Match of the Round
Valentine FC 3-2 Kahibah FC
Valentine FC head coach Lee Sterrey commended the character shown by his side, as they dug deep to overcome a determined Kahibah FC to win 3-2 at Croudace Bay Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts made a flying start, taking the lead in just the third minute when a well-worked free kick routine from Max Middleby found Zachery McShane.
Valentine doubled their advantage 10 minutes later as the wind began to play a factor. Middleby delivered an almost perfect corner that hung in the breeze before finding the head of Zac McDougall.
Kahibah worked their way back into the contest, but their task became tougher when striker Jillies Bos was forced from the field early, with Dan Byrne entering the match in his place.
But the Rams found a lifeline in stoppage time.
A well-executed corner resulted in Billy Eick finding the back of the net, before two minutes later a swift transition saw Eick turn provider. He played Jackson Burston through one-on-one with goalkeeper Brodie Volkiene, and the striker made no mistake to stun the hosts.
With the score 2-2 at half-time, both sides came out determined as the second half turned into a tense thriller between the two sides.
It took something special to break the deadlock, and Middleby delivered in the 58th minute. His corner evaded everyone in the box before curling directly into the net to restore Valentine's lead at 3-2.
The goal sparked a strong response from the Rams, as both sides turned to their benches in the final 15 minutes in search of an edge. As the visitors built momentum in the closing stages, the contest looked destined for a dramatic finish.
But Valentine's defence stood firm to secure the club's fifth win of the season and just its second at home, while also moving five points clear of the relegation zone.
It was a difficult result for the Rams to take, as head coach Blair Newham understood his side faced a crucial final five weeks in the battle to avoid relegation.
“They probably gave us some problems that not many teams have had so far,” Newham said.
“Just how willing they were to sit off in that shape that they had, and how uncreative we were coming out of our back third to try and play into midfield, we didn't really have any answers for that.
“That wind, anything could have happened. Valentine bought a ticket three times with set pieces and won the raffle three times. I've not seen a first-grade corner go in directly from the corner for a long time.
“We've still got five games to play, 15 points on the table still; it's nowhere near over. Every week, it's just going to have to be such a scrap.
“We've lost three points, and we've lost our marquee striker, so it's a very rough day.”
By comparison, Sterrey didn’t hide from the significance of the result but knew the Phoenix will need at least a few more to secure their position for next year.
“We're always going to put them under some pressure at some stage in the second half,” Sterrey said.
“We really wanted a win to kick away from them.
“We had numbers in our head. I still think this team, once we're over the line and safe and the world's taken off their shoulders staying up in the top division, they'll release themselves and play a lot of good footy.
“It shows the character of the team to come back in the second half. To come back from giving them two gifts and bringing them back into the game.
“It shows the character we've had in the room all year.”
Valentine will travel away on Saturday to face Adamstown Rosebud, while Kahibah will travel up the Hunter Expressway to take on Weston Bears the same day.
Weston Bears 3-2 Lambton Jaffas
Weston Bears assistant coach Nathan Morris believes his side’s demanding schedule and the return of key players are beginning to pay dividends after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Lambton Jaffas at Hunter City Motor Group Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors made the brighter start when they capitalised on a defensive lapse in the 16th minute. An unmarked Thomas Waller was picked out inside the box and calmly guided the ball into the net to hand Lambton an early lead.
The setback sparked an immediate response from the Bears. Just three minutes later, a swift transition ended with Chris Hatfield unleashing a superb strike from outside the box to level the scores.
The Jaffas maintained their attacking momentum but were unable to reclaim the lead as the sides went down the tunnel locked at 1-1.
The seesawing contest continued in the second half, with both sides trading attempts and creating plenty of chances.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute when Lambton's scrambling defence was caught out of position, allowing Chris Hatfield to pick out an unmarked Brock Beveridge, who fired the Bears into the lead.
The end-to-end contest produced another twist in the 79th minute, with Jimmy Oates curling home a free kick to level the scores and set up a thrilling finish
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when a clumsy challenge inside the box handed Weston a penalty. Substitute Blake Archbold stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for the hosts.
It was another cruel finish for the Jaffas, who have been left to rue late goals on several occasions this season.
The Bears are set for a busy July, their round 14 catch-up game against Charlestown Azzurri confirmed for Tuesday and their Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 clash with Melbourne City scheduled for Sunday fortnight.
With several key names returning from injury, including Blake Archbold and Dominic Archbold, and the likes of Connor Evans close to returning, Morris was optimistic the Jaffas performance signals positive signs ahead.
“There was plenty of determination there when needed from our guys,” Morris said.
“There's a lot of positives we take away. The effort's always there, sometimes you need that little bit of luck at the end.
“The boys deserved it. It wasn't pretty at times, but there was grit between the teeth, and they got the job done against a decent Jaffas side.
“If you narrow it right down to session by session, that's the only way you can get yourself on those runs.
“These boys seem to really respond well when we're playing games. We've got a heap of games coming up. I just got a funny feeling we're in a position that we could really storm into those finals.
“We're getting a few players back from injury as well. There are some good signs.”
The Bears, following their catch-up game with Charlestown, will stay at home on Saturday when they welcome Kahibah FC, while Lambton will have to take down an in-form Maitland FC at home the same day.
Cooks Hill United 4-0 Charlestown Azzurri
Cooks Hill United moved to within three points of a maiden NPL NNSW finals berth after producing a commanding 4-0 victory over Charlestown Azzurri at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
As t the sun began to set on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the hosts made it clear they were determined to play some football. Cooks Hill weathered several early ventures from the Blues before wrestling back possession and territory.
Their building pressure was rewarded in the 24th minute when Malcolm Young brilliantly executed a free kick, with the hosts scoring the first goal of the afternoon.
The lead doubled eight minutes later when Stephen Hoyle produced a piece of individual brilliance to have Cooks Hill in the box seat.
Charlestown continued to create chances, but the task became even tougher when a challenge on Hoyle involving Jordan Jackson and goalkeeper Samuel Esquilant saw the referee point to the penalty spot.
Kent Harrison made no mistake, netting Cooks Hill’s third and giving them a resounding lead at half-time.
The Blues continued to press after the break as they searched for a way to break the deadlock, but despite 13 shots on goal and six corners plus an injection of substitutes at the hour mark, the side couldn’t find a way past Daniel Eisenhauer.
Cooks Hill finally buried any chance of a comeback in the 77th minute, with Hoyle setting up substitute Daniel Yaxley to give the hosts a resounding 4-0 win at home.
It handed the Blues their fourth straight loss, with the side now in risk of being anchored to the bottom of the table if they cannot reverse their fortunes.
Charlestown will return home to play Edgeworth Eagles on Sunday, while Cooks Hill will welcome table leaders Broadmeadow Magic on Saturday as they continue to chase a maiden finals appearance.
Maitland FC 3-1 Adamstown Rosebud
Maitland FC have climbed to third on the table, overcoming Adamstown Rosebud 3-1 at Cooks Square Park on Saturday to secure their fifth consecutive win.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, with both sides looking to take control of the fixture. The Magpies created the better of the chances, but the Buds’ defence held strong through the opening half hour.
The pressure eventually told in the 38th minute when an Angus Muddle free kick found the head of defender Semi Wara, who gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break.
The Buds came out of the tunnel with greater intensity, pressing higher and working to limit the Magpies’ time on the ball. The shift in momentum saw the visitors begin to spend more time in attacking areas.
In the 56th minute, after a sustained period of build-up, a Taj Buck cross found an unmarked Jack Brown near the back post, the winger able to edge past goalkeeper Taylor Pate and find an equaliser.
The goal galvanised the hosts, who responded by increasing the pressure. Seven minutes later, a challenge following a throw in saw the referee point to the penalty spot, with the ever-reliable Braedyn Crowley making no mistake from the spot to restore Maitland’s lead.
Adamstown pushed forward in search of another equaliser, but the result was sealed in the 85th minute.
A brilliant run from Matthew Smale set up Regan Lundy one-on-one with goalkeeper George Scorer, with the striker benefiting from a deflection off the woodwork to secure a 3-1 win for Maitland.
The Buds will look to bounce back on Saturday when they take on Valentine FC at home, while Maitland will look to catch Belmont Swansea United when they travel to face Lambton Jaffas later that same day.
Broadmeadow Magic 2-1 Newcastle Olympic
Broadmeadow Magic have extended their lead at the top of the NPL NNSW table to eight points after coming from behind to defeat a dangerous Newcastle Olympic side 2-1 at Magic Park in the final match of the weekend.
The defending champions found themselves on the back foot almost immediately, with Olympic flying out of the blocks inside the opening minute.
A corner caused chaos in the box, allowing defender Jye Rodway to get a touch on the ball and guide it past Daniel Axford to hand the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Olympic continued to press forward with several more attacking ventures into Magic territory, but the hosts’ defence held firm. The early setback appeared to spark Broadmeadow into action.
Magic grew into the game, and in the 32nd minute were rewarded as a well-executed corner from Jakob Cresnar found Ben Diamond in the box, the defender delivering a critical equaliser.
On the edge of half-time, Cresnar, who had been threatening the Olympic goal all half, was perfectly set up by Jarred Baker to deliver a slick finish and give Magic a 2-1 lead going into the break.
With Magic having wrestled momentum away, Olympic returned fire in the second half, starting to get more adventurous on goal. With the affair becoming an end-to-end thriller, the defending champions were going to have to dig deep to secure the three points.
As the clock went to stoppage time, a long-range effort from Olympic appeared to see substitute Jesse Fitzgerald net the crucial equaliser, only for the midfielder to be caught in an offside position. It proved the difference, as Magic hung on to claim their 12th win of the year.
The defending champions will face Cooks Hill United on Saturday, while Olympic will return home to host Belmont Swansea United on Sunday.
Edgeworth Eagles v Belmont Swansea United
This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.