Match of the Round
Charlestown Azzurri 0-2 Newcastle Olympic
Charlestown Azzurri captain Chloe Martin says despite the 2-0 loss to Newcastle Olympic on Saturday she remains positive about her side’s performance and improvement week-to-week.
It was an end-to-end contest to open the match as both sides looked to secure their first win of the season.
The first half featured relentless attacking attempts from both sides, but strong defending and wayward finishing ensured the deadlock remained, as the teams went into the break locked at 0-0.
Both sides continued to search for a way to break through in the second half and it was Newcastle Olympic who answered first.
56th minute substitute Maddy Howard brought the fresh legs needed to net her sides first goal of the evening just nine minutes into her time on the field.
Howard got on the end of a long pass by teammate Izzy Threlfo, went towards the goal to find Azzurri goalkeeper Danielle Bartels out of her box and took advantage of the empty goal when she sliced the ball into the back of the net in the 65th minute.
Azzurri looked to equalise, but the story of their night continued as wayward attempts saw them unable to score for the first time this season.
The score looked to remain 1-0 when the final whistle blew but super sub Maddy Howard was determined to find a second.
Howard found the end of a misplaced Azzurri pass and went towards the goal unmarked as she launched the ball from the top of the box and into the net moments before full-time, locking in her side’s 2-0 victory.
“We’re all feeling very positive. There was a clear improvement between rounds which is reflected in the score line despite taking another loss,” Martin said.
“The squad as a unit is proud to demonstrate such a quick turn around and individually, we had some great performances. Two of our youth girls made their first grade debuts and put out an impressive effort.
“We’re obviously gunning for a win but given we were not at the full strength of our squad again and we made strides in such a small time frame we can only become more competitive.
“As a team and individually we all reflected on our performance and identified what was limiting us to reach our potential. Eesh [Alicia Ferguson] and the coaching team put together a solid game plan and the girls executed it.
“We have had more time together as a group and that helped us move as a unit. We spent a lot of time training on our defensive shape and we simply executed it well.”
Azzurri have now conceded 12 goals in two games and scored zero, despite this Martin is hopeful that their time is coming and knows her side will continue to improve.
“Our first goal will come and once it does the flood gates will open. We created some fantastic chances and credit to Olympic’s defence to keep us off the score sheet,” Martin said.
“Ultimately, improving both the final execution and increasing the volume will see our final third chances find the back of the net.
“We’ve obviously been handed a few big losses but despite that the team is very focused. We may have a hill ahead of us, but we move forward despite it.
“It’s a great group and the energy is great to be a part of. We have and will continue to focus on what we can control.”
Newcastle Olympic coach Neil Owens believed his side had an improved performance but understands that there is still room for improvement.
“It was a better performance, we dictated the game but there were still too many wrong options with our passes, but it can only get better,” Owens said.
“It was a different game compared to Lakes [Macquarie City] as Charlestown just dropped back and blocked the space. So, we just needed patience to wear them down which we did, so that was pleasing.
“Isabella [Aquilina] pulled off one great save, so the clean sheet was super important as three points are everything early in the season.
“Maddy [Howard] also finished off two good chances so that was pleasing for her and the group. Especially with the bye this weekend coming, it was important to pick up the points.”
Azzurri will look to build on their improved performance when they welcome Maitland FC to Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday. Meanwhile Newcastle Olympic will serve the bye.
Maitland FC 7-1 New Lambton FC
Maitland FC coach Ben Horgan says his side laid the foundations for their season when they downed New Lambton FC 7-1 in a dominant performance at Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies wasted no time to kick-off their season after serving the bye in round one when Renee Pountney sent the ball onto the run of Natalie O’Driscool who rounded New Lambton goalkeeper Janali Haynes and found the back of the net in the 10th minute.
Maitland quickly doubled their lead in the 18th minute after a brilliant solo effort saw Willow Neal make her way from halfway to the edge of New Lambton’s box, cut it back to Pountney who calmly found the bottom corner.
Ceanna Frost took Maitland’s lead to 3-0 in the 38th minute after she launched the ball from the top of the box, over Haynes and into the goal.
The Magpies continued to search for a fourth before half-time, but the score remained 3-0 as they went into the sheds.
The Golden Eagles entered the second stanza with newfound determination and immediately asked questions of Maitland’s goalkeeper Annabella Thornton.
But Maitland found the net just seven minutes into the second half after Georgia Amess found an unmarked Pountney inside the box who easily found her second goal of the afternoon.
New Lambton clawed one back as Tara Andrews sent the ball onto the run of Caitlin Pickett who launched the ball from the top left of the box and into the net in the 56th minute.
The Magpies did not wait long to regain their four-goal buffer after Neal weaved her way through New Lambton defenders and past Haynes into the back of the net in the 61st minute.
Pountney locked in her hat-trick in the 78th minute when she got onto a deflected Amess attempt and sliced it into the goal. Pountney added a fourth to her tally in the 82nd minute and locked in her side’s 7-1 victory.
“I'm really pleased. Obviously, we wanted to start well at home and lay the foundations for the season, and we got plenty of goals from different goal scorers,” Horgan said.
“Sometimes you can start seasons flat when you're a week behind everyone else, so we were super conscious that we didn't want to be out competed by a team that already had one game under their belt. We matched them pretty well in the challenges early in the game and then we were able to settle.
“It always takes five or 10 minutes to get into the speed of the game and obviously they're going to throw things at you that you don't expect, and you've got to deal with that as well.
“But once we settled into the game, I think we were able to keep the ball well and move it around quite well.
“We've always thought that if we can build up just with a little bit more patience, we've got enough quality in the final third that if we get the ball and players forward, just with different combinations around the box, we'll be able to create chances and it sort of panned out that way, which was nice.”
Despite the commanding 7-1 victory, Horgan understands his side still has room to improve throughout the season.
“It's just a fantastic group of players to work with. They come to every session with just enthusiasm for football, like they genuinely enjoy playing with one another. They celebrate each other's successes, so it's just a fun group to be around and they work hard,” Horgan said.
“So, they're going to continue to improve and there's definitely some moments today where we were a bit shaky and we want to try and tighten up some of those things.”
New Lambton will be eager to bounce back when they welcome Adamstown Rosebud JFC to Alder Park on Sunday afternoon.
Maitland will be looking to repeat their dominant 7-0 2026 HMRI Charity Shield performance when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval to face Charlestown Azzurri.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 1-2 Lake Macquarie City FC
Lake Macquarie City kept the good times rolling when they downed Adamstown Rosebud JFC 2-1 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Friday night.
As Lakes looked to expand on their dominant round one victory and Adamstown hoped to secure their first win of the season, it was the Roosters who would break first.
Lakes Kiera Bainsfair got on the end of a misplaced Adamstown ball, made her way to just above the top of the box and launched the ball into the back of the net in the third minute.
But they would not hold onto the lead for long when unmarked Bud Marry Ntsweng received the ball in the box, rounded goalkeeper Morgan Ross who was off her line and sent the ball into the back of the empty net in the ninth minute.
The Roosters looked to score their second of the night in the 16th minute when Adamstown goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon sent the ball directly to Lakes Larrisa Ryan, but her attempt narrowly missed.
Both sides worked continuously throughout the first half to break the deadlock, but the score remained 1-1 at half-time.
Ryan regained the lead for her side in the 65th minute when she beat two Adamstown defenders as she ran towards the goal and sliced the ball past Sneddon and into the bottom corner.
Adamstown hunted for an equaliser but were unable to do so as the score remained 2-1 when the final whistle blew.
Lake Macquarie will now look to go three from three when they welcome Broadmeadow Magic FC to Macquarie Field on Friday night. While Adamstown will continue their search for their first win when they travel to Alder Park to go head-to-head with New Lambton FC.