The 2024 Zone Football League season is approaching its climax with the return of promotion and relegation and the historic connection of the football pyramid making it one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory.
The Zone Football League, including the Zone League One, Zone League Two and Zone League Three competitions, is administered by the Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football member zones.
NNSWF and the three member zones announced last year that the men’s Hunter football pyramid would be connected for the first time from the NPL Men’s NNSW and HIT106.9 Northern League One competitions through to Zone League One, Two and Three, allowing for the return of promotion and relegation.
Zone League One
Newcastle Suns have continued to shine in Zone League One, opening a two-point lead on Dudley United at the top of the table.
The Suns downed Dudley 1-0 at Myers Park in round 14 thanks to a goal from Alex Tserepas. The club remain undefeated in first grade, winning its last five matches in a row.
The Suns remain in the box seat for promotion to HIT106.9 Northern League One, also enjoying two games in hand on Dudley as well as their two-point advantage.
Newcastle Olympic are a further four points behind Dudley, though Olympic also have two matches in hand. Though they will have been disappointed to have been held to a goalless draw against Kotara South FC last time out.
At the other end of the table, Minmi look in most danger of the drop as they sit in the relegation zone.
Though they will be buoyed by the fact that Hamilton Azzurri are just four points clear, with Westlakes FC and Swansea FC a further point away.
Zone League Two
Stockton FC have climbed to the top of Zone League Two but it is Newcastle Croatia that have taken charge of the competition.
The Sharks suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Southern United in round 14 to open the door for Croatia, who now sit one point behind Stockton but have a match in hand.
Croatia have been on an impressive run of form having downed fellow finals contenders North United 1-0 and Cooks Hill United 6-3 in rounds 13 and 14 respectively.
Doubles from Beau McDonald and Jake McGuiness and goals from John Majurovski and Jackson Busch saw Croatia dispatch Cooks Hill at Pasadena Oval, while McDonald scored the only goal as Croatia downed the Wolves at Lorn Park.
South Maitland sit bottom of the pile in Zone League Two though the Phoenix are just one point behind Mayfield United JSFC and have three games in hand on the Tigers.
Zone League Three
Barnsley FC and Lambton Jaffas JFC are battling for promotion from Zone League Three.
Barnsley are top, three points clear of Jaffas having played a game more, after its 2-1 win over third-placed Nelson Bay in their rescheduled round 10 clash at Taylor Park on Wednesday night.
Lambton won the only meeting between the sides so far this season 5-2 in round nine, with Jaffas and Barnsley due to meet again in round 20 in a match that could decide promotion.
NNSWF Men’s NPL
While Lambton Jaffas’ stranglehold on the premiership race has loosened in the last week, the race to avoid relegation has also heated up.
Lake Macquarie City remain in the most danger, sitting in last place with four points with the prospect of automatic relegation to HIT 106.9 Northern League One now a distinct possibility.
Lakes have been competitive in recent weeks but have been unable to secure a much-needed win. They went down 1-0 to New Lambton in round 16 thanks to Chase Lattimore’s second half goal before Theodor Skarp’s 90th minute equaliser earned Lakes a point against Adamstown Rosebud in round 17.
Adamstown are five points clear of the automatic drop but, if they were to finish 11th, would still have to navigate the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs to remain in NPL Men’s NNSW next season.
Rosebud trail New Lambton by five points, with the Golden Eagles also enjoying a game in hand.
HIT106.9 Northern League One
Belmont Swansea United have all but wrapped up automatic promotion to NPL Men’s NNSW next season, with BelSwans 18 points clear of Kahibah in second.
While Belswans can almost touch promotion, there is still a real battle to reach the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs. Kahibah and Toronto Awaba are in the box seat with 29 and 27 points respectively, with West Wallsend (26), South Cardiff (24), Singleton (22) and Thornton (21) vying for the final place.
Wallsend FC are last but, because there are only nine teams in HIT106.9 Northern League One this season, there will be no relegation from the competition in 2024.
