PS4 NPL NNSW Round 18 Preview

With the minor premiership all wrapped up last weekend after their win over Maitland last weekend, it remains to be seen what kind of side Damian Zane will play against the 9th placed Rosebuds.

Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud v Edgeworth Eagles
2.30pm Sunday 14th
 August at Adamstown Oval

Last Meeting: Edgeworth 2 Adamstown 0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval, Wednesday 29th June 2016

Ladder: Adamstown 9th (11pts) Edgeworth 1st (43)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Edgeworth – Won Magpies 2-1 (h) Won Phoenix 4-2 (h), Won Blues 2-1 (a)

Adamstown – Lost Bears 4-1 (a), Lost Jaffas 2-1 (h), Lost Jets 4-1 (a)

Bottom Line

It has been another season to remember at Edgeworth, securing their second minor premiership in as many years.

It remains to be seen though if they can balance Westfield FFA Cup aspirations with the PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW finals to claim a second grand final win in a row. Edgeworth also has been unable to defeat second-placed Hamilton all season – last season’s grand finalists – and it sets up an intriguing finals series.

Adamstown, on the other hand, has had a season to forget, with six red cards, injuries to key players and the loss of coach Graham Law before the season end contributing to what will be a 9th placed finish. As well as after finishing 6th last season and missing the finals by a win, it seemed the only way was up for the Rosebuds. But, it hasn’t gone to script this season and a loss to Weston last weekend would have hurt.

Key: After a disappointing season, can the Rosebud’s put in a performance to remember against the minor premiers?

 

Lambton Jaffas v Weston Workers Bears
2.30pm Saturday 13th
 August at Arthur Edden Oval

Last Meeting: Lambton 3 Weston 1 at Rockwell Automation Park, Wednesday 29th June 2016

Ladder: Lambton 8th (16) Weston 10th (6)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Lambton – Lost Jets 3-0 (a), Won Rosebuds 2-1 (a), Lost Magpies 4-1 (h)

Weston – Won Rosebud 4-1 (h), Lost Magpies 3-2 (a), Lost Blues 3-2 (h)

Bottom Line

Weston will be buoyant after their first win of the season last weekend against Adamstown and will be looking to carry that kind of performance into this weekend’s matchup with the Jaffas. The Bears were in danger of being the first side since Toronto Awaba in 2010 to go a whole season in a Northern NSW competition without a victory and removed any chance of that on Sunday.

While Weston’s season has been one to forget, it has seen the emergence of some young talent in the form of Jake Barner, Lachlan Rowan, and Trent Partridge. With Steve Piggott returning to the helm at Weston next season he will have plenty of local talent to work with.

Meanwhile, the Jaffas travelled to Devonport on Wednesday night and it will be interesting to see whether James Pascoe goes with a younger side for the weekend’s clash in preparation for next season or if he uses more of his experience players in Jobe Wheelhouse, John Majurovski, and Joel Wood.

Key: How well will the Jaffas recover from their midweek FFA Cup match at the ‘Lake of Devonport’ on Wednesday night will be key to their chances of winning in the final round.

 

Valentine Phoenix v Newcastle Jets Youth
3pm Sunday 13th
 August at Cahill Oval

Last Meeting: Jets Youth 4 Valentine 3 at Johnston Park, Wednesday 15th June 2016

Ladder: Valentine 7th (19) Jets Youth 6th (21)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Valentine – Drew Olympic 2-2 (a), Lost Eagles 4-2 (a), Won Magic 2-1 (h)

Jets – Won Jaffas 3-0 (h), Lost Olympic 1-0 (a), Drew Magpies 1-1 (a)

Bottom Line

Sixth place in the PlayStation 4 NPL Northern NSW competition is on the line this weekend when the Valentine Phoenix meet the Jets Youth at Cahill Oval. Both sides have had a topsy-turvy season and will be keen to finish off 2016 on a positive note. Both sides have lost just three of their last nine matches, after starting the season with five losses in their opening eight matches.

Valentine will be out to make history this weekend; since the Jets entered the top grade in a Northern NSW competition, the Phoenix have been unable to beat them, with the Jets winning three of the five matches along with two 2-2 draws the sides have played out.

Valentine have had an outstanding finish to the season, with a come-from-behind draw against Hamilton last weekend proving how much they have improved from the 5-0 thumping they copped from the same side just two months earlier.

Key: Little separates these two sides, so whoever can do the little things right on Saturday should get the three points.

 

Maitland Magpies v Broadmeadow Magic
2.30pm, Sunday 14th
 August at Cooks Square Park

Last Meeting: Broadmeadow 3 Maitland 0 at Magic Park, Wednesday 15th June 2016.

Ladder: Maitland 4th (29) Broadmeadow 3rd (29)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Maitland – Lost Eagles 2-1 (a), Won Bears 3-2 (h), Drew Jets 1-1(h)

Broadmeadow – Lost Blues 3-2 (a), Lost Phoenix 2-1 (a), Drew Olympic 2-2 (h)

Bottom Line

Maitland and Broadmeadow will be playing for third place and the right to meet Hamilton in the finals next weekend when they clash at Cooks Square Park on Sunday. Both sit on 29 points after 17 rounds and a draw will be enough for Broadmeadow to clinch the third spot due to a superior goal difference.

Both sides come off defeats last weekend, Broadmeadow went down to a resurgent Charlestown 3-2 after leading 2-0 early on in the first half. While Maitland, fell to Edgeworth 2-1 on a wet and heavy Jack McLaughlan Oval.

It is old boys’ day this weekend at Cooks Square Park, so that will not doubt give the Magpies a boost. But, the opportunity of taking on a side who haven’t beaten them this season in Hamilton will be a huge carrot for Maitland. The sides drew 0-0 at Cooks Square Park in round one, while they drew 1-1 at Darling Street in round 10, and the Magpies would be keen to take on Olympic once more. They will be keen to miss the Eagles who have beaten them 3-1 and 2-1 this season.

Key: With the third spot on the line, which side can overcome suspension and injury worries to set up a finals clash with Hamilton?

 

Charlestown City Blues v Hamilton Olympic
|2.30pm Sunday 14th
 August at Lisle Carr Oval

Last Meeting: Hamilton 6 Charlestown 0 at Darling Street Oval, Wednesday 29th June, 2016

Ladder: Charlestown 5th (24) Hamilton 2nd (39)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Charlestown – Won Magic 3-2 (a), Lost Eagles 2-1 (h), Won Bears 3-2 (a)

Hamilton – Drew Phoenix 2-2 (h), Won Jets 1-0 (h), Drew Magic 1-1 (a)

Bottom Line

After a tight loss to Edgeworth followed by an upset victory over Broadmeadow Magic, Charlestown are surging towards the end of an impressive season, which would be made all the more impressive by a victory over Hamilton in the final round.

Hamilton has a history of not putting in their best performance in the final round, with a 2-0 loss last season to 8th placed Maitland at home ended their regular season with disappointment. Hamilton have only lost three of their last 38 games – that being one of them. The other two were against Edgeworth last season, once in the regular season and the other in the Grand Final.

Like most sides, this round Hamilton have nothing to play for in terms of the ladder. They will finish in second place after relinquishing any chance of winning the premiership last weekend when they drew 2-2 with Valentine. Coach Mick Bolch may be keen to rest some players before the finals, and at least this weekend will give Danny Ireland another chance to rest up his injured ankle.

Charlestown’s season has been outstanding, and they could have been in contention for a spot in the finals if not for a midseason slump where they lost six matches in a row. They went down 6-0 to Hamilton last time they met but that was on a cold Wednesday night, and the Blues were missing some of their key personnel, so don’t read too much into that result.

Key: With little on the line in terms of their position on the ladder, can Hamilton keep motivated to finish the season undefeated?

 

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