Since Lambton were promoted to the Northern NSW top flight in 2013, Hamilton and the Jaffas have shared a healthy rivalry.
Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas v Hamilton Olympic
2.30pm Saturday 27th May at Arthur Edden Oval
Last Meeting: Round 1, 2017: Hamilton 2 Lambton 3 at Darling Street Oval.
Ladder: Lambton 2nd (20), Hamilton 4th (18)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Hamilton – Won Magic 2-1 (a), Drew Roosters 1-1 (h), Drew Phoenix 1-1 (a)
Lambton – Lost Jets 1-2 (h), Won Magpies 2-1 (a), Won Rosebud 3-1 (a)
Bottom Line
In 2013, Lambton won two penalty shoot-outs in the finals series against Olympic – both 5-4 – after 1-1 draws in regulation time. In 2015, Hamilton got their revenge, winning through to the Grand Final courtesy of a Rhys Cooper goal in extra-time.
Last year, it was Olympic who crushed Lambton in their first meeting, led by striker Kane Goodchild’s hat-trick.
Then in the Westfield FFA Cup last year, when most thought Olympic would waltz through to the Round of 32 against an injury-ravaged Lambton side, Jobe Wheelhouse produced a midfield master to cause one of the biggest upsets of the season.
This season, the roles and reversed and it is Lambton who are flying high, and Hamilton who will look to clip their wings.
While Olympic, have been very much up and down in recent weeks they returned to form last weekend, as they rolled up their sleeves and put in a tough 90-minute display in a 2-1 defeat of rivals Broadmeadow.
Comparatively, Lambton come into the match following just their second defeat of the season. An injury-ravaged Jaffas side fell to an impressive Newcastle Jets Youth outfit 2-1 at home.
After leading the competition for a majority of the season to date, Edgeworth have now taken over that mantle and Lambton will be keen to keep pace with the Eagles.
Key: Lambton have won just 3 of their last 14 home matches. Do they have an issue with the smaller Arthur Edden Oval?
Adamstown Rosebud v Jets Youth
2.30pm Saturday 20th May at Cahill Oval
Last Meeting: Round 1, 2017: Adamstown 4 Jets Youth 4 at Adamstown Oval.
Ladder: Adamstown 10th (7), Jets Youth 11th (6)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Jets – Won Jaffas 2-1 (a), Lost Magic 1-5 (h), Drew Roosters 3-3 (a)
Adamstown – Won Magpies 3-1 (h), Drew Blues 2-2 (a), Lost Jaffas 1-3 (h)
Bottom Line
The Jets Youth thought they had escaped the cellar last weekend when they caused a huge upset against the first-placed Jaffas, only for Adamstown to do likewise against Maitland at Adamstown Oval.
Both of these sides have improved considerably since the early part of the season. While they are both by a stretch the worst defensive sides in the competition, the last month for both has been kind.
In the four matches each both sides played during that time, they only lost three combined. It has simply been the draws which have crippled them.
Last weekend the Jets were impressive in the way they used pace to hurt the Jaffas on two breaks that were finished off by Kristian Brymora on both occasions.
Key: Which side can keep the consistency going after recording their first victories last weekend?
Valentine Phoenix v Charlestown City Blues
2.30pm Saturday 23rd May at Cahill Oval
Last Meeting: Round 1, 2017: Charlestown 1 Valentine 2 at Lisle Carr Oval.
Ladder: Valentine 3rd (19), Charlestown 8th (11)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Valentine – Lost Eagles 0-1 (h), Drew Olympic 1-1 (h), Won Jets 1-0 (a)
Charlestown – Lost Bears 0-3 (a), Drew Rosebud 2-2 (h), Lost Eagles 0-2 (a)
Bottom Line
If Valentine want to go one step closer to ensuring they will play finals in 2017, they will want to take three points away from their meeting with Charlestown.
The Phoenix had a good record in their first year back in the top flight, against the Blues, drawing once and winning the other. They continued that run of form in the opening round this season as goals from Josh Carroll and Chris Brown led Valentine to a 2-1 victory.
While they did fall 1-0 in a tight clash against Edgeworth in round 10, Valentine have been in good form over their last seven matches, losing just once during that period. It leaves them just two points off the first-placed Eagles.
While Valentine have been flying high, Charlestown have dipped in form recently after claiming impressive victories over Hamilton and Broadmeadow earlier in the season.
The Blues haven’t won in four matches and while they had the bye last weekend, their last performance wasn’t one to remember, going down 3-0 to Weston.
Key: Valentine haven’t lost at Cahill oval this year. Can it remain a fortress?
Broadmeadow Magic v Edgeworth Eagles
2.30pm Sunday 28th May at Magic Park
Last Meeting: Round 1, 2017: Edgeworth 1 Broadmeadow 1 at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Ladder: Broadmeadow 7th (12), Edgeworth 1st (21)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Broadmeadow – Lost Olympic 1-2 (h), Won Jets 5-1 (a), Lost Magpies 0-7 (h)
Edgeworth – Won Lakes (a), Won Phoenix 1-0 (h), Won Bears 2-1 (a)
Bottom Line
After a tight encounter in round one, Broadmeadow will feel they have the ability to end their poor run of form against the Eagles of late. Magic haven’t won in their last seven against Edgeworth dating back to their last victory in round three, 2015.
While they may be at different ends of the ladder, it would be foolish to write Broadmeadow of in this fixture.
In the so-called ‘big matches’ this year against sides in the top four, Magic have lost just once, to Hamilton. They drew with Edgeworth and Lambton, and they beat Valentine 3-2. So, what has gone wrong with Magic to date?
They have shown they can match it with the top sides, however, it has been their uncharacteristically poor form in front of goal which has crippled them this year. Last season they average 2.7 goals per game in the regular season, currently, they are at 1.4.
Edgeworth, in comparison, are humming along superbly and coach Damian Zane still doesn’t think they have quite hit their straps. The Eagles are undefeated in seven, which is nine unbeaten if you include their Westfield FFA Cup matches.
They have won their last six PlayStation®4 NPL NNSW matches and come into this clash against Magic with plenty of confidence after their late fightback to win against Lakes – where they scored two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Based on recent form, Edgeworth have to be favourites, but, if Magic can find form in front of goal they can’t be written off.
Key: Can Broadmeadow turn around their poor run of form against the Eagles?
Lake Macquarie City v Weston Bears
2.30pm Sunday 27th May at Macquarie Field
Last Meeting: Round 1, 2017: Weston 2 Lakes Macquarie 2 at Rockwell Automation Park.
Ladder: Lakes 6th (13), Weston 9th (7)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Lakes – Lost Eagles 1-2 (h), Drew Olympic 1-1 (a), Drew Jets 3-3 (h)
Weston – Lost Phoenix 1-2 (a), Won Blues 3-0 (h), Lost Eagles 1-2 (h)
Bottom Line
Two sides who were beaten in heart-breaking circumstances last weekend meet at Macquarie Field this week, the venue that Lake Macquarie fell to Edgeworth last weekend.
Lakes, we less than ten minutes from pulling off one of the upsets of the season, after they were beaten in a massive upset in the Westfield FFA Cup days earlier.
Matt Toohey ensured the Roosters would lead midway through the opening half and they carried the lead through until the 83rd minute when Keigo Moriyasu struck. If that wasn’t enough pain, Ayden Brice snatched all three points for Edgeworth in stoppage time.
In similar circumstances at Cahill Oval, Weston had the better of play in the second half against Valentine, however, the Bears couldn’t quite snatch the go-ahead goal.
In stoppage time, Dean Pettit struck for Valentine and Weston went home empty handed.
Key: Who can respond better after last weekend’s heartbreak?
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