Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 2-3 Newcastle Olympic
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade believed Newcastle Olympic were lucky to get the win after a 2-3 victory at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night.
The two sides went into the half time break locked up at 0-0 after they each had multiple opportunities to open the scoring in wet conditions.
Olympic were able to capitalise first in the 56th minute in controversial circumstances. Jemma House struck the ball which was met with the glove of Olivia Sneddon before it hit the crossbar and bounced before the goalkeeper retrieved it.
The referees said the ball went over the line and was ruled the first goal of the match.
Adamstown struck back in the 69th minute after a wonder strike from Tori Johnston from well outside the penalty area that flew into the back of the net.
But Olympic didn’t wait long to respond, with Elodie Dagg edging her side ahead three minutes later with her own spectacular strike from outside the box.
Dagg struck again in the 84th minute after Sneddon passed the ball directly to her, and she made no mistake and calmly slotted it into the goal.
Adamstown clawed one back in the 94th minute after substitute Larissa Ryan found the back of the net but it was a little too late for the home side, as all three points went home with the visitors.
Slade was proud of his side’s efforts but thought Olympic were lucky to sneak away with the three points.
“I think we were really good in the game. We pushed the top of the table side and gave them a real scare for a long period of the game,” Slade said.
“I am super proud of the performance from our side, the players should be happy with it.
“We live and die by the sword and I think we did that on Saturday. We are a team of competitors and we fought hard and never gave up.
“I think Olympic might feel lucky that they won.
“I thought it was a really good game overall that showed what both teams are about.
“For the first 15 to 20 minutes, I thought Olympic were the better team but we adjusted. I thought we were slightly the better team in the statistics and had a few more shots and more possession. But the difference was they were clinical.”
Rosebud’s coach said despite the recent losses, his side continues to grow in confidence.
“I think we have confidence abundance,” Slade said.
“We just keep playing football and always get something out of the game.
“We are really now playing good football and are being competitive for 90 minutes.
“We are really positive about what we do and we will stick with that and keep doing what we are doing and hope that it’s enough to pick up some results.”
Adamstown have slipped back down the table into sixth and will be determined to break their three-match losing streak when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval to face Charlestown Azzurri next Saturday.
The win allowed Olympic to continue their rein at the top of the table, where they lead by three points. They will look to continue their fine form when they return to Darling Street Oval to face Mid Coast FC.
New Lambton FC 6-0 Broadmeadow Magic
New Lambton FC bounced back in a big way with a dominant 6-0 defeat over Broadmeadow Magic FC at Alder Park on Saturday.
The 2023 premiers and champions were completely outclassed by the hungry Golden Eagles side.
Cass Davis opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Magic goalkeeper Mia Wallace was caught off her line. Davis chipped the ball over the defence and Wallace scrambled back but was unable to clear it away from the goal.
New Lambton doubled their advantage in the 18th minute after a long-range free kick from Tessa Tamplin.
Davis struck again in the 25th minute before Lauren Allan put her name on the scoresheet minutes before half time.
Tara Andrews opened her account in the 65th minute after Davis was brought down inside the penalty area by Magic captain Kalista Hunter. Andrews converted from the spot before she netted a second 10 minutes later to take the final score to 6-0.
The win sees New Lambton move back up into fifth position, nine points off fourth. Aaron Stedman and his side will hope to close that gap when they travel to John Street Oval to face the Panthers.
Magic remains third on the table and will stay on the road as they go head-to-head with Maitland FC at Cooks Square Oval on Saturday.
Mid Coast FC 1-6 Warners Bay FC
Warners Bay FC climbed off the bottom of the table after a 6-1 victory over Mid Coast FC at Taree Zone Field on Sunday afternoon.
Amelia Finn opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Mid Coast responded 10 minutes later through Juniper Doyle.
But the Panthers edged ahead once again in the 30th minute through Finn to take the score to 2-1 at half time.
Emily Diaz scored back-to-back goals in the 48th and 52nd minutes before Sienna Stebbins netted her first of the afternoon in the 57th.
Maddison Dunlop put the cherry on top for the Panthers in the 61st minute to take the final score to 6-1.
The win for the Panthers has moved them off the foot of the table up to seventh position. They will look to achieve their first back-to-back wins of the season when they return home to John Street Oval to host New Lambton.
Mid Coast have fallen back to last place on the table, three points behind Warners Bay. They will travel to Darling Street Oval to face Newcastle Olympic next Saturday.
Charlestown Azzurri v Maitland FC
This game was postponed due to wet weather.