Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Broadmeadow Magic
This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
Maitland FC 5-0 Newcastle Olympic
Maitland FC coach Ben Horgan said it was his side’s best performance of the season after they beat Newcastle Olympic 5-0 at Cooks Square Park on Friday night.
Olympic stood their ground for the majority of the first half, upping their defensive pressure to hold Maitland scoreless for the opening 30 minutes.
But a handball by Olympic’s Jess Evans in the box while attempting to clear the ball awarded the Magpies a penalty, which Renee Pountney converted in the 35th minute.
Maitland looked to build on the momentum when Pountney crossed the ball to Sophie Stapleford as she ran into the box, but a fantastic clearance by Olympic’s Kate Heap kept them at bay.
Georgia Amess doubled Maitland’s lead in the 44th minute after charging down the field unmarked. Olympic goalkeeper Isabella Aquilina came high off her line and deflected the initial shot.
The ball bounced back to Amess, who quickly chipped Aquilina and sent the ball into an empty net to give her side a 2-0 lead heading into half-time.
Maitland entered the second half determined to add to the scoreline, but wayward attempts combined with Olympic’s pressure kept the score unchanged.
But the pressure only lasted until the 82nd minute when Amess found an unmarked Elodie Dagg, whose shot hit the crossbar before bouncing over the line to make it 3-0.
Back-to-back goals by Ceanna Frost in the 86th and 89th minutes put the result beyond doubt as Maitland bounced back from their first draw of the season with a 5-0 victory.
“It was one of our best performances of the season,” Horgan said.
“It’s probably the most aggressive we’ve been in our press, and although we didn’t finish our chances as well as in other games, the quality of our attacking play was very good.
“We just wanted to match or better the standards we’ve set for ourselves this season and make sure that we work hard in and out of possession and focus on playing to our strengths.”
Horgan was pleased to see members of his squad rewarded for the hard work they have been putting in both on and off the field.
“It wasn’t so much about the scoreline as it was about the players who have been training hard getting rewarded for their effort,” Horgan said.
“Especially Marion [Dunbabin] and Charli [Charlotte O’Connor], who have had to be patient to get their opportunity to start.
“It reinforced how lucky we are to have not just a strong starting 11, but a squad of players all working towards the same goal.”
Maitland will look to continue their 10-game unbeaten streak when they travel to Magic Park to take on Broadmeadow Magic.
Meanwhile, Olympic will aim to return to the winners’ circle when they take on Adamstown Rosebud at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Lake Macquarie City FC v Charlestown Azzurri
This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
Bye - Adamstown Rosebud