Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud JFC v Maitland FC
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Saturday 7pm
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade is under no illusion of how challenging this Saturday’s fixture against Maitland FC will be.
Rosebud will travel to Cooks Square Park full of confidence after two important wins against New Lambton and Warners Bay.
They sit fifth on the table with nine points and could jump as high as third if results go their way.
But Slade is realistic about how difficult this weekend’s clash will be against an in-form Maitland side.
“Maitland is a top-four team and we are under no illusion of what a great game it will be,” Slade said.
“We know that they will be a very hard team.
“Maitland has a good squad and has multiple players who can play multiple positions.
“They have attacking threats everywhere. We will have to watch out for Bronte (Peel) who is in red hot form and try to stop her while also worrying about Sophie Stapleford, Georgia Amess and everyone else on their side that can pop up.”
But Rosebud’s coach is hopeful that his side can build on their form and secure an important three points for their 2024 campaign.
“We are going to carry on with what we can do and put in a better performance than the opposition and hope that it leads to us getting over the top of them,” Slade said.
“Hopefully we can perform really well and everyone can see that Adamstown can play some really good football.
Mia Cook is still in doubt to return back from an ankle injury for Rosebuds this Saturday.
Maitland FC has taken full flight in the competition and will hope to make it five straight wins this weekend.
The Magpies sit second on the table with 12 points and a game in hand after their round six fixture was postponed due to wet weather last weekend.
Georgia Amess, Alesha Clifford, Paige Kingston-Hogg and Keely Gawthop will all be available this weekend after they missed three weeks away at Amess’s overseas wedding. But co-captain Stapleford will be unavailable as she is away.
Coach Keelan Hamilton said that the washout has impacted his side but sees the positives of the break as multiple players return to the squad.
“I think at this stage of the season it’s never good to have a week off, but I don’t think that it is going to hurt us,” Hamilton said.
“Everyone should be back now so I suppose that is a silver lining.”
Hamilton knows the importance of three points and said that his side expected a tricky match-up against the young Rosebud side.
“The main focus will be on ourselves. We still have some areas that we need to keep improving on,” Hamilton said.
“Saturday night will be a tricky fixture at Speers Point as it is a smaller pitch and it’s not as easy to play on for us
“We have done our homework and we know that they score a lot of goals and had a resilient performance against New Lambton so have a bit of confidence as well as some good players.
“We definitely know that this is not going to be a simple fixture.
“We would like to get a win as it would put us in a strong position to finish the round.”
The Magpies sit one point behind league leaders Broadmeadow Magic, which will add extra fire to the belly of Maitland to secure three points and shoot to the top of the table if other results go their way.
Charlestown Azzurri v New Lambton FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Saturday 4pm
New Lambton FC coach Aaron Stedman says that it crucial that his side return home from Lisle Carr Oval with a result this weekend when they face Charlestown Azzurri.
The Golden Eagles have had a mixed start to the season with one win and three losses and have two matches in hand after postponements in rounds four and six.
Stedman says that the lack of momentum has disrupted the side but that they must pick up points this weekend and get back to playing good football.
“There definitely is a bit of pressure on everyone in the coaching staff and the players to get a result,” Stedman said.
“I know we have two games in hand, but I think it is really important to try and walk away with something this weekend.
“Our biggest problem has been our consistency as we have missed two rounds so far it does affect us.
“Our main focus is to get back to where we were when we first started the season. We have had two really good weeks at training and the girls are keen to play this weekend.
“Charlestown has done really well at the start of the season and it will be a tough game. It will be a battle this weekend for sure.”
New Lambton has also had disruptions amongst their squad with multiple players injured or unavailable.
Jessica Terry is away this weekend as well as teammate Heidi Weimer, who is on her honeymoon.
Stedman is proud of how his side has adapted to multiple last-minute changes and is hopeful that most key players will be back on the team sheet this Saturday.
“There have been a lot of things that have been outside our control so far which is frustrating,” Stedman said.
“Players not being available and injured does take its toll.
“We have had some extra time to regroup, and we nearly have everyone back from injury.
“I am really proud of the efforts of everyone at the club. This year we have already had so many first grade debuts and have given opportunities for players to step up. There have been so many frustrations and this small squad has done a fantastic job.
Azzurri is in form as they come into the contest off the back of a draw and two wins that see them in third position on the table with 10 points and a game in hand after their round six fixture was washed out.
Charlestown’s new-look side has surprised this season as Ella Joyce and Jessie Gentle have taken the competition by storm to put their side well in finals contention early in the season.
It will be important for Heath Whyte’s side to continue their momentum as they look to move up the table to challenge Broadmeadow Magic and Maitland FC for the top spot.
Newcastle Olympic v Warners Bay FC
Darling Street Oval, Saturday 4pm
Newcastle Olympic and Warners Bay FC will be desperate to bounce back when they go head-to-head at Darling Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.
After a dominant start to their 2024 campaign, Olympic have suffered back-to-back losses and have fallen to fourth on the table with nine points.
In Olympic’s two-week break from competition, the side suffered a 7-0 defeat to Maitland in the Women’s League Cup semi-final before their round six fixture against Broadmeadow Magic was postponed due to wet weather.
Craig Atkin’s side will be hopeful that his team’s return to the competition with a bang and turn things around to make their way back up the table.
Warners Bay have had a tough start to the season after they have not won a match since round one and sit seventh on the table with three points.
The Panthers have scored 18 goals in six matches, but their downfall has been how much they have leaked in defence as they have conceded 40 goals so far this season.
Ryan Swinkels’ side was 2-0 up against Adamstown in the 13-goal thriller against Adamstown
Emily Diaz continues to shine bright for Warners Bay and sits second in the golden boot race with nine goals to her name.
Ryan Swinkels’ side will be without midfielder Indianna Asimus for another week with an ankle injury.
Mid Coast FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC
Taree Zone Field, Sunday 4pm
Mid Coast will need to dig deep to stop league leaders Broadmeadow Magic from continuing their unbeaten run.
The two sides have had a two-week break in the competition after the Easter long weekend and then their round six fixtures were washed out.
Mid Coast have had a horrid start to the season with zero points after they have conceded 40 goals and scored one in four matches.
Many Langlar’s side has two games in hand which may give them an opportunity to secure their first points of the season and move up off the bottom of the table.
But they will need to have a standout performance if they are going to shut down Magic’s lightning attack and brick wall defence.
Magic will be eager to get back into the swing of the competition and hope that their momentum carried over the break into this Sunday’s fixture.
Broadmeadow sits at the top of the table with 13 points and one point ahead of Maitland FC, which makes a win this weekend crucial to stay ahead of the pack.
Nima Nikfarjam’s side has conceded five goals and scored 19 in their first five matches of the competition.
It will be important for Magic’s attack to step up and increase their goal tally after the departure of striker Adrianna Konjarski.
