Match of the Round
Maitland FC 0-1 Charlestown Azzurri
Cooks Square Park, Sunday 4pm
Maitland FC coach Joe Wright says a lapse of concentration could have cost his side points after they suffered their first defeat of the competition at the hands of Charlestown Azzurri with a 1-0 loss at Cooks Square Park on Sunday evening.
The Blues served their second defeat to Maitland in 2025 to snap their unbeaten streak in the NPLW NNSW to knock them off the top of the table.
Maitland came out the stronger of the two sides in the opening half, eager to keep their undefeated run alive and created chance after chance.
But the Blues held strong to deny the Magpies' onslaught of pressure and got themselves into the contest midway through the first 45 minutes.
It became an end-to-end contest with each side determined to edge ahead first.
Jayna Fraser aimed to catch Maitland goalkeeper Annabella Thornton off her line and struck a long-range ball that soared over the crossbar.
Josie Morley had a chance to break the deadlock after she got onto the end of a free kick from Sophie Nenadovic but she was unable to steer the ball on target.
But the sides remained locked up at 0-0 as they went into the sheds at half-time.
Paige Kingston Hogg made her return to the Magpies in the 71st minute when she was substituted on.
Azzurri finally broke the deadlock in the 81st minute through Madi Gallegos.
A free kick for the Blues outside the penalty area was whipped into the sea of players and the ball ping-ponged around before Gallegos got her foot to the ball and tapped it into the back of the net.
Maitland pushed for the equaliser but came up short and were handed their first defeat which knocked them off the top of the table.
Wright was disappointed in the loss and said one moment let them down.
“I think we defended well for large periods of the game but in the end a lapse of concentration maybe cost us the draw,” Wright said.
“I think a draw would have been a fair reflection from the balance of play.
“We didn’t create as much as I would have liked. But defensively I thought we were strong.
“We had a game plan that we tried to implement but just couldn’t get it over the line.
“I think the girls will be disappointed because they had been so good for so much of the season.
“We aren’t at panic stations there are still another seven rounds of football to be played. We will refocus and go again.”
Charlestown coach Heath Whyte was delighted with the result and was delighted to finish their run of three games in a week with all nine points.
“For us, tonight was tough on the basis that it was our third game in eight days. Fatigue and soreness had really set in,” Whyte said.
“I thought we failed to get into the game in the first 35 minutes. Maitland controlled the ball a lot better than we did. We couldn’t connect and had too much space in the midfield.
“But we chatted about everything at half-time and addressed what we wanted to change with our attacking three.
“For me I always tell the girls to play first with their heads and then with their heart. In the last 15 when we really had fatigue in the legs, the girls really had to bring it home with heart.
“I think it was important for us to get three good results in quick succession to get that momentum back on track. We lost our way for a little bit but we have a really responsive great bunch of girls who pulled together.”
Azzurri will be eager to maintain their reign at the top of the table for another week when they return home to Lisle Carr Oval to face New Lambton FC next Sunday.
The Magpies will look to bounce back and keep in the premiership hunt when they travel to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to face Lake Macquarie City FC on Saturday.
New Lambton FC 2-1 Newcastle Olympic
Alder Park, Sunday 4pm
New Lambton FC kept the good times rolling when they defeated Newcastle Olympic 2-1 at Alder Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles made it four from four wins after a gritty win at home, while Olympic suffered their third straight loss.
Noticeable absences from Olympic’s team sheets were Matildas Alumni duo Alex Huyhn and Rhali Dobson.
New Lambton opened the scoring in the 21st minute through Lauren Allan.
Libby Copus-Brown screamed down the pitch and whipped the ball with precision into the penalty area and onto the head of Allan, who nodded the ball into the back of the net.
The Golden Eagles took the lead into the break but Olympic were able to level the score early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty.
Jemma House was brought down in the penalty area and Elodie Dagg stepped up and converted from the spot in the 50th minute.
The home side edged ahead for the second time in the game in the 71st minute.
Substitute Caitlin Pickett was able to bring the ball down inside the penalty area and sliced it through Olympic’s defence and into the bottom left corner to give her side a 2-1 lead.
Despite their best efforts, Olympic were unable to get themselves back into the contest and the score remained 2-1 at the full time whistle.
The win has helped New Lambton further cement their position in third on the table, now with 22 points. They are seven points off top two sides Maitland FC and Charlestown Azzurri and will be eager to stay in the premiership hunt when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval to face the Blues next Sunday.
Olympic remains fourth on the table with 17 will be desperate to bounce back from their dip in form when they travel to Magic Park to take on Broadmeadow Magic on Saturday.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 0-1 Lake Macquarie City FC
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Friday 8pm
Lake Macquarie City FC secured their second win of the season after a 1-0 victory over Adamstown Rosebud JFC at Lake Macquarie Football Facility on Friday night.
The Rooster’s former number one goalkeeper Taylah Gray was available for selection for the first time after she finished serving her eight-match ban for match official abuse but only featured in reserve grade’s 1-0 win.
Each side came out of the blocks firing, determined to secure fifth position on the table.
Bud’s goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon was tested early by the Roosters but pulled out top-shelf saves to deny them in the opening stages of the game.
But Lakes broke the deadlock right before half-time when Indianna Auddino tapped the ball into the back of the net in the 40th minute.
Milan Hammond charged down the wing before she crossed the ball across the face of goal. Sneddon was unable to secure the ball which Auddino pounced on and slotted into the goal.
Adamstown almost immediately responded but Marion Dunbabin’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Morgan Ross.
Buds looked to get a lifeline in the final minute of regulation play when they were awarded a penalty for handball inside the area. But after deliberation between the centre and assistant referee, the decision was overturned.
The score remained 1-0 to Lakes at the full-time whistle.
The win has seen the Roosters move back up into fifth position on the table with nine points.
They trail the top four by eight and will be eager to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season and close the gap when they welcome Maitland FC to LMRFF next Saturday.
Adamstown have dropped down into sixth position below Lakes on goal difference.
Martin Slade’s side will serve the bye in round 15 before they return to welcome Broadmeadow Magic to Adamstown Oval in round 16.
Broadmeadow Magic - Bye
