Preview | NPL NNSW Round 7
By Mat Fox
South Cardiff FC V Lake Macquarie City FC
Sun 18 May 2:45PM
Ulinga Oval
#SCGvLMC
Match of the Round
Newcastle Jets Youth V Weston Workers FC
Sat 17 May 2:45PM
Rockwell Automation Park
#NEWvWWB
It’s close to a top of the table clash at Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday as Newcastle Jets Youth and Weston Workers battle it out.
Weston Workers sit just two points behind the Newcastle Jets Youth who currently occupy top spot on the competition ladder, despite the Bears sitting fourth on equal points with Hamilton Olympic and just one behind second placed Edgeworth Eagles.
A win would see Weston Workers overtake Newcastle Jets Youth on the ladder while a win for the visitors could further extend their lead at the top of the table; it will be a big match for both sides.
Weston Workers are winless in their last two after only managing a draw against Adamstown Rosebud at home last week coming from behind to level the scores, and they went down 2-0 to Edgeworth the week before.
Newcastle Jets Youth themselves come into the contest only managing a draw against last placed Lake Macquarie City last week, but have previously impressed with wins over Charlestown City Blues and South Cardiff.
It should be a great contest to see how Weston’s defence goes up against the Jets Youth attack which has flourished early on in the season.
Newcastle Jets Youth only managed four victories all of last season, a feat they have already accomplished after six games. Two of the four wins last season were against this week’s opposition with 5-3 and 3-1 victories.
Adamstown Rosebud FC V Lambton Jaffas FC
Sun 18 May 2:45PM
Adamstown Oval
#BUDvJAF
After a slow start to the season Adamstown had consecutive wins against South Cardiff and Lake Macquarie City before recording a point away from home to Weston Workers Bears leaving them with a good stretch of form.
Despite the midweek loss to Broadmeadow Magic in between them they still showed promising signs in what Coach Anthony Richards said gave his side “confidence that we can match it with the big clubs.”
Lambton themselves have had a disrupted start to the new campaign with several key players missing through injury and suspension, Jobe Wheelhouse still out with a dislocated shoulder.
Defensive lapses let them down early but Coach David Tanchevski has been impressed with recent performances.
Tanchevski labelled the draw against Hamilton “our best performance of the season” despite playing a man down and missing key personnel, only a last second equaliser denied them the three points.
They managed a point against Edgeworth Eagles last week missing Wheelhouse and Majurovski.
While they were good performances, again they were left frustrated not playing with a full squad and also recorded just two points out of a possible six and they will want to start recording the three points to go along with their on field display.
Adamstown Rosebud had their midweek rescheduled match against Charlestown City Blues washed out again so will come in fresh despite Richards looking forward to the contest.
Lambton Jaffas has just the one win to their name from their opening five matches and has to face Newcastle Jets Youth next week so they will know the importance of this weekend’s match against the Rosebuds, and will want nothing less than three points.
Lambton Coach David Tanchevski will look for his side to be defensively sound away from home this weekend and will be encouraged to hold out the Eagles last week.
Adamstown Rosebud Coach Anthony Richards said “we know we can compete with the top clubs” after finishing strongly against Broadmeadow and gaining a point away to Weston Workers and will look for his side to back it up this weekend against last year’s grand finalists.
It should be a great game to watch.
Edgeworth FC V Hamilton Olympic FC
Sun 18 May 2:45PM
Jack McLaughlan Oval
#EFCvOLY
Edgeworth Eagles and Hamilton Olympic meet in an eagerly anticipated encounter as second plays third at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Sunday.
The home side come into the match having drawn their last two, gaining two points out of a possible six and will want to return to form with a win after a number of impressive results.
The 7-0 defeat of Charlestown City Blues and consecutive 2-0 wins over top of the table sides Newcastle Jets Youth and Weston Workers quickly labelled Edgeworth as the team to beat.
However a midweek draw against bottom of the table Lake Macquarie City and goalless draw against Lambton Jaffas last week put a hold on the Eagles winning streak.
Edgeworth has still conceded just the one goal in its opening six matches leaving them with a phenomenal defensive record early on. The back four have been fantastic with Luke Walker in front of them also, and Fogarty has provided some classy saves behind them.
Hamilton Olympic bounced back to form after going two games without a win themselves with a comprehensive 3-1 defeat of Broadmeadow Magic at home last week.
David Hodgson netted two goals for his side for the third time this season in the win against Magic who will also be pleased with their defensive effort and limited the visitors chances in front of goal.
Edgeworth won the first encounter 3-2 between these sides last season while Hamilton Olympic responded in the second round with a 4-1 win.
There will be interesting match ups all over the pitch this weekend and it should be a fantastic game of football to watch at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Broadmeadow Magic FC V Charlestown City Blues FC
Sun 18 May 2:45PM
Magic Park
#MGCvCCB
Broadmeadow succumbed to their third defeat in its opening five matches last week going down 3-1 to Hamilton Olympic.
Last year’s premiers only managed four losses all season on their way to the trophy with a +15 goal difference and currently sit in unfamiliar territory with just the one win and -3 difference this time around.
After starting well for the opening thirty minutes against South Cardiff and Hamilton Olympic, they failed to get the goal they needed to spur them on and will look for an early goal this weekend.
Also conceding a penalty in both of those matches leading to defeats, and some crucial defensive errors, the home side will look for good execution against Charlestown City Blues who have a lot of strike force up front.
Charlestown City Blues had an impressive win against South Cardiff at home last weekend, racing to a comprehensive lead early on before finishing 4-1 winners.
The win came at the right time for the Blues who had lost their previous two matches to Newcastle Jets Youth and Edgeworth Eagles.
Broadmeadow Magic won this corresponding fixture 5-2 last season after opening the season with two victories, but Charlestown City Blues replied with the same comprehensive score line the second time around.
Two big clubs who always produce entertaining fixtures, obviously a lot at stake for both sides and sets up what should be a very interesting game of football at Wanderers Oval on Sunday.
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