Lambton and Hamilton do battle for the second time in two weeks after the Jaffas’ upset Olympic in a 3-2 victory in the Westfield FFA Cup.
Match of the Round
Hamilton Olympic v Lambton Jaffas
2.30pm, Saturday 3rd July
Darling Street Oval
Last Meeting: Lambton 3 Hamilton 2 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, 19th June, 2016 (Westfield FFA Cup)
Ladder: Hamilton 2nd (24pts) Lambton 8th (8)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Hamilton – Drew Rosebuds 1-1 (a), Drew Magpies 1-1 (h), Won Phoenix 5-0 (a)
Lambton – Lost Magic 4-2 (h), Lost Eagles 5-0 (a), Drew Jets 1-1 (h)
Bottom Line
Tight matches have been the trend between these two sides with 3 draws being played out between the sides in their last five PlayStation® 4 National Premier League Northern NSW clashes.
The only results in the competition which were not drawn in those five were Hamilton’s 2-1 victory in the 1st leg of the finals last season and their 3-0 win over the Jaffas in round 3 this season. The last time the Jaffas beat Olympic in PlayStation® 4 NPL competition was back in 2014.
Key: Kane Goodchild. If he is allowed the freedom he was offered in round 3, Lambton will find it tough to make it back to back wins against Olympic.
Valentine Phoenix v Adamstown Rosebuds
3pm, Saturday 2nd July
Blacksmiths Oval
Last Meeting: Adamstown 2 Valentine 0 at Adamstown Oval, 24th April, 2016
Ladder: Valentine 7th (11) Adamstown 9th (8)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Valentine – Won Maitland 1-0 (a), Lost Jets 4-3 (a), Won Blues 3-2 (h)
Adamstown – Drew Olympic 1-1 (h), Drew Magic 3-3 (h), Won Bears 2-1 (h)
Bottom Line
This is a crucial match for both sides in their aspirations for the top four. A win for Valentine and they will just be one win outside the top four while Adamstown will have to win this one if they are to have any hope of making the finals.
Valentine have been up and down all season, but have won two of their last three and will be full of confidence defensively after keeping their first clean sheet of the season against the Magpies in Maitland. In an interesting sidenote to the clash, Matt Paul lines up against his former club for the first time this season, and it will be interesting to see whether it will bring out the best in him.
Key: Valentine played arguably their worst match of the season against Adamstown in their last clash. Was it just themselves or do they not like playing the Rosebuds?
Broadmeadow Magic v Weston Workers Bears
2.30pm Sunday 3rd July
Magic Park
Last Meeting: Weston 0 Broadmeadow 0 at Rockwell Automation Park, 24th April, 2016
Ladder: Broadmeadow 3rd (22) Weston 10th (2)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Broadmeadow – Won Jaffas 4-2 (a), Won Magpies 3-0 (h), Drew Rosebud 3-3 (a)
Weston – Lost Eagles 3-0 (h), Lost Jets 3-0 (a), Lost Rosebud 2-1 (a)
Bottom Line
While both sides sit at opposite ends of the ladder, their last match was a tight contest at Weston and gave an indication of just how strong Weston’s defence has been at stages this season – the 6th best in the competition.
In fact, the last six contests have been split between the sides, Weston winning two, Magic two, and two draws. Broadmeadow have actually only won one match in the last five between the sides and the last time they beat Weston at Magic Park was 2013. Who could forget last year’s match at Magic Park? Jake Milsteed scoring the winner for the Bears in stoppage time for a 4-3 win, after being down 2-0 early on in the match.
Key: Broadmeadow’s attack was not able to get through Weston in round three, and with the quality they have in the front third they can’t afford not to score here or a top two spot could go begging.
Charlestown City Blues v Maitland Magpies
2.30pm Sunday 3rd July
Lisle Carr Oval
Last Meeting: Maitland 1 Charlestown 1 at Cooks Square Park, April 24th, 2016
Ladder: Charlestown 6th (14) Maitland 4th (16)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Charlestown – Lost Olympic 6-0 (a), Lost Jets 4-0 (h), Lost Phoenix 3-2 (a)
Maitland – Lost Phoenix 1-0 (h), Lost Magic 3-0 (a), Drew Olympic 1-1 (a)
Bottom Line
In terms of the top four, this is a huge match. A loss for Charlestown and their finals hopes could be over as a five-point gap from the top four with six matches to play could be difficult to reel in. A win for the Blues though and they will take the fourth spot from Maitland – provided the Jets Youth don’t beat Edgeworth.
This match is also important in terms of momentum and confidence, which is low on both sides at the moment. Maitland haven’t won since round 7 and are four matches without a victory. For Charlestown, their record is worse of late, with five straight losses seeing them slip from the top two to now 6th spot on the ladder. But, the Blues have played some tough opponents of late.
Key: Confidence. Whichever side can put their past results behind them on Sunday will get their season back on track.
Edgeworth Eagles v Jets Youth
2.45pm Sunday 3rd July
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Last Meeting: Edgeworth 4 Jets Youth 2 at Jack McLaughlan Oval, 22nd April, 2016
Ladder: Edgeworth 1st (28) Jets Youth 5th (14)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Edgeworth – Won Rosebud 2-0 (h), Won Bears 3-0 (a), Won Jaffas 5-0 (h)
Jets Youth – Won Blues 4-0 (a), Won Phoenix 4-3 (h), Won Bears 3-0 (h)
Bottom Line
This match has all the hallmarks of what should be a cracking showdown at Jack McLaughlan Oval this Sunday. Edgeworth have won six straight since their loss at the hands of Hamilton Olympic, while the Jets Youth have won three straight and have lost just one of their last six matches.
Little is said about Edgeworth’s defence, with much of the focus on Hamilton Olympic’s backline over the opening 11 rounds of the season. However, the Eagles have only conceded two goals in their last six matches and haven’t conceded in their last three matches.
Key: With the Jets Youth improving every week, especially in defence, keeping Edgeworth’s competition best attack quiet will crucial to their chances of an upset.
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