There are some intriguing games to come in Round 11 which also plays homage to a special Sunday honouring Mother’s Day, so let’s get to this week’s hotly-contested fixtures.
Match of the Round - Weston Workers FC v Cooks Hill United
Rockwell Automation Park, Sunday 2.30pm
Weston Workers will look to consolidate its position in the top five when they host Cooks Hill United on Sunday.
The Bears have been one of the big improvers so far this season, sitting third on the table after 10 rounds.
There is still room for more improvement given a disappointing 1-0 loss to Valentine in their rescheduled round six match last week and an ANZAC Day draw with Adamstown but Weston will be buoyed by their lofty league position.
The Bears outgunned New Lambton 5-3 last weekend thanks to Ben Clouten’s hat-trick. Weston have also downed Lake Macquarie City 4-0 and Charlestown Azzurri 2-1 in the last month to have the Bears faithful dreaming about a return to finals football.
But Cooks Hill will provide a tricky test for Weston, with the club sitting in mid table following a decent start to the campaign.
Cooks Hill are unbeaten in their last three matches. They were full value for their 1-1 draw with reigning champions Lambton Jaffas last week thanks to Matthew Berrigan’s first half effort and held reigning premiers Maitland to a goalless draw the previous week following their 2-1 win over New Lambton.
Elsewhere in round 11, Charlestown and Edgeworth will battle for top spot when they meet at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
Leaders Azzurri are two points clear of the Eagles and will look to extend their advantage to as many as five points at the completion of the weekend.
Edgeworth closed the gap to Charlestown with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Lake Macquarie City on Wednesday night in their rescheduled round five match.
Goals from Sascha Montefiore and Jacob Pepper gave the Eagles a 2-1 half-time lead before Tyson Jackson, Pat Wheeler also got on the scoresheet, with Montefiore notching a second.
Lake Macquarie City remain last after the defeat and travel to Alder Park to face second from bottom New Lambton FC on Saturday.
And they will have to do it without veteran striker John Majurovski who was sent off in the dying stages of the defeat to Edgeworth, with Majurovski facing a potential nine-game ban for match official abuse.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Newcastle Olympic host Lambton Jaffas at Darling Street, Valentine FC meet Broadmeadow Magic at Hunter Sports Centre and Maitland FC welcome Adamstown Rosebud to Cooks Square Park.
It will be Adamstown’s second trip to Maitland in four days after the Magpies won the Australia Cup fifth preliminary round match between the clubs 6-0 on Wednesday night.