Ben Homer

Match of The Round
Edgeworth Eagles v Lambton Jaffas
Sunday, June 12, 2:45pm
Jack McLaughlan Oval

Last Meeting: Lambton 1 Edgeworth 2 at Arthur Edden Oval April 9, 2016 (Round 1)

Ladder: Edgeworth 2^nd (19pts) Lambton 6^th (8)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Edgeworth – Won Magpies (a) 3-1, Won Blues (h) 6-1, Won Phoenix (a) 4-1

Lambton – Drew Jets (h) 1-1, Won Rosebud (h) 3-0, Drew Magpies (a) 0-0

Bottom Line

The Lambton Jaffas travel to Jack McLaughlan Oval this weekend to meet Edgeworth in the Match of the Round of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier League Northern NSW competition. The Jaffas will be keen to erase the disappointment of their opening round loss to the Eagles where they conceded two goals in the final ten minutes to go down 2-1 after skipper John Majurovski put the Jaffas in front.

Recent statistics are against the Jaffas when they take on the Eagles, the Lambton based club have only taken home the three points once in their last five clashes against Edgeworth. Incredibly the last four clashes between the sides have been won by a score of 2-1 and Edgeworth have won the last three.

However Lambton have been in their best form of the season over the last five weeks, losing just one of their last five matches and they will be no pushover at Edgeworth. They have the 4^th best defence in the competition with 11 goals conceded, but it is in attack where they will need to improve if they are to beat the Eagles. They have the 7^th best attack in the league and their opponents have scored more than double the amount of goals than them this season.

For Edgeworth, ever since their 3-2 loss at Hamilton they have gone on a scoring spree. The Eagles have scored 13 goals in their last three matches and the hardest part for their opponents is picking which player to target. Daniel McBreen, Keigo Moriyasu, Brody Taylor, Keanu Moore, Bren Hammel and Aaron McLoughlin have all scored in the past three weeks confirming that Edgeworth can look to anyone for goals.

The real battle on Sunday will be between Edgeworth’s attack and Lambton’s defence and if Lambton are able to keep Edgeworth’s attacking weapons quiet, they will give themselves every chance of getting a result.

What the Coaches Said:

Damian Zane (Edgeworth)

“All the games I’ve seen them in they have probably dominated but just haven’t take their chances. Even as far back as when they played Hamilton. The first half they probably had the best chances and dominated to a degree, but just haven’t managed to put them away. But I’m sure with Joel Griffiths coming in that they are working on that are some good results aren’t far off.”

“[After we beat them in round 1] people said that we got them in the last ten minutes. But I thought we had the better of the chances. So far this year we have scored six or seven and haven’t conceded in the last 15 minutes. I’d say that is maybe not good luck but that stat shows we finish off well and we are never out of the game.”

James Pascoe (Lambton)

“We won’t change too much. I’m full of respect for Edgeworth on what they have done over the last 18 months or so. They are a good, young, mobile team. We just need to go and play our game, that’s the only way that we are going to get the points we need to figure at the back end of the season. We are not the sort of team that can defend for 80 minutes and then pinch one of the break.”

“The bench this weekend will pretty much be full of boys from the 22s that haven’t played a minute in first grade. Not an ideal situation, but a really good chance for those boys to step up against a good side and show that they are keen to be part of what we are going to build going forward.”

Key: Lambton’s defence has been miserly this season and if they can keep Edgeworth quiet, they could spring an upset.

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Jets Youth v Weston Workers Bears
Saturday, June 11, 2:30pm
Rockwell Automation Park

Last Meeting: Weston 3 Jets 3 at Rockwell Automation Park, April 10, 2016 (Round 1)

Ladder: Jets 8^th (5) Weston 10^th (2)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Jets Youth – Drew Jaffas (a) 1-1, Lost Olympic (h) 5-0, Won Rosebud (a) 3-0

Weston – Lost Rosebud (a) 2-1, Lost Maitland (h) 3-0, Lost Blues (a) 1-0

Bottom Line

The Weston Bears will be looking to climb off the bottom of the PlayStation® 4 NPL ladder when they meet the Jets Youth at Rockwell Automation Park this weekend. The two sides met this season back in round one, where a see-sawing contest finished in a 3-all draw. In that match Garry McDermott scored a hat-trick but since that day the goals have dried up rapidly. They have managed just two goals in the seven matches since.

The last six matches between the sides have been split three ways, Weston winning two, the Jets two with two draws as well. Weston though have only lost one of their past 5 matches against the Jets, on a very rainy weekend last season where they went down 1-0.

The Bears have made some new signings this week with Rurik Pereira joining the club after playing Brazilian and American College Football while Jayden Nakhoul and Michael Ledwidge join the growing list of talent in Northern NSW from the Central Coast.

Vision has emerged online of Pereira playing for American College side Carson-Newman scoring from an extraordinary bicycle kick. If he can bring that kind of quality to the Bears attack, he may be the missing link they need up front.

For the Jets it will be very much the same style of play, looking to attack against Weston and control possession. Early in the season, it was the Jets defence which was letting them down and they conceded 20 goals in their opening five matches at an average of four a game. Over the last three weeks they have halved that stat, conceded just six goals in three matches at an average of two a game.

Key: The Jets have been held scoreless just once this season, so it’s hard to see them not scoring here. If Weston’s front third can fire as it did in round one, this one could go down to the wire.

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Valentine Phoenix v Charlestown City Blues
Saturday, June 11, 2:30pm
Blacksmiths Oval

Last Meeting: Charlestown 2 Valentine 2 at Lisle Carr Oval, April 10, 2016 (Round 1)

Ladder: Valentine 9^th (5) Charlestown 5^th (14)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Valentine – Lost Olympic (h) 5-0, Drew Magic (a) 3-3, Lost Eagles (h) 4-0

Charlestown – Lost Magic (h) 4-2, Lost Eagles (a) 6-1, Won Bears (h) 1-0

Bottom Line

A lot has changed since Charlestown and Valentine last met back in round 1, with Charlestown skyrocketing into the top half of the ladder and Valentine dropping towards the basement.

The first contest between these two sides this year was an even encounter, much the opposite of the previous four matches both sides played against one another. Charlestown had one those four by a combined score of 18-4 and Valentine will be aiming to break a five game winless streak dating back to 2012 against the Blues.

For the home side, it has been hard to gauge their improvement over the season to date. Their last three matches have been against competition heavyweights in Edgeworth, Broadmeadow and Hamilton and this weekend serves as a good barometer as to how far both these sides have come since round one.

Valentine had a respectable 3-all draw with Magic sandwiched in between two thumpings they copped at home to Edgeworth and Hamilton. With no wins from four matches so far this season at the graveyard known as Cahill Oval, a change to Blacksmiths Oval could be as good as a holiday for Darren Sills’ men.

For Charlestown, they too have been hard to gauge over the last few weeks. The copped a battering from Edgeworth, but were in the contest for 60 minutes, followed by a disappointing 4-2 loss to Broadmeadow Magic.

Missing the match against competition leaders Hamilton could be a blessing for the Blues and this contest with Valentine could help restore some confidence which may have been lost over the last couple of weeks. There is no doubt this match will be a tight affair and going on the early season result will be anyone’s game.

Josh Swaddling will miss the game with a hip injury, while Wilson Edwards is out with a knee injury.

What the Coaches Said:

Sam Griffin (Valentine Assistant)

“We have definitely changed our shape since we started the season against them and we’ll be trying to be more defensively be minded going into it. We are halfway through the year and haven’t kept a clean sheet yet. We are scoring a goal a game so the day we keep a clean sheet we will win.”

“Generally, except the game against the Jaffas, we are creating enough chances. We are pretty decent with the ball, it’s just our defensive roles are letting us down. The boys are also looking forward to playing on a different pitch. Cahill Oval is just not conducive to good football.”

Shane Pryce (Charlestown)

“I think Valentine have been fairly good this year to be honest. I think they are well structured and Sillsy has got them playing decent sort of stuff. They are hard to break down and have some dangerous players. They showed in the first game, when we let our guard down, they can hurt you and take points away from you.”

“Missing the game on the weekend against Hamilton, it gives us a chance to freshen up, all the niggles go away and we get a chance to reset coming against a team who are coming off a loss. Our confidence is a bit down, and I’d assume after their last match theirs is too. So it’s a good chance to get back in winning ways.”

Key: Which Charlestown and Valentine sides will turn up? Both have had their hot and cold spells throughout the season and whoever wants it more on Saturday will get the result.

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Adamstown Rosebud v Broadmeadow Magic
Sunday, June 12, 2:30pm
Adamstown Oval

Last Meeting: Broadmeadow 7 Adamstown 2 at Magic Park, April 10, 2016 (Round 1)

Ladder: Broadmeadow 4^th (15) Adamstown 7^th (6)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Adamstown – Won Bears (h) 2-1, Lost Jaffas (a) 5-0, Lost Jets (h) 3-0

Broadmeadow – Won Blues (a) 4-2, Drew Phoenix (h) 3-3, Lost Olympic (a) 3-1

Bottom Line

After their round one thumping at the hand of Broadmeadow, round ten couldn’t have come soon enough for Graham Law’s men. The Rosebud’s will be looking to erase memories of their 7-2 loss at Magic Park when they return home to Adamstown Oval on Sunday.

In fact, Adamstown will be looking to do more than just erase that loss. The Rosebud’s have not beaten Broadmeadow since they were promoted at the end of 2013. From five matches since Adamstown’s promotion, Magic have taken home 15 points out of a possible 15.

In their last match, against Weston, Adamstown won their second match of the season and jumped from 9^th to 7^th on the ladder. With a few men back from injury and suspension in recent weeks including Dan Yaxley and Scott Carter, the Rosebud could spring a few surprises in the last half of the season.

A win for the home side here would close the gap between the top five sides and the bottom five and no doubt will give themselves every chance of playing finals later in the year. A loss will lead to the hopes of Adamstown featuring in their first finals campaign since promotion look remote.

For Broadmeadow, after a couple of weeks where they lost to rivals Olympic and drew with Valentine, they returned to form against Charlestown in their last outing and they will be aiming to entrench themselves in the top four if they win at Adamstown.

Their potency in attack has been a talking point this season with form Newcastle Jet James Virgili and speedster Kale Bradbury bagging 15 of the sides 22 goals this season. But defence is where both Rob Virgili and Bobby Naumov will want to see improvement, with only one clean sheet this season.

What the Coaches Said:

Bobby Naumov (Broadmeadow)

“The main thing for us is to try and get consistency in what we do and in terms of how we want to play, not too many changes game by game. I’ve just got a belief that if we do the right things properly the other teams have all got to react to us.”

“[We won’t rest players because of the midweek match] You can’t take any chances against any team. That is when you get yourself into trouble. We just have to go out there and play the best in both. You play your strongest side and always try and win and go that way.”

Graham Law (Adamstown)

“If you do not take your chances against Broadmeadow Magic, when you have them, they will take theirs. We will create chances on the weekend, I have no doubt about that and we have to take them. We hope not to make the same mistakes, as we did in round one, with their pace. We are working very hard on a few things this week at training.”

“We got a win under our belt against Weston and unfortunately the match against Edgie was postponed. I’ve seen little glimpses, the boys are starting to get to know each other now, because it’s a very new team. A few of their characters are starting to come through. If we can keep a zero, we can win the game. But, we need to take our chances when we have them.”

Key: The opening half. 11 of Broadmeadow’s last 15 goals have come in opening half. If Adamstown can keep them quiet early and stay in the contest, Broadmeadow could be in for another tough match. 

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Hamilton Olympic v Maitland Magpies
Sunday, June 12, 2:30pm
Darling Street Oval

Last Meeting: Maitland 0 Hamilton 0 at Cooks Square Park, April 10, 2016 (Round 1)

Ladder: Hamilton 1^st (22) Maitland 3^rd (15)

Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):

Hamilton – Won Phoenix (a) 5-0, Won Jets (h) 5-0, Won Magic (h), 3-1

Maitland – Lost Eagles (h) 3-1, Won Bears (a) 3-0, Drew Jaffas (h) 0-0

Bottom Line

Hamilton will be aiming to get their first win over Maitland at home since they were promoted at the end of 2014 when the Magpies travel to Darling Street Oval on Sunday.

In the three matches, these two sides have played since Maitland were promoted, there has been one draw, in round one this year, a win for Maitland in a boil over in the final round last season and a win for Hamilton when they travelled to Cooks Square Park last season.

Hamilton has been almost unstoppable this season, defeating every team so far they have played, except the Magpies. In doing so they have conceded only just four goals, an incredible statistic that should not be underestimated.

As we approach the halfway mark of the season, looking back at past Minor Premiers’ defences over 18 rounds gives an indication of just how miserly Olympics’ defence has been.

In 2013 Minor Premiers Broadmeadow conceded 29, Lambton and Hamilton had the best defence conceding 23. In 2014 the Jets Youth conceded 25 goals. Fifth-placed Edgeworth had the best defence that season with 19 conceded. In 2015 Minor Premiers Edgeworth, along with Lambton and Hamilton all conceded 22.

So after this weekend, at the halfway point, we will get to see just how Hamilton’s defence is tracking and baring a calamity, it will make good reading for Olympic fans.

For Maitland it has been their defence which had done the talking as well this season. With the second-best defence behind Hamilton, they have conceded just eight goals this season. Maitland’s attack is their area of concern.

In matches they have played against the other sides in the top 6 of the ladder, (all except Broadmeadow) Maitland have managed just two goals. The other 16 goals they have scored have come against the bottom four.

Expect a tight and tough contest on Sunday, as two well drilled defensive sides do battle. Don’t forget either that Hamilton boast the best attack in the competition as well. But, if Maitland can keep Hamilton quiet they will give themselves every chance of making it two from two at Darling Street.

For the first time this season all of Mick Bolch’s squad will be available while Dean Heffernan is suspended and will miss the match for Maitland. Brock Oakley returns from his suspension for Maitland.

What the Coaches Said:

Mick Bolch (Hamilton)

“They started very defensively in the first round. I think we have improved a lot since the first round as a group. As a team Kane Goodchild is in really good form, he only came on in the second half in the first round. I’m sure he’ll prove a handful from up top this weekend. I thought we lacked a bit of creativity and a few ideas in the first round in the front third.”

“They’ve got a great goalkeeper, Carl Thornton has been one of the best centre-backs in the comp for the last ten years. Matt Thompson is very good. They have got quality all over the park. When Steve had Weston a couple of years ago they were probably one of the best defensive sides in the comp. He’s brought three of his starters over in Brock Oakley and the two Thornton brothers. They are always going to be tough to break down, we just need to be patient and be better with the ball.”

Key: Matt Comerford and Ryan Clarke. If Maitland’s two speedsters can find an opening in Hamilton’s watertight defence, Maitland will believe they have the defence to win it.