Preview | NPL NNSW Round 14
By Blake Jarrett
Adamstown Rosebud FC vs. Lake Macquarie City FC
Adamstown Oval
Saturday 12th July 2.45pm
#BUDvLMC
In the Round 14 Match of the Round of the National Premier League, Adamstown Rosebud welcomes Lake Macquarie City to Adamstown Oval.
It is a special weekend for the Rosebud, who are celebrating 125 years of existence in Newcastle Football.
They currently sit eighth on the ladder after four wins, two draws and seven losses.
Their Round 14 opponents, Lake Macquarie, are last on the competition ladder after nine losses and just two wins this season.
Lake Macquarie will be desperate to recapture the form they showed in a 5-1 demolition of Hamilton just two rounds ago. They lost 1-0 to Edgeworth last week.
They will be aware that a win would take them to within three points of the Rosebud, and possibly two from South Cardiff who take on Magic on Sunday.
Adamstown coach Anthony Richards believes his team will be forced to perform for the full 90 minutes this weekend if they are a chance of picking up the three points.
‘It will be a tough game because they are on a bit of a roll,’ he said.
‘We are back to full strength so it should be a fantastic match. 125 years is huge for the club so it will be a big occasion and we should get a strong crowd behind us.’
Lake Macquarie striker Sam Walker is currently leading the 2014 goal scoring tally with eleven strikes from thirteen matches, and will be hoping to add more this weekend and help his side pick up the three points.
The last time the sides met Nick Bale and Abe Wheelhouse both scored in a 2-0 win over the Roosters, and keeper Scott Carter also played his part in between the sticks stopping a penalty at 1-0.
Both sides will be aware that a loss would be a major step backwards in their quest to beat relegation. The match will be extremely competitive as both sides look to help cement their spot in the competition for next year.
Lambton Jaffas FC vs. Hamilton Olympic FC
Arthur Edden Oval
Saturday 12th July 2.45pm
#JAFvOLY
The second match of Round 14 sees Lambton Jaffas host Hamilton Olympic at Arthur Edden Oval.
This blockbuster match will determine who finishes the round in third place, and potentially even second.
The Jaffas enter the round with six wins under their belt. Three draws and four losses leaves them on 21 points, just two behind second placed Edgeworth.
Hamilton are two behind Lambton, on 19 points, after five wins and four draws. They have lost four matches, three of which came in a horror three weeks that they ended last weekend with a 3-0 win over Weston.
Mason Campbell missed Hamilton’s 3-0 win over Weston last weekend after a training injury to his ankle, but is available for this weekend’s match, a huge boost for Hamilton.
The last time the sides met it was an action packed encounter at Darling Street Oval in Round 5. Jobe Wheelhouse dislocated his shoulder, Adrian Perisic was sent off before half time, and Hamilton scored with the last kick of the game to make the score 2-2.
Expect more of the same action this weekend as two of the competition’s heavyweights face off in a match that is arguably the most important of their seasons.
Charlestown City Blues FC vs. Newcastle Jets Youth
Lisle Carr Oval
Saturday 12th July 2.45pm
#CCBvNEW
The final of the three Saturday matches is a sixth versus first match at Lisle Carr Oval as Charlestown host the Newcastle Jets Youth.
A 1-1 draw with Adamstown last week saw Charlestown slip out of the top five. Charlestown is on 19 points, remaining even with Weston and Hamilton who are both above the Blues on the ladder.
The Newcastle Jets Youth have had a cracking season so far and are comfortably in first on 29 points with a six point buffer. They have won nine, and recorded a pair of draws and losses.
Charlestown have been outstanding defensively over the past month, conceding just two goals in four games.
This could be a major worry for the Jets this weekend, as they will be without striker Radovan Pavicevic who broke his arm last weekend at Ulinga Oval.
The Blues have scored one goal in each of those four games, and will need to be more clinical, and defend just as well if they are a chance against a red-hot Jets on Saturday.
In Round 5 the sides were involved in a five goal thriller that the Jets won 3-2. Mike Finlayson opened the scoring for the Jets before Scott Smith and Jarrod Ross goals put the Blues in the lead. A Nick Cowburn trademark free kick leveled the scores, and Pavicevic sealed the win for the Jets in the 80th minute.
Both sides will be intent on reproducing their scoring efforts of that match, but both will also be keen to perform far better defensively. The side who achieves this on Saturday will be the side to claim all three points.
Weston Workers FC vs. Edgeworth FC
Rockwell Automation Park
Sunday 13th July 2.45pm
#WWBvEFC
Edgeworth travel to Rockwell Automation Park to challenge Weston in the first or the two Sunday matches of Round 14.
The Bears begin Round 14 equal with fourth placed Hamilton and sixth placed Charlestown on 19 points. Just like those two sides they have won five, and drawn and lost four.
Edgeworth have experienced a far better 2014 season, winning six, drawing five and losing just two, scoring themselves second position on the NPL ladder with just five rounds remaining.
Weston was lucky to remain in the top five after the 3-0 loss to Hamilton last weekend. This weekend’s match is a must-win match for the side, and Coach Steve Piggott knows it.
‘It’s an all or nothing match for us, we need to win it,’ he said.
‘We will be driven by the fact that we probably need to win to remain in the top five.’
‘We need to limit Edgeworth to fewer scoring chances then the last time we played them. We didn’t have many chances of our own so we will be looking to create more.’
An own goal and a Jessie Krncevic striker saw the Eagles win that Round 5 match against a ten man Weston Bears who had Michael Ryan sent off in the 55th minute.
The Jets face a tricky task this weekend in Charlestown without striker Radovan Pavicevic, and therefore if they are to drop points Edgeworth could potentially close the gap with a win at Weston.
If the Jets do win, then this match is a must win if the Eagles are to maintain a chance of finishing the season in first.
Both sides will be aware of how the potential three points can benefit them, and therefore they will both be going all out to win, resulting in a match full of shots and attacking flair.
South Cardiff FC vs. Broadmeadow Magic FC
Ulinga Oval
Sunday 13th July 2.45pm
#SCGvMGC
After missing out on the chance to contest the State Cup Final midweek South Cardiff and Broadmeadow will finally meet on Sunday, but this time it will be to conclude Round 14.
This weekend, however, they will be fighting for their 2014 NPL season.
Broadmeadow have only won five games this season, sitting on 16 points, three outside the top five.
The Gunners have won a game less than the Magic, trailing their Round 14 opposition by three points, aware that a win would take them level with their fellow men in red.
Both sides will be looking for their first win in four matches having experienced extremely poor form in the last month.
Jamie Byrnes returns for South Cardiff after he was suspended for last weekend’s loss to the Jets.
The last time the sides faced off was in Round 5 at Magic Park. Byrnes and Sean Clerke scored for the Gunners in a 2-1 win.
Magic will be out for revenge for that loss, and both sides will be looking to get one over their opponents before the State Cup Grand Final on Wednesday night.
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