PS4 NPL NNSW Round 6 Preview

Lambton will be looking to make it back-to-back victories for the first time in Season 2017 when they take on Broadmeadow Magic at home in a Good Friday clash between two of the pre-season favourites for the title.

Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas v Broadmeadow Magic
5pm
 Friday 14th April at Arthur Edden Oval
Last Meeting:
 Round 11, 2016: Broadmeadow 4 Lambton 2 at Arthur Edden Oval
Ladder: Lambton 1st (10pts), Broadmeadow 6th (7)

Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Lambton – Won Roosters 4-0 (a), Lost Phoenix 2-3 (h), Won Eagles 2-1 (h)
Broadmeadow – Lost Blues 0-1 (a), Lost Roosters 1-4 (h), Won Phoenix 3-2 (h)

Bottom Line

Broadmeadow will be trying to avoid a third straight defeat – something which hasn’t happened since 2015 when they lost four straight.

The two sides come into the match with contrasting form, but with similar headaches in the goalkeeping department. Both sides first choice keepers – Brad Swancott (Lambton) and Niko Giantsopolous (Magic) – will both miss the match due to suspension.

In the form department, Lambton has had the better of the recent results after bouncing back from their loss to Valentine in round four, with a dominant 4-0 victory against Lake Macquarie last weekend.

Key: Pat Brown. He’s scored in four of the Jaffas five matches this season and when he has scored this year, the Jaffas haven’t lost.

 

Maitland Magpies v Weston Bears
2.30pm Friday 14th
 April at Cooks Square Park
Last Meeting:
 Round 16, 2016: Maitland 3 Weston 2 at Cooks Square Park
Ladder: Maitland 4th (7), Weston 9th (3)

Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Maitland – Won Blues 2-1 (a), Drew Eagles 0-0 (a) Won Jets 4-2 (a)
Weston – Drew Rosebud 3-3 (a), Drew Jaffas 2-2 (h), Lost Magic 0-2 (a)

Bottom Line

Steve Piggott returns to Cooks Square Park to coach against his most recent former side in what shapes us as a crucial Good Friday contest for both sides.

Maitland remains the only unbeaten side after five rounds of the competition, and while the Magpies have only played three matches they have performed well thus far.

While they may have had some luck go their way against Edgeworth on Saturday night with offside calls, they were still able to hold last year's best-attacking side scoreless and that is no mean feat.

A 2-1 midweek victory against Charlestown has seen the Magpies soar into the top four. With the three sides above them having played five matches Maitland have a great opportunity to climb to the top of the ladder in the coming weeks. If results go their way this week they may even have the top spot before the weekend is out.

Key: With their fourth match in the days, will the short turnarounds take their toll on Maitland?

 

Newcastle Jets Youth v Edgeworth Eagles
2.30pm Saturday 15th
 April at Macquarie Field
Last Meeting:
 Round 12, 2016: Edgeworth 4 Jets Youth 2 at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Ladder: Jets 11th (1), Edgeworth 8th (5)

Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Jets – Lost Olympic 1-4 (a), Lost Magpies 2-4 (h), Lost Blues 1-4 (h)
Eagles – Drew Magpies 0-0 (h), Lost Jaffas 1-2 (a), Won Rosebud 6-0 (h)

Bottom Line

Since Damian Zane began his tenure as Edgeworth Eagles coach back in 2015, they have never gone three matches without a win. This weekend the Jets Youth get an opportunity to put Edgeworth under some real pressure.

If the Jets Youth do manage to claim a victory or even share the points with the Eagles, many will look at that statistic as a negative. For the present, that is probably valid, but on reflection, it shows just how high Edgeworth have set the bar over the last two seasons and just how exceptionally consistent they have been.

Over recent weeks Edgeworth have struggled in front of goal, and while you could say they were unlucky with offsides last weekend, Zane will want his side to be more clinical. It is by no means doom and gloom for Edgeworth.

At this stage last year they had drawn against Broadmeadow and lost to Hamilton in consecutive weeks and still went on to win the title.

Key: Can Edgeworth iron out their attacking yips against a Jets side with a tendency to leak goals?

 

Hamilton Olympic v Charlestown City Blues
6pm
 Saturday 15th April at Darling Street Oval
Last Meeting:
 Round 18, 2016: Hamilton 3 Charlestown 0 at Lisle Carr Oval
Ladder: Hamilton 7th (6), Charlestown 5th (7)

Past 3 Starts (most recent first):
Hamilton – Won Jets 4-1 (h), Won Rosebud 1-0 (a), Lost Jaffas 2-3 (h)
Charlestown – Lost Magpies 1-2 (h), Won Magic 1-0 (h), Won Jets 4-1 (a)

Bottom Line

It has been all Hamilton in the last four clashes between the two sides, as Olympic have racked up the goals and tightened the screws at the back when they have taken on Charlestown of late.

Hamilton’s Scott Smith comes up against his former club for the first time and his strong form for Olympic in front of goal will make it even more difficult for Charlestown as they look to end their poor recent record against Olympic.

It has been all one-way traffic since Smith’s former partner in crime at the Blues, and current teammate at Olympic – Kane Goodchild – left the club at the start of the 2015 season.

Since last year’s golden boot left Charlestown, Hamilton have won all four matches by a combined margin of 18-3 including 6-0 and 3-0 victories against the Blues in 2016. Of Hamilton’s last 18 goals against Charlestown, Goodchild has scored five.

Key: Can Charlestown cure their case of the blues against Olympic?

 

Adamstown Rosebud v Lake Macquarie City Roosters
2.30pm Sunday 9th
 April at Lisle Carr Oval
Last Meeting:
 Round 14, 2014: Adamstown 5 Lake Macquarie 2
Ladder: Adamstown 10th (2), Lake Macquarie 3rd (8)

Last 3 Starts (most recent first):
Adamstown – Lost Phoenix 0-2 (a), Drew Bears 3-3 (h), Lost Eagles 0-6 (a).
Lakes – Lost Jaffas 0-4 (h), Won Magic 4-1 (a), Drew Blues 1-1 (a)

Bottom Line

A season which promised so much just over a month ago has quickly gone pear-shaped for Adamstown Rosebud.

While the season is far from over, Pete McGuinness’ side is in desperate need of a victory if not to keep themselves in touch with the sides above them, but to restore some confidence which has taken a battering lately.

Adamstown were impressive in the opening 20 minutes at Edgeworth until Daniel Yaxley was sent from the ground and from that moment the Rosebud’s have seemed to lose their way. A 6-0 hiding followed the next week by a second half fade out against Weston – where they gave up a 3-1 lead – hurt them significantly and against Valentine they lacked creativity in the front third.

Key: The bounce-back factor. Will Lakes respond with a strong performance after their 4-0 loss to Lambton?

 

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