Match of the Round
Belmont Swansea United FC 2-4 Weston Bears FC
Weston Bears FC coach Damian Zane believes his side’s 4-2 victory over Belmont Swansea United FC marked a key development in how he wants his team to play, overcoming blustery conditions on Friday night at Blacksmiths Oval.
Both sides came into the match off the back of disappointing losses, with a southerly wind working in the Bears’ favour in the first half.
But it was the hosts who got on the board inside the first two minutes, with Andrew McGee combining well to set up Marco Gueli and showed why both have been great pick-ups for BelSwans.
The hosts’ early match intensity kept them in the game, but Weston pressed the advantage with the wind, finding space along the flanks.
After six shots on goal, the visitors were rewarded in the 15th minute through Blake Archbold, who was well supported by great build-up play from Chris Hatfield.
The hosts reclaimed the lead eight minutes later, as McGee and Joe Kable combined on the counter to set up Gueli for his second.
But the lead was short-lived as seven minutes later, a penalty in the box from a Barney Irvine-Rundle tackle saw Archbold score his second, making no mistake from the spot.
After two brilliant saves in as many minutes from BelSwans goalkeeper Nathan Archbold, the hosts finally looked to achieve parity in defence as the match closed in on half-time.
But in stoppage time, a brilliant cross from Chris Hurley saw a Hatfield header find the back of the net, as the visitors grabbed the lead for the first time and went into the break leading 3-2.
After an explosive opening, both sides continued to press in the second half, with the hosts looking to take advantage of the favourable wind.
Despite this, BelSwans struggled to find their way past Bears goalkeeper Gerard Roebuck, with the visitors’ work in midfield keeping Gueli out of the game.
As fatigue set in, it became apparent that the next goal would decide the result, and in the 83rd minute, a brilliant piece of counterattack from defender Matt Buettner was well rewarded, linking up to put Hatfield away for his second, and Weston’s fourth.
It was a frustrating end for BelSwans, with experienced midfielder Chris Fayers being shown a second yellow in the 87th minute and given his marching orders.
BelSwans coach Michael Stafford believed his side can take a lot of positives out of challenging Weston, despite the result not falling their way.
“We gave a top two team a game, we played really tough,” Stafford said.
“[We] scored some good goals, probably should have scored a few more. But things let us down and we got punished at times. That's why they [Weston] are a good team; they punish us for our mistakes.
“We're playing good football, but we've just got to stick together through these tough periods and build on this. I think we showed we can keep up with them, but we've also shown what we need to improve.
“It's just one of those games. We weren't as deadly as we could have been in front of goal.”
Zane lauded his side’s ability to weather BelSwans' attack but still saw plenty of room for improvement.
“We were a bit hesitant in the first half defensively. They got off to that quick start,” Zane said.
“I said at half-time we needed to lift defensively and I thought we did.
“To come down here on a Friday night, it's going to be a tough test for anyone. I don't think we're the last team that [BelSwans] are going to give headaches to. They look very mobile compared to even last year.
“It was a very tough match. The attacking side, we got 90 minutes. I think the defensive side, we probably got 45.
“They were really good in tough conditions. We're getting closer to what I feel is the way we're going to play moving forward, and the shape looked right tonight.”
Both sides will enjoy an eight-day turnaround, with Weston returning home to face Cooks Hill United FC next Saturday, while BelSwans will travel to Magic Park to face Broadmeadow the same day.
Cooks Hill United FC 2-3 Edgeworth Eagles
Edgeworth Eagles coach Peter McGuinness is happy his side reaped the rewards for their strong start to the season, as they locked in a hard-fought 3-2 win over Cooks Hill United FC at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday.
The clash started at a frenetic pace in perfect conditions, with both sides looking to long-range attack to find space, with a 15th-minute Daniel Yaxley cross seeing striker Josh Benson grab the hosts' first goal of the afternoon.
But the Eagles would strike back four minutes later from a cross of their own, with Stefan Cordwell benefiting from a favourable deflection from the woodwork.
Cooks Hill took the lead again in the 22nd minute, with a patient passage of play from Cookers seeing Benson score his second.
But they held the lead for barely 12 minutes, as a piece of individual brilliance from Cordwell saw the visitors equalise again, both sides going down the tunnel with the score locked at 2-2.
With much of the game being played in midfield, both sides turned to their benches almost simultaneously as they searched for a goal to break the deadlock.
Despite strong resistance from the hosts, a defensive lapse in the 79th minute proved fatal, with Eagles’ substitute Joseph Smith overcoming the scrambling Cookers defence to deliver a perfect cross for Matthew Jones, his header giving Edgeworth the match-winning goal.
It proved the difference in an evenly matched contest, with McGuinness glad to see his side score three points and remain the only undefeated side in the league this year.
“We knew it [would be difficult]. We always have trouble getting a result. They're a good side,” McGuinness said.
“We've always just scraped in when we play them [Cooks Hill], particularly away. Their coaching staff have done a good job. Stephen Hoyle, he's a good player. They were a tough team to beat.
“In all the games this year, I can't fault our effort and attitude. We’ve played right to the end. In the last two weeks, we haven't got anything out of it.
“We've been a little bit wasteful in the front third. But yesterday, we got the rewards, which is great and it changes their belief to know they can get something out of it right at the death.
“Winning is everything. It creates momentum.”
Edgeworth will look to maintain their top position when they return home, having a six-day turnaround before they welcome Valentine FC.
Cooks Hill will head up the Hunter Expressway to face Weston next Saturday.
Broadmeadow Magic FC 2-2 Adamstown Rosebud FC
Adamstown Rosebud FC may have finished round four without that elusive first win, but the side will be more than happy with their turnaround this weekend after holding reigning champions Broadmeadow Magic FC to a 2-2 draw at Magic Park on Friday night.
Dealing with blustery conditions that favoured the hosts in the first half, Magic tried to press the advantage but found their match in a determined Buds defence, with the opening 15 minutes an even contest that saw the visitors take seven shots on goal.
The deadlock was broken in the 18th minute as Buds’ Ryan Rooke’s tackle in the box gave Magic a penalty. Luis Lara Delgado made no mistake made no mistake from the spot to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Only four minutes later, Delgado had his second off a brilliant piece of counterattack, the striker beating two defenders and Buds’ goalkeeper George Scorer, with Magic threatening to break out.
But the Buds produced a phenomenal reply in the 30th minute, a pinpoint cross from Dino Fajkovic finding fellow striker Jack Brown, his finish a contender for goal of the round.
Despite going into the break down 2-1, the score galvanised Adamstown, who continued to apply pressure with the wind now in their favour.
An ugly elbow to the head in the 74th minute saw Magic substitute James Cresnar shown a red card, leaving the hosts down to 10 men, with the Buds pushing the advantage and making the reigning champions play deeper.
Eventually, the pressure proved too much, with striker Chris Reay producing the critical equaliser in the 80th minute.
The score saw both sides up the pace to try and force a late winner, but strong defence, particularly from Buds defenders Tom Smart and Dane Lawther, proved enough to see the visitors take a valuable point home from Magic Park.
The Buds will return home next Friday to take on the Lambton Jaffas, while Broadmeadow will enjoy an eight-day turnaround before welcoming Belmont Swansea United to Magic Park next Saturday.
Lambton Jaffas FC 2-2 Charlestown Azzurri FC
Lambton Jaffas FC had to work hard to rein in a Charlestown Azzurri FC that exploded out of the blocks at Arthur Edden Oval, with their clash resulting in a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon.
Charlestown, fresh from a big away win over Weston Bears FC, made a fast start, with Matthew Cahill opening the scoring from a perfectly weighted corner by defender Nicholas Kacev in the first five minutes.
They doubled their advantage in the 11th minute as Jarryd Sutherland finished a swift counterattack, leaving the Jaffas supporters stunned.
Lambton struggled to take control but managed to pull a goal back in the 23rd minute when a cross struck Blues defender Kieran Hayes and deflected into the net for an own goal. The score was 2-1 at half-time.
Both sides turned to their benches quickly in the second half, with Lambton desperate to find that crucial goal as Azzurri tried to hold on for a second win on the road in as many weeks.
The pressure culminated in a clumsy tackle from Blues midfielder Pharrell Trainor in the 73rd minute, resulting in a red card and the visitors being reduced to ten men for the rest of the match.
The Jaffas capitalised, launching a heavy attack on the Blues’ line and seven minutes later, a long-range effort saw the hosts finally find their equaliser through Drew Patterson.
The hosts pushed in the final ten minutes for a late winner, but the Blues' defence held out.
Lambton will head across town to face Adamstown next Friday, while Charlestown return to
Lisle Carr Oval and will enjoy an eight-day turnaround before welcoming Kahibah FC next Sunday.
Valentine FC 1-1 Maitland FC
After a difficult start to the 2026 season, Valentine FC finally landed their first competition point, with a last-minute goal seeing them secure a 1-1 draw with Maitland FC at Croudace Bay Complex on Saturday night.
Both sides took their time to settle into the match, in a seesawing contest that produced chances at both ends.
The injection of Braedyn Crowley proved effective for the visitors, with a long-range effort from defender Lochlan Reus finding the star striker to score in the 35th minute.
Valentine tried to force an equaliser in the closing stages of the half but ran out of time with only a minute of injury time, heading down the tunnel 1-0 down.
The hosts emptied their bench midway through the second half, as they continued to ask questions of the Maitland defence. As the minutes ticked away, it looked like the visitors would depart with back-to-back wins on the road.
But as the clock turned into stoppage time, Valentine had the chance to force an equaliser from a corner and after a scuffle in front of goal, the ball fell for Jake De Marigny, who fired a brutal strike to deliver the hosts their equaliser at the death.
Valentine will have a six-day turnaround before they head to Jack McLaughlan Oval next Friday to face Edgeworth, while Maitland will head to Darling Street Oval next Saturday to face Newcastle Olympic FC.
Kahibah FC 0-2 Newcastle Olympic FC
Newcastle Olympic FC have picked up where they left off following the postponement of their first home game last week due to wet weather conditions, brilliantly shutting out Kahibah FC for a 2-0 victory at Fred Wright Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams came into the match chasing a maiden win in the NPL NNSW competition and at their revamped home of Fred Wright Oval.
But their hopes were dealt a setback early on, as a pinpoint corner by Olympic saw defender Matt Duncan get on the scoresheet in the sixth minute through a brilliant header.
The early score galvanised Kahibah’s defence, as both sides attempted to up the pace. Olympic proved more effective in their discipline and middle third management, limiting the Rams’ attack from getting many opportunities on goal.
The Rams’ defensive pressure saw the visitors unable to extend their lead as the score remained 1-0 at half-time.
Kahibah improved their discipline in the second half, but Olympic continued to press the advantage on attack as both sides turned to their benches.
As Kahibah struggled for attacking opportunities, Olympic were finally rewarded for their offensive pressure in the 87th minute, with midfielder Kale Bradbery capping off a strong performance with a brilliant strike to seal the result for the visitors.
Kahibah will look to reverse their fortunes when they head on the road to Lisle Carr Oval next Sunday to face Charlestown, while Newcastle Olympic will play their first home game of the year at Darling Street Oval when they welcome Maitland FC next Saturday.