Match of the Round
Maitland FC 1-1 Lake Macquarie City FC
Lake Macquarie City FC coach Gabrielle Blanch said her side was heartbroken not to take all three points after they conceded a late equaliser against Maitland FC on Sunday afternoon.
It looked like it would be the fairytale start for the newest NPLW NNSW club with the Roosters on the way to their first win leading 1-0 against the reigning premiers in the 82nd minute at Cooks Square Park.
But a spectacular free kick from Sophie Stapleford meant that the two sides were forced to share the points.
The two clubs came firing out of the gates, determined to put their mark on the competition in 2025.
But Tahlor Thackray broke the deadlock in the fifth minute to score Lakes’ first goal in the NPLW NNSW competition.
Ani Jensen was fouled by Maitland’s Sophie Nenadovic to give the visitors a dangerous free kick at the edge of the penalty area.
Jensen’s strike bounced awkwardly off Maitland goalkeeper Annabella Thornton and into the path of Thackray who sprinted into the box and slotted the ball into the goal.
Lakes was dealt with an early blow when defender Maddison Dunlop was forced from the field with a hamstring injury.
Maitland was desperate to level the score before half-time but Lakes took the lead into the break.
It was end-to-end action in the second half with both teams eager to hit the back of the net.
The Magpies finally clinched an equaliser through Stapleford in the 85th minute. The Maitland captain was taken out in a late challenge by Lakes captain Brooke Summers and was awarded a free kick close to the right corner flag.
Stapleford whipped the ball with speed and power over the sea of players and straight into the right top corner of the goal to level the score 1-1.
Each team searched for the winning goal but remained locked up at the full-time whistle.
Blanch said that her squad was disappointed not to come away with the win.
“It was a bit of mixed emotions after the game. We led for 80 minutes of the game and I think the belief was there that we could have taken all three points,” Blanch said.
“It was heartbreaking to concede right at the end.”
But Blanch was thrilled for the club to start their tenure in the competition with a point.
“Obviously we are happy to come away with a point,” Blanch said.
“The conversation post-game was very much about how we surprised the opposition.
“We knew it was going to be a big job seeing them in action. We prepared all week and knew it wasn’t going to be about the football. The girls really brought the fight.
“The fight that they all put in to work for each other was excellent. I am very proud of the girls.
“I knew that that would be the case. It was really nice that in round one we can showcase the style of football we want to play and nice to know that it is just the beginning for us.
“I am a pretty happy coach right now.
“I am relieved to get round one over and done with. Now we put our head down and focus on the rest for the season.”
Maitland FC coach Joe Wright said he is disappointed that his side did not put on a full 90-minute performance in round one.
“I think there were phases where we did well but there were phases where we need to improve from,” Wright said.
“It was not a complete performance. We could have handled the wind a bit better but it affects both teams, so it is no excuse.”
But the Magpies coach praised his side for their ability to come from behind to snatch a late draw.
“I am very pleased with the resilience from the girls. To hang in there and still get a point out of the game was very important,” Wright said.
“We knew we needed to try to bring back at least a draw and the fight from the girls was outstanding.”
Maitland will be on the hunt for their first win when they host New Lambton next Sunday afternoon.
Lakes will look to build on their performance in round two when they host the clubs first NPLW NNSW home game at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility next Friday night against Newcastle Olympic.
New Lambton FC 1-6 Charlestown Azzurri
A red card and a goalkeeper crisis contributed to New Lambton’s downfall in their first match of the 2025 season after they went down to Charlestown Azzurri 5-1 at Alder Park on Saturday evening.
The Golden Eagles were determined to start their 2025 season with a bang but had a number of players unavailable for their round one match including goalkeeper Isabella White (injured) and former A-League defender Tessa Tamplin.
Azzurri had their newest defensive signing Kalista Hunter available and slotted into the centre-back role alongside captain Kirsten Pearce.
The match was end to end for the first 10 minutes with each side creating goal-scoring opportunities.
But a handball outside the penalty area from New Lambton’s replacement goalkeeper Ngawai Pirini saw her receive a red card and the team go down to 10 players in the 18th minute.
With no other available goalkeeper to take Pirini’s place, defender Finley Woodforth was forced to put the gloves on for her team.
The Blues capitalised on their extra-player advantage as Melina Ayres opened the scoring in the 24th minute.
Defender turned attacker Madi Gallegos doubled Azzurri’s advantage in the 39th minute before Ayres took the scoreline to 3-0 right before half-time.
Gallegos secured the first NPL NNSW Women’s hat-trick of 2025 in the 48th minute.
New Lambton clawed one back when new signing Caitlin Pickett broke through the line of defence and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
But the reigning champions made sure to kill off the game with two more goals from Gallegos and Ayres in the 48th and 87th minutes to take the score to 6-1.
The Golden Eagles will be desperate to regroup ahead of round two when they face Maitland FC away from home next Sunday.
Charlestown have the bye in round two but will hope to continue their momentum in round three against Lake Macquarie City FC.
Broadmeadow Magic 2-8 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic started their season with vengeance after an 8-2 win over Broadmeadow Magic at Magic Park on Sunday night.
Rhali Dobson opened the scoring for Olympic in the second minute after a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area that flew over the reach of goalkeeper Stella Morgan.
Captain Jemma House doubled the score for Olympic in the 21st minute before Dobson netted her second four minutes later.
Elodie Dagg took the scoreline to 4-0 in the 37th minute but Olivia Oto clawed one back for Magic before the half-time break.
House netted her second of the evening in the 57th minute before Laura Hall took the scoreline to 6-1 in the 65th minute.
Magic substitute Lilly-Jane Babic struck one back in the 83rd minute but Olympic substitute Amelie Hingston extended the lead once again two minutes later.
Olympic was able to put the cherry on top in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty after a late challenge on Danielle Nicol by Molly Salvador inside the penalty area.
Dobson stepped up and converted the penalty kick with a strong strike into the back of the net to secure a hat-trick and move the final score to 8-2.
Broadmeadow would hope that they can put their disappointing start behind them when they face Adamstown Rosebud JFC away from home next Saturday.
Olympic will be eager to keep the good times rolling into round two when they take on Lake Macquarie City FC on Friday night.
Bye – Adamstown Rosebud JFC