Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 4-2 Broadmeadow Magic
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade believed individual errors cost his side on Saturday night after they went down 4-2 against Broadmeadow Magic at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Magic bounced back in style after an 8-2 thrashing in round one to secure their first points of the season.
Buds captain Jenna Doyle was noticeably missing due to illness which resulted in midfielder Georgia Cook moving into the central defensive role for the match.
Adamstown was first on the scoreboard after Marion Dunbabbin got onto the end of the free kick from Evie Horgan in the 20th minute and tapped the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
But Magic flipped the script and put three goals past the home side in six minutes from the 31st minute.
Jannali Hunter sent a ball long onto the run of Lilly-Jane Babic who beat goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon who came screaming out of the penalty area and sliced the ball into the empty net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Buds when Magic was awarded a penalty for a foul on Larissa Ryan inside the box. Ryan converted from the spot with a strike into the top right-hand corner.
Babic netted her second in the 37th minute after she got onto the end of a ball from Cassie Corder to tap in Magic’s third goal. Corder ducked and weaved around multiple Adamstown defenders before she crossed the ball across the face of goal and onto the run of Babic at the right post who made no mistake and slotted the ball past Sneddon and into the goal.
Adamstown got themselves back into the contest right before half-time when they were awarded a penalty after Tanya Jones was taken down inside the penalty area.
Jones converted from the spot with a hard and low strike to reduce the deficit to 3-2 before the break.
In the second half, each side pushed to extend the scoreline with end-to-end play until Magic found the back of the net in the 83rd minute.
Broadmeadow was awarded another penalty after Sneddon took out Corder with a ‘rugby style’ tackle.
Ryan converted calmly from the spot to seal a sweet 4-2 victory for her side and their first win of the 2025 season.
Slade was disappointed in his squad’s performance in key moments of the match.
“I don’t know what the reason was. We were just flat when we went out there,” Slade said.
“We have to cut out the silly individual errors. Three or four individuals made mistakes and they [Magic] punished us within a matter of minutes.
“She [Sneddon] was lucky to escape the red card. I told her it was out of order, unnecessary and just not on. I was there when she apologised to Cassie [Corder].
“It was not the result we wanted. It was a scrappy affair and not a good reflection on the women’s game. It just hurts.
But Slade was pleased that he saw a response from his side in the second half
“We came out in the second half and was better without being great. Did we do enough to win it? Possibly,” Slade said.
“The message at half-time was to go out there and compete with them a bit more physically. In the second half we did well and showed what we do but Magic held firm.”
Adamstown's coach did not believe that the absence of Doyle contributed to the result and said the side would regroup ahead of round three against Newcastle Olympic next Sunday.
“Jenna was sick so Georgia had to make the move to the back. It wasn’t the reason that we lost,” Slade said.
“Credit to Broadmeadow, they made it difficult and I am sure will take a lot of confidence.
“Our priority will shift to Olympic and focus on the rest of the season. We have to pick ourselves up and have another go.”
Magic coach Jason Konjarski was thrilled with his side’s response to last week’s tough defeat.
“The reaction was perfect,” Konjarski said.
“It was good to get the loss out of the way. If we were going to do it at anytime, round one was the time.
“The output of effort and the want to win was a massive thing for us. Everyone played their part really well.
“You could just tell that there was a shift that maybe we are not what everyone was saying we were.
“We just needed that win to build confidence.”
“I am not expecting too much from these new girls. It is a rebuild year and whatever happens, we will be happy with the outcome at the end of the season.
“We will be building into the season and taking any bit of momentum, we can which will be massive in trying to build a new identity.”
Magic will be eager to continue their momentum when they return home to Magic Park next Friday to host Maitland FC.
Lake Macquarie City FC 2-5 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic kept the good times rolling with a 5-2 victory over Lake Macquarie City FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Friday night.
Lakes opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a wonder-strike from Lily Brooks. Olympic cleared a corner kick from the home side with a header that fell bounced outside the penalty area and onto the run of Brooks who smashed the ball into the top corner of the goal.
But it only took Olympic five minutes to respond when Alex Huynh nodded in a free kick from Maddy Howard.
Olympic was able to double their lead in the 21st minute when they were awarded a penalty after Brooks fouled Howard inside the box.
Rhali Dobson’s strike was saved by Taylah Gray but the ball was cleared straight to the feet of Dobson who made no mistake with her second attempt.
Olympic continued to keep the pressure on the Roosters and took the scoreline to 3-1 in the 35th minute after a beautiful free kick from Howard at the edge of the penalty area. The ball curled around the wall of players and past the reach of Gray.
Elodie Dagg extended the lead right after half-time after a crucial error from Gray. The Lakes’ goalkeeper kicked the ball straight to Dagg who was lurking at the edge of the penalty area and made the home team pay as she whipped the ball into the goal.
Lakes clawed one back to make the score 4-2 in the 78th minute with a long-range bomb from Tahlor Thackray from the edge of the centre circle.
Sophie McDonald put the cherry on top for Olympic when she hit the back of the net in the 88th minute to take the final score to 5-2.
Olympic will be eager to make it three from three when they return home to Darling Street Oval to face Adamstown Rosebud JFC on Sunday.
Lakes will hope to bounce back when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval to take on the reigning champions Charlestown Azzurri next Saturday.
Maitland FC 3-1 New Lambton FC
South African international Marry Ntsweng was the hat-trick hero when Maitland FC secured a 3-1 victory over New Lambton at Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon.
New Lambton's midfielder Amy Gosling played the match in goals after the club’s first and reserve grade goalkeepers were ruled out with injury and suspension.
The Magpies opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Marry Ntsweng netted her first of the season in spectacular fashion.
The South African international received the ball inside the penalty area, chested it down and rocketed it on the half-volley into the back of the net.
Super substitute Tara Andrews leveled the score right before the half-time break with a powerful strike at the edge of the penalty area that flew past the reach of Magpies goalkeeper Annabella Thornton.
But Ntsweng restored the home team’s lead in the 52nd minute after she ducked and weaved around defenders before she unleashed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
Ntsweng secured her first NPL Women’s NNSW hat-trick and cemented the Magpies’ first win of the season with a nice tap-in goal in the 65th minute.
Maitland will hope to build on their form when they travel to Magic Park to take on Broadmeadow Magic on Friday night.
New Lambton will have the week off to reset as they serve the bye in round three before they face Lake Macquarie City FC in round four.
Bye – Charlestown Azzurri