Match of the Round
Newcastle Olympic 1-0 Charlestown Azzurri
An early goal secured a crucial three points for Newcastle Olympic in their 1-0 win over Charlestown Azzurri on Sunday.
Olympic’s goalkeeper curse continued at Darling Street after their reserve grade shot stopper Tallon Convery, who had stepped up in the absence of the injured Isabelle Whitton, was unavailable.
This forced outfield player Emily Frost to step in between the posts in what was one of the side’s biggest matches of the season.
Craig Atkin’s side were also without their top goal-scorer Jemma House who was left out due to hamstring tightness.
Olympic got onto the front foot early which paid off as they edged ahead in the fourth minute.
Allanah Russell was able to tip-toe along the goal line with the ball before she cut it back to Sophie Walmsley who was at the top of the penalty area. Walmsley struck the ball on target but it was blocked by an Azzurri defender only for it to fall to the feet of Marion Dunbabin, who tapped the ball into the back of the net.
Frost made a number of fine saves to keep Olympic in front as the hosts, who boast the best defence in the competition, showed why with a number of committed efforts.
The win keeps Olympic in the premiership race as they remain one point behind leaders Maitland FC.
They will continue their hunt for the top spot when they travel to Alder Park to take on New Lambton FC on Saturday.
Azzurri remains third on the table but are now on equal points with Broadmeadow Magic in fourth position.
Heath Whyte will hope that his side can bounce back in a big way and cement their position in finals football when they venture to Cooks Square Park to face Maitland on Saturday.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 0-2 New Lambton FC
New Lambton FC kept its finals hopes alive after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud JFC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night.
The two sides came out strong and created chances, each desperate to walk away with three points.
But the Golden Eagles were the ones who broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. Lauren Allen screamed down the pitch with the ball before she hit a powerful strike on target. Her attempt was saved by goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon, who had come off her line. But the ball fell into the path of Nina Collins who knocked the ball into the empty goal.
Rosebud remained in the fight but were unable to capitalise on their opportunities in the first half as they went into the break 1-0 down.
New Lambton continued to push for a second goal but were unable to find the back of the net again until the 89th minute.
Cass Davis found the ball at her feet inside the penalty area after Adamstown were unable to clear it away and made no mistake as she launched it into the goal.
But in a major blow for New Lambton, Allan was sent from the field in stoppage time after she received a red card for a heavy one-on-one collision with Sneddon.
Adamstown was forced to put their captain Jenna Doyle in between the posts for the final minutes of the game as Sneddon could not continue the match from the head clash.
The win keeps New Lambton in touch with the top four sides, five points behind Broadmeadow Magic in fourth place.
Aaron Stedman and his side will be desperate to keep their finals hopes alive when they return home to Alder Park to host Newcastle Olympic on Saturday.
Adamstown will be determined to bounce back on Sunday when they travel to Taree Zone Field to take on Mid Coast FC.
Maitland FC 17-1 Mid Coast FC
Maitland FC continued their reign at the top of the table after they thrashed Mid Coast FC 17-1 at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
Captain Sophie Stapleford opened the scoring in the first minute before two goals in one minute from Bronte Peel took the scoreline out to 3-0 by the eighth minute.
Georgia Amess then put on her own show for the Magpies, after she netted a hat-trick in the space of five minutes.
Peel then secured her own hat-trick after she hit the back of the net in the 34th minute before Amess struck again to take the score out to 8-0 after 39 minutes.
Maitland put their foot down for the final minutes of the first half to score three more goals with one from Stapleford and two from Peel to give themselves a remarkable 11-0 lead at the break.
The Magpies were out for the kill and did not relent in the second half.
Peel netted her sixth and final goal of the match in the 50th minute before she was substituted.
Mid Coast clawed one back after being awarded a penalty in the 55th minute which Grace Davies converted.
But goals from Sophie Nenadovic (61’, 71’, 90’), Paige Kingston-Hogg (90’) and a penalty from Stapleford put the game to bed for Maitland.
The win allowed the Magpies to continue to fly high at the top of the table, one point clear of Newcastle Olympic in second. They will hope to secure back-to-back wins when they host Charlestown Azzurri on Saturday.
Mid Coast remains at the bottom of the table and will be eager to finish the remainder of their season on a high. They will hope to turn things around when they return home to face Adamstown Rosebud on Sunday.
Warners Bay FC 1-6 Broadmeadow Magic
Broadmeadow Magic returned to the winner’s circle after a 6-1 win over Warners Bay at John Street Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Neither side could break the deadlock until the 31st minute when Magic’s Madi Gallegos tapped the ball into the back of the net.
Kiarra Lewis doubled the away side’s lead in the 42nd minute after she got a touch on the ball amongst a sea of players off a corner kick.
Lewis took the score to 3-0 in the 59th minute after her free kick powered its way past the wall and the goalkeeper.
The Panthers clawed their way back into the match with a strong strike from Indianna Asimus from outside the penalty area to take the score to 3-1 in the 61st minute.
But Magic put their foot down as Lewis secured a hat-trick with a shot on the half-volley that hit the back of the net in the 63rd minute.
Lewis put her name on the scoresheet again four minutes later with a wonder strike from outside the penalty area.
Things went from bad to worse for Warners Bay when they were reduced to 10 players after Jada McBride was sent off in the 69th minute.
Lily-Jane Babic put the cherry on top for Magic to take the final score to 6-1.
Broadmeadow will hope that they can build from the win and cement their position in the top four when they return home after the catch-up round to host Newcastle Olympic.
Warners Bay will be desperate to finish their final weeks in the competition on a positive note and will also have the week off before they welcome Adamstown Rosebud.