitland arrived at Magic Park with eyes on first place if they were to win and more ambitiously, this year's premiership. While Broadmeadow were looking to go five points clear at the top of the table.
The Magpies began the match full of running but found themselves behind in the seventh minute when a misplaced pass from Tye Cousins found Magic’s Jarred Baker in the penalty area where he calmly slotted his shot to give the hosts an early lead.
Cousins, who was perhaps spurred on by his earlier mistake, restored parity just after the 20-minute mark as he got his head to a corner at the near post.
Magic struck next in what was a fantastic showcase of ability from two of the NPL Men’s NNSW heavyweights, as star playmaker Bailey Wells exploded down the touchline and found his striker Jayden Stewardson in the penalty area, with Stewardson making it 2-1 just before the 40th minute.
Maitland were left needing to find an equaliser for the second time but when striker James Thompson muscled his way into the box in the 67th minute there would be only one outcome, as Maitland made it 2-2 heading into the final 20 minutes.
Magic and Maitland would have seen this fixture as a golden opportunity to take a step closer to securing this year's premiership and the feeling on the field reflected that as both sides turned up the physicality in search of a winner.
Desperate defence from the Magpies in the 95th minute saw a change of possession as the visitors marched up field to steal not only the result but the top spot on the table.
Flynn Goodman collected a through ball into Magic’s penalty area and calmly picked out an unmarked Thompson at the back post for his second of the afternoon and the winner.
Maitland’s victory sees another twist in this year’s premiership race, with a different side at the top of the table for the third consecutive week.
Maitland assistant coach Gav Wolfe said the victory was a result of the hard work his side put in during the week.
“We owed Broadmeadow, there have been a couple of games in the 90th minute [where they did similar],” Wolfe said.
“We certainly owed them one and to get that today was great. We had a good session with the boys on Thursday night where we sat down and put out a game plan that we thought would beat Magic, so we were very much focused on what we needed to do in this game.
“The boys worked really hard today and we are very proud of the efforts they put out there. It is very important for us, a lot of the boys are old school football fans and followers and they feel the premiership is the most coveted piece of the silverware rather than the grand final winners. We are very happy to be there [at the top of the table].”
Newcastle Olympic 1-1 Lambton Jaffas
Newcastle Olympic denied Lambton Jaffas the chance of moving to second place on the table with a last gasp equaliser to share the points on Sunday.
Lambton came into the match with the opportunity to draw level with top-of-the-table Maitland following their defeat of Broadmeadow Magic. While Olympic were aiming to keep collecting points and hold onto fifth spot on the table.
The match began as an arm wrestle at Darling Street Oval. Olympic’s best chance came through Joey Langlois when he let rip a shot from the top of the penalty area which was parried away by Jaffas goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.
Few chances presented themselves for the visitors as neither side could be separated heading into half-time.
Both sides showed more attacking prowess in the second half but the scores remained deadlocked until Jaffas defender Reece Papas broke the deadlock with a diving header at the far post from a corner in the 65th minute.
Given the final result, Jaffas will rue their missed opportunity after the resumption of play following their breakthrough goal, with Kai Bradley collecting the crossbar with the goal wide open, throwing away the chance to double their advantage.
Down 1-0, Olympic were trying desperately to find an equaliser heading into the final stages of the match.
Talented Olympic winger Chan Yelchan provided the spark the hosts were looking for in the 92nd minute, as he danced his way into the Jaffas penalty area and found an unmarked Vince Unie who bagged the equaliser.
The draw sees Olympic hold onto fifth spot on 28 points but will be wary of the victorious Valentine side who moved to sixth spot on the table, alsowith 28 points. Lambton remains third.
Jaffas coach Shane Pryce said the result was the one that got away but they still have high hopes to take home this year's premiership.
“We were really ordinary in the first half,” Pryce said.
“Second half we turned it around and got in front but we probably lacked a bit of game management towards the end. You can’t take anything away from Olympic, they pressed all game and looked in the match. The boys are disappointed and I can't fault their effort but it’s probably the one that got away.
“[The premiership is] always a goal for the players and the club obviously. Who knows, it could end up a showdown in the last game where we face Maitland, what a game that would be. So we still have those aspirations, for sure”.
Weston Workers FC 1-2 Valentine FC
Valentine kept their finals hopes alive with a gutsy 2-1 victory over Weston at Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday.
Valentine moved to sixth spot on the competition table but are now level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic. While the loss leaves Weston looking to draw up plans for next season over their remaining matches with a finals berth now seeming an impossibility.
It did not take crafty Weston midfielder Aaron Niyonkuru long to make his mark on the game as he found himself alone in the penalty area following a terrific back heel from winger Moustafa Mohammad. Niyonkuru rocketed his shot home to make it 1-0 after 12 minutes.
Valentine’s Charlie Daniels pulled out all the stops to prevent Weston from doubling their lead on the half-hour mark, as Daniels produced a stupendous goal line clearance to deny Mohammad.
Mohammad was proving a handful for the visitors but Weston had to settle for their 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Weston began the second half in command but the Bears relinquished their lead in the 60th minute as the ball fell for Valentine’s Tyrone Mulder in the penalty area for him to rifle home to restore parity.
With the scores locked heading into the final 10 minutes, Weston broke into the Valentine penalty area but were unable to capitalise. Weston’s falter in front of goals ultimately proved costly as Valentine marched up field and drew a penalty in the 84th minute.
Valentine’s Ryan Clarke made no mistake from the spot as he sent Valentine to the lead for the first time.
Bears coach Anthony Richards conceded his side's finals chances were over following the loss but there are still plenty of positives to take from the match.
“We had enough chances to win the game,” Richards said.
“To Valentine’s credit, with their experienced defenders Matt Thompson and Carl Thornton, they were able to hang in there. They gave themselves a chance at the end of the game and Ryan Clarke was good enough to score the penalty.
“We were unfortunate. I thought we played quite well and created enough chances… I think with the incoming coach [Kew Jaliens] next year, players will still be wanting to perform and impress the new coach coming in. Kew Jaliens will be at the games and some training sessions as well, so the boys know if they want to continue playing at Weston they will have to perform.”
Valentine coach Adam Hughes said he was proud of his side's effort to secure the victory.
“It was a difficult match in tough conditions at Weston,” Hughes said.
“They are always tough to play against at home. But with the squad of players we have and the determination to want to do well for each other, it’s what got us the win in the end.
“We just need to focus on ourselves one game at a time. We have all our suspended players coming back now so it will give us more depth and options with the games remaining.”
The match between Lake Macquarie City and Cooks Hill United was postponed.
Charlestown Azzurri defeated Adamstown Rosebud in their round 18 match on 9 July.
Edgeworth FC had the bye.