Match of the Round
New Lambton FC v Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Alder Park, Saturday 4pm
New Lambton coach Aaron Stedman believes his side will face a battle against Adamstown Rosebud as they look to secure consecutive wins at Alder Park on Saturday.
After a tough start to the season, the Golden Eagles finally got off the mark with a dramatic 3-2 win over Lake Macquarie City FC.
They sit fourth on the table after four rounds with three points, seven behind league leaders Maitland FC.
Stedman hoped they could continue their winning momentum but was prepared for a hard fight against a strong Adamstown outfit.
“I think we are confident now that we can keep a bit of a roll going,” Stedman said.
“We have had a bit of a bumpy start to the season with our goalkeeper issues and missing players in round one but we were still competitive in those matches.
“To come up against Lakes who are a strong team and walk away with a win is something that we take a lot of confidence from.
“Adamstown is a young, enthusiastic team that always wants to do well, is constantly pressing. We know that we are in for a battle, and we just need to make sure that we match up to them in those areas.
“Anytime in the season that you can get back-to-back wins builds confidence, you feel good and lose the pressure.”
New Lambton knows all too well how important every point is in making finals after they fell short on goal difference last season. Stedman said that the club is determined not to repeat 2024 and will do what it takes to make the top four.
“You always want those points early in the season,” Stedman said.
“Last season is still a thought in my mind. I think it is important to pick up as many points as you can if you want to play finals.
“I think this year, it will be a lot closer and everyone will be vying for the top four.
“We want to make the top four. But this year we want to secure it without going down to the last couple of games. It would be nice to secure it a fair few games out.
“At this stage, a win would be awesome as it is important. Looking at the table, if we can get three points this weekend, it puts us in a good spot to keep building.”
Former A-League goalkeeper Claire Coelho made an impressive debut for the Golden Eagles against the Roosters after signing as an injury replacement for Isabella White.
Stedman was unsure if Coelho would be available for this weekend’s match with a clash of commitments as Newcastle Jets Women’s Goalkeeper Coach but was confident of the plan that they have in place in her absence.
“She [Coelho] has played at some of the highest levels so there is no issues with her coming into the team.
“Amy [Gosling] did an awesome job against Maitland but it gives us more confidence with Claire.
“If Claire has some Jets games coming up we will promote our reserve grade goalkeeper. We need to keep our outfield players on the pitch.
“Ngawai’s [Pirini] first game was a bit unfortunate but she is learning every week and understanding the game better.”
Adamstown enters the contest still searching for their first win of the season despite two impressive performances against Newcastle Olympic (0-0) and Maitland (2-0).
They sit sixth on the table with one point and are desperate to secure their first win against the Golden Eagles.
Coach Martin Slade believed Saturday’s clash would be hotly contested but one where they must pick up points from.
“New Lambton will be on a high after their 2-3 win. They want to win games,” Slade said.
“Tara Andrews did what she does best and having Claire who can launch the ball up the pitch makes a massive difference.
“It will be two teams going head-to-head who will be fighting it out for the top four.
“To close the gap, we have to start converting games into points. We can’t rest on our laurels, we have to win now.
“You have to have a little bit of luck, but results speak for themselves.
“Our players are good and we will keep pushing. We just need to stick to the process.”
Slade confirmed that at this stage all Buds players would be available for the weekend’s contest.
Broadmeadow Magic v Lake Macquarie City FC
Magic Park, Friday 8pm
Lake Macquarie City FC coach Gabrielle Blanch says that despite their goalkeeper woes, it will be business as usual as they prepare to face Broadmeadow Magic at Magic Park on Friday night.
Lakes will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Taylah Gray, who received an eight-match ban for match official abuse in their round four match against New Lambton.
They will also be without one of their reserve grade goalkeepers Morgan Ross, who is recovering from sinus surgery, which means fellow reserve grade shot-stopper Elyse Vella will be forced to play across both grades.
But Blanch said the show must go on as they continue to search for their first win in the NPLW NNSW competition.
“The suspension period didn’t really come as too much of a shock to us following what happened and what we understood of the Zero Tolerance Policy,” Blanch said.
“We addressed the elephant in the room on Monday night and then went straight into our session to make sure that it wasn’t something that was going to be dwelled on.
“It is business as usual and we move forward. Now we have to support the player that comes into first grade from reserve grade. Ellyse will have to step up and play both reserve grade and first grade.
“We need to focus on how we help to get Ellyse through this period and do everything that we can not to concede.”
Despite picking up only one point in their first four matches and sitting last on the table, Blanch was pleased with her side’s performances and believed their first win was right around the corner.
“There is not much for me to be disappointed about. I think the results look a bit unfair in consideration with how the girls have fought week in and week out. I am continuing to take so many positives from how we play,” Blanch said.
“The resilience of the girls has been next to none. It is not easy to lose but the girls continue to turn up to training with enthusiasm and believe in what we are doing. As a coach, I cannot ask for much more.
“It comes down to the ability to score goals and win games which I don’t think we are too far away from.
“We are making sure that we are constantly improving each week and make sure we are ready to turn up on Friday night.”
Broadmeadow Magic have had a mixed start to the season after two losses and one win.
Coach Jason Konjarski has admitted that this season’s focus will be on rebuilding the women’s program but hoped that they could start to find some consistency in performances.
Magic is yet to win at home, which is something they will wish to change against the Roosters on Friday night.
Newcastle Olympic v Charlestown Azzurri
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 6pm
Two teams will be eager to continue their unbeaten run when Newcastle Olympic welcome Charlestown Azzurri to Darling Street Oval on Sunday afternoon.
These sides have already met once this year when Azzurri beat Olympic in penalties in the 2025 HMRI Charity Shield.
Olympic will hope that they can get their revenge in front of a home crowd on Sunday afternoon after a strong start to the season with seven points from three matches.
Craig Atkins’ side were knocked off the top of the table after they had the bye in round four but are just three points behind league leaders Maitland FC.
Olympic leads the way with goals scored so far this season, hitting the back of the net 13 times in three matches.
But they will not be the only team with firepower in attack, as Azzurri have also proved to be lethal in front of goal.
Madi Gallegos and Melina Ayres have each scored four goals in their first two matches of the season.
The Blues have only played two matches in the first four rounds after they served the bye in round two and their round four match was postponed due to wet weather.
But despite playing the least number of games of any club in the league, they sit third on the table with six points, one behind Olympic and four behind Maitland.
The reigning champions will hope that they can keep their wonder-streak alive and serve Olympic their first defeat of the season.
Bye – Maitland FC