NPL NNSW Men’s Round 2 was full of entertainment and top-shelf goals. Check out what is in store for Round 3!
Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas v New Lambton FC @No.2 Sportsground, Friday 8pm
The Lambton derby kicks off on Friday night as the reigning champions take on newly promoted New Lambton at No.2 Sportsground.
Jaffas coach David Tanchevski lamented missed opportunities from last week's loss to the Weston but drew on the positives.
"We are looking forward to getting back on the field. We had some really good opportunities to take the lead in the first half last week but the Weston keeper made two top class saves off Ben Hay and Charlie Kelly," Tanchevski said.
"Finn [Todhunter] missed a header from six yards. We were also slow transitioning into defence and our effort wasn't as good as we expect.
"But there are some positives to take into this week. We had a very young side out on the park and will be looking to our experienced players to help lead them on Friday night.”
It has been a logistical nightmare for the Jaffas boss who is juggling an injury crisis.
"We had eight players unavailable to start for last weekend's match," Tanchevski said.
"We only had three starters from our grand final winning side playing against Weston the other night. Reece Papas hammy, Kale Bradbery ankle, Riley McNaughton appendix, Josh Benson suspended, Matt Hoole groin, Scott Pettit calf, Michael Kantarovski hammy and Luke [Remington] broken leg.
"Kale Bradbery and Josh Benson come back this week but we lose Nathan Verity [to suspension].
"We still have a very depleted squad and will have eight regular starters out again.”
There was some good new for Tanchevski on Wednesday night with Sam Webb’s send off against Weston overturned by NNSWF’s Obvious Error Panel.
The panel of three senior referee coaches determined that Webb did not grab the throat of Weston player Chris Hurley in the manner described in the referee’s report and that both players had hold of each other’s shirt with “a closed first using low force.”
Webb’s red card was subsequently overturned, leaving him free to play in the Lambton derby.
After winning back-to-back Northern League One titles, New Lambton have stepped up to the NPLM competition and are looking for their first win of the season.
For long periods New Lambton have matched their opposition but have not been able to hold it together for 90 minutes.
New Lambton will prefer the cooler Friday night fixture after running out of steam last week in the hot weather.
The Eagles conceded six goals in the last 20 minutes as the temperatures soared and the Heat Policy was implemented.
But anything can happen in a derby.
New Lambton coach Thomas Davies saw the fixture as an opportunity to bounce back.
"Players and club are looking forward to Friday night's game against the Jaffas at No.2," Davies said.
"I expect a reaction from last weekend’s poor performance.
"This game on Friday night is a fantastic opportunity to see a response from everyone.”
On the injury front, Fletch Davis could potentially miss the game due to an injury sustained against Maitland, otherwise it is a clean bill of health for the Golden Eagles.
Weston Workers FC v Edgeworth FC @Rockwell Automation Park, Friday 8pm
Weston Workers are back at home on Friday night and hungry for another win after last week's 3-0 victory over the Lambton Jaffas.
'If it ain't broke don't fix it' is the approach of Bears coach Kew Jaliens who expects a similar line-up to last week's winning team.
"Looking forward to it," Jaliens said.
"No news on the injury front. Aaron [Niyonkuru] is still in the process of working back to match fitness, so the same as last week.
"I have great respect for [Edgeworth coach Peter McGuinness] and his knowledge about the game.
"They've had good results and play well. It will be a good task for me and the boys, I am absolutely looking forward to it.”
Edgeworth are flying high after two wins from two including a 2-0 win over Broadmeadow Magic last week.
Edgeworth are second behind Charlestown Azzurri on goal difference and looking to build on their immaculate start to the season.
The mutual respect between the two coaches was abundantly clear.
"Really looking forward to the challenge at Weston this week," McGuinness said.
"They will provide tough opposition. The new players Kew has brought in are performing well so I can see this one being a good match.
"We are at full strength with a good feeling in the group.
"The boys work hard for each other at training and in games so I expect we will be ready.”
Adamstown Rosebud v Lake Macquarie City @Adamstown Oval, Saturday 2.30pm
With one point between the two teams after two rounds, this potential six pointer is likely to produce goals.
Adamstown Rosebud showed a never-say-die attitude last weekend, equalising in the 92nd minute against Cooks Hill.
Adamstown have been solid in defence, conceding two goals in two games but will look to be more clinical in the final third.
After conceding five goals in round one, it was a vastly improved Lake Macquarie City in round two going down 2-1 to Newcastle Olympic in a tight match.
There is a strong spirit in the Lake Macquarie City camp who launched a second half fightback and showed a never give up attitude.
Cooks Hill United v Valentine FC @No.2 Sportsground, Saturday 3pm
Cooks Hill and Valentine are looking for a response after disappointing results last week.
Cooks Hill conceded in the 92nd minute and were forced to settle for an agonising 1-1 draw with Adamstown Rosebud.
Valentine will look to bounce back from last week's 3-0 defeat against Charlestown Azzurri.
"We will be looking for a reaction after last weekend's result but continue our processes as we build into the season," Valentine coach Adam Hughes said.
"We have a few players that will have late fitness tests to see if they are back this weekend.
"Injury front, we are ok with players getting through minutes on the weekend that we are trying to build up.”
After last week's heartbreaker it is onwards and upwards for Cooks Hill United boss Chris Zorocich.
"We know it will be a tough game and looking to improve on our performance versus Adamstown," Zorocich said.
Cooks Hill United will be missing four players while Carter Smith will return.
James Byrnes (suspended), Daniel Minors (wedding), Lachlan Pasquale (wedding) and Liam Spurway (injured) will not be available.
Newcastle Olympic v Broadmeadow Magic @Darling Street Oval, Saturday 5pm
Newcastle Olympic chalked up their first victory last week and will need to keep improving against a wounded Broadmeadow Magic.
Newcastle Olympic boss Joel Griffiths wants to up the ante against their bitter rivals.
"It's a derby game so we always look forward to this game but we need to play better than our last game to win,” Griffiths said.
"We have Nathan Toby and Kane Treble missing with injury and suspension.”
Prolific Magic striker Jarred Baker notched up his third goal of the season last week against Edgeworth.
But they could not hold onto the lead as the Eagles soared in the second half, scoring two goals.
As a multiple grand final-winning skipper, Broadmeadow Magic coach John Bennis knows what this fixture means.
"The group is keen to bounce back this week and are looking forward to the challenge of the first derby game of the year," Bennis said.
"We lost our vice-captain Ryan Ensor last Thursday to a knee injury. It's now confirmed he has ruptured his ACL and is out for the year.”
Maitland FC v Charlestown Azzurri @Cooks Square Park, Saturday 6pm
Something has got to give when the best attacking force faces the best defence.
The season has only just started and Maitland have scored nine goals from one match. They had also scored inside the opening 20 minutes of their round one clash with Lambton before the match was abandoned.
Charlestown Azzurri have looked solid at the back and have not conceded a goal in 180 minutes of football.
Azzurri are sitting pretty on top of the NPLM table, a position reigning premiers Maitland will want to return to this season.
Former Newcastle Jets captains Taylor Regan and Nigel Boogard have been a brick wall for Azzurri and the backbone of the team.
The towering centre backs are not only dominant defending aerial attacks but are prolific goal scoring threat at set pieces.
Boogard opened the scoring with a header against Valentine last week from a corner and looked dangerous every time he cantered forwards for set pieces.
Maitland have been unstoppable in front of goal with last year's Golden Boot winner Braedyn Crowley carrying on where left off last season.
In a man of the match performance, Crowley bagged a hat-trick against New Lambton last week.
Maitland coach Michael Bolch said he thrived on the challenge that Charlestown would provide.
"Definitely looking forward to the challenge that Azzurri will be," Bolch said.
"They are a good side with quality over the park including three former A-league players in [Jacob] Melling, [Nigel] Boogard and [Taylor] Regan.
"They are well set up defensively and haven't conceded a goal so far this season so that will be a great challenge for us.
"They are very dangerous from set pieces, so we need to pay special attention to our set roles.”
Charlestown Azzurri boss James Pascoe welcomes three players back but loses one."We have three players returning in Callum Bower, Luke Callen and Harry Frendo with Matt Johnson suspended," Pascoe said.