Match of the Round
Newcastle Olympic 3-1 Adamstown Rosebud
It was an even match for the first 30 minutes but as the game wore on, Newcastle Olympic took control and defeated Adamstown Rosebud 3-1 on Easter Monday.
A brilliant first touch, a dribble and a left foot shot from Lachlan Griffiths saw Newcastle Olympic open the scoring in the 12th minute at Darling Street Oval.
A tenacious press from Joshua Haines robbed the ball from the Olympic defender to set up the equaliser for Adamstown on 23 minutes.
Haines squared the ball to Charlie Naylor who took a touch and side footed home to equalise 1-1.
On 37 minutes Olympic centre forward Jared Muller latched onto a long ball and broke through the Rosebud defence to make it 2-1 at half-time.
Three minutes after the break, a slide-rule pass to Griffiths meant he didn't need to break stride and he nudged the ball past the diving goalkeeper to win the match 3-1.
The three points catapults Olympic into second place alongside Weston Workers, Broadmeadow Magic and Lambton Jaffas.
Olympic coach Joel Griffiths was pleased with the result but continues to strive for more.
"A lot of positives but still no clean sheet," Griffiths said.
"I feel we made mistakes for them to create a chance.
"Good to build momentum but not ideal with a four-day turnaround against [Valentine next week who] didn't play over the weekend.
"So we may rest a few players."
New Lambton FC 0-3 Edgeworth FC
Edgeworth got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over New Lambton on Good Friday.
Seventeen-year-old Mason King made a stunning debut setting up Sascha Montefiore to open the scoring in the 20th minute at Alder Park.
King doubled the lead when he flicked on a header for himself and deftly lobbed the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Montefiore bagged his second goal on 64 minutes when the big number nine was too strong to be shrugged off the ball and slotted the ball into the net.
The three points lifted the Eagles back into the top half of the table whereas New Lambton's three-game unbeaten run came to an end.
After last week's washout Edgeworth coach Peter McGuinness was pleased to get back on the pitch and the campaign back on track.
"Pleased to be back playing and was happy with the performance,” McGuinness said.
“We created a few more chances than previous weeks which was good.”
Lake Macquarie City 1-3 Lambton Jaffas
Lambton Jaffas made it three wins in a row following a 3-1 victory over Lake Macquarie City at Macquarie Field on Saturday.
Nineteen-year-old Finn Todhunter continued his goal scoring form with a composed finished on six minutes.
Josh Benson made it 2-0 two minutes later before 18-year-old Bailey Newton added Lambton’s third with the final kick of the game.
The future looks bright at the Jaffas with two teenagers and a 20-year-old scoring the goals.
"We started really well and scored two early goals then conceded one against the run of play which was disappointing," Lambton Jaffas coach David Tanchevski said.
"Difficult opposition to play when they just play long balls and sit in and defend. We had to remain patient.
"Very tough ground to play on, heavy muddy pitch made it difficult to play football. [The] positives [were it was the] worst that we have played this year and we grounded out a result.
"Our three goal scorers were an 18-year-old, 19-year-old and a 20-year-old. We have some young guys starting to step up which is really good.”
Charlestown Azzurri 1-0 Cooks Hill United
The Charlestown Azzurri steam train rolled on with another clean sheet and three points as they downed Cooks Hill United 1-0 at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
The match was seemingly heading for a scoreless draw until the Azzurri scored from a set-piece in the 84th minute.
An inspired substitution from Charlestown Azzurri coach James Pascoe changed the game which led to the goal.
Super-sub Miguel Fernandez picked up the ball in his own half and combined neatly with Dean Pettit to set up a penetrating run down the right flank.
Fernandez covered the length of the pitch and was eventually fouled near the sideline in the Cooks Hill half.
Pettit floated a cross into the back post and Callum Bower leaped highest to nod home and seal the points.
"It was not a pretty match by any means," Pascoe said.
"We knew Cooks Hill would approach the game with lots of long balls down the channels which doesn't help the game as a spectacle but it was effective to a degree keeping them in the game.
"Second half we created some excellent chances and had to stay patient until late on to get the goal that won the game.”
Pascoe was worried on 34 minutes when talisman defender Taylor Regan limped off.
"Taylor rolled an ankle," Pascoe said.
"Physio thinks he just stirred up some scar tissue from a previous injury so we'll see how he pulls up early in the week.”
The win means Azzurri have won six matches from six and sit on top of the NPL Men’s NNSW table with 18 points, eight clear of the chasing pack.
Maitland FC 2-2 Broadmeadow Magic
It was a physical game from two powerhouse teams which ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw at Cooks Square Park on Monday.
Broadmeadow Magic had the first chance from a corner but a one-handed reaction save from Magpies goalkeeper Paul Bitz denied the visitors.
Magic broke the deadlock after 27th minutes when Jared Baker broke down the left, checked back and saw Sam Kamper making a run down the right.
A perfectly weighted pass into the path of Kamper allowed him to control the ball with his chest and fire home to make it 1-0.
Sean Pratt equalised for the Magpies on 35 minutes when he drilled the ball into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.
Braedyn Crowley worked tirelessly for the Magpies, dropping into the midfield to receive the ball and going close on a few of occasions.
Crowley dribbled down the right on the hour mark before cutting the ball back to Charles Fox who squeezed the ball through traffic into the net to put the Magpies ahead 2-1.
Another marauding run down the right wing from Magic right back Kamper initiated the equaliser.
Kamper delivered a tantalising ball into the area which the Magpies were unable to defend. Angus Mcleod hit the crossbar with Bailey Wells the first to react to score the equaliser and share the points.
Valentine FC v Weston Workers FC
Match postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by wet weather.
