Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic FC 3-2 Newcastle Olympic FC
The league-leaders Broadmeadow Magic proved why they are on top, coming from behind to defeat Newcastle Olympic 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tight top-of-the-table clash but Magic were able came from behind to secure a much-needed three points and hurt Olympic’s chances at the premiership.
Striker Lucy Jerram opened the scoring for Magic in the 10th minute of the match, launching the ball from outside the penalty box and over Olympic’s goalkeeper Claire Coelho and into the back of the net.
But in the 31st minute, Elodie Dagg was able to put Olympic back square, after striking the ball into the goal from a Jemma House cross.
On the stroke of half time, Olympic attacker Sophie McDonald suffered a dislocated knee running into attack in front of goal. The second half was delayed as McDonald was taken by an ambulance to hospital.
Dagg struck again just a minute after half-time, smashing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to put Olympic ahead.
But Olympic’s lead was squandered in the 61st minute after a miss-kick from Zoe Horgan supplied Chelsea Lucas the perfect ball to get underneath and head into the back of the net.
Magic were able to take the lead eight minutes later when Jerram outpaced the Olympic defence to strike another powerful ball into the goal.
Broadmeadow thought Kobie Fergerson had extended their lead in the 74th minute but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on an Olympic player, with the score remaining 3-2 until the final whistle.
Broadmeadows coach Jake Curley was pleased with how his team was able to respond in the second half and hunt down the three points.
“I think the squad was happy with the result,” Curley said.
“Olympic were better in the first half but we changed a few things tactically in the second half to make a but more space.
“I was happy once we went down 2-1 in how the girls reacted and responded.”
“They showed resilience and played well to keep fighting.”
“We didn’t have any bad players, I thought everyone played really well.”
Going into the match Curley urged his side to capitalise on any chances in front of goal, which was evident on gameday.
“I thought they were really good finishes,” Curley said.
“There were not a lot of chances in the game but we were able to take advantage of the ones that came.”
Depsite extending their lead at the top of the table, Magic aren’t getting ahead of ourselves with the premiership race.
“We still have three games. We play week by week,” Curley said.
Olympic’s gaffer Neil Owens was pleased with his side’s first half performance but disappointed that his side were not able to hold the lead.
“I thought the first half was really good after going down 1-0. We went down 1-0 to a defensive error but fought back to go 1-1,” Owens said.
“We just went away from our game plan which was unfortunate. We lacked composure and couldn’t spread the ball. That was what we really wanted.”
“We failed to capatlise and freaked out and made some really stupid defensive errors to let them get back in the game.
“Our efforts was great but our smarts were missing.”
But Owens was especially impressed with the individual performance of his goal-scorer Dagg.
“I thought Elody was really good on the weekend, she is one of the leading players in the competition,” Owens said.
“She was good and obviously is a very good player.”
Owens does not believe that the premiership race is over for his side and is focused on getting the best results possible for the remainder of the season.
“A loss doesn’t hurt anyone,” Owens said.
“There are still a few games to go so you can’t determine where you are going to finish until the last game. In the big picture you can’t get ahead of yourself.”
Olympic are still awaiting MRI results to show the extent of McDonald’s knee injury but they are hopeful that she will be back for the end of the season.
This result sees Broadmeadow move four clear at the top of the table and Olympic slip down to third below Maitland.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 0-5 New Lambton FC
Adamstown Rosebud had a night to forget, going down 0-5 to New Lambton at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Defensive and goalkeeper errors were the story of Ryan Campbell’s side’s night after any hopes of salvaging their finals’ hopes fell away.
It was a reasonably even affair in the first half before New Lambton’s Newcastle Jets’ attackers launched them to victory with Cass Davis, Tara Andrews and Lauren Allan providing all five goals for their side.
Allan put the Golden Eagles ahead minutes before half-time after a cross was unable to be cleared by Rosebud and fell into the path of Andrews. Her strike was denied by goalkeeper Rosebud Olivia Sneddon but Allan was able to pounce on the scraps.
Rosebud thought they had the equaliser just a minute later, but their corner kick was denied by goalkeeper Ally Boertje before Courtney Anderson’s strike went flying over the crossbar.
Andrews was able to put her own name on the scoresheet and double New Lambton’s lead after knocking in a Davis cross in the 47th minute.
Davis put New Lambon three goals in front in the 58th minute after a massive blunder from Sneddon. The Rosebud goalkeeper attempted to take the ball up the pitch but her heavy touch fell into the path of Davis who struck the ball into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for Rosebud after New Lambton were awarded a penalty for a push in the back which Andrews calmly converted, putting her side 4-0 ahead in the 74th minute.
Sneddon had another brain snap in the 85th minute and attempted to dribble up the pitch again before being pressured by Ameera Makunja to lose the ball to Allan who chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the goal.
Despite the result, it remains to be unlikely that New Lambton will be able to make the top four and play finals as Charlestown Azzurri continues to sit nine points ahead in fourth. They face a tough game this weekend, going head-to-head with Newcastle Olympic.
Adamstown’s finals hopes are over but they will be eager to finish the remainder of the season on a high, facing Azzurri this Saturday night.
Warners Bay FC 0-12 Maitland FC
Warners Bay’s season continues to travel downhill, after being thrashed by Maitland 0-12 on Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers were completely overrun by the Magpies wo were dominant in all areas of the pitch.
Maitland were dealt a huge blow, as captain Sophie Stapleford sustained an ankle injury ruling her out of the match.
Magpies' attackers Chelsea Greguric and Mercedes McNabb both scored hat-tricks, moving them up the ranks in the golden-boot race for the competition.
But it was Maitland defender Madison Gallegos who got the scoring started, bagging two goals less than 10 minutes off corner kicks. Gallegos headed the ball into the back of the net in the sixth minute before tapping the goal past Warners Bay’s goalkeeper Georgia Cooksey to put her side 2-0 ahead.
It was then McNabb’s time to shine, scoring a hat-trick in back-to-back goals in the 18th, 36th and 42nd minute, taking the Magpies 5-0 up heading into half-time.
The goals ramped up in the second half for Maitland, scoring seven more goals.
Lucy Kell hit the back of the net just two minutes after play resumed for the second half before Bronte Peel struck twice in the 52nd and 63rd minutes.
Substitution Greguric quickly got her name on the scoresheet in the 67th and 75th minute before teammate Keely Gawthorpe tapped home the 11th goal of the afternoon.
Greguric was able to secure her hat-trick in the final minute of regulation time, closing out the score of the match to 12-0.
Keelan Hamilton’s side now only side four points off league-leaders Broadmeadow Magic and are well secure to play finals for the first time in the club’s history. They will be hopeful that Stapleford's scans come back positive, and she can return for the top-of-the-table clash against Magic this weekend.
Charlestown Azzurri FC 9-0 Mid Coast FC
Charlestown Azzurri proved too strong for Mid Coast, securing a 9-0 victory at home on Sunday afternoon.
Azurri were clinical in attack in whole team performance, with six players scoring the nine goals.
Jessica Dominello opened the scoring for Azzurri tapping the ball into the back of the net after Cassie Corder’s strike was saved by goalkeeper Grace Davies.
Lori Depczynski scored in the 11th minute after smashing a volley past Davies and into the bottom corner of the goal.
Corder was able to get her name on the scoresheet with back-to-back goals in the 19th and 32nd minute to take Azzurri into the half-time break 4-0 up.
Azzurri’s attacking waves continued in the second half, reaping the benefits from putting Mid Coast under immense pressure.
Depczynski was able to net her second of the afternoon just two minutes into the second half, before Corder secured her hat-trick in the 56th minute.
Corder continued to pull the strings for Azzurri in attack, crossing the ball into the area for Sarah Halvorsen to strike through the hands of Davies and into the back of the net.
Substitute Charlize Whyte scored her first goal of the season for Azzurri with a brilliant header off a corner into the back goal. Evie Horgan closed out the scoring for the afternoon, taking the total to 9-0.
Azzurri have all but secured their spot in the final four, with New Lambton sitting nine points behind them in fifth on the table. They will be eager to continue their winning form against Adamstown Rosebud on Saturday night.
Mid Coast will be eager to bounce back and pick up three points when they play bottom-of-the-table side Warners Bay this weekend.
