Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Charlestown Azzurri
Magic Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar said that his side will be cautious ahead of their clash against Charlestown Azzurri at Magic Park on Sunday.
The newest league leaders sprung to the top of the table in the competition break after they won their rescheduled fixture against Newcastle Olympic 2-1.
With just two points separating Magic's men and their rivals Lambton Jaffas, they will be desperate to secure their reign at the top for another week.
But Magic is aware of the danger Azzurri can pose, as they went down 2-0 against them back in round nine.
Cresnar said that his side will not be leaving anything to chance this weekend in their desperation to secure the premiership title.
“We will be cautious as last time they beat us. They completely outplayed us,” Cresnar said.
“In terms of approach, we will make sure that we don’t make the same mistakes as last time.
“It is very important for us to get the win.”
Magic’s coach said that he believes his side is on an upward trajectory as a playing group, but they know the importance of securing three points in front of a home crowd this weekend.
“The confidence is high and I think the team is pretty solid,” Cresnar said.
“The main focus is that we approach each week as if it is our last game.
“It is important for us to get an outcome on the weekend.”
Broadmeadow will hope to have all their squad available for selection and lean on their depth to make it four from four and continue their unbeaten run into the finals.
Charlestown will be desperate to bounce back in a big way against Magic to secure their spot in the finals.
The Blues have suffered a dip in form as they are four games without a win. Their winless streak has seen them fall from third to fifth position.
With teams below them beginning to close in, three points away from home this Sunday would be crucial in their survival in the top five for another week.
The match will hold extra significance for Azzurri as they will have a minute’s silence before the first whistle, paying their respects to a past Azzurri player Peter Fairleigh who passed away this week.
They will be without Luke Callen after he sustained three eye socket fractures in a head clash with Weston Workers FC player Cooper Sargent in their catch-up match that was forced to be abandoned due to the injuries sustained.
The Blues led 1-0 in that match, which will be replayed and restarted from approximately the 64th minute.
But Azzurri will now be forced to switch their focus to getting the job done this weekend to secure some crucial points in keeping their finals hopes alive.
Cooks Hill United v Maitland FC
Fearnely Dawes Athletics Field, Saturday 4:30pm
Cooks Hill United will hope to make a push for finals when they host Maitland FC to Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
The home side has launched a late sprint for a top-five finish after going five games without a loss which has made them the current in form team in the competition.
They sit sixth on the table, four points behind Charlestown Azzurri in fifth position.
Chris Zoricich’s side has proved that they pose a threat in attack as they have scored 19 goals in their last five matches.
Cooks Hill will hope that they can continue to build on their momentum and secure three points at home on Saturday.
Maitland’s season has been up and down as they find themselves eighth on the table after seven wins, three draws and eight losses.
They will be eager to bounce back from their loss against Broadmeadow Magic and
With the chance to jump up into sixth position with three points, Mick Bolch’s side will be eager to
The last time Cooks Hill and Maitland met in the competition in round they were forced to share the points after a 2-2 draw.
But with one point separating the two sides, each will be desperate to secure the three points and keep themselves in the race for the finals.
Edgeworth FC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Edgeworth FC will hope to continue flying high when they welcome Lake Macquarie City FC at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles have gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed, flying up the table into third position.
They overcame a heartbreaking loss in the Men’s State Cup final last weekend after they went down on penalties to defeat New Lambton FC in their midweek round 18 catch-up match.
Coach Pete McGuinness will hope that his side can continue their momentum and walk away with three points on the weekend in their quest to finish the season as high up the table as possible.
Lakes are at the other end of the spectrum, sitting in the automatic relegation zone in last place on the table.
The Roosters are five points behind Adamstown Rosebud in 11th position and will be desperate to fight to stay in the competition next year.
Pete Preston and his side have struggled to pick up points this season and it will be a tough task for them to take some off the in from Eagles.
But with a point to prove, the young Lakes squad will continue to push and give their all until the final game of the season.
New Lambton FC v Newcastle Olympic FC
Alder Park, Saturday 2:30pm
Newcastle Olympic will look to cement their spot in finals football when they travel to Alder Park on Saturday to take on New Lambton FC.
Olympic have hit their strides in the season's back end, rising to fourth place on the table.
But they will come into Saturday’s fixture off the back of a fiery 2-1 loss to Broadmeadow Magic in their round 17 rescheduled game last weekend.
Olympic will also be without their new recruit and A-League veteran Jason Hoffman as he serves a one-match suspension after he received two yellow cards against Magic.
Coaches Paul DeVitis and Neil Owens will hope that their side can bounce back from the loss and return to their winning ways to help secure their spot in finals football.
New Lambton find themselves at the other end of the table in 10th position and will hope to extend the gap between them and the bottom two teams.
They are five points clear of Adamstown Rosebud in 11th but eight points behind Weston Workers FC above them.
Shane Pryce’s side has struggled to maintain consistency this season and will enter the match off the back of two back-to-back losses.
A win this weekend for the Golden Eagles would help to get their season back on track and secure their place in the competition for 2025.
Valentine FC v Lambton Jaffas FC
Croudace Bay Complex, Saturday 5pm
Valentine FC will be eager to work their way back into the top five with an upset over Lambton Jaffas at Croudace Bay Complex on Saturday afternoon.
After a dream start to their 2024 campaign, Phoenix fell into seventh position, six points outside the top five sides.
They will enter the match-up without a win in four matches after two draws and two losses.
Adam Hughes will hope that his side can return to winning ways in the hope to keep their chances at finals alive.
But they will have a steep task ahead of them as they take on the most in-form team in the competition.
Jaffas were victorious on the last hit out between these two sides in round nine, but it was a tight affair with a 3-2 scoreline.
Lambton will be full of confidence after they secured the Men’s State Cup after a dramatic match that was decided on penalties.
But during the competition break, they dropped off the top of the table for the first time since the opening rounds of the season, with Broadmeadow Magic victorious in their catch up game against.
They are two points behind Magic and will be eager to reclaim their spot at the top with a win on Saturday.
In a major boost for the side, their star midfielder Reece Papadimitrios will be available to play after his suspension for match official abuse was downgraded.
Weston Workers FC v Adamstown Rosebud
Rockwell Automation Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Adamstown Rosebud will hope to save their season when they travel to Rockwell Automation Park to face Weston Workers FC on Sunday.
Rosebud’s sit 11th on the table, in the play-off zone five points above Lake Macquarie City FC in last position and five points behind New Lambton FC.
They will be desperate to upset the Bears and secure an important three points that could move them closer to New Lambton in the hope of securing their spot in the competition in 2025.
The side will continue to be without captain Dino Fajkovic as he serves his six-match suspension for match official abuse.
The last time these two sides went head-to-head in the competition, Weston secured a 2-0 win away from home.
Chris Moylan will hope that his young Rosebud’s side can flip the script this time around and give themselves a fighting chance.
Weston’s season has also not gone to plan, as they have struggled to pick up some consistency in results.
The Bears sit ninth on the table with 22 points, eight points outside the top five. They enter the match off the back of an abandoned match against Charlestown Azzurri due to a head clash between an Azzurri player and their own Cooper Sargent.
Sargent suffered a concussion and will be sidelined for at least this weekend.
Weston will hope they can return to winning ways and move closer to the top half of the table.