Match of the Round
Broadmeadow Magic v Newcastle Olympic
Magic Park, Sunday 2:30pm
Newcastle Olympic coach Paul De Vitis says despite recent results, he knows his side will lift for the red and blue derby against Broadmeadow Magic.
Olympic will travel to Magic Park off the back of two straight losses which they will want to rectify this weekend.
De Vitis' side is sixth on the table with seven points but knows that his team can put it to last year’s grand finalists and their rivals in red on Sunday.
“We spoke about the derby and how exciting it is,” De Vitis said.
“It is always a great game to be a part of a full weekend of derbys which makes it a bit extra special.
“As a player you are very excited but as a coach you know you have your role and I am feeling very good and confident. But I hope the players can channel the extra energy into a strong performance.
After back-to-back defeats, De Vitis is hopeful that Olympic can bounce back and shut Magic’s men down to return home with three points.
“We are focusing on our own brand of football. We lost our way and now we are getting back to the basics,” De Vitis said.
“We know that Magic are doing very well and we know that they score a lot of goals and play as a very open team.
“In attack, we need to be a bit more proactive and run off the ball more with more movement.
‘Our defence will focus on how we can be compact and not let them (Magic) in or have time on the ball as they have really good ball players within their squad.
“We need to be careful that we aren’t diving in and our structures remain strong and see how we go from there.”
“I think any three points are important as the top four sides have jumped from the pack.
“Being a derby makes it extra special and helps to set up the momentum to grab points.”
Broadmeadow has had a perfect start to the season, as they sit third on the table on equal 15 points with the top two sides Charlestown Azzurri and Lambton Jaffas.
But Magic’s coach Jim Cresnar is thrilled with how his team has kicked off their 2024 campaign and is excited for his first derby in charge this weekend.
“Obviously I am very proud of the effort and the level of commitment shown by the players,” Cresnar said.
“There are areas that we still need to work on but overall I am just proud.
“This weekend’s game is very important to both teams.
Despite the fact that Olympic sits eight points behind them, Cresnar knows that they will have a fight on their hands.
“With these games, the points don’t really matter as both teams want to win,” Cresnar said.
“Whether you are coming first or last, in these games you just want to win for the supporters and your club.
“I know that Olympic has had a tough couple of weeks but that form will not carry through on the weekend against us.
“It’s always a tough game.”
Magic’s men have scored the most amount of goals in the competition as they have hit the back of the net 17 times, but they have also conceded seven more goals than the other two top three sides.
Crenar admitted that his side needs to tighten up their defense and will aim to shut down Olympic’s attack and keep their first clean sheet.
‘Defence is the focus for us,” Cresnar said.
“We are pretty solid going forward but the area that we need to work on is in defence.”
With more than just three points on the line for the two sides, this Sunday’s contest will be one not to miss.
Lake Macquarie City FC v Adamstown Rosebud FC
Macquarie Field, Saturday 7pm
Lake Macquarie City FC coach Pete Preston hopes his side’s hard work can continue to pay off when they host Adamstown Rosebud FC on Saturday night.
The Roosters had a tough start to the season but picked up their first win in round five with a 2-1 win over New Lambton which saw them leap up the table into eighth position with three points.
Preston was pleased for his side to secure their first win but has reminded his young side not to get too ahead of themselves.
“Personally, it was good to see the hard work pay off,” Preston said.
“The boys are excited to get a win under their belt as the first win is always the hardest.
“It is also part of the job to try and keep the players level and not let them too ahead of themselves after one win. You want to try and keep it consistent but we are still miles away from where we want to be.
“It’s important that we stay grounded and keep working hard.”
Lakes’ coach knows the importance of a win this weekend, as they could jump over Weston into seventh position on the table.
“We just need to try and keep our own momentum going,” Preston said.
“Every team is going to be difficult and we know that Adamstown is in a similar position to us with a young squad and a few experienced players sprinkled in.
“They (Adamstown) have been unlucky not to win a match and we know that this week will be difficult for us.
“If we win this weekend, it will be good.”
Adamstown has also faced a rocky start to their 2024 campaign, with two draws and three losses in five matches. They sit tenth on the table on equal points with Edgeworth FC who are ninth.
A win could see the young Rosebud side move as high up the table as seventh if other results go their way which will be a big motivator this weekend.
As the two sides have conceded the most amount of goals in the competition, it will be important that each team is strong in defence and capitalises their chances on goal.
Cooks Hill United FC v New Lambton FC
Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field, Saturday 4:30pm
Cooks Hill United and New Lambton FC will be desperate for three points when they go head-to-head at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field on Saturday afternoon.
With the two sides at the foot of the table, each will be vying for a win to make sure they are not at the bottom for another week.
Cooks Hill finally picked up their first point of the season in round five with a 1-1 draw with Valentine FC and sit at the bottom of the table.
But Chris Zoricich’s side has proved that they can hit the back of the net as young striker Cody Nancarrow has scored five times in as many matches.
New Lambton has also had an unlucky start to their season, as they have narrowly missed out on points in multiple games and sit one spot above Cooks Hill in eleventh also on one point.
Shane Pryce’s side will be eager to turn things around and lean on the experience of defender Joshua Piddington and goalkeeper Shanye Van As to lead from the back of the park and shut Cooks Hill down.
A win for either team could move them as high as eighth if other results around them go their way, which means this clash is one of the most important so far in the two side’s 2024 campaigns.
Valentine FC v Edgeworth FC
Coudace Bay Complex, Saturday 6pm
Valentine FC hopes to continue their momentum when they host Edgeworth FC on Saturday night.
The Phoenix has got off to a flying start this season, with four wins and one draw which sees them sit fourth on the table, two points behind the top three teams.
Adam Hughes' side has proved that they are solid in defence, as they have not conceded from open play this year and have conceded one goal from a penalty kick.
Nick Cowburn has netted six goals, which sees him at the top of the golden boot race with two other players and would be eager to extend his tally again this weekend.
Edgeworth has failed to enter the winner’s circle so far in the competition, with three losses and two draws as they sit ninth on the table.
The Eagles have struggled to hit the back of the net as they have scored twice. The side has also been unable to keep 11 players on the park after they received four red cards in four matches.
The club’s appeal to get assistant coach Rodney Linsley’s match official abuse sanction overturned was unsuccessful, which means that the club also has a suspended three competition points.
It will be important for the Eagles to turn things around and get their season back on track with their first win of the season against the Phoenix on Saturday.
Maitland FC v Lambton Jaffas
Cooks Square Park, Saturday 6:30pm
Two teams will fight to keep their momentum going when Maitland FC hosts Lambton Jaffas on Saturday evening at Cooks Square Park.
The Magpies look to have finally taken flight after a rocky start to the season after they secured two wins and a draw in the last three matches to move them into fifth place on the table.
Mick Bolch will hope that his side can lift against the 2023 premiers and champions, with players including Braedyn Crowley and James Thompson to use their talent in attack to crack open Jaffas’ experienced back line.
Jaffas has had an unexpected dream start to the competition, as despite multiple players out with injuries, they have secured five from five victories. The side sits second on the table with 15 points, equal with league leaders Charlestown Azzurri and Broadmeadow Magic in third.
Striker Kale Bradbery is at the top of the golden boot race with two other players, as he has scored six goals in five games. But Jaffas has proved that they are strong across the pitch, as they have conceded just two goals so far this season.
David Tanchevski will hope that his side can continue their form and pick up another three points this weekend to keep them in the race for the top spot.
Charlestown Azzurri v Weston Workers FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 2:30pm
Charlestown Azzurri will be eager to make it six from six when they host Weston Workers FC on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues sit at the top of the table but are on equal points with Lambton Jaffas and Broadmeadow Magic who sit below them. This makes a win this weekend vital for the side to keep up with the rest of the pack.
Charlestown has scored 13 goals and conceded two in five matches, which showcases the side’s strength across the pitch.
James Pascoe will hope that his side can come back from the week off in competition and continue their momentum again on Sunday.
Weston has struggled to hit the ground running after one win, one draw and three defeats so far this season and will be eager to secure all three points when they travel to Lisle Carr Oval this weekend.
But Kew Jaliens wants his side to be in finals contention again this year so will expect them to put it to the Blues and move up the table from seventh position.
The Bears will need to be dominant across the park in order to break down Azzurri’s experienced defenders and shut down their goal-hungry attackers.
