It’s a top of the table clash between the two best sides over the opening 12 rounds of PlayStation®4 NPL Northern NSW.
Match of the Round
Edgeworth Eagles v Lambton Jaffas
2.30pm Sunday 4th June at Jack McLaughlan Oval
Last Meeting: Round 2, 2017: Lambton 2 Edgeworth 1 at Arthur Edden Oval.
Ladder: Edgeworth 1st (24pts), Lambton 2nd (23)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Edgeworth –Won Magic 3-0 (a), Won Lakes (a), Won Phoenix 1-0 (h)
Lambton – Won Olympic 3-2 (h), Lost Jets 1-2 (h), Won Magpies 2-1 (a)
Bottom Line
This match will have a significant bearing on the premiership race and a spot in the PS4 NPL Finals Series at the season’s end.
The clash will be the first of two meetings between the clubs in a week, with the pair squaring off a week later in Round 6 of the Westfield FFA Cup.
The Eagles come into this fixture with their equal best-undefeated run under coach Damian Zane. Since, their only loss of the season – to Lambton, in round two – Edgeworth have been undefeated for eight matches, a record equal to last year’s run where they won eight straight matches.
In addition, Edgeworth have won their last six straight including a 3-0 demolition job of rivals Broadmeadow Magic on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles dominated Broadmeadow from start to finish in their best performance of the season. Magic barely had a chance to score, while Edgeworth could have scored more with greater polish in the front third.
Lambton have been just as impressive as Edgeworth this season, losing just twice in their 11 matches and they sit just a point of the competition lead.
Key: Lambton haven’t lost away in nine matches. Edgeworth are undefeated at home in 14. Can either side buck the trend?
Valentine Phoenix v Lake Macquarie City Roosters
2.30pm Saturday 3rd May at Cahill Oval
Last Meeting: Round 2, 2017: Lake Macquarie 3 Valentine 0 at Macquarie Field.
Ladder: Valentine 3rd (22), Lake Macquarie 5th (16)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Valentine – Won Blues 3-1 (h), Lost Eagles 0-1 (h), Drew Olympic 1-1 (h)
Lakes – Won Bears 2-0 (h), Lost Eagles 1-2 (h), Drew Olympic 1-1 (a)
Bottom Line
It’s the second instalment of the Lake Macquarie derby as Valentine play host to Lakes to open round 13.
In contrast to the side’s position of the ladder, it was the Roosters who claimed the bragging rights in their first match since 2013 and they did so in style winning 3-0.
The Roosters struggled for momentum heading into round 12, having gone winless in their previous four PS4 NPL matches, which also included an upset loss to Zone Premier League side Cardiff City in the Westfield FFA Cup.
However, with club hero Sam Walker playing his 100th match for the club last Sunday, the Roosters rose to the occasion and with the help of a Walker special and a late strike from youngster Blake Green, Lakes took home all three points which now leaves them just two points from the top four.
For the Roosters to be within touching distance of the finals in their first season back in the top-flight is impressive, and a testament to the job Anthony Richards has done at the club.
Another coach who has impressed in 2017 is Valentine mentor Darren Sills who has led the Phoenix to third on the ladder and only two points of the ladder-leading Eagles.
Last weekend, with a side depleted due to absentees and injuries, the Phoenix dug deep and courtesy of two wonderful goals from Jalon Brown, Valentine recorded back to back victories.
Key: Valentine’s defence. The Phoenix have conceded just 13 goals in 11 games. Can Sam Walker and his Roosters find an avenue to goal?
Hamilton Olympic v Adamstown Rosebud
2.30pm Sunday 4th June at Darling Street Oval
Last Meeting: Round 2, 2017: Adamstown 0 Hamilton 1 at Adamstown Oval.
Ladder: Hamilton 4th (18), Adamstown 11th (7)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Hamilton – Lost Jaffas 2-3 (a), Won Magic 2-1 (a), Drew Roosters 1-1 (h)
Adamstown – Lost Jets 2-3 (h), Won Magpies 3-1 (h), Drew Blues 2-2 (a)
Bottom Line
With Hamilton coach Michael Bolch this week announcing that he would leave Olympic at the end of the season, and rumours swirling that Pete McGuinness will be his replacement, this drama sets up an intriguing sideshow to the weekend’s match.
Olympic desperately want to win this one before they head into a three-week break without matches. A loss on Sunday could mean Hamilton are four points outside the top four before they even return to the field if Lake Macquarie and Maitland win both of their matches.
Rhys Cooper’s return last weekend was eagerly anticipated by Olympic fans and even in his cameo of the bench on Saturday he caused plenty of headaches for the Lambton defence. He will be in line to start this weekend and it would be a boost if he does.
Olympic won a tight battle against Adamstown last time the sides met courtesy of a late Scott Smith strike, however, it didn’t go their way against Lambton on the weekend falling 3-2 in a match where midfielder Sean Pratt hit the post on no less than four occasions.
Adamstown needed to win against the Jets on Saturday to jump out of the cellar, but over a four-minute period midway through the second half, the Rosebuds fell apart as they conceded three goals.
From that moment, it was always going to be an uphill battle and while they grabbed two back, they gave themselves too much work to do in the end.
Key: Kane Goodchild. After a superb solo goal, last weekend he seems to be hitting top form. Can Adamstown find a way to stop him?
Maitland Magpies v Charlestown City Blues
2.30pm Sunday 4th June at Cooks Square Park
Last Meeting: Round 2, 2017: Charlestown 1 Maitland 2 at Lisle Carr Oval.
Ladder: Maitland 6th (16), Charlestown 8th (11)
Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Maitland – Lost Rosebuds 1-3 (a), Lost Jaffas 1-2 (h), Won Magic 7-0 (a)
Charlestown – Lost Phoenix 1-3 (a), Lost Bears 0-3 (a), Drew Rosebud 2-2 (h)
Bottom Line
Both sides suffered frustrating defeats in their last encounter and have struggled for form of the last couple of weeks.
Maitland went down in a tight match against Lambton, before falling to the Rosebuds 3-1 in their worst performance of the season before the bye last weekend.
After 12 matches (NPL and FFA Cup) in 46 games to start the season it was a rest well deserved for Maitland and expect them to be fresh come Sunday.
Charlestown, lost to the Bears in round 10 in arguably their most disappointing performance this season and last weekend fell 3-1 to the 3rd-placed Valentine Phoenix.
Rene Ferguson scored the opener for the Blues on the weekend to continue his solid form in front of goal this season, however, it wasn’t enough as Valentine overran them in the second half.
The Blues have now lost two straight and four of their last five with a loss of players not helping the situation. They have slipped from the cusps of the top four to now just four points of the last spot in what has been a difficult period for them.
The last meeting between the sides was back in round two, and the Magpies got home in a tight battle that evening courtesy of a second-half penalty to Ben Martin.
Key: Can Charlestown find a way to turn their form around?
Weston Bears v Broadmeadow Magic
2.30pm Sunday 4th June at Rockwell Automation Park
Last Meeting: Round 2, 2017: Broadmeadow 2 Weston 0 at Magic Park.
Ladder: Weston 10th (7), Broadmeadow 7th (12)
Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Weston – Lost Roosters 0-2 (a), Lost Phoenix 1-2 (a), Won Blues 3-0 (h)
Broadmeadow – Lost Eagles 0-3 (a), Lost Olympic 1-2 (h), Won Jets 5-1 (a)
Bottom Line
With Broadmeadow having won just one of their last eight matches in the PS4 NPL NNSW, and Weston only registering the solitary win this season, both sides head into the match down on form.
After one of the Bears best performances of the season against Charlestown in round 10, they have lost their last two.
First, it was the last minute lost to Valentine which hurt Weston the week after and last weekend they fell 2-0 to Lake Macquarie in one of their most disappointing performances this year according to coach Steve Piggott.
The Bears have been in every match they have played, and while they sit in 10th on the ladder, their biggest losing margin has only been two goals. What has hurt the Bears has been tight results which have gone against them, including conceding in stoppage time against the Jets Youth and Valentine.
In 2017, Broadmeadow promised so much, however, have delivered so little so far. After a run to the Grand Final last year, Magic have won just three of their 11 matches this season and need three points desperately to give the side some much-needed confidence.
Magic will feel somewhat confident based on their recent record against the Bears who they haven’t lost to in their last four encounters and haven’t conceded in any of those matches.
Key: Can Broadmeadow’s deliver on their pre-season promise this weekend?
This weekend Northern NSW Football’s premier competitions, the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues, Herald Women’s Premier League and NEWFM Northern League One will support prostate cancer awareness with the Men’s Health Round to take place this weekend on June 3rd and 4th.
Donations can be made at participating club match days or online at https://give.everydayhero.com/au/play-for-prostate-Health
CLICK HERE for a full Round 13 preview.