Match of the Round
Maitland FC 3-0 Broadmeadow Magic
Cooks Square Park, Saturday 4pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Nima Nikfarjam was not disappointed with his side’s performance in their 3-0 loss to Maitland FC at Cooks Square Park on Saturday afternoon.
Two penalties in Maitand’s favour helped the side get over the line as they remain in the hunt for the top spot on the table.
Sophie Stapleford opened Maitland’s account for the afternoon just before half time, with a spectacular strike after she ran in behind for a ball over the top of all players from defender Tahlia Gossner.
Maitland doubled their advantage minutes before half time after Sophie Jones was brought down by Magic’s captain Kalista Hunter in the 43rd minute. Bronte Peel calmly converted from the spot to give her side a 2-0 lead as they headed into the break.
The Magpies put the cherry on top after they were awarded another penalty as Stapleford was brought down inside the penalty area by goalkeeper Stella Morgan.
Peel stepped up to take the penalty kick again, which she converted with a hard and low strike into the bottom corner of the goal.
Despite the result, Magic’s coach was still pleased with his side’s efforts against a strong Maitland outfit.
“The result was disappointing but I was happy with the performance from our players,” Nikfarjam said.
“We put it down to having a very slim squad in terms of not having depth. I had to force one of my very good forwards to play at right back. That reduced our punch up top.
“It was one of those games that we didn’t create much. We played a bit more defensively to try and not let many goals in which besides two penalties we only let the one slip through.
“The week before it was a poor performance from the majority of the team and not enough effort but on Saturday, the effort was there and they worked hard. We just lost to a team that was better than us on the day.
“Maitland deserved to win.”
Nikfarjam said the decision to replace goalkeeper Mia Wallace with reserve grade goalkeeper Stella Morgan was for a mix of tactical and rotational reasons.
“We switched things up for a few reasons, Stella deserved to have a go and I knew Maitland does a lot of balls in behind which I know she is great at dealing with. It also gave her some more experience in first grade,” Nikfarkam said.
“I was pretty happy with Stella’s performance.”
Suspended Magpies head coach Keelan Hamilton was pleased to pick up another three points against a top-four side.
“It was a good result for the girls and I thought the performance was solid without being spectacular,” Hamilton said.
“I was really pleased with our defensive effort as we were really compact and limited our opponents. Their first proper shot wasn’t until the 67th minute.
“It was led by our goalkeeper (Annabella Thornton) and our two central defenders that helped us limit Broadmeadow.
“We weren’t as clinical as we could have been and could have made the scoreline more comfortable for ourselves.
“The coaching staff did a fantastic job and we are a strong unit.”
The Magpies continue to sit second on the table, three points behind league leaders Newcastle Olympic but have three games in hand. They will hope to make it four from four when they travel to John Street Oval to face Warners Bay FC.
Nikfarjam will be desperate for his side to bounce back from their back-to-back loss when they return home to Magic Park to play Charlestown Azzurri in a fight for third position on the table.
Charlestown Azzurri 5-1 Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Lisle Carr Oval, Saturday 4pm
Charlestown Azzurri made it three wins on the trot after a 5-1 victory over Adamstown Rosebud JFC at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday.
In a big boost for the Blues, newly retired A-League star Gema Simon made her debut for the club this season.
Chloe Cattley opened the scoring for Azzurri in the 24th minute after her corner kick curled straight into the top corner of the net and into the goal.
Azzurri doubled their advantage in the 36th minute through Khyra Dickey. Kirsten Pearce’s free kick from just past the centre circle was denied with a strong save by Olivia Sneddon, but the clearance shot straight into the air with Dickey the first to get her body in the way and nudge the ball into the back of the net.
Melina Ayres took the score to 3-0 in the 56th minute with a spectacular strike past the reach of Sneddon and into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
Adamstown clawed one back in the 79th minute through their top goal scorer Tori Johnston after she snuck the ball past goalkeeper Malli Blanch and into the corner of the goal.
But goals from Ella Joyce and Jayna Fraser in the 85th and 86th minutes put the game to bed.
Azzurri continues to sit fourth on the table, but the win has moved them closer to the top three sides, now one point behind Broadmeadow Magic in third.
Heath Whyte will hope his side can make it four from four when they travel to Magic Park to face Magic on Sunday.
Adamstown remains sixth on the table and will be desperate to end their four-game losing streak when they host Mid Coast FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility next Sunday.
Newcastle Olympic 8-0 Mid Coast FC
Darling Street Oval, Saturday 3pm
Newcastle Olympic continue their rein at the top of the table after a dominant 8-0 win over Mid Coast FC at Darling Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Olympic wasted no time and opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a strong strike off a corner kick from Sophie Walmsley.
Jemma House doubled the home side’s advantage in the 11th minute before Marion Dunbabin netted her first of the afternoon a minute later.
In the 25th minute House struck again with a well-placed shot and Walmley took the scoreline to 5-0 before half time.
Substitute Alannah Russell put her name on the scoresheet in the 68th minute with a hard and low shot into the back of the net.
Dunbabin secured a hat-trick after she scored in the 81st and 91st minutes to put the cherry on top for Olympic and take the final score to 8-0.
The loss sees Mid Coast remain at the bottom of the table with just one win to their name this season but they will hope that they can cause an upset when they travel to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to take on Adamstown Rosebud JFC next Sunday.
The three points for Olympic helps the side continue their lead at the top of the table with 36 points and three points ahead of Maitland FC in second. Craig Atkins will hope that they can hold onto the top spot and continue their winning form when they travel o Alder Park to take on New Lambton FC.
Warners Bay FC v New Lambton FC
This match was postponed due to wet weather.