Match of the Round
Charlestown Azzurri 0-10 New Lambton FC
New Lambton FC coach Craig Atkins says he cannot complain about his side’s performance when they dominated reigning premiers and champions Charlestown Azzurri 10-0 on Friday.
A notable presence was missing for Azzurri as goalkeeper Danielle Bartels played a match for the Bilbies, Australia’s blind football team that allows for a sighted goalkeeper.
Instead, 19-year-old Paige Hollier made her first grade debut between the sticks.
New Lambton dominated possession from the first whistle, as they hunted to kick-off their season strong.
It took reigning Golden Boot Tara Andrews 11 minutes to net the first goal of the evening after Josie Fisher swung the ball into the box and Andrews volleyed the ball into the goal.
Kimberly Trappett doubled her side’s lead in the 14th minute when Andrews cut the ball back and Trappett sent the ball to the goal post. Hollier was able to get a hand to the ball but bounced the ball on the ground and just over the line.
A third for New Lambton was on the cards after Caitlin Pickett sent a deep cross to Trappett, who found Andrews within the 18-yard-box and calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net.
A glimmer for Azzurri shone through when Sienna Denholm crossed the ball at the top of the box towards the goal, but goalkeeper Janali Haynes was able to get a hand to it and deny the Blues.
Pickett netted her first goal of the season and the fourth for New Lambton when she got on the inside of Azzurri’s Chloe Martin and found herself one-on-one with Hollier, sending the ball into the bottom left corner.
Back-to-back goals in the 39th and 40th minute saw Andrews and Trappett extend their side’s lead to 6-0 before half-time.
The Blues entered the second half full of newfound determination and hunted for a goal of their own.
It looked to come as new signing Rachel Perrins sliced the ball towards the goal in the 56th minute but the ball narrowly went over the byline.
Hollier denied Andrews her fourth of the evening in the 57th minute with an outstanding save and sent the ball out for a corner.
Zahna Franklin sent the ball from the corner to Andrews at the top of the box, who sailed it into the back of the net to make it 7-0.
Goals in the 76th minute by Chelsea Brown and the 81st minute by Andrews extended the lead to 9-0.
Before former Azzurri player Sienna Fraser-Kelly put the final nail in the coffin against her old club in the 87th minute, locking in the 10-0 result at full-time.
“Obviously feeling really good, it’s important to get a good start in this competition. Lots of goals and I’m very happy with the clean sheet,” Atkins said.
“I couldn’t complain, it was really good football from the girls and it’s important to get that fast start. We've been slow out of the blocks in the last couple of trial games, so that was the big push tonight and it happened.
“But full credit to Azzurri, they come out of the break and put it on us a little bit. We became a bit complacent and sloppy.
“Lots to work on still and we know Maitland's going to be a completely different opposition [next week], so that's a great start but back to the drawing board Tuesday.
“That's the good thing about football, there's lots to work on.”
Atkins was delighted not only with the result but also with the fact that five different players got on the scoreboard.
“It doesn't matter how many goals you score, you want to share it around all the time. There's some really good lead up play and combination work,” Atkins said.
“I think we talk about the scrappy goals but that's the girls anticipating and being on their toes and punishing anything that Azzurri made a mistake on and the keeper might not have caught, so I'm really happy with that as well.”
Blues coach Alicia Ferguson said her side will look towards next week and understood they need to be more competitive.
“We just need to get back on the training pitch, go through the video and we see how we conceded goals and we work out the things that we can control. I think there are a lot of things that we could have controlled tonight that we didn't control as well,” Ferguson said.
“So, it's all about review, looking forward and working out how we, as a team, can be more competitive in this league.
“If you get played off the park and you concede a lot of goals, then you kind of hold your hands up. But when you're at fault for some of them or the majority of them, that is not a nice feeling.
“I think the players know that and they're the ones that are out there, they're living it. So, we'll just have a look at the video, analyse it and just work out ways that we can improve for next week.”
Azzurri will look to bounce back when the welcome Newcastle Olympic to Lisle Carr Oval in round two.
The Golden Eagles will hope to keep the good times rolling when they travel to Cooks Square Park to face 2026 HMRI Charity Shield champions Maitland FC.
Lake Macquarie City FC 4-1 Newcastle Olympic
Lake Macquarie City FC coach Gabrielle Blanch acknowledged that, despite Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle Olympic, there is still plenty for her side to improve on.
An end-to-end contest unfolded from the first whistle, with both sides eager to open their season with a victory, while Lakes were also keen to mark the opening of the new Macquarie Field in style.
It was the Roosters who broke first when debutants Kiera Bainsfair and Chelsea Lucas linked up on the pitch.
Bainsfair sent the ball onto the path of Lucas as she ran one-on-one with Olympic’s Izzy Threlfo and sent the ball into the bottom right corner in the 21st minute.
Brooke Summers doubled her side’s lead in the 31st minute after Sunny Mitchell crossed the ball into the 18-yard box and Summers headed the ball into the net.
Another Lakes debutant locked in the third goal of the afternoon when Alyssa Togo-Paragalli launched a free-kick from just after halfway, chipping Olympic goalkeeper Isabella Aquilina and into the goal in the 38th minute.
The Roosters pushed for a fourth goal moments before half-time, but a scrappy defensive effort from Olympic saw Jess Evans clear the ball.
The visitors entered the second half with renewed energy, as Jemma House surged forward alongside Lake’s Caitlin McMahon and Togo-Paragalli, but her effort in the 68th minute was blocked.
Olympic’s Kate Heap continued her side’s push for a goal after House sliced the ball on her path. Heap beat Mitchell in the box, but goalkeeper Morgan Ross denied her.
Lake’s fourth of the afternoon came in unfortunate fashion for Olympic, with Olivia Bekelski’s cross turned into the net by Evans, who headed the ball past her own goalkeeper in the 78th minute.
House pulled one back for her side in the 87th minute after Ross delayed gathering the ball in the box. House calmly slipped it through her legs and into the empty net.
The score would remain 4-1 when the final whistle blew and Lake Macquarie City locked in their first win of the season.
“Overall, our performance was acceptable. We got the job done but probably didn't execute the way we have during our preseason campaign,” Blanch said.
“It gives us plenty to work with as we look to round two.
“The buzz at Macquarie field was a definite factor in how the girls came out. If anything, though, we were probably a bit frantic due to the hype.
“But the support was great and the club facilitated an awesome event for the occasion.”
While admitting her side let a goal in through an uncharacteristic error, Blanch was satisfied that Olympic couldn’t threaten further on the attack.
“We did concede in a pretty unusual way. On the one hand, I'm happy that for 90 minutes, Olympic were unable to build an attack and score,” Blanch said.
“On the other hand, it's a lesson to learn for Morgan and she has the copped the lesson on the chin.”
Lakes will aim to maintain their strong start in round two against Adamstown Rosebud JFC, while Olympic turn their focus to securing their first win of the campaign when they visit Lisle Carr Oval to meet Charlestown Azzurri.
Broadmeadow Magic FC 2-2 Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Broadmeadow Magic and Adamstown Rosebud JFC could not be separated in a four-goal thriller as the two sides fought to open their season with a win on Sunday afternoon.
It was a free-flowing contest in the 2–2 draw, with both teams determined to open the scoring at Magic Park.
It appeared to be Adamstown who would break first when Georgia Cook launched the ball from just beyond the centre circle and towards the goal but hit the crossbar in the 17th minute.
The Buds continued to fight for the opening goal in the 39th minute as Sophie Cook and Tanya Jones battled with Magic defenders but were ultimately denied.
It was eventually Broadmeadow who would break the deadlock moments before half-time.
Jessica Wallace weaved her way through Adamstown defenders and sent the ball onto the path of Wimberley Wright who ran side-by-side with Buds Sara Knowles.
Wright sent the ball underneath goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon and into the bottom left corner.
Magic quickly doubled their lead in the second half when Wallace got on the end of a pass by Marissa Masterantoni and sliced the ball past Sneddon who was high off her line in the 47th minute.
Adamstown continued to fight to claw their way back and the moment came in the 57th minute.
Jones linked up with debutant Marry Ntsweng when she narrowly sliced the ball through to Ntsweng who rounded goalkeeper Darla-Rose Black and hit the back of the net.
The Buds were not backing down and equalised in the 83rd minute after Evie Horgan launched the ball from halfway to the top of the box and found Jones.
Jones battled with Emily Ferroussat as they ran towards the goal and was able to narrowly find the bottom left corner.
Both sides battled for all three points, but the score would remain 2-2 at full-time.
Adamstown will now look to build on their solid performance when they host Lake Macquarie City FC on Friday night, while Magic will serve the bye.
Bye - Maitland FC