Top spot and a major step towards the PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW minor premiership is on the line when Edgeworth and Lambton Jaffas clash at Edden Oval in Round 15 on Saturday.
Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas FC v Edgeworth FC
Sat. 25 July 2.30pm
Arthur Edden Oval
#JAFvEFC
Jaffas moved to two points behind the Eagles with a 2-0 win over Magic last week and Edgeworth's 2-0 loss to Adamstown.
A win will put the Jaffas in first place with games against Adamstown, Maitland and South Cardiff remaining.
Edgeworth will go five points clear of Jaffas and at least three ahead of the chasers in the race for the Premiership with matches against South Cardiff, Newcastle Jets Youth and Weston to go.
The game promises to be one of the matches of the season and will be streamed live on BarTV.
Maitland FC v Adamstown Rosebud FC
Sat. 25 July 2.30pm
Cooks Square Park
#MFCvBUD
Maitland will search for safety and Adamstown will try to keep their finals chances alive when they meet at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
The Magpies held on for a 0-0 draw at Weston last week despite losing Corey Fletcher to a straight red card in the 31st minute, while Adamstown ended Edgeworth's four-game winning run with a 2-0 victory.
Fletcher will be suspended for Maitland, who also have midfielder Ryan Broadley in serious doubt with ankle problems.
The Magpies, though, received a boost this week with news former Socceroo Matt Thompson had agreed to play with Maitland again next season.
Newcastle Jets Youth v Hamilton Olympic FC
Sun. 26 July 2.30pm
Darling Street Oval
#NEWvOLY
Hamilton are desperate to regain their winning touch and revive their Premiership hopes against the Newcastle Jets Youth on Sunday.
Olympic were unbeaten leaders until falling to Edgeworth 3-1 in Round 12 and now sit three points off top spot after a frustrating past month.
Mick Bolch's team have not won since a 2-0 victory over Magic in Round 10 and gave up a 2-0 lead against a 10-man South Cardiff last week to draw 3-3.
The Jets Youth, whose match against Charlestown was washed out last week, sit seventh on 13 points and have lost seven of their past eight games.
Weston Workers FC v Charlestown City Blues FC
Sun. 26 July 2.30pm
Rockwell Automation Park
#WWBvCCB
Weston welcome back Jason Cowburn for his 100 first-grade game with the club while also farewelling Rob Macbeth against Charlestown on Sunday.
Cowburn missed the scoreless draw with Maitland last week because of work commitments but will return to boost the fourth-placed Bears, who are three points clear of fifth-placed Broadmeadow and one behind third-placed Hamilton.
While the Bears will celebrate Cowburn's milestone, they will also be keen to send Macbeth off a winner in his last game for the club. The midfielder is moving away for work reasons after the weekend.
The Blues did not play last weekend because of a wash out against the Jets Youth.
South Cardiff FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Sun. 26 July 2.30pm
Ulinga Oval
#SCGvMGC
A wounded Broadmeadow Magic line-up will meet an equally desperate South Cardiff side at Ulinga Oval on Sunday.
Magic are three points outside the top four and coming off a 2-0 loss to Lambton Jaffas, while last-placed South Cardiff showed fight to draw 3-3 with Hamilton last week and boost their hopes to avoid the drop.
Broadmeadow will again be without captain Peter Haynes (work), vice-captain Josh Piddington (fractured ribs) and youngster Jayden Barber (hamstring tear), while central defender Jon Griffiths will join them on the sidelines.
Griffiths was sent off late for a second yellow card last week and is suspended.
The Gunners, who are five points behind next-worst Maitland, will be without the suspended Jarryd Johnson and Sean Clerke.
Click here for a full preview of all the Round 15 matches.