Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Valentine FC
This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
Lambton Jaffas 1-0 New Lambton FC
Lambton Jaffas have bounced back to keep their premiership hopes alive after a gritty 1-0 win over New Lambton at Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Jaffas remain in the hunt for the premiership as they moved up to equal points with league leaders Broadmeadow Magic.
But a 70th-minute goal was the only thing that could separate the two sides in the battle between second and 10th place.
The home side came charging out of the sheds, determined to put a poor run of results behind them and return to the winner’s circle.
Kale Bradbery created multiple goal-scoring opportunities but could not find the back of the net as New Lambton held their own and continued to deny Jaffas from opening the scoring.
But Bradbery finally put his name on the scoresheet and broke the deadlock in the 70th minute.
The striker snuck between two New Lambton defenders to receive the ball inside the penalty area and strike the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.
New Lambton were unable to find an equalizer and left empty-handed as Jaffas secured all three points.
The fight for the premiership will come down to the final week, as the Jaffas need to win their last game of the regular season against Adamstown Rosebud at Adamstown Oval next Sunday and hope that Broadmeadow Magic drop points to lift the trophy.
The Golden Eagles are now safe in the competition as the two teams below them on the table Adamstown and Lake Macquarie City FC both lost their matches over the weekend.
They continue to sit in tenth position and will be eager to finish their season on a positive note.
But their final match of the season will be one of their biggest tests as they return home to Alder Park to host league leaders Broadmeadow Magic next Sunday, who will be desperate to win in their quest for the premiership.
Adamstown Rosebud 0-2 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic have cemented their spot in the finals after a 2-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud at Adamstown Oval on Saturday.
Neither side could open the scoring in the first half despite multiple chances created.
Olympic finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute from Jason Hoffman after Adamstown were unable to clear a corner kick.
Joseph Langlois launched a brave header back into the penalty area which found the feet of Hoffman, who made no mistake and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Adamstown almost responded immediately but was denied by goalkeeper Adam Pearce twice.
Olympic doubled their lead to secure all three points in the 84th minute after Lachlan Griffiths stepped past his defender and charged down the field before, he unleashed a powerful shot that flew past goalkeeper Stuart Plant.
The win secures Olympic inside the top five as they sit fifth on the table, five points clear of Cooks Hill United and Weston Workers FC with one match left in the regular season.
They will look to continue their momentum ahead of finals football when they take on Lake Macquarie City FC in the final round next Sunday at Darling Street Oval.
Adamstown cannot catch New Lambton as they sit 11th on the table, which will mean that they will be forced to fight for their position in the NPL Men’s NNSW competition in the relegation play-off series.
Chris Moylan will hope his side can finish the competition on a positive note before the fight for their lives when they host Lambton Jaffas next Sunday.
Edgeworth FC 1-3 Cooks Hill United
Cooks Hill caused a shock upset after a 3-1 victory over Edgeworth FC at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday.
The visitors were dominant as they put three goals past the Eagles before they responded in the final minutes of the match.
Mitchell Dobson opened Cooks Hill’s account in the 13th minute with a strong header off Kai Bradley’s free-kick that flew into the back of the net.
A strong save from Cooks Hill goalkeeper Daniel Eisenhauer to deny Flynn Goodman kept the scoreline at 1-0 as the sides went into the half-time break.
But Cookers doubled their lead in the 50th minute after Bradley provided another spectacular assist. Bradley whipped the ball into the penalty area and onto the run of Brock Beveridge, who smashed the ball on the volley past Ben Conway.
Carter Smith put his name on the scoresheet in the 71st minute after he nodded the ball into the back of the net. Bradley provided yet another assist as he curled a corner kick into the penalty area and onto the head of Smith, who rose the highest to take the score to 3-0.
Edgeworth clawed one back in the 89th minute as Ryan Feutz tapped the ball past Eisenhauer off the scraps of a free kick from Seth Clark.
But it was all too late for the Eagles as the final scoreline remained 3-1.
Cooks Hill moved into sixth position with 31 points but will fall short of finals as they are five points behind Newcastle Olympic in fifth.
They hope to end their season on a high note when they battle Weston Workers FC for sixth place in the final match of the regular season.
Edgeworth continues to sit third on the table and will be eager to bounce back in the lead-up to finals when they travel to Cooks Square Park to take on Maitland FC next Sunday.
Lake Macquarie City FC 0-5 Weston Workers FC
Weston Workers FC bounced back in style after they defeated Lake Macquarie City FC 5-0 at Macquarie Field on Saturday.
The Bears ensured that the Rooster’s relegation fate was set after they dominated from start to finish.
Chris Hurley hit the back of the net first for the Bears in the sixth minute after teammate Christopher Hatfield ducked and weaved his way past Lake’s defence. He passed it through to Hurley who made no mistake and turned on the ball before he sliced it into the bottom corner of the goal.
Blake Archbold doubled the visitor's lead in the 15th minute before Connor Evans added his name to the scoresheet in the 29th minute.
Weston took the scoreline to 4-0 before the half-time break with a second goal from Archbold in the 36th minute.
The Roosters were able to silence the Bears for almost the full second half until substitute Jye Bailey put the cherry on top for Weston in stoppage time.
Weston sits seventh on the table after the win with 31 points and will take on Cooks Hill in the battle for sixth position in the final match of the regular season at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field next Sunday.
The loss means that Lakes will be relegated at the end of the 2024 season to the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition.
They will be eager to finish their season on a positive when they face Newcastle Olympic next Sunday at Darling Street Oval.
Charlestown Azzurri 1-0 Maitland FC
Charlestown Azzurri made it three from three after a 1-0 win over Maitland FC at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides came firing out of the gate, eager to get on the scoreboard and secure the win.
The Blues looked the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock after they created chance after chance in the first half.
But they were denied on each occasion by some brave Maitland defence and spectacular saves from goalkeeper Matthew Trott.
The home side finally edged ahead in the 69th minute after a wonder strike from Tyran Cousins.
Cameron Joice’s corner kick spilled out to Cousins who was unmarked inside the penalty area. The midfielder smashed the ball as it bounced towards him with power past the sea of players and into the back of the net.
Maitland was unable to respond and took their winless run to four straight matches.
The Magpies sit ninth on the table and hope to finish their season on a positive note when they return to Cooks Square Park to host Edgeworth FC next Sunday.
Azzurri continues to sit in fourth after the win and has locked their position in finals.
They will hope to continue their winning ways when they travel to Croudace Bay Complex next Sunday to face Valentine FC.