Broadmeadow Magic will be out to match the consistency of leaders Edgeworth when the teams resume their close rivalry in the PlayStation ® 4 NPL Northern NSW Match of the Round.
Match of the Round
Edgeworth FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Sunday, July 10, 2.45pm
Jack McLaughlan Oval
The sides' past four matches, including last year's two-leg semi-final and an FFA Cup game, have been draws in regulation time and both coaches expect another close battle.
Edgeworth are on a seven-game winning streak and sit top on 31 points, three ahead of Hamilton and six clear of third-placed Broadmeadow.
Magic kept pace with a 1-0 win over a determined Weston last week, while the defending premiers came back from 2-1 down with 10 minutes left on the clock against the Newcastle Jets Youth to win 4-2.
Edgeworth regain senior trio Daniel McBreen (junior coaching), Bren Hammel (hamstring) and Pat Wheeler (away) to their squad this week, giving coach Damian Zane a full strength line-up to choose from.
The Eagles prevailed on penalties against Magic in the FFA Cup this year and last year beat Broadmeadow on the away goals rule in their drawn semi-finals.
Lambton Jaffas FC v Valentine FC
Saturday, July 9, 2.30pm
Arthur Edden Oval
Valentine coach Darren Sills will ask his side for a big improvement in their "last real throw of the dice" against Lambton Jaffas on Saturday at Arthur Edden Oval.
Eighth-placed Phoenix lost 2-0 to Adamstown last week to stay on 11 points, eight off the top four with six rounds to play.
Sills was disappointed with the effort against Rosebud, who joined them on 11 points but trail on goal difference.
Valentine take on a Jaffas side who beat them 2-0 first time around and are one point ahead in seventh.
Newcastle Jets Youth v Maitland FC
Saturday, July 9, 2.30pm
Cooks Square Park
Newcastle Jets Youth coach Clayton Zane hopes his side's improved defence will help turn the tables on Maitland at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
Maitland defeated Zane's team 4-1 in a midweek catch-up match last time around when the Jets Youth were lacking depth in defence.
Matt Thompson scored twice with free kicks in the game.
Since the loss, the Jets Youth have won four and drawn once in seven games to move to fifth on 14 points, five points shy of fourth-placed Maitland.
Adamstown Rosebud FC v Charlestown City Blues FC
Sunday, July 10, 2.30pm
Adamstown Oval
Charlestown coach Shane Pryce believes his side turned the corner in defeat last week as they head into a must-win game against Adamstown at Adamstown Oval on Sunday.
The Blues have lost their past six matches to stagnate in sixth place on 14 points after a bright start to the season, which had them as high as second.
An undermanned Charlestown were thumped 6-0 midweek by Hamilton but responded with an improved showing in a 2-0 loss to Maitland last weekend.
Weston Workers FC v Hamilton Olympic FC
Sunday, July 10, 2.30pm
Rockwell Automation Park
Hamilton coach Michael Bolch will ask for a more focused effort from his unbeaten side when they make the trip to Weston to take on the Bears on Sunday.
Second-placed Hamilton slipped to three points behind Edgeworth on 28 with a 2-2 draw against Lambton Jaffas last week in which they conceded from a throw-in in the second minute and a corner in first-half injury time.
Olympic hit back each time but could not break down the Jaffas again for the winner in a frustrating day for the club.
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