Match of the Round
Newcastle Olympic v Maitland FC
Darling Street Oval, Saturday 6:30pm
Newcastle Olympic coach Craig Atkins hopes his side does not get too carried away with the festivities this Saturday and focuses on securing three points against Maitland FC.
This weekend will see the official opening of the Darling Street Oval grandstand and amenities pavilion, with a day of celebration planned for everyone who is a part of the Olympic club.
Atkins hopes the event does not distract his side but can help them get over the line, with a big home crowd expected.
“Obviously the biggest thing is not to get too carried away with the occasion,” Atkins said.
“We have a lot of home support and we need to use that as an advantage. They can be an extra player on the field.
“I think the new renovations have been a long time coming and it’s wonderful. I have been through the facilities and it’s been great to see all of the work that the club and committee have been putting in behind the scenes.
“It is a fantastic resource not just for Olympic but for all of football in the area.”
Olympic’s coach was not impressed with how his side started against New Lambton last weekend but has been pleased by the overall start to their 2024 campaign as they sit first on the table. Atkins is hopeful that his squad can continue their momentum against the Magpies on Saturday night.
“We had a very slow start against New Lambton so I am sure that the girls will be keen to rectify that,” Atkins said.
“We are really happy to be three from three,” Atkins said.
“Obviously in the competition that we are in it’s really important to secure early wins and get those points.”
“We always look forward to playing Maitland but we know that it will be a challenge.
“Maitland are quality all across the park so I don’t think that we can single one or players out. We need to make sure we look at all of them across the park and look at our individual roles.
“We are three games in and the girls are fit so there are no excuses come Saturday.”
Maitland will come into this weekend’s contest off the back of a dominant 9-0 victory over Warners Bay and will look to use that confidence to help them on Saturday night.
The Magpies sit in third on the table on six points and will be eager to stay in the top half of the table for the remainder of the season.
Keelan Hamilton’s squad face three matches in the space of a week but said his side has recovered and is ready to go again against Olympic.
“We are feeling pretty good,” Hamilton said.
“It was a busy sort of eight or nine days with the three matches. But overall there have been some positive signs to come out of it and some good performances.
“We are looking forward to the match. Olympic are well coached and have good players in their squad it will be difficult. There have always been good battles.
“Both teams try to play good football.”
The Magpies coach is looking forward to the club being involved with Olympic’s facility grand opening and was hopeful that the away crowd can spur his side on.
“I think first and foremost, it’s a really great occasion and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” Hamilton said.
“In terms of the crowd, it’s always nice in football to go away from home where the odds are stacked against you and to try to cause an upset.”
“We are a team that tries to control possession of the ball and have a focus to get the ball into areas that we can be effective in scoring goals. We have been a bit clunky and made some unnecessary turnovers but we still have room to improve and will be ironing those things out.
In a big blow for Olympic, Newcastle Jets veteran goalkeeper Claire Coelho has been ruled out for the season after she suffered a hand injury in the offseason. The side has recruited shot-stopper Isabella Whitton, who has started the season strong and has only conceded one goal in three matches.
“Isabella Whitton has had the last couple of seasons off but she last played in the Sydney competition and we have been lucky enough to sign her,” Atkins said.
“She is a quality goalkeeper and we are looking forward to seeing how she fills the big shoes of Claire.”
Olympic defender Zoe Horgan remains in doubt this weekend as she has missed the first three matches with a quad strain.
The Magpies also face uncertainty within their squad, with co-captain Taliah Gossner in doubt with a groin injury. Madeline Howard will be sidelined for an extended period with a foot injury.
Charlestown Azzurri v Warners Bay FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Saturday 4pm
Charlestown Azzurri coach Heath Whyte says his defence will need to be strong this weekend if they are to keep Warners Bay’s attacking threats out.
The Blues have had a mixed start to their season, with one win, a loss and a draw. They sit fourth on the table and will be eager to secure another three points to keep up with the pack.
Azzurri was forced to share the points with Magic last weekend after a 97th-minute equaliser from Broadmeadow young gun Mercedes McNabb.
Whyte will hope that his side can step off the pitch at Lisle Carr Oval with a win on Saturday but knows that his players will have to defend well to shut down the Panthers attack that includes Emily Diaz and Indiana Asimus.
“Our defence will need to remain tight if we are going to keep Warners Bay out and we want to neutralise their attack,” Whyte said.
“Indianna and Emily are two key players for Warners Bay and they also have a few other players who can hurt us. We need to be wary that Diaz is quick.”
But Charlestown’s coach has belief in his team and their ability to put their mark on the competition.
“We have a team that is able to disrupt this season,” Whyte said.
“We’ve got to play our style of football right through the season. I want us to be true to who we are.
“Our midfield is quite young and dynamic, and we can be lethal in attack.”
The Panthers have also had a rocky start to their season as they sit in sixth spot on the table with three points.
Ryan Swinkels’ side will be eager to bounce back after suffering a 6-2 and a 9-0 defeat in the last two rounds.
Warners Bay will look to their new recruits to help them turn things around and move up the table.
Azzurri will be without Charlize Whyte this weekend after she suffered a leg knock in round three, while Sarah Halvorsen remains sidelined with a back injury. Jayna Fraser is also in doubt through injury.
Warners Bay will be without their goalkeeper Mia Wallace after she left the field in the tenth minute with an ankle injury in the round three fixture against Maitland.
Broadmeadow Magic v Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Magic Oval, Friday 8pm
Broadmeadow Magic will be without two of their star attackers as they look to continue their unbeaten streak against Adamstown Rosebud JFC.
The reigning premiers and champions will play under lights at Magic Park on Friday night for the fourth week in a row as they welcome the young Adamstown side.
Nima Nikfarjam’s side started the season with two wins and a draw and sits second on the table behind rivals Newcastle Olympic.
But Magic will be without Lily-Jane Babic sidelined with a calf injury and Adriana Konjarski suspended.
The Broadmeadow side proved they could still get the job done once Babic and Konjarski had left the field against Azzurri last week, as they came back from being 1-0 behind to equalise in the 97th minute.
Nikfarjam will have no shortage of attacking options as Chelsea Lucas, Mercedes McNabb and Keziah White have each proven that they can hit the back of the net.
Adamstown did not get off to an ideal start, going down 9-0 and 4-1 in their opening two matches.
But the young Rosebud squad will travel to Magic Park with some newfound confidence after defeating Mid Coast 5-0 in round three.
Goalkeeper and captain Olivia Sneddon will hope to lead her side to another clean sheet this weekend
A win for Adamstown will be a big boost for the young side and help them move up the table and keep them in the tight race so far.
Magic will be eager to spring back to the top of the table in their quest to be back-to-back premiers and champions in 2024.
Mid Coast FC v New Lambton FC
Taree Zone Field, Sunday 4pm
Mid Coast are desperate to bounce back when they play their first home game of the season against New Lambton FC on Sunday afternoon.
The Middies have had a tough start to their 2024 campaign as they sit at the bottom of the table on zero points three weeks into the competition.
In three matches Brett Walker’s side has scored only one goal and conceded 25. This will be something the coach will hope that they can improve upon as they look forward to the rest of the season.
It will be crucial for Mid Coast to have a strong defensive unit when they step onto Taree Zone Field in order to stop the attacking likes of Tara Andrews, Nyah Bradley and Jessica Terry.
But New Lambton will also be eager to erase last weekend’s performance from memory, going down 6-1 to Newcastle Olympic after losing several players to illness in the lead-up.
Despite the result, goalkeeper Ally Boertje showed another strong performance, as she saved a penalty and almost saved a second one within minutes of each other.
Three points will be important to each side as Mid Coast look to secure their first points of the season.
A win will help New Lambton climb up the table and allow Aaron Stedman’s side to stay with the top-five pack early in the competition.