Minor Semi-Final
Charlestown Azzurri 2-0 Broadmeadow Magic
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jason Konjarski said his side was deflated after their season came to an end by going down to Charlestown Azzurri 2-0 in the Minor Semi-Final at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday.
Two goals from Melina Ayres secured Charlestown the win and another week in the competition and ended Magic’s hopes of redemption.
The two sides came out of the blocks desperate to keep their season alive.
Charlestown defender Alyssa Togo was forced from the field in the 22nd minute after she hyper extended her knee in an awkward fall. Chloe Cattley was substituted in her place.
Neither side was able to capitalise on their chances in attack until Azzurri broke the deadlock in stoppage time of the first half.
The Blues made the most of an error from Magic’s goalkeeper Stella Morgan when Cattley’s attempt at goal bounced awkwardly off Morgan and spilled to Melina Ayres.
The striker made no mistake and chipped the ball into the back of the net.
Azzurri continued to apply the pressure in the second half and created multiple opportunities in front of goal, with Magic still in the hunt and desperate to keep themselves in the contest.
But it was a goal-of-the-season contender from Ayres that sealed the win and kept their season alive for another week.
Ayres received the ball on halfway before she travelled a few metres and noticed Morgan off her line and launched a wonder strike that soared through the air and crashed into the back of the net.
Konjarski was disappointed in the result and couldn’t put his finger on what exactly went wrong for his side.
“It wasn’t really a good game of football in the first half. Neither team really settled, it was like ping pong,” Konjarski said.
“[Azzurri] got their goal right before half-time so we tried to change things in the second half. We knew we had to get a goal back but we were missing something.
“I couldn’t pinpoint what was missing from us. Once they got the second goal we were deflated.
“It was like a balloon that just sort of popped right at the end of the year.”
Magic’s coach said that they had to adapt their game plan once Lilly-Jane Babic was ruled out during the week after she tore the muscle off the bone in her upper leg.
“Losing Babic was hard for us going into the game,” Konjarski said.
“We didn’t plan for just LJ [Babic] in the game, but things did have to change with her ruled out.”
Konjarski said that despite the frustrating end to the season, he was proud of his side and hoped 2025 would be brighter for the club.
“Extremely proud of the girls. It has been a massive effort for the girls in what has been a tough year for them,” Konjarski said.
“I can’t fault anyone.
“I have put my name forward to the club for season 2025. If they decide to give me the job, I would be extremely proud and honoured to do the role as a Magic junior.
“I hope that it is a positive 2025 and get back to where the club was.”
Charlestown coach Heath Whyte said he was thrilled with his side’s performance and their ability to stick to the game plan for the full 90 minutes.
“We were excellent. We turned up ready,” Whyte said.
“We had a plan and the girls executed it really well with deliberate intent.
“The girls carried themselves really well and put in a fantastic performance.
“It was good for the girls to play a good, controlled football game and get the result.
"We knew we couldn’t give Magic any ball and let their midfield dominate. We did a lot of work with the back line in preparation and I thought they were fantastic and very controlled.
Whyte said that it was nice to see his side’s hard work pay off in a crucial game to keep their season alive.
“Everyone felt pure joy and celebration after the match,” Whyte said.
“The girls had the belief that we could do it.
“We know that we should have knocked Magic off a couple of times this year and we didn’t. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“It was really encouraging for the girls to finally get the fruits of their labour.”
Charlestown will now face premiers Maitland FC in the preliminary final at Cooks Square Park on Saturday for a place in the grand final against Newcastle Olympic.
Major Semi-Final
Maitland FC 0-1 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic held on to defeat Maitland FC 1-0 at Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon and book their ticket to the grand final.
A goal in the match's first minute was all that separated the two sides in the major semi-final.
In a big boost for the away side, goalkeeper Isabella Whitton returned to the starting lineup after an extended period on the sideline with a finger injury.
But in a blow for Maitland, they were without the competition’s leading goal scorer Bonte Peel who was ruled out with sickness.
Olympic started the game with a bang when Sophie McDonald hit the back of the net in the 55th second of the match.
The early corner kick for Olympic hit McDonald near the post and snuck into the goal past goalkeeper Annabella Thornton.
Paige Kingston-Hogg looked like she had equalised in the 19th minute when she struck the ball with power towards the goal from outside the penalty area. But her strike hit the post away from the target.
Whitton proved key for Olympic after she made a crucial save to deny Maitland moments after the second-half kickoff.
The Magpies dominated for the majority of the back half of the match but were unable to get past Olympic’s defence.
Georgia Amess screamed down the line with the ball towards goal before she unleashed a powerful strike at goal. The shot was saved by Whitton, who was unable to gather the ball immediately but with the pressure of Amess on her smothered the ball to keep her side on top.
Maitland tried their best to claw their way back into the contest but were unable to capitalise on their chances in front of goal.
Despite the loss, the Magpies will get a second chance for a spot in the grand final when they host Charlestown Azzurri in the preliminary final next week.
Olympic will get the weekend off as they advance straight to the grand final in two week’s time at Darling Street Oval.