By Blake Jarrett

Weston Workers FC vs. Charlestown City Blues FC
Rockwell Automation Park
Sunday 27th July, 2.45pm
#WWBvCCB 

LIVE STREAM - VIEW HERE 

There are only three weeks left in the National Premier Leagues season, and this looks to be one of the most intriguing finishes we have seen in a long time. Four teams face the possibility of relegation, however three of those sides can make the semi-finals. Six points separates fourth and ninth, and not even the team coming second is safe as they sit just five points ahead of sixth.

This weekend will be huge in terms of the finals hopes of many sides, and will be another step in the direction of determining who will be crowned Premiers, and who will be relegated.

The Round 16 Match of the Round is well justified. Weston and Charlestown, two sides with so much to play for, go head to head at Rockwell Automation Park.

Weston is currently third on the table after seven wins, four draws and as many losses this season.

Charlestown trail Weston by just three points, and are the competition’s fifth placed side.

A lot is on the line in this match for Charlestown. The only thing keeping the Blues in the top five this week is a single goal. They and Olympic have both won six, drawn four, and lost five. They are both on a goal difference of positive one, however the Blues have scored 26 whereas Hamilton have scored 25.

A loss could see Charlestown slip three points outside the top five, however a win could see the Blues advance to third.

This weekend could be season-defining for Weston. The side trail first placed Jets by four points and second placed Jaffas by just two. Hypothetically if both of those sides draw and Weston win, Weston will be equal second and two points off first with two rounds remaining. If both sides happen to lose Weston have the chance to go outright second and just a point behind first.

It is amazing to think that just three weeks ago after a 3-0 loss to Hamilton, that Bears coach Steve Piggott was questioning whether his side were a chance of featuring in the finals.

‘I knew we needed to win at least a couple to make the finals, and I was a little worried,’ he said.

‘Performance-wise not much has changed since then, however we have begun to take our chances. Seven goals in two games speaks for itself’.

‘We have also changed shape to a 4-4-2 formation and have executed that extremely well’.

The last time these two sides met, the crowd were treated to an absolute spectacle. Kane Goodchild opened the scoring in the twelfth minute, however Jamie Subat equalised just two minutes later. Troy Hearfield sent the Blues into the break ahead 2-1, then moments into the second half Scott Smith doubled their lead. Two late Nathan Morris penalties saw Weston salvage a draw, making the score 3-3 at full time.

This weekend we are hoping for much of the same as the sides meet at Rockwell Automation Park.

To add to the competitiveness of this match, these two sides are the only two out of nine teams to have not been defeated by competition favourites Lambton this season.

Both sides will be eager to come out on top as they have so much to play for. If you cant make it to the match ensure that you don’t miss out on both sides’ biggest match of 2014 yet by clicking on the link above where you can view the game live.

 

Lambton Jaffas FC vs. South Cardiff FC
Arthur Edden Oval
Saturday 26th July, 2.45pm
#JAFvSCG 

Lambton Jaffas welcome the South Cardiff Gunners to Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday afternoon to kick off Round 16 of the National Premier Leagues season.

A ninety-third minute Riley McNaughton winner last week against Edgeworth saw Lambton stay second, and move to within two points of the first placed Jets Youth. The Jaffas have had a successful season, with eight wins, three draws and four losses.

They begin the round on the back of some devastating form, winning seven of their last nine games conceding just eight goals in that period.

Their Round 16 opponents South Cardiff have not experienced the same success this season. They have won just five matches, drawn two and lost eight.

One of those five wins came last week as a Lee Ashton volley separated the Gunners and Charlestown at Ulinga Oval.

The Gunners are sitting just six points ahead of last placed Lake Macquarie, however Head Coach Greg Asquith is maintaining a positive mindset, focusing on their chances of making the semi-finals rather then escaping relegation.

‘It’s a good feeling to be five away from fifth,’ he said.

‘It will be an interesting final few weeks’.

Jaffas coach Dave Tanchevski is feeling very confident about his side’s chances, but suggested that they are thin on numbers. 

‘We have Maj (striker John Majurovski) out until at least the semi-finals as his  fracture is not healing as quickly as we thought it may,’ he said.

He said that the side will probably also be missing Kevin Davison who went off with a pinched nerve in the first half of last weekend’s match against Edgeworth.

These two sides competed in a match that amazingly topped the Round 9 match between Weston and Charlestown.

In the pouring rain at Ulinga Oval in early June, an Alex Palozzi rocket free-kick saw the Jaffas overcome a resilient South Cardiff. Lambton led for most of that match thanks to a Peter McPherson header. James Byrnes equalised form the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining. A Kale Bradbery goal was then cancelled out in injury time by Gunners’ striker Mitch Wallace, but then Palozzi devastated the home side with the last kick of the game as Lambton won 3-2.

In recent weeks the Gunners have been boosted by the return of quality midfielder Lee Ashton, and this weekend are boosted even more as key striker James Byrnes returns after he sustained a cork two rounds ago.

The Gunners will need to be at their best against a red-hot Jaffas who have beaten seven of the other nine team in the competition, and who are shaping up to be favourites to take out first place.

 

Hamilton Olympic FC vs. Newcastle Jets Youth
Darling Street Oval
Saturday 26th July, 2.45pm
#OLYv NEW

The second Saturday afternoon match promises to be another intriguing affair as Hamilton Olympic host the Newcastle Jets Youth.

A 2-1 win against rivals Broadmeadow last weekend was not enough to shoot Olympic into the top five. They are sixth after six wins, four draws and five losses, trailing fifth placed Charlestown by one goal on the ‘for’ column.

The Jets Youth occupy the first place on the NPL ladder after nine wins this season.

Hamilton coach Mick Bolch was happy with the way his side bounced back last weekend against Magic after losing 4-0 to Lambton the week before.

Looking forward to this weekend, he expects a tough match.

‘They are a very sharp side the Jets, and they have pace all across the park,’ he said.

‘If we can build on the way we defended against Broadmeadow we are a huge chance of winning’.

Hamilton welcome back Dave Hodgson, Andrew Swan, and Tom Davies this Saturday, so they will be a lot stronger, but will be without Clayton Poole who was sent off last weekend, and Kyle Hodges who has accumulated six yellow cards.

James Monie completed his first 90 minute performance in two months last weekend, and Cody Higgs and Rhys Cooper have been outstanding in the absence of key midfielder Jacob Bailey. If there was ever a weekend you would want to take on the first place side it would be this one for Olympic.

The Newcastle Jets Youth have been convincing in their dominance up until the last few weeks. Since losing the quality strike-force duo of Brandon Lundy and Radovan Pavicevic the side has lost to Charlestown and Lake Macquarie respectively, at a combined total of 7-1.

The loss of the pair took its toll in last weekend’s match against Lake Macquarie. Ben Hay got down the left flank a number of times, and some superb crosses went untouched across the face of goal.

The last time the two sides met was at Darling Street Oval back in Round 9. The sides shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Pavicevic and Matthew Swan were the scorers that day.

This weekend promises to be as tight as their last meeting. The Jets are playing to stay first, and Olympic know its finals hopes are on the line, so a competitive, hard-fought clash is well and truly on the cards.

 

Edgeworth FC vs. Adamstown Rosebud FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 27th July, 2.45pm
#EFCvBUD 

Edgeworth returns to Jack McLaughlan Oval for the third time in four weeks this weekend where the side hosts Adamstown Rosebud.

After sitting in second for so much of the season, one win in four matches has seen the Eagles slump to fourth.

Adamstown on the other hand have only lost one of their last four, but they remain ninth on 17 points. They have won five, drawn two and lost eight in the side’s return season to the top flight.

Of the Eagles’ four losses this season only one has occurred at Jack McLaughlan Oval. That was last weekend as they conceded a last minute goal to go down 3-2 against Lambton.

Adamstown is in the best form of its season, taking seven of a possible twelve points in the team’s last four outings. Not only has the side boosted its chances of escaping relegation, but has also shot themselves into finals contention.

Even though it is a slim chance, if Adamstown win its last three matches the side is a huge chance of finishing inside the top five, and Coach Anthony Richards is relishing the challenge.

‘I’m looking forward to the next three games, they should be exciting,’ he said.

Adamstown was the first team to take three points from Edgeworth, beating their Round 16 opposition 1-0 in Round 9. Matt Comerford’s first half goal separated the sides, as Edgeworth missed a penalty and had Aaron Pritchard sent off in the second half.

Edgeworth will be hoping to end its winless run and record the side’s first points in three weeks, keeping their hopes of becoming Premiers alive. Adamstown know what is on the line and will be going all out for the three points. Expect more than one goal in this clash as it promises to supersede their previous encounter.

 

Lake Macquarie City FC vs. Broadmeadow Magic FC
Macquarie Field
Sunday 27th July, 2.45pm
#LMCvMGC

The final match of the round takes place at Macquarie Field as Lake Macquarie hosts Broadmeadow Magic.

The Roosters are the dreaded last place side after winning just three matches this season. Combined with two draws and ten losses they are on just eleven points.

It is not often that it can be said that Broadmeadow enter the third last round just six points ahead of last, but this weekend it is the case. Magic has had a poor season this year winning just five matches and losing an astonishing total of eight.

The last time the two sides faced off Magic smashed the Roosters 3-0. A Rhys Tippet double and a Josh Piddington strike saw Broadmeadow pick up the three points against a ten man Roosters outfit after Quinn Macneill was sent off in the second half.

Broadmeadow go into this Sunday’s match minus key defender Alex Kantarovski who was sent off last weekend against Hamilton, and Magic Captain and key striker Peter Haynes.

Even though Lake Macquarie has only won three matches, they have all been of astonishing proportions. The Roosters’ first was a 3-1 win against Charlestown in Round 8 when David Field, Tom Walker and Curtis Schumann all delivered to see the side win its first match of the season. They had to wait another month for their next win, which was a 5-1 smashing of Hamilton Olympic where Sam Walker scored four. The most recent was last week where the Roosters beat the first placed Jets Youth 2-1.

That brings us to this weekend. It has been established that Lake Macquarie can pull a rabbit out of a hat in big games and that is what the side will need to do this weekend as it looks to continue its campaign to escape relegation.

Lake Macquarie will take on a Broadmeadow outfit that has not won in five NPL appearances and will be out to prove a point. Magic will be playing for not only pride, but also a place in the finals and if the team wins all three of its final matches, then Magic has a chance of making the finals.

Every game for these two sides from now until the end of the season is a Grand Final, and therefore this weekend’s match will be somewhat of a blockbuster.