By Blake Jarrett

Edgeworth FC vs. Lambton Jaffas FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 20th July 2.45pm
#EFCvJAF

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The winner will finish the round in second, and the loser could fall to as low as fifth. That is what is at stake in this weekend’s huge Round 15 National Premier League Match of the Round between Edgeworth and Lambton.

Edgeworth dropped to third last week after their loss to Weston, surrendering second position for the first time since way back in Round 4.

Lambton rose to second after comprehensively beating Hamilton Olympic 4-0, thanks to goals from Alex Palozzi, Dino Fajkovic, Michael Sessions and Kale Bradbury.

Edgeworth suffered just their third defeat on the weekend against Weston. They will be hoping to rebound this weekend with a win to avoid losing two in a row for the first time this season.

Lambton is in a good run of form that has seen them win three of their last four matches, with the other being a 2-2 draw against Weston in Round 12.

Lambton coach David Tanchevski said he was confident going into the season defining match.

‘We are playing good football at the moment,’ he said.

‘We’ve played two good sides the last two weeks in Olympic and Magic, scoring six and conceding zero. It’s positive but there is certainly room for improvement’.

‘It should be a good game. Edgeworth has the best defensive record so they will be compact in defence’.

He went on to say that Jobe Wheelhouse has been a standout at the back in recent weeks and that his presence allows the team to modify their style of play based on the opposition they are facing.

The last time the two sides met, Danny Ireland and Jim Fogarty produced a number of quality saves, both keeping clean sheets as the sides played out a nil all draw.

Expect an equally competitive match this weekend. There will be plenty of chances created between two sides intent on narrowing the gap between themselves and the Jets, so this fixture may just produce goals unlike the last.

 

Newcastle Jets Youth vs. Lake Macquarie City FC
Saturday 19th July 2.45pm
Macquarie Field
#NEWvLMC

First play last. That is the scenario this weekend at Macquarie Field as the Jets Youth take on Lake Macquarie City.

The Jets have won an impressive nine matches this season on their way to twenty-nine points. The team is currently five points clear of second placed Lambton.

They are a whopping twenty-one points adrift of the Roosters, who have won just two matches this season. Combined with two draws and ten losses, the side from Macquarie Field has endured one of their worst seasons in years.

Life without Radovan Pavicevic started off rather shakily last week for the Jets Youth. With the gun striker gone for the season, the side was thumped 5-0 against Charlestown last weekend, conceding all of the goals in the second half.

Several players started that match affected by sickness, so it will be interesting to see how the squad responds this weekend.

Lake Macquarie led Adamstown last weekend in the Match of the Round, but was then trampled 5-2.

Dan Clements and Tom Walker both netted in that game.

It was a match that coach Gary Rowe described as one of their worst performances of the season, and furthermore one that was completely unacceptable at NPL level.

They will take some hope into this weekend’s clash against the Jets Youth based on their last meeting where they came from behind twice to pick up one of their eight season points.

Beau McDonald opened the scoring in that Round 6 fixture, only for Tom Walker to equalise ten minutes before the break. Just after half time, Ben Hay put the Jets back in front, but shortly after Sam Walker equalised, and the match remained at two apiece.

This clash is destined to be one of the most attacking games of the round. The Roosters have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and they will throw everything at the Jets to attempt to begin their climb out of relegation. The Jets is a quality side capable of holding off these attacks, and will certainly be looking to take advantage of a vulnerable Lake Macquarie backline.

 

Adamstown Rosebud FC vs. Weston Workers FC
Adamstown Oval
Sunday 20th July, 2.45pm
#BUDvWWB

The third match of Round 15 will take place at Adamstown Oval this Sunday as the Rosebud welcome Weston Workers.

Both sides are coming off extremely positive wins in Round 14.

Adamstown hammered Lake Macquarie 5-2 last week and advanced to seventeen points. A win this weekend guarantees them seventh place, and a chance of making the finals with just three games left.

Weston had to work a little harder for their win last weekend; a Nathan Morris free kick with ten minutes remaining breaking a 2-2 deadlock against Edgeworth.

The Bears remain in fifth with the win, and they will be aware that they are guaranteed at least fourth place if they pick up the three points.

Weston will need to carefully monitor the Rosebud top third this weekend. Wingers Steve Rospigliosi and John Dineen-Griffin were exceptional last weekend against the Roosters, scoring three of their side’s five goals and creating an endless amount of opportunities. Nick Bale was also quality, and the attacking trio is Weston’s biggest problem this weekend.

The Bears are cautious of Adamstown’s recently found form, and assistant coach Darren Sills said that his side is up for a dogfight. That will only motivate them, as it is a well-known fact that the boys from Bear Park relish a physical encounter.

‘We were comfortable against them in the State Cup where we beat them and then we played out a 1-1 draw in the first game where we should have won,’ he added.

Abe Wheelhouse netted for the Rosebud in that match, and Robbie Turnbull scored the equaliser.

Adamstown has basically put all fears of relegation behind them, and now has the chance to make a push for fifth. It starts this weekend for them, but by no means will Weston be an easy task, as they too, look to cement themselves as a finals contender.

 

Broadmeadow Magic FC vs. Hamilton Olympic FC
Magic Park
Sunday 20th July 2.45pm
#MGCvOLY

Last Sunday they challenged then-future State Cup opponents South Cardiff. Last night they hosted the Gunners in the final. On Sunday, Broadmeadow Magic return to Magic Park for their third huge game in a week, as they welcome close rivals Hamilton Olympic.

Broadmeadow will be motivated by the chance of finishing Round 15 in sixth, which is only possible with a win. The team is currently seventh, two outside the top five, and will be almost no chance of playing finals football with a loss this weekend.

Hamilton will also be boosted by the knowledge that a win can see them rise up the ladder. Three points has the ability to take the side to fourth place, whereas a loss will see Magic overtake them.

Both sides are currently in the worst form they have experienced in a number of years. Between them, they have just one win in eight matches.

Magic’s last NPL win came back on the 9th of June against Adamstown. They have since been defeated by Weston, the Jets Youth and Lambton and drew with the Gunners last weekend.

Hamilton has lost four of their last five matches, in fact in their last eight games they have picked up just eight of an available twenty-four points. They have only averaged one goal a game in those eight matches.

Hamilton has only won five matches this season, one of which was back in Round 6 against Magic.

Jacob Bailey opened the scoring that day for Olympic, then a Dave Hodgson double took them to a three-nil lead. Daniel Casciaroli managed a consolation goal for Magic, who was outclassed in a 3-1 defeat.

Despite both of the sides’ bad form, this weekend’s Round 16 derby will be an interesting affair. There is never any love lost between these two clubs, and for most it is their favourite fixture of the season. It will be a tough battle between two sides desperate to give themselves a crack at a finals run.

 

South Cardiff FC vs. Charlestown City Blues FC
Ulinga Oval
Sunday 20th July 2.45pm
#SCGvCCB

After losing the State Cup Final to Broadmeadow last night, the South Cardiff Gunners will be looking to bounce back this weekend at home against Charlestown City Blues.

The Gunners are a disappointing ninth on the table following just four wins. Combined with two draws and eight losses they have a collective total of fourteen points, just a concerning six above last placed Lake Macquarie.

Charlestown find themselves in a far better position after thrashing the Jets 5-0 last weekend, occupying fourth spot on the table.

The Gunners last win was back on the 8th of June against Hamilton Olympic. Since then they have lost to Edgeworth, Adamstown and the Jets Youth, and had a draw with Magic.

One point in four matches has seen them basically fall out of finals contention, however they are a resilient side who will never give up, as last night’s State Cup Final suggested.

Charlestown is coming off a wonderful week where they managed to do what no other side has achieved against the Newcastle Jets Youth in the local competition; inflicting five goals against them. In fact they ended a three game run of clean sheets for the Jets Youth side and climbed into fourth in the process.

The previous clash between Charlestown and South Cardiff saw the Blues race to a 4-0 lead after half an hour. South Cardiff pulled a goal back, however they were thumped 4-1.

Kane Goodchild scored two of his ten goals in that match. He is currently second in the leading goal scorer charts, just one behind Lake Macquarie’s Sam Walker.

If ever there was a physical encounter in the NPL, not many would be tougher than the Gunners versing the Blues. Both sides are full of strong, experienced campaigners, and both are aware that three points is crucial this late in the season.