By Mat Fox 

Adamstown Rosebud FC v South Cardiff FC
Monday 21st April, 2:45pm
Adamstown Oval
#BUDvSCG
Match of the Round

This match will be streamed LIVE - View Here

Adamstown Rosebud and South Cardiff go head to head in our match of the round at Adamstown Oval on Monday.

Both sides are yet to record a win in the competition and will know how important this match is with a tough string of upcoming fixtures.

South Cardiff faces Newcastle Jets Youth at home next week and then is away to Broadmeadow Magic and Charlestown City Blues in consecutive weeks leaving them a tough stretch of matches.

Adamstown Rosebud has had a difficult introduction to the top flight with a 5-1 defeat to Newcastle Jets Youth having their opening round clash against Broadmeadow Magic postponed twice.

Adamstown faces Charlestown City Blues and Weston Workers with Lake Macquarie City in between them over the next few weeks, again hoping for a midweek clash against Broadmeadow.

Adamstown Rosebud Coach Anthony Richards is looking to “tighten things up defensively, not just at the back but all over the park” after conceding five goals last week and will be looking for his side to set their structure early and remain tight.

South Cardiff Coach Greg Asquith said “we took a positive step against Edgeworth without conceding and we’re looking forward to the match against Adamstown” knowing his side is growing in confidence.

It should be a great game between two sides although without a win, will be eager to notch their first of the season and build in confidence. 

 

Edgeworth FC v Charlestown City Blues FC
Friday 18th April, 6:00pm
Jack McLaughlan Oval
#EFCvCCB 

Edgeworth Eagles welcomes Charlestown City Blues to Jack McLaughlan Oval on Friday night. 

The home side will be eager to return home after their opening round match was abandoned at half-time against the Newcastle Jets Youth. The Eagles are still searching for their first three points of the season after a 0-0 draw against South Cardiff last week. 

Charlestown City Blues come into the contest in great form after a 3-1 win over Lambton Jaffas in their opening match and were unfortunate not to get the points against Hamilton Olympic last week after looking promising at home. 

Both of these sides will be expected to fight for a top five finish and potentially even push for a top three final standing obviously still with a lot of competition in a highly competitive NPL. 

Edgeworth Eagles finished fourth last season with Charlestown just four points behind them in sixth position just missing out on a finals spot. 

The home side will know they have to step up to face a side showing good signs of form despite the competition only being two matches old. 

When these sides met in this corresponding fixture last season it ended in a 3-3 draw while Edgeworth ran out comprehensive winners with a 6-2 victory the second time round in what was just their second loss of the season, racing to a three goal lead in the opening 30 minutes.

Edgeworth face Lake Macquarie away next week while Charlestown City Blues is up against Adamstown Rosebud, without looking too far forward each side will know they have an opportunity to record consecutive wins against the 9th and 10th placed sides if they can get a win in this one.

Two very competitive sides, it should be a great game to watch. The Eagles have started slowly while the Blues have got some good results, with all to play for it should be another highly competitive match between these sides.

 

Lambton Jaffas FC v Weston Workers FC
Friday 18th April, 3:30pm
Arthur Edden Oval
#JAFvWWB

Lambton Jaffas and Weston Workers go head to head in an eagerly anticipated encounter at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday.

Lambton succumb to a 3-1 defeat in their first home game of the season against Charlestown City Blues and will be looking to get a good result returning in front of their home crowd.

They come into the match in good form after a convincing 3-0 win over Lake Macquarie last week, however they know they are still improving and this week’s match against Weston will certainly be a test for last year’s Grand Finalists.  

Weston Workers pushed fellow finalists Broadmeadow Magic last week and despite deserving to walk away with the win they didn’t take the numerous chances handed to them on the day and had to settle for a 0-0 draw away from home. 

They found their scoring touch the week before however with a 3-1 win over Lake Macquarie City with goals to Jason Cowburn, Michael Ryan and a long range free kick from Nathan Morris. 

Weston Workers Coach Steve Piggott said it was an improved performance from his side last week against better opposition but knows they let themselves down in front of goal; “you don’t always get those chances against good opposition and you need to take them” Piggott said.

Look for the likes of Subat, Ryan, Morris, Cowburn and Turnbull to be eager in front of goal this weekend with the Jaffas defence still finding form after conceding three in the first week. 

After a frustrating opening match in front of goals Lambton Jaffas know they need to do the same thing after missing a number of chances against the Blues before eventually going down by a two goal margin. 

Lambton Jaffas welcomed the return of Jobe Wheelhouse last week who made an impact and is also expecting to be joined by Peter McPherson who is returning from injury. 

Lambton Jaffas Coach David Tanchevski is looking forward to the contest and said “they are travelling strong at the moment and are a hard defence to break down.”  

While Piggott also lauded his back fours defensive effort last week which limited Broadmeadows chances in front of goal so it will be a good match up against the likes of Majurovski, Fajkovic and Bradbery. 

Lambton face Broadmeadow Magic in our match of the round the following week while Weston Workers hosts Hamilton Olympic in what is a big couple weeks of football for both sides.

 

Broadmeadow Magic FC v Newcastle Jets Youth
Saturday 19th April, 2:45pm
Magic Park
#MGCvNEW 

Broadmeadow Magic returns to Magic Park where they will meet Newcastle Jets Youth on Saturday afternoon. 

Broadmeadow held on for a nil all draw against a dominant Weston Workers side last week and will look to pick themselves up against another good attacking side at home this weekend. 

After their opening match was cancelled due to wet weather, Broadmeadow Magic held on for a point with some great goalkeeping from Chris Bowling and good fortune and will be eager to improve on their first performance. 

Newcastle Jets Youth recorded a massive 5-1 win away to Adamstown Rosebud last week and are coming into the contest with plenty of confidence. 

Broadmeadow Magic won both fixtures between these sides last year by a two goal margin with 2-0 wins in rounds 7 and 17 but will be expecting an improved Newcastle Jets Youth side this weekend. 

It will be a massive game for the home side who face Lambton Jaffas in a grand final rematch next week knowing that points are vital to get them off to a good start after last week’s draw. 

With two very good passing teams it will be interesting to see which team asserts themselves and takes the chances in front of goal, it should be a great match. 

 

Hamilton Olympic FC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Monday 21st April, 2:45pm
Darling Street Oval
#OLYvLMC 

Hamilton Olympic will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season while Lake Macquarie City are in search of their first points as the two sides meet at Darling Street Oval on Monday.

 Hamilton Olympic recorded a convincing 4-2 win over South Cardiff in round one while playing out a hard fought 0-0 draw away to Charlestown City Blues last week. 

Lake Macquarie City have been left frustrated in their opening two matches with a 3-1 loss to Weston Workers in round one and then went down 3-0 to Lambton Jaffas at home last week. 

Hamilton Olympic Coach Michael Bolch said his side still has some improving but still has to be happy with the win at home and then getting a point away against tough opposition. 

The home side will be encouraged with their defensive effort against the Blues last week with Kyle Hodges and Greg Anderson continuing to build a strong partnership in the middle of the back line, it was something that Bolch said was important after “conceding two soft goals in our first match.”

Lake Macquarie City Coach Gary Rowe said “the simple thing for us is we need to score first to get our head in the game, we are a young side that at the moment is getting caught up in the flow of the game, especially when we create chances and miss and the other team scores down the other end, we are losing our confidence instead of riding it out.” 

Despite the perceived quality difference between the two sides just little separated them last season with both sides playing out a 1-1 draw and then Olympic defeated Lake Macquarie 1-0. 

Hamilton Olympic is away to Weston Workers next week while Lake Macquarie City will host Edgeworth Eagles.