After some mixed results through the middle of the season, both Hamilton and Broadmeadow have returned to form in recent weeks.
Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Hamilton Olympic
2.30pm Sunday 24th July at Magic Park
Last Meeting: Hamilton 3 Broadmeadow 1 at Darling Street Oval, Sunday 15th May 2016
Ladder: Broadmeadow 3rd (28) Hamilton 1st (34)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Broadmeadow – Won Jets Youth 10-2 (h), Lost Eagles 2-0 (a), Won Bears 1-0 (h)
Hamilton – Won Eagles 3-1 (h), Won Bears 3-1 (a), Drew Jaffas 2-2 (h)
Bottom Line
Broadmeadow went through a poor run of form after their loss to Olympic in round six, as they won just two of five matches. Olympic also had a disappointing run of form where they won just one of four matches. Since then Magic have won four of their last five, while Hamilton have won three of their last four.
Hamilton have dominated this rivalry over the last three years, with Broadmeadow’s last win coming back in 2013 courtesy of a late Peter Haynes screamer in a 6-5 victory. Since that moment it has been all Olympic, with five wins and a draw in the last six matches the sides have played.
In fact, it has been their ability to keep Broadmeadow’s attack quiet over that period which has been the most impressive stat. Magic have scored just three goals in their last six meetings with Hamilton, in comparison Hamilton have scored 12 in those same matches.
Key: Broadmeadow’s attack has been disappointing when playing Hamilton of late, and it will need to change this weekend if they are to beat their rivals.
Edgeworth Eagles v Valentine Phoenix
2.45pm, Saturday 23rd July at Jack McLaughlan Oval
Last Meeting: Edgeworth 4 Valentine 0 at Cahill Oval, Saturday 14th May 2016
Ladder: Edgeworth 2nd (34pts) Valentine 6th (15)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Edgeworth – Lost Olympic 3-1 (a), Won Magic 2-0 (h), Won Jets Youth 4-2 (h)
Valentine – Drew Bears 2-2 (h), Won Jaffas 3-2 (a), Lost Rosebud 2-0 (h)
Bottom Line
Both Edgeworth and Valentine will be looking to return to the winner’s circle after a recording disappointing results last weekend. Edgeworth went down to rivals Hamilton Olympic who have now beaten them twice this season, while the Phoenix were held to a 2-2 draw against the last placed Weston Bears.
The head to head between these sides reads heavily in the Eagles’ favour, with Valentine last recording a win over Edgeworth in 2011 – a 1-0 victory at Cahill Oval. Since then Edgeworth have won five straight matches by a combined scoreline of 15-2 so Valentine will need to overcome recent history in this one.
Key: Defence. Both sides conceded too many goals last weekend and need to be on song at the back on Saturday.
Lambton Jaffas v Maitland Magpies
2.30pm, Saturday 23rd July at Arthur Edden Oval
Last Meeting: Maitland 0 Lambton 0 at Cooks Square Park, Sunday 15th May 2016
Ladder: Lambton 8th (13) Maitland 4th (22)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Lambton – Drew Blues 0-0 (a), Lost Phoenix 3-2 (h), Drew Olympic 2-2 (a)
Maitland – Won Rosebuds 4-2 (h), Won Blues 2-0 (a), Lost Phoenix 1-0 (h)
Bottom Line
It's hard to get a read on the Jaffas this season with seven losses this season mixed with three wins and four draws. They have drawn will Hamilton (1st), Maitland (4th), and Charlestown (5th) in 2016, and had a narrow loss to Broadmeadow (2nd) in round two. While in other matches they were beaten 5-0 by Edgeworth (2nd) in round 10, 3-0 by Hamilton in round 3 and Broadmeadow 4-2 in round 11. In reality, it will depend on which Lambton will turn up.
Maitland have put the sacking of coach Steve Piggott behind them with a 4-2 win at home last weekend against Adamstown and have returned to form in the last two weeks with two wins after a five-week stretch where they didn’t win a match.
Key: With only one win this season at Arthur Edden Oval, can Lambton send their fans home happy this weekend?
Newcastle Jets Youth v Adamstown Rosebud
2.30pm Sunday 24th July at Adamstown Oval
Last Meeting: Jets Youth 3 Adamstown 0 at Adamstown Oval, Sunday 15th May 2016
Ladder: Jets Youth 7th (14) Adamstown 9th (11)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Jets Youth – Lost Magic 10-2 (a), Lost Eagles 4-2 (a), Won Blues 4-0 (a)
Adamstown – Lost Magpies 4-2 (a), Lost Blues 3-1 (h), Won Phoenix 2-0 (a)
Bottom Line
Just as the Jets Youth side seemed to be rising towards a top four spot, they have come back to earth with a thud. First, a disappointing last ten minutes against Edgeworth in round 13 saw the drop all three points, before a recording breaking performance for all the wrong reasons against Broadmeadow on the weekend.
Though without five senior players against the 3rd placed Magic, it was always going to be a tough ask for the young Jets and they will desperately be seeking a strong performance against Adamstown to erase the embarrassment of last weekend.
Rosebud also have their own problems to worry about, as they received their third red card in a row on Sunday when Owen Littlewood was sent off for touching the referee. That follows Dayne Pawlik the previous week and Thom Lino the week before who were given their marching orders. Once again Adamstown were right in the contest leading 2-1 before the red card was given to Littlewood.
Key: Discipline. Adamstown need to get through this match with 11 men on the park or the young Jets will find them wanting.
Weston Workers Bears v Charlestown City Blues
2.30pm Sunday 24th July at Rockwell Automation Park
Last Meeting: Charlestown 1 Weston 0 at Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 15th May 2016
Ladder: Weston 10th (3) Charlestown 5th (18)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Weston – Drew Phoenix 2-2 (a), Lost Olympic 3-1 (h), Lost Magic 1-0 (a)
Charlestown – Drew Jaffas 0-0 (h), Won Rosebuds 3-1 (a), Lost Magpies 2-0 (h)
Bottom Line
If Charlestown want to make the finals this year, it has now come down to winning every one of their final four matches. Coming up against last-placed Weston is a match they really need to win considering their final three matches are against Edgeworth, Broadmeadow and Hamilton. Many would not give them a chance, but the Blues have proven many wrong this season and they shouldn’t be written off.
The Bears have dominated the last four matches these two sides have played winning three of the four and scoring eight goals to three in the process. But, in their only match this season Charlestown scrapped out a 1-0 victory and Shane Pryce’s men will be looking to do the same at one of the toughest away venues in the PlayStation NPL Northern NSW.
Key: Weston has come so close against in away matches against Valentine and Broadmeadow in recent weeks. Can they conjure up another gallant performance in front of their home fans?
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