Broadmeadow Magic will be aiming to keep their undefeated run alive against the Magpies since they were promoted in 2014 in the PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW ‘Match of the Round'.
Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Maitland Magpies
Sunday June 5, 2.30pm
Magic Park
Last Meeting: Broadmeadow 3 Maitland 0 at Magic Park, July 5, 2015.
Ladder: Edgeworth 2nd (19pts) Adamstown 7th (6pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Broadmeadow – Won Blues (a) 4-2, Drew Phoenix (h) 3-3, Lost Olympic (a) 3-1
Maitland – Lost Eagles (h) 3-1, Won Bears (a) 3-0, Drew Jaffas (h) 0-0
Bottom Line
The two sides have met twice since Maitland were promoted resulting in a 5-1 win for Broadmeadow at Cooks Square Park and a 3-0 to Magic at home.
After a strong start to the year in which they won four of their first five, Broadmeadow have struggled in recent weeks winning just one of their last three. However a strong performance against Charlestown last weekend seems to have returned Magic to their early form.
James Virgili and Kale Bradbury both got on the score sheet last weekend and Maitland will need to keep the home side’s two speedsters quiet if they are to leave Magic Park with the three points.
Stopping dominant attacking sides has been something which the Magpies have done well so far this season, apart from their most recent clash with Edgeworth. Before that match they had conceded just five times in seven matches and even after last weekend their defensive stats make for good reading. They have conceded just eight goals in eight matches and will need to bring a steely resolve in defence is they are to get something out of the match.
Key: Against the four other sides in the top six of the ladder, Maitland have scored just two goals out of their total of 18. If Maitland can turn that around they will take some competition points from Magic Park.
Jets Youth v Valentine Phoenix
Saturday June 4, 3.00pm
Cahill Oval
Last Meeting: Valentine 2 Jets Youth 7 at Cahill Oval, June 8, 2013
Ladder: Jets 8th (5pts) Valentine 9th (5pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Jets Youth – Drew Jaffas (a) 1-1, Lost Olympic (h) 5-0, Won Rosebud (a) 3-0
Valentine – Lost Olympic (h) 5-0, Drew Magic (a) 3-3, Lost Eagles (h) 4-0
Bottom Line
Both sides will be looking for a win in the first match of the round 9 after Adamstown’s victory last weekend dropped the Jets and Valentine to 8th and 9th respectively. Valentine haven’t beaten the Jets in four attempts, drawing two and losing two of their matches across the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Last weekend the Jets put on an improved defensive performance against the Jaffas after being thumped the week before by Hamilton Olympic and it seems that they are building nicely towards the middle of the season.
After conceding 20 goals in their first 5 matches the Jets have only conceded 6 in their last 3.
Cody Carroll will be a key for the Jets, after he scored against the Jaffas via a wonderful volley and coach Clayton Zane believes Carroll is getting closer every week to the form he showed during the National Youth League campaign.
For Valentine, there were positive signs after a thrilling comeback against Broadmeadow Magic in round 7. The Phoenix were down by 2 goals before half-time and fought back brilliantly. Against Hamilton last weekend, the Phoenix started well, only down 1-0 at half-time before conceding 2 goals in 8 minutes on resumption which put Hamilton out of reach.
Key: Cody Carroll. He has been a key man for the Jets the last few weeks and Valentine will need to keep him quiet.
Hamilton Olympic v Charlestown City Blues
Sunday June 5, 2.30pm
Darling St Oval
Last Meeting: Charlestown 1 Hamilton 5 at Lisle Carr Oval, August 9, 2015.
Ladder: Hamilton 1st (22pts) Charlestown 5th (14pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Hamilton – Won Phoenix (a) 5-0, Won Jets (h) 5-0, Won Magic (h), 3-1
Charlestown – Lost Magic (h) 4-2, Lost Eagles (a) 6-1, Won Bears (h) 1-0
Bottom Line
A loss for Charlestown could put them in danger of slipping further outside the top four when the travel to Hamilton on Sunday. The travelling Blues have had a tough couple of weeks conceding 10 goals and scoring 3 and a match-up with a side which has scored 10 and conceded none in 2 weeks will be a daunting prospect.
The visitors though will take solace from their only win over Hamilton in their last 6 matches, which was played at Darling St Oval, the ground they will meet at on Sunday. Apart from that sole 1-0 win, Hamilton have won 3 of the last 5 between the two sides.
Last weekend Charlestown conceded in the opening minutes against Broadmeadow and were unable to get back on level terms as Magic powered away. After an outstanding start to the season in defence where the Blues conceded just 6 goals in their first 6 matches, the Blues will need to get their backline in order against the competition’s most potent side.
For Hamilton, a slow start against Valentine was followed up by a flurry of goals. Pat Brown grabbed his second in two weeks which will give him plenty of confidence. Youngster Matt Minors also scored his first goal in the top grade which not doubt would have pleased his coach Mick Bolch.
Key: After conceding plenty of goals lately, Charlestown will need to rediscover their defence from early in the season or Hamilton may run rampant again.
Weston Workers Bears v Lambton Jaffas
Sunday June 5, 2.30pm
Rockwell Automation Park
Last Meeting: Lambton 4 Weston 3 at Arthur Edden Oval, July 4, 2015.
Ladder: Weston 10th (2pts) Lambton 6th (8pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Weston – Lost Rosebud (a) 2-1, Lost Maitland (h) 3-0, Lost Blues (a) 1-0
Lambton – Drew Jets (h) 1-1, Won Rosebud (h) 3-0, Drew Magpies (a) 0-0
Bottom Line
Last time Weston played Lambton both sides were in finals contention and the match was a thrilling context for the neutral but heartbreaking for the Bear’s faithful. The match was probably the beginning of Weston’s slide out of the top four.
In that match the Bear’s lead 3-0 at the break only to be overrun by the Jaffas 4-3 in the second half. If Weston were to get three goals against the Jaffas this weekend, you would suspect they would claim the three points. Their defence this season hasn’t been the concern, conceding an average of just over 2 a game. Their attack on the other hand has been disappointing.
In fact, since their 4-3 defeat to the Jaffas in round 12 last season, the Bears have only managed 10 goals in their last 14 PlayStation® 4 NPL matches and have won just 2 of those matches. Its no secret that Weston need goals if they are to climb off the base of the ladder and a home match against Lambton is the perfect place to start.
For Lambton this season they have found themselves in a similar predicament. Their defence has been great this season, on goals conceded it is the fourth best in the competition. But in front of goal has also been their issue. They have the seventh best attack in the league with 11 goals in 8 games.
Key: Taking Chances. Both sides haven’t scored too many this year and whoever can put their chances away will take home the points.
Edgeworth Eagles v Adamstown Rosebud
Sunday June 5, 2.30pm
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Last Meeting: Edgeworth 0 Adamstown 2 at Jack McLaughlan Oval, July 19, 2015.
Ladder: Edgeworth 2nd (19pts) Adamstown 7th (6pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Edgeworth – Won Magpies (a) 3-1, Won Blues (h) 6-1, Won Phoenix (a) 4-1
Adamstown – Won Bears (h) 2-1, Lost Jaffas (a) 5-0, Lost Jets (h) 3-0
Bottom Line
Edgeworth return home in round 9 full of confidence after a convincing win over the previously undefeated Maitland Magpies at Cooks Square Park last Sunday. But a match against an Adamstown side who too will be confident after claiming just their second win of the season in round 8, against the Weston Bears.
While both clubs’ positions of the ladder indicate that Edgeworth should win easily the past results indicate that this will not be the case. Since promotion at the end of 2013, Adamstown have only lost one of four matches they have played against Edgeworth and in their last match against the Eagles, Graham Law’s side won 2-0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Edgeworth’s attack has been brimming with confidence this season, which is the second best in the lead with 24 goals. But it has been their defence as well which has been equally impressive conceding just 9 goals to be the 3rd best in the league. Pat Wheeler and Josh Evans have been outstanding in defence for the Eagles. Josh Evans will miss the next 2 matches for the Eagles as he is away, a massive loss especially at the back.
For Adamstown they ended a four match losing run on the weekend with a win over Weston and Graham Law’s young side will no doubt take a lot out of that result. The return of Scott Carter is that match was huge for the Rosebuds, as their keeper saved them on numerous occasions late on in the match.
Key: Graham Law. He orchestrated a win against the reigning minor and major premiers at Jack McLauglan Oval last season but what has the Scotsman got up his sleeve for another clash against the Eagles?
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