Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Broadmeadow Magic
Alder Park, Saturday 4pm
New Lambton FC coach Aaron Stedman believes the best is yet to come for his side ahead of their clash with Broadmeadow Magic at Alder Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles will enter the round 20 contest on the back of two clean sheets and back-to-back victories.
They will be searching for a clean sweep against Magic having defeated them twice so far this season, including a 13-1 victory, the biggest scoreline of any game this season.
But Stedman is not letting their previous results impact the match this weekend.
“That result was a surprise, it's a bit of a high of the season because any win's a good win but to win like that was fantastic,” Stedman said.
“But to replicate that I thought in that game we played well, and I think we took just about every single chance, and I think that's probably what led to the scoreline.
“This weekend we just want to make sure we continue playing out from the back and getting through midfield and getting people forward to support and score goals.”
Stedman believed his side's first half performance against Lake Macquarie City FC in round 18 was their best of the season but is aware they have fallen short in the final 45 minutes of multiple matches.
“I think we're on our way there (to peak form), which is a good positive,” Stedman said.
“We've had moments, obviously the first half of Lakes was fantastic, but I still don't think we've got to our best yet, which is positive going into the semi-finals.
“Conceding in the second half was a concern and we talked about it. But I think you've got to be mentally switched on the whole game and those couple of games we switched off, especially late in the halves.
“Charlestown and Maitland you switch off and they'll score goals and that's what happened in the last couple of games. So, we've just got to make sure we stay switched on for the whole time.
“In saying that against any team in this competition as soon as you switch off, you can be on the back foot really quickly. We've been talking a lot around that and working around set pieces and anything like that.
“We're just going, everyone's got a job to do, everyone's got a role, and we've got to make sure that we stay on and you do your job. If you're doing your job and your teammates are doing their job, well, you're making it hard for anyone to score against us.
“That's been a big key in the last couple of games, and we want to continue that on.”
Stedman confirmed New Lambton will be without Libby Copus-Brown (holiday) and Danah Chapman (ankle injury) for the remainder of the season.
Round 20 will be Magic’s final match of the season as they serve the bye in round 21 but coach Jason Konjarski is hopeful his side will go out on a high after not gaining a point since round 12.
“It’s about them just enjoying it. They’re not going to be playing football for a while, so enjoy the last kick you get before pre-season starts,” Konjarski said.
“For this weekend, it’s going to be trying to go out with a bang and try and cause an upset. We are just trying to finish on a high if we can.
“The season when you look back at it, it’s not great. I’m happy that we haven’t been pumped in certain games but there’s going to be a big onus. We have hired a strength and conditioning coach for next year, which will just be an added bonus.”
Konjarski believed lack of fitness has contributed to his side’s defeats but is hopeful that a strength and conditioning coach will contribute to the rebuild he is already planning for next year.
“I think fitness wise, we lack fitness. We lost out in a lot of games where we got to a certain point in the match and unfortunately, we just fell off but that’s just up to fitness and maturity really,” Konjarski said.
“We sort of did well for a rebuild this year with what we had and now it’s like we have to do it all over again.
“But I think we know what sort of player and what type of person we want within the group. So, we know exactly what we’re looking for on a recruitment front.”
Maitland FC v Newcastle Olympic
Cooks Square Park, Sunday 4pm
Maitland FC coach Joe Wright says his side needs to be at their best when they welcome Newcastle Olympic to Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon.
Maitland will enter the contest on the back of two weeks off after they served the bye in round 19 and the wet weather weekend.
The Magpies have been one of the most consistent sides of the competition having lost just one game this season.
But they will need a win this weekend to remain at the top of the table going into the final round, something they did twice this year, defeating Olympic 3-1 and 4-0.
“It's an important one. Olympic are always a challenging opponent and they're in a good run of form at the moment as well,” Wright said.
“It'll be good preparation for the final series coming up, so we need to make sure that we're playing at our best level to make sure we get a positive outcome.
“Momentum's important, obviously so you'd like to have it going into the final game.
“But if it doesn't end up that way, I’m not concerned. The girls have been very resilient when we've been tested throughout the season.”
Wright credits his side’s resilience to their determination and desire to achieve.
“I don't think it's so much what I've been able to do. It's the girls that have really led that charge there,” Wright said.
“They're very determined women and they have goals that they want to achieve. So, when you have those goals in your head early in the season, sort of what you want to achieve, what to work towards, I think that helps when you get into the mid-season where it can be a bit challenging.
“Having clear goals has been the key, which has been driven by the girls.
“I think it's been the team buy-in. I think that no one player is greater than the team. It's a team performance that will get us to where we want to go.
“It’s making sure that it's a team-first mentality, which I think they've displayed throughout the season.”
Maitland will monitor goalkeeper Annabella Thornton after sustaining a knee injury in round 18.
Olympic will be determined to secure all three points after just falling short in a 1-1 draw with Charlestown Azzurri in round 19.
They led going into the final moments of the game but gave away a penalty seconds before the end of regular time.
Coach Craig Atkins will be determined to prevent a repeat of that outcome, while also ensuring his side capitalises on their early opportunities.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC v Charlestown Azzurri
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 4pm
Charlestown Azzurri will look to continue their 10-game unbeaten streak when they travel to Adamstown Oval to take on Adamstown Rosebud JFC on Saturday afternoon.
Azzurri have not lost since their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Maitland FC in round seven but have had four draws, including a 0-0 draw with their round 20 opponents.
The Blues will be determined to lock in all three points this time as they continue to push for the top spot and the premiership.
But they will need to remain focused and target Adamstown’s front third after they almost went down 1-0 to Newcastle Olympic in round 19 but were awarded a penalty in the final moment of regular time.
Adamstown will search for their fourth win of the season in round 20 as they aim to take points away from Azzurri for the second time this season.
The Rosebud sits sixth on the table and are unable to make finals but coach Martin Slade is determined for his side to finish fifth.
They will take confidence into the match knowing they have drawn with the Blues earlier in the season and will be determined to get one past their goalkeeper for the first time this season.
Lake Macquarie City FC - Bye
