Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic 1-5 Maitland FC
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jason Konjarski is taking a lot of positives from his side’s performance against Maitland FC at Magic Park on Friday night despite going down 5-1.
The home side stunned the reigning premiers taking the lead against the run of the play but were dull dozed in the second-half to suffer their second loss of the season.
Maitland looked the more comfortable of the two teams early on in the contest, with most of the possession and chances.
But it was Magic who struck first in the 18th minute through youngster Olivia Otto.
Otto pounced on a loose ball from Maitland defender Tahlia Gossner, used her quick pace to sprint towards goal and unleashed the ball into the back of the net.
Broadmeadow lost attacker Lilly-Jane Babic as she was forced from the field in the 23rd minute due to illness with Kalani Ryan coming in to replace her.
Magic continued to frustrate the Magpies, who looked flustered for the rest of the half with Broadmeadow on top.
But the reigning premiers came out with fire in their belly and turned the game on its head in the second half with five goals in 34 minutes.
Georgia Amess levelled the score in the 47th minute after she got on the end of a wonderful long ball from Renee Pountney to fire it past the reach of goalkeeper Stella Morgan.
Maitland then quickly took the lead for the first time in the match three minutes later after Marry Ntsweng sliced the ball into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for Magic after Maitland was awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute when Keely Gawthrop was brought down inside the penalty area.
Sophie Nenadovic's penalty shot was blocked by Morgan who got a strong hand to the ball but sent it straight back into the path of the Magpies' midfielder who made no mistake with her second attempt on goal.
Substitute Ceanna Frost took the scoreline to 4-1 in the 77th minute when she found herself on the end of a cross unmarked in front of the goal.
Josie Morley put the icing on the cake for Maitland when she tapped the ball into the back of the net in the 80th minute to seal the final score at 5-1.
Despite the result, Konjarski was pleased with parts of his side’s performance, especially in the first half.
“I was very happy with the first half. We defended well. We frustrated a very good team,” Konjarski said.
“I think the message was at half-time to keep frustrating them and keep doing what we were doing well and not letting them turn towards goal.
“I think copping that goal early in the second half deflated us then copping another one quickly after.
“In the second half, Maitland just showed why they are at that different level.
“Being able to be up and winning a half against one of the top teams is a massive achievement for us. But whether we can do that for the full 90 minutes is still yet to be seen.
“I think that the first showed that we can take it to any team in the competition. We just have to put that together for 90 minutes, that’s the main thing. Like we were winning.
“Super pleased with Stella. I am happy to put all of my support behind her. Even though we copped five goals I thought she played well.”
Konjarski admitted that game management will take time to master with a very new and young squad this season.
“It will be good for the club for the younger girls to get those game minutes,” Konjarski said.
“They are just going to gain experience from it in the long run which is the main thing in our rebuild.
“We just need to keep their head up at all times. You could be down 3-0 in this league and come back to win 4-3. Anything can happen in the competition.
“It will come together with more experience and just trying to stay more in the game.”
Maitland coach Joe Wright was pleased with how his team responded in the second half and dug deep to secure an important three points.
“Magic defended really well in the first half and made it difficult to create clear-cut chances so we had to change a little bit for the second half. I think the girls did really well in adapting and applying that,” Wright said.
“The first 10 minutes really set the tone for the second half. I think we were a little bit unlucky and just weren’t quite getting into the right positions in the first half but the second half was really good.
“I just think the first 10 mins of the second half was important. It was very in the balance at that time.
“I think the team that came out the strongest from the break probably would give themselves the best chance of getting over the line at the end and fortunately for us, we came out of the gates red hot in that second half.
“Very very happy to get the win. Magic on a Friday night is not an easy place to get three points so I am very pleased with the result in the end.”
Maitland will hope to continue their momentum into round four when they travel to Adamstown Oval to face Adamstown Rosebud JFC next Sunday.
Konjarski will look for another response from his Magic side when they take on the reigning champions Charlestown Azzurri at Lisle Carr Oval next Saturday.
Newcastle Olympic 0-0 Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Newcastle Olympic’s winning streak has come to an end after a 0-0 draw with Adamstown Rosebud JFC at Darling Street Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a tough battle and chances from each side, they were forced to share the points at the full-time whistle.
Martin Slade will be happy with how his Buds responded from their 4-2 loss against Broadmeadow Magic the week prior to take it to the league leaders and prove themselves to the rest of the competition.
Olympic were noticeably missing their star striker and captain Jemma House but still looked determined to make it three from three with otherwise a full-strength squad.
The home side thought they had opened the scoring when Sophie McDonald’s strike looked to hit the inside of the crossbar but the referee continued play with no definitive evidence that the ball crossed over the goal line.
The sides went into half-time break frustrated and locked up at 0-0.
Olympic looked to have the better of the chances in the second half but could still not capitalise, with Adamstown goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon making some key saves in multiple one-on-one situations.
The Buds created chances of their own but were unable to execute the final pass or shot.
As the final whistle sounded the teams could still not be divided or find the back of the net.
Adamstown will be pleased to get off the mark and secure their first point of the season but Olympic will be disappointed to drop points for the first time in their 2025 campaign.
Adamstown will look to build on their performance when they host Maitland FC at Adamstown Oval on Sunday.
Craig Atkins and his Olympic side will serve the bye in round four before they return for a grand final rematch against Charlestown Azzurri in round five.
Charlestown Azzurri 4-1 Lake Macquarie City FC
Charlestown Azzurri picked up where they left off after a convincing 4-1 win over Lake Macquarie City FC at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Melina Ayres opened the scoring for the Blues in the 28th minute with a spectacular long-range strike from outside the penalty area.
The home side thought they would take the lead into the break but the Roosters levelled the score in stoppage time through Emily Loader-Weston, who tapped the ball in from a corner kick.
But the reigning champions turned the heat up a notch to reclaim their lead in the second half.
Ayres struck again in the 67th minute after she outclassed Lakes’ defence and curled the ball into the back of the net.
Azzurri substitutes Chloe Cattley and Holly Vitnell killed off the game with two impressive strikes late in the game.
Cattley took the score to 3-1 in the 72nd minute with a strong strike past the reach of goalkeeper Taylah Gray.
Eight minutes later Vitnell put the cherry on top for Charlestown with a well-timed header that flew into the back of the goal.
Azzurri will look to make it three from three when they host Broadmeadow Magic next Saturday.
Lakes will be desperate to secure their first win in the NPLW NNSW competition when they return home to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to face New Lambton FC.
Bye - New Lambton FC