If this weekend's derby between Broadmeadow Magic and Hamilton Olympic is half as good as the drama which was on show the last time these two sides met, it should be an entertaining contest.
Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Hamilton Olympic
2.30pm Sunday 21st May at Magic Park
Last Meeting: Semi Final – 2nd Leg, 2016: Hamilton 1 Broadmeadow 2 at Darling Street Oval.
Ladder: Broadmeadow 7th (12pts), Hamilton 5th (15)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Hamilton – Drew Roosters 1-1 (h), Drew Phoenix 1-1 (a), Won Bears 2-0 (h)
Broadmeadow – Won Jets 5-1 (a), Lost Magpies 0-7 (h), Drew Rosebuds 0-0 (a)
Bottom Line
Last season, Olympic and Magic produced two classic semi-final contests, with the second leg going down to the wire at Darling Street Oval as Hamilton almost produced an immense comeback.
This season, if finals are to be reached by both these clubs they need to start turning good performances into winning ones. Both sides have controlled the ball well and created chances in their matches this season, however, it has been in front of goal where both have hit snags.
Broadmeadow had scored one goal in seven hours of PS4 NPL NNSW football, before a five-goal blitz last weekend against the Jets. While the Jets have the leakiest defence in the competition, it was just the confidence Magic’s strike paring of James Virgili and Kale Bradbury needed.
Although they will face a much sterner test this weekend against an Olympic side boasting the second best defensive record.
Key: With both sides experiencing an injury crises, whose depth will stand tall in the derby?
Valentine Phoenix v Weston Workers Bears
2.30pm Saturday 20th May at Cahill Oval
Last Meeting: Round 14, 2016: Valentine 2 Weston 2 at Cahill Oval.
Ladder: Valentine 4th (16), Weston 9th (7)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Valentine – Lost Eagles 0-1 (h), Drew Olympic 1-1 (h), Won Jets 1-0 (a)
Weston – Won Blues 3-0 (h), Lost Eagles 1-2 (h), Lost Olympic 0-2 (a)
Bottom Line
These two sides meet at the halfway point of the season having had differing results last weekend in contrast to their respective positions on the ladder.
The ninth-placed Bears grabbed their first three points of the season against Charlestown in a clinical 3-0 win, while Valentine fell 1-0 to Edgeworth in a tight affair at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
The importance of this match for Valentine is plain for everyone to see. After such a positive start to the season, they can’t afford to lose two consecutive matches before the midway mark.
A win, however, and they could cement themselves into the top four and may prove difficult to dislodge.
On the flip side, Weston will be buoyed by their 3-0 home win against the Blues and will be looking to back that win up with another strong performance at Cahill Oval.
Key: After a strong performance at home last weekend, can the Bears respond after a disappointing midweek showing against Maitland?
Lambton Jaffas v Newcastle Jets Youth
2.30pm Saturday 20th May at Arthur Edden Oval
Last Meeting: Round 17, 2016: Jets Youth 3 Lambton 0 at Arthur Edden Oval.
Ladder: Lambton 1st (20), Jets Youth 11th (3)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Lambton – Won Magpies 2-1 (a), Won Rosebud 3-1 (a), Won Blues 2-1 (a)
Jets – Lost Magic 1-5 (h), Drew Roosters 3-3 (a), Lost Phoenix 0-1 (a)
Bottom Line
Lambton will look to continue their dominant form on Saturday – which has seen them rise to the top of ladder – against a Jets Youth outfit who have struggled so far this season and sit last.
Coming off the bye in round nine, the Jaffas quickly clicked into gear against Maitland, scoring first, before they had to dig deep in the second half with just ten men to hold on for a 2-1 victory.
The Jaffas have lost just once in their nine matches played, and in doing so have scored a league-high 21 goals – four more than their nearest rival.
Lambton also managed a midweek Westfield FFA Cup win, taking down Adamstown 1-0.
In contrast, the Jets Youth have conceded the most in the competition to date with 28 in their nine matches at an average of just over three per game.
Their defence seemed to be on the improve after successive, tight 1-0 losses against Edgeworth and Valentine, but in the last two matches, they have conceded eight.
Key: Against the last-placed Jets, can Lambton keep their focus and put on a ruthless showing?
Adamstown Rosebud v Maitland FC
2.30pm Sunday 20th May at Adamstown Oval
Last Meeting: Round 14, 2016: Maitland 4 Adamstown 2 at Cooks Square Park.
Ladder: Adamstown 10th (4), Maitland 3rd (16)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Adamstown – Drew Blues 2-2 (a), Lost Jaffas 1-3 (h), Drew Magic 0-0 (h)
Maitland – Lost Jaffas 1-2 (h), Won Magic 7-0 (a), Won Roosters 1-0 (h)
Bottom Line
Adamstown will be aiming to grab their first win of the season when they take on a Maitland side looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance last weekend against Lambton.
The Rosebuds are fresh off the bye, however, they did play a Westfield FFA Cup match on Wednesday – a 1-0 loss to Lambton – so they won’t come in totally fresh.
Since their round six match against Lake Macquarie where they went down 2-1 the Rosebuds have been on an upward trend ever since and while they are yet to win this season they don’t seem far off.
Opponents Maitland come into the match a little disappointed and keen to make a point after going down 2-1 to a ten man Lambton outfit last weekend. However, a 3-2 win over Weston midweek will have restored some confidence.
They set the bar high after a 7-0 demolition job of Broadmeadow Magic the week before and fell well below the standards they had set after that victory.
Key: Adamstown have only scored seven goals in their last eight matches. Maitland scored seven in one game. Can the Rosebuds find form in front of goal?
Lake Macquarie City v Edgeworth Eagles
2.30pm Sunday 20th May at Macquarie Field
Last Meeting: Round 13, 2014: Edgeworth 1 Lake Macquarie 0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Ladder: Lakes 6th (13), Edgeworth 2nd (18)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Lakes – Drew Olympic 1-1 (a), Drew Jets 3-3 (h), Lost Magpies 0-1 (a)
Edgeworth – Won Phoenix 1-0 (h), Won Bears 2-1 (a), Won Blues 2-0 (h)
Bottom Line
Edgeworth returns to Macquarie Field for the first time since 2014 and they will be hoping for a different result than three years ago where they were forced to share the points after a late goal from Sam Walker.
The Eagles will come into this one as favourites after recording their fifth win in a row against Hamilton in the Westfield FFA Cup. On the weekend, the Eagles were made to work hard for their victory over Valentine, scoring once through veteran Daniel McBreen as they ground out a 1-0 victory.
While the end result was tight on Sunday, Edgeworth never looked like conceding with Josh Evans, Pat Wheeler and Dom Bizzarri nullifying the Valentine strike force to ensure they remain the best defence in the comp. They have conceded just five times in nine matches of football.
Lakes have been so very determined over their nine matches played so far. Many expected them to fall last weekend against Hamilton, but a dogged defensive display saw them share the points. It took a wonder strike from Olympic defender Grant Brown to breach their defence.
Key: Will the Eagles be mentally ready after the midweek Cup match-up with Olympic?
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