Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 19 of the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW Women’s competition.
Match of the Round - Maitland FC 2-3 Broadmeadow Magic FC
Maitland’s unbeaten streak was broken in the Match of the Round after they were downed by Broadmeadow Magic 2-3.
Magic faced a second top-of-the-table clash in two weeks, after downing Newcastle Olympic the week prior and Maitland winning moving up into second spot.
Broadmeadow proved that they could handle the heat, ending the Magpies' impressive 10-game unbeaten streak and extending their lead at the top to five points.
The Magpies captain Sophie Stapleford returned from an ankle injury in full force, pulling the strings across the park for her side but they were unable to get the result.
Lucy Jerram confidently opened the scoring for Magic, netting her 22nd goal in the competition this season in the seventh minute of the match. The striker curled the ball in from the corner post and went past both the Maitland defence and the Magic attack and into the back of the net.
Lucy Kell thought she had equalised for the Magpies, breaking past the defence and catching goalkeeper Alison Logue off her line to chip the ball into an empty net but her attempt hit the post and was denied.
Pearce was able to double the advantage for Magic, with a strong header from a set piece. Kirra Lewis delivered the free kick perfectly onto the head of Pearce who placed the ball into the top right corner of the net.
The Magpies were able to claw one back before half-time with Kell finally getting her name on the scoresheet with a strong low strike into the back of the goal.
Magic extended their lead to 3-1 from a wonder strike from captain Kalista Hunter in the 57th minute. The defender intercepted a Maitland ball to run nearly the length of the pitch before releasing a spectacular ball that barrelled into the back of the net.
Keely Gawthrop initiated a comeback for the Magpies, tapping in a ball off a cross from teammate Sophie Jones to narrow the scoreline to 2-3.
Jerram thought she had her second goal of the afternoon with a stunning strike on the volley but it was disallowed as her teammates were ruled offside.
The Magpies continued to fight but were unable to score the equaliser leaving the end in favor of the visitors.
The loss sees Maitland slide back down to third on the table as Newcastle Olympic were able to pick three points up against New Lambton. But the side are set in stone to take part in the first finals series in the club’s history of the competition
The Magpies will need to bounce back quickly as their focus shifts to the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday evening where they will go head-to-head with Olympic
Magic remains on top for another week but have to wait another two weeks to claim the premiership after Olympic’s win. The side will have the weekend off and will face fourth-placed Azzurri in Round 20.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 3-3 Charlestown Azzurri FC
Adamstown and Azzurri were unable to be separated after sharing a 3-3 draw at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night.
The match was a tussle throughout the whole 90 minutes with neither side able to walk away with the three points and both sides being awarded penalties throughout the match.
Both sides had their chances but were unable to capitalise until Jenna Doyle opened the scoring for Rosebud in the 30th minute.
Doyle was gifted a superb through ball that she chased down and placed into the top left corner of the net to put Rosebud in front.
Azzurri were awarded a penalty just before half-time after Doyle handballed inside the penalty area. Lori Depczynski converted from the spot, sending Rosebud’s goalkeeper Olivia Sneddon the wrong way and putting her side in level at the break.
Kimberly Trappett was able to put Adamstown back out in front less than two minutes into the second half, weaving through Azzurri’s defence before slicing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Doyle was able to get her name on the scoresheet in the 74th minute for the second time this time from the penalty spot, after her teammate Mackenzie Duraj was fouled in front of the goal by Depczynski.
But Azzurri was able to make a comeback after being awarded a second penalty for a foul inside the penalty area. Depczynski was given the opportunity to score her second of the evening, which she successfully did in a calmly taken penalty.
In the final minutes of regulation time, Jessica Dominello made a run through the middle of the pitch and struck the ball low and hard past Sneddon and into the back of the net to put Azzurri square with Rosebud at 3-3.
Azzurri are now 10 points clear of New Lambton in fifth, securing their place in finals football in 2023.
Rosebud remains in sixth on the table and but will continue to build from the positive performance and finish out the season as best they can.
New Lambton FC 1-3 Newcastle Olympic FC
New Lambton’s finals hopes are over after going down 1-3 to Newcastle Olympic at Alder Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles now sit ten points outside of the top four teams in the competition with only teo rounds left.
Olympic were able to open the scoring after being awarded a penalty in the 14th minute for a handball in front of goal. Elodie Dagg was able to step up and calmly converted the penalty, scoring her tenth goal of the season and giving Olympic the early lead.
Both sides had plenty of chances but the score remained 1-0 when both teams went into the sheds at half-time.
New Lambton was able to equalise through co-captain Cass Davis minutes into the second half. Davis won the ball pressing the Olympic defence before running through and striking the ball from the penalty area past the defence and goalkeeper Claire Coelho.
But minutes later Olympic were able to edge back in front when Laura Hall collected the scraps from a corner kick and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
New Lambton received a further blow when attacker Lauren Allan was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jorja Hogg in the 58th minute.
Reduced to ten players, New Lambton were unable to hold out Olympic, with Marion Dunbabin putting the game to bed going one-on-one with goalkeeper Ally Boertje after breaking through the defence to make the score 3-1.
The three points allowed Olympic to move back up to second on the table and keep the premiership away from Broadmeadow Magics hands for another week. Their focus will shift to the Women’s League Cup final this Sunday evening against Maitland.
New Lambton remains in fifth on the table and will look to bounce back and end the season on a high.
Mid Coast FC 2-1 Warners Bay FC
Mid Coast picked up their fourth win of the season, defeating Warners Bay 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Taree Zone Field.
It was an evenly matched game between the two sides that sit at the foot of the table before Mid Coast were able to edge away to secure the three points.
Marissa Masterantonio opened the scoring for Mid Coast in the 18th minute, launching the ball in from the outside of the penalty box and into the back of the net.
The Panthers were able to claw back into the game, scoring their fifth goal of the season through Callie Thomas.
Stephanie Carte sliced the ball through to Thomas who was on the break past Mid Coasts defensive line to slot the ball past goalkeeper Grace Davies and take the score to 1-1.
But Mid Coast were able to reclaim the lead with a goal from Evie Gill in the 65th minute.
Things continued to go downhill for Warners Bay, finishing the match with nine players after Dana Neaves was shown red in the 67th minute and Jada-Lee McBride was sent off in the 90th minute, both receiving second yellow cards.
Both teams will have a week’s break due to the Women’s League Cup final before Mid Coast go up against Maitland while Warners Bay host New Lambton in Round 20.