Match of the Round
Lake Macquarie City FC 5-1 Broadmeadow Magic
Lake Macquarie City FC head coach Gabrielle Blanch praised her side for playing a “classier” brand of football after their 5-1 victory over Broadmeadow Magic at Macquarie Field on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams started strong with an important three points on the line, but it was Magic who struck first in the seventh minute.
Tori Johnson attempted to send the ball into the 18-yard box before it deflected off a Lakes defender. Wimberley Wright chased it down near the byline and cut the ball back across goal, where it ricocheted off Keziah White for an own goal.
Lakes responded quickly as Brooke Summers saw her attempt denied by first grade debutant Quiola Arthur, but after a scramble on the goal line, Kiera Bainsfair gained possession and sent the ball to Larissa Ryan to tap home the equaliser.
The contest for possession continued throughout the remainder of the first half, with neither side able to find another breakthrough as the teams headed into the sheds locked at 1-1.
Bainsfair and Magic’s Megan Janikowski both threatened early in the second half before a dominant 10-minute spell from Lakes turned the match decisively in the hosts’ favour.
Summers threaded a through ball to Chelsea Lucas, who collected possession at the top of the box, rounded Arthur and calmly slotted into an empty net in the 61st minute to give Lakes the lead for the first time.
Just a minute later, Lakes struck again when Arthur sent Lucas’ shot into the path of Summers, who calmly chipped the goalkeeper from the edge of the area to make it 3-1.
A long ball from Alyssa Togo-Paragalli in the 65th minute released Ryan, who raced through on goal before finishing confidently to extend the lead.
The fifth and final goal arrived in the 70th minute after a short corner saw Togo-Paragalli whip a cross into the box for Ryan to head home and complete her hat-trick.
Lakes pushed for a sixth goal late in the contest, but Arthur produced an impressive save to deny Lucas in the 87th minute as the match finished 5-1.
“I’m mostly happy. I think there were things in the first half that we talked about, and I think they corrected really well in the second half,” Blanch said.
“Again, the focus has been executing and today is a good start finishing five goals.
“We're obviously resilient and we've had to build that throughout the season. I think the girls are starting to hit their fitness straps as well, which is helping us.
“A lot of those efforts in that 80-to-90-minute mark, that's really showing me that that's coming through now and it's a good time for it to happen.
“They've changed that tone [being our own worst enemy]. I think it's a good start, it'll definitely build some confidence in the group.
“Just scoring five goals is great, however, there’s still lots of work to be done, but it's a good start.”
It was a strong and physical contest between the two sides, but Blanch was pleased with the way her players handled the challenge.
“I’m really proud, that's part of our club culture. We don't want to stoop to levels like that, and I think the girls really held their own in a tough physical battle,” Blanch said.
“We played a much classier game of football.”
Broadmeadow Magic assistant coach Dean Cook believed the contest was a tale of two halves, with defensive lapses ultimately costing his side in the second half.
“Our performance was a game of two halves. I thought we played quite well and stuck to the game plan in the first half,” Cook said.
“But a couple of defensive lapses in the second half was telling in the end. Overall, the effort was there but the execution probably wasn't there in a couple of areas.
“We tried to change a couple of things up at half-time and we were forced into a sub a little earlier than we would have liked, so positionally we got caught out a couple of times there and they were good enough to capitalise.
“I don't think we have a problem creating chances but executing that final finish in the final third is something we probably need to improve.”
Magic will look to bounce back when they host Newcastle Olympic at Magic Park on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Lake Macquarie City FC will aim to build on their strong second-half display when they travel to Cooks Square Park to face league leaders Maitland FC.
Adamstown Rosebud 2-4 New Lambton FC
New Lambton FC head coach Craig Atkins said that while his side displayed a major improvement in their 4-2 win over Adamstown Rosebud at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Friday night there’s still work to do.
The Golden Eagles entered the match carrying the disappointment of their second heavy defeat of the season, but they quickly put it behind them by opening the scoring in the fourth minute.
Tara Andrews threaded a pass into the path of Sienna Fraser-Kelly, who burst to the top of the box before chipping goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon high off her line.
The two sides continued to battle throughout the opening half and Adamstown found an equaliser in the 33rd minute when Evie Horgan launched a long-range effort over goalkeeper Janali Haynes and into the back of the net.
But New Lambton were determined to take a lead into the break, with Andrews restoring the advantage in the 36th minute after firing home from just inside the area.
Andrews struck again four minutes later when she beat the Buds defence to go one-on-one with Sneddon before half-volleying the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Adamstown’s task became even more difficult in stoppage time when Lainee McFayden was shown a straight red card, leaving the side to head into half-time trailing 3-1 with 10 players.
Both teams continued to compete strongly throughout the second half as New Lambton looked to capitalise on their advantage while the Buds searched for a way back into the contest.
The Golden Eagles added a fourth goal moments into stoppage time when returning A-League Women’s player Lauren Allan unleashed a powerful strike from near the corner flag that flew across goal and into the left side of the net.
Adamstown pulled one back a minute later after Marry Ntsweng reacted quickest to a failed New Lambton clearance from a corner and tucked the ball into the bottom-right corner.
But the comeback came too late as New Lambton secured a 4-2 victory at full-time.
“There were some really good moments and periods of play during the game which was very pleasing. However, we still have a few aspects to work on and improve for the next game,” Atkins said.
Atkins was pleased to see his side execute their game plan and remain focused despite Adamstown equalising in the first half and having a player advantage.
“We spoke about starting the game well and looking for that early goal so we could get off to a positive start. Tara and Sienna know each other really well and the combinations between them were excellent,” Atkins said.
“The girls didn’t lose focus after Adamstown scored their goal which is credit to them for continuing to play positive football and having that belief that they could bounce back straight away.
“I thought the build-up play for those two goals was great as well.
“For the second half sometimes, it can be tricky playing against 10 players which we spoke about at half-time. Adamstown fought really hard to the end which we expected.
“We did have numerous chances to score more goals and put the game away, but Liv [Sneddon] was outstanding for them in goals.”
Adamstown will look to bounce back when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday to face Charlestown Azzurri in a bottom of the table clash. New Lambton will serve the bye.
Maitland FC 4-0 Charlestown Azzurri
Maitland FC continued their eight-game undefeated run when they downed Charlestown Azzurri 4-0 at Cooks Square Park on Saturday afternoon.
Charlestown looked to bolster their defence with the inclusion of Taren King, captain of the Central Coast Mariners A-League Women, but Maitland’s attacking pressure proved too much as the Magpies opened the scoring in the seventh minute.
Willow Neal delivered an early cross into the box that found Georgia Amess, who headed the ball into the bottom-right corner to open the scoring.
Maitland doubled their advantage in the 19th minute after a handball inside the box resulted in a penalty. Renee Pountney stepped up and calmly converted from the spot.
The Magpies pushed to extend their lead for the remainder of the first half but were forced to settle for a 2-0 advantage heading into the break.
Maitland made it 3-0 just four minutes into the second half when Danielle Bartels saved Amess’ initial effort, only for Pountney to react quickest to the rebound and fire home her second goal of the afternoon.
Charlestown tightened up across the park following the goal and frustrated Maitland for much of the second half as the visitors looked to back up their 8-0 victory from the previous round.
The Magpies eventually added a fourth goal in the 81st minute when Amess surged downfield alongside Chloe Martin before cutting the ball back to an unmarked Marion Dunbabin. Dunbabin’s close-range effort slipped through Bartels’ grasp and rolled over the line to seal the 4-0 result.
Charlestown Azzurri will be eager to bounce back when they face Adamstown Rosebud at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Maitland FC will look to continue their strong form when they host Lake Macquarie City FC at Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon.
Bye - Newcastle Olympic