Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Valentine FC
Magic Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar expects that this weekend’s match against Valentine FC will be one of their toughest games of the season as they fight for the premiership at Magic Park on Sunday afternoon.
There is a lot on the line for each side with Magic able to lift the premiership trophy if results go their way and Phoenix desperate to keep their final’s hopes alive.
Magic’s men sit at the top of the table, three points clear of Lambton Jaffas in second.
With only two games remaining a win from Cresnar’s side and a draw or loss from the Jaffas would win them the premiership this weekend for the first time in 11 years.
But Cresnar knows that with so much riding on the game for each side, this Sunday’s clash will be the fight of their lives.
“It will be a very tough game,” Cresnar said.
“It is a big game for them [Valentine] as well to ensure that they have a chance of making finals.
“There are big opportunities for both sides if they win the game.
“It will be one of our toughest games this season.
“Both teams will be out there to win.
Magic will be without their captain Jeremy Wilson as he serves a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
But Cresnar is confident that his side’s momentum and culture will be key in helping them to secure the three points on Sunday and potentially lift the premiership trophy.
“I think momentum is key and there is a lot of self-belief and self-drive by the players,” Cresnar said.
“We are in a good position to do something this year.
“For the club, it would be huge to claim the premiership. The team deserves to get something out of the season.
“There has already been pressure that we have faced week in and week out anyway which has shown to me that the boys can deal with it.
“We are ready for the weekend.”
Valentine sits sixth on the table, three points outside of the top five sides and finals contention.
Coach Adam Hughes knows the importance of a win this weekend for his side in their hope to keep their finals dream alive.
“We are heading into the game where we know that we must win,” Hughes said.
“Our sole focus is on how we can get something out of the game.
“We know we have to win our remaining two games and that our fate is not fully in our hands but we will be pushing as we want to finish on a high.
“It would be massive for us to make finals, it is something that we have set out to try and achieve.”
The Phoenix enters the contest off the back of two consecutive wins.
Valentine knows that Magic also has a lot at stake this weekend, but Hughes believes that if his players can rise to the occasion, they can spoil their party.
“We know Magic has a lot riding on the game as well. I think that will make the match quite tense,” Hughes said.
“Magic is a good young side but they do have vulnerabilities.
“Every player will need to be at the top of their game.
“If we play our best we can give ourselves every chance to get something out of the game.”
Lambton Jaffas v New Lambton FC
Arthur Edden Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Lambton Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said that the pressure is off his side as they welcome New Lambton FC to Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The premiership favourites have slipped in recent weeks, with one win in their last five competition matches.
They also bowed out of the Australia Cup on Tuesday night after they went down to Melbourne Victory 4-1.
But they will take lots of positives from the match, with Pat Bond’s wonder strike and still holding their own against the A-League 2023/24 grand finalists.
They sit second on the table, three points behind league leaders Broadmeadow Magic and can stop their rivals from lifting the premiership trophy this weekend if they secure three points.
Tanchevski said that their fall from the top of the table has taken the pressure of his side in their run into the finals.
“It has been a pretty tough run for us,” Tanchevski said.
“Last weekend, I thought we played some good football and fought hard but didn’t create enough goal-scoring opportunities.
“The attitude amongst the boys is really good.
“The pressure is off us now to get the premiership with it in Magic’s hands at the moment so I want the boys to enjoy their football for the final couple of games for the season before finals.
“Regardless of recent weeks, the club has had a very successful season.”
New Lambton will be determined not to finish their season on a negative run of results as they come into the contest off the back of a 7-1 thrashing by Newcastle Olympic in their mid-week rescheduled fixture on Tuesday night.
But they will have some confidence heading into this weekend’s game after they broke Jaffas’ winning streak with a 1-1 draw in round 10.
The Golden Eagles sit 10th on the table, six points ahead of the relegation play-off zone.
They will hope that they can turn their fortunes around and cause another upset to end the Jaffas’ premiership hopes and ensure they remain in the NPL Men’s NNSW competition in 2025.
Adamstown Rosebud v Newcastle Olympic
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Newcastle Olympic will be desperate to lock their finals position in when they travel to Adamstown Oval to face Adamstown Rosebud on Saturday.
Their mid-week 7-1 thumping over New Lambton FC on Tuesday night saw them move back into the top five sides.
But with Valentine FC only three points behind them, they will be eager to secure another three points this weekend to help cement their position in finals as the season enters the final stages.
The last time these two sides went head-to-head, Adamstown pulled off an upset over Olympic with a 2-1 win.
Adamstown will hope that they can replicate their performance and upset Olympic for a second time this season.
Rosebud’s hopes of escaping the relegation play-offs have faded away as it is not mathematically possible for them to overtake New Lambton in 10th position.
But with last-placed Lake Macquarie City FC five points behind them, Chris Moylan will need his team to continue to push until the end to pick up points and avoid automatic relegation.
In a big boost for the side, captain and striker Dino Fajkovic will return after a six-match suspension to provide his leadership and attacking prowess.
Edgeworth FC v Cooks Hill United
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Edgeworth FC will look to continue their competition form when they host Cooks Hill United at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles are one of the most in-form teams in the NPL Men’s NNSW competition but enter the clash off the back of a heartbreaking 4-1 loss to Olympic Kingsway Sports Club in the Australia Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday night in Western Australia.
Pete McGuinness will hope that the busy schedule will not affect his side’s momentum in the competition.
The Eagles sit third on the table and are now just four points behind Lambton Jaffas in second position.
They will be eager to bounce back from their Cup loss and return to winning ways in the hope of hunting the Jaffas down to finish the season as high on the table as possible.
They will be without Chris Fayers, as he received a second yellow card in their Cup match but will hope that captain Pat Wheeler is able to return after
Cooks Hill United is also a side that hit their straps in the second half of the season, sitting seventh on the table, five points outside of the top five.
They are on a four-match winning streak and will hope to make it five from five against a tough opponent.
With their finals hopes still mathematically achievable, Chris Zoricich’s side will be hungry to return home with all three points this weekend.
Lake Macquarie City FC v Weston Workers FC
Macquarie Field, Saturday 4pm
Two sides will be looking to bounce back when Lake Macquarie City FC welcomes Weston Workers FC to Macquarie Field on Saturday.
Weston’s four-game winning streak ended in their mid-week catch-up game when they lost 2-0 to Charlestown Azzurri.
But Kew Jaliens will hope that his side can quickly shake the loss off and return to winning ways again away from home three days later.
The Bears sit eighth on the table and are still mathematically in with a chance to make finals, five points outside of the top five.
They will hope to pick up all six points from their last two matches and hope that other results go their way.
The last time these two sides met in round 10, Weston secured an impressive 6-1 win.
Lakes’ fate in the competition is all but certain as they sit last on the table in the relegation zone, five points behind Adamstown Rosebud in 11th position.
But one thing coach Pete Preston has said throughout the season is that his side will continue to fight until the end which is what they will do again against the Bears this weekend.
They will be without Jerome Abrahams, as he serves a one-match suspension after he got a second yellow card last weekend against Charlestown Azzurri.
Charlestown Azzurri v Maitland FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 2:30pm
Charlestown Azzurri will hope to continue their winning streak when they host Maitland FC at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday afternoon.
After a dip in results, the Blues have returned to winning ways with back-to-back victories in their last two matches against Lake Macquarie City FC (4-0) and Weston Workers FC (2-0).
They sit fourth on the table but are on equal points with Newcastle Olympic in fifth position.
But as the race for finals heats up, every point is crucial in the final weeks of the competition.
James Pascoe and his men will be eager to secure three points and make it three from three to help secure their spot in the top five.
Maitland’s hopes for finals are all but over as they sit ninth on the table with 25 points.
Their season has not gone to plan, unable to pick up consistent results and they enter the clash with one win from five matches.
It will be important for coach Mick Bolch to finish his tenure with the club on a positive note and for his side to finish the season as high up on the table as possible.
Bragging rights will be up for grabs between these two sides as their last competition match in round 10 ended in a 2-2 draw.