Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Alder Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar said that his team’s sole focus for this weekend is to win against New Lambton FC at Alder Park on Sunday before starting the premiership celebrations.
The league leaders are one match away from lifting the premiership trophy, as although Lambton Jaffas could catch them on points, they would have to score more than 24 goals to overtake them.
Broadmeadow enters the clash on a high after a dominant 9-2 victory over Valentine FC in their round 21 rescheduled game on Wednesday night.
Magic’s men scored five goals in the first eight minutes of the match to shatter the Phoenix’s finals hopes and continue their top form into the final week of the regular season.
Cresnar said that his side knows how close the premiership is but that their main focus is to put a full 90-minute performance in away from home.
“We know that we need to win or draw to secure the premiership,” Cresnar said.
“This weekend is more about having a good game and performance. There is no doubt that we are going out there to win the game.
“Our main focus is to win the game.
But Broadmeadow’s coach knows that the silverware is all but in their hands and said that securing the premiership will be a big achievement for everyone at the club.
“Our confidence is very high at the moment with a lot of self-belief.
“We are very close to ticking off one of our key achievements but then we also want to be successful in the finals.
“It is a tremendous achievement for the club and is something that they have been working towards for the last 11 years. I know that everyone involved has put in a lot of effort and time to get us to where we are.
“For the players to lift the trophy will be a major milestone.
“The premiership has been a big objective for us this year which we hope will fall into place for us.”
For New Lambton’s coach Shane Pryce, his aim is for his side to finish the season on a high note and set themselves up for a successful season in 2025.
The Golden Eagles 2024 campaign did not go to plan, finishing 10th on the table, escaping the threat of relegation by six points.
Pryce said that he is proud of his squad for staying up in competition and said that this weekend is all about club pride.
“It will be about playing for the club, playing for yourself and representing the badge in our last game of the season,” Pryce said.
“We want to set a tone for next year which we know is really important. We want to end things on a high note.
“If we can finish on a high and even if that is just with positive attitudes if it isn’t a great results, I will be pretty happy with that.
“I look at the situation of the club where we were promoted two years ago and to face relegation this year and stay up is a little golf clap to us. It isn’t a pat on the back, but we have set a foundation now that we can improve on.”
The New Lambton coach knows it will be no easy feat to take down the league leaders but said spoiling their premiership celebrations is extra motivation for his side to get the job done.
“It won’t be an easy weekend,” Pryce said.
“We are playing the most in-form side in the whole competition who are probably going to be premiers.
“We obviously have a job ahead of us.
“100% we want to put it to Magic and cause an upset.
“I don’t think that at any time this season, any of our players have wanted to roll over and give up.
“I think that it is important that we continue to turn up until the final week and represent the club the best we can.
“We will have a crack and see how we go.”
Adamstown Rosebud FC v Lambton Jaffas
Adamstown Oval, Sunday 2:30pm
Lambton Jaffas will make their last-ditch attempt for the premiership on Sunday when they meet Adamstown Rosebud FC at Adamstown Oval.
They are still mathematically in the race for the premiership, as they sit three points behind league leaders Broadmeadow Magic.
But the Jaffas would need results to go their way this weekend and score over 24 goals to snatch the silverware out of Magic’s hands.
Jaffas returned to winning ways after a dip in results with a gritty 1-0 win over New Lambton FC.
David Tanchevski said that with the pressure off of winning the premiership he hoped his side could enjoy their football again and set themselves up for a successful finals campaign.
Jaffas thrashed Adamstown 7-0 the last time the two sides met in round 11 of the competition which is a result the young Rosebud side will not want to repeat in front of a home crowd.
For Adamstown, despite the disappointing season, this weekend’s match will be important in setting up their run into the relegation play-offs.
They will finish the season in 11th position, which means they will take on the fourth-placed HIT106.9 side in a two-leg series to make it through to the play-off for the final NPL Men’s NNSW spot for 2025.
The return of captain and striker Dino Fajkovic has helped to boost the side both on and off the pitch to give them some newfound confidence.
Chris Moylan will hope that his side can hold their own and frustrate the 2023 premiers and champions as they prepare for the fight of their lives.
Maitland FC v Edgeworth FC
Cooks Square Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Edgeworth FC will be desperate to bounce back this Sunday when they venture to Cooks Square Park to face Maitland FC.
The Eagles had been flying high in the competition before they suffered two losses in one week, going down in Round 32 of the Australia Cup and then losing 3-1 to Cooks Hill United in round 21 of the NPL Men’s NNSW competition four days later.
But they have maintained their position in third on the table, which they will likely finish the season in unless results go against them and Charlestown Azzurri catch the side on goal difference.
Edgeworth will be without their captain Pat Wheeler for the rest of the season, as he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Maitland will hope to finish their season on a high note after a disappointing 2024 campaign.
The Magpies sit ninth on the table, with no possibility of making the top five and playing finals football.
Mick Bolch will end his tenure as head coach at the club this weekend with the aim for his side to upset the Eagles once again and disrupt their momentum as they head into finals.
Newcastle Olympic v Lake Macquarie City FC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 2:30pm
Lake Macquarie City FC will hope to finish their time in the NPL Men’s NNSW competition with a bang when they travel to Darling Street Oval to face Newcastle Olympic.
The Roosters have had a less-than-ideal season with one win and one draw from 21 matches and sit at the foot of the table.
But the wooden spooners will look to play their final match of the season with some fighting spirit and bow out of the competition with grace.
The last time these two sides faced off in round 11, Olympic secured all three points with a 4-1 victory.
Olympic will hope to make it three from three wins and continue their form in front as they return home off the back of a 2-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud.
Their finals ticket was confirmed on Wednesday night after Valentine FC went down to Broadmeadow Magic, which meant that they had secured fifth position on the table.
Paul DeVitis and Neil Owen’s side will be relying on their depth to help them book their ticket in the finals with several key players ruled out through injury.
Tom O’Connor (knee), Jed Hornery (knee) and Louis Townsend (hamstring) are all likely to miss the rest of the season.
With pride on the line for the Roosters and Olympic’s season at stake, this match-up will be one not to miss.
Cooks Hill United v Weston Workers FC
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Sunday 2:30pm
The battle for sixth position will be on as Cooks Hill United and Weston Workers FC go head-to-head at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides have peaked too late to make finals but will be eager to finish their season in the top half of the table.
Cooks Hill will enter the clash full of confidence on a five-match winning streak after they defeated Edgeworth 3-1 last weekend.
They sit fifth on the table, on 31 points, equal with the Bears who are seventh after 21 games.
Chris Zoricich will be eager for his side to end their 2024 campaign on a positive note and set the tone for next season.
The last time these two sides went up against each other in round 11, Cooks Hill came from behind to secure a 2-1 win away from home.
Now the Bears will be eager to settle the score and leapfrog their opponents to finish the competition in sixth spot.
After an inconsistent season, Kew Jaliens' side have picked up their form, with four wins in their last five matches.
Weston also comes into the contest off the back of a big win after a 5-0 defeat over Lake Macquarie City FC and will hope to stay in the winner’s circle on Sunday.
Valentine FC v Charlestown Azzurri
Croudace Bay Complex, Sunday 2:30pm
Charlestown Azzurri will hope to make it four from four to wrap up the regular season of the NPL Men’s NNSW competition when they travel to Croudace Bay Complex to take on Valentine FC on Sunday.
The Blues have returned to form after a dip in results and enter the clash with no losses in their last five matches and three straight wins on the trot.
The last time these two sides met in the competition, Charlestown scored a 3-0 victory at home.
James Pascoe will hope that his side can continue their momentum and make it two from two against the Phoenix as they prepare to head into finals football.
Valentine’s hopes of finals quickly evaporated on Wednesday night after they went down to league leaders Broadmeadow Magic 9-2 in wet and windy conditions.
Phoenix sits eighth on the table, six points behind Newcastle Olyimpic in fifth position with one game remaining.
Adam Hughes will hope that he can finish up his role as head coach of the club on a high and that his side can bounce back from their mid-week loss.
They will be without Aden Raftery, who is suspended after he received two yellow cards against Magic.