Let's check out the preview for Round 7 of the NNSW NPL Men's competition.
Check it out below!
Match of the Round
Charlestown Azzurri v Weston Workers FC
Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
Charlestown Azzurri's start to the season has been flawless with six wins from six matches.
The league leaders have opened an eight-point gap on a chasing pack of four teams on 10 points ahead of their clash with Weston at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
Azzurri are built from the back with a miserly defence that has conceded only two goals in six matches.
Former Newcastle Jets centre backs Taylor Regan and Nigel Boogaard have been dominant in the air and scoring goals through set pieces.
But Kew Jaliens' Weston Workers play football on the ground with two fast wingers in Dieuseul Kandundaho and Aaron Niyonkuru who like to run at defenders.
Bears centre forward Cooper Buswell has prospered from the service on the flanks and has been in good goal scoring form for Weston.
Japanese import Yuta Konagaya has impressed since his move from Greece with penetrative runs through the midfield wreaking havoc in the penalty area.
Playmakers Connor Heydon and Connor Evans have gelled nicely into Jaliens' football philosophy.
Weston’s attacking flair has not gone unnoticed by Charlestown Azzurri coach James Pascoe.
"Weston play an attractive possession-based game and have had some good results this season. We look forward to the challenge that they will provide," Pascoe said.
Cooks Hill United exposed Azzurri on several occasions last week and might think themselves unlucky to have lost the match in the last five minutes through a set piece.
Azzurri will be without last week's match winner Callum Bower and there is a cloud over the availability of their talisman defender and set-piece specialist.
"Taylor Regan remains our only injury doubt but he will be given every chance to prove his fitness. Callum Bower (holiday) is unavailable for this match,” Pascoe said.
Broadmeadow Magic v New Lambton FC
Magic Park, Friday 8pm
Broadmeadow Magic are part of a four-team pack in second place chasing down frontrunners Charlestown Azzurri and will look to secure a vital three points when they host New Lambton at Magic Park on Friday night.
Magic have been averaging two goals a game but in a competition with fine margins, have conceded nine goals so far this season.
The Magic are coming into the match off the back of a 2-2 draw with reigning premiers Maitland and will be looking to keep the heat on Azzurri in front of their home supporters on Friday night.
After three matches undefeated, the wheels fell off for New Lambton last weekend against high-flying Edgeworth.
New Lambton have proved they can compete with the best following a 1-1 draw against cross-town rivals Lambton Jaffas in round three followed by a win over Adamstown Rosebud and a draw with Valentine.
Friday night will be another test to see how far they have come having been promoted to the NPL Men’s NNSW competition this season.
Valentine FC v Newcastle Olympic
Hunter Sports Centre, Friday 8pm
Valentine will be raring to go against Newcastle Olympic at Hunter Sports Centre on Friday night after their match against Weston Workers was washed out last week.
Valentine are mid table having played one match fewer than most other clubs, with three points likely to be enough to elevate Valentine back into the chasing pack.
A youthful Newcastle Olympic are starting gel after last week's 3-1 win over Adamstown Rosebud.
Olympic’s attacking duo of Lachlan Griffiths and Jared Muller have been in fine form scoring goals for fun.
Griffiths scored a brace last week against Adamstown while Muller also scored against Rosebud and the week before against Cooks Hill United.
Adamstown Rosebud v Lambton Jaffas
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 2.30pm
Reigning champions Lambton Jaffas are gathering momentum after chalking up three wins in a row.
Jaffas have been plagued with injuries and coach David Tanchevski has been forced to perform a weekly juggling act.
"We are happy with the three wins after a slow start especially with the player unavailability that we have had," Tanchevski said.
"We have a rough schedule now with five games in two weeks, an [Australia] Cup match and Maitland clash midweek.
"We get our leading goal scorer from last year Kale Bradbery back this week, which is a big bonus for us.”
Tanchevski has turned to the Lambton Jaffas fountain of youth which has poured goals recently, with two teenagers on the scoresheet last week.
"Happy how the young boys have stepped up and they will get better each week,” Tanchevski said.
"Pat Bond, Josh Benson, Finn Todhunter and Bailey Newton are all contributing in different ways to the team. Pat Bond, who is still developing, will be one of the league's best centre backs over the next decade.
"The Adamstown game is another tough challenge and we need to be up for the fight.”
Adamstown Rosebud are a young team who play an eye-catching brand of football with plenty of movement off the ball.
They created problems for league leaders Charlestown Azzurri in round five but ultimately fell short of taking points.
Lake Macquarie City v Maitland FC
Macquarie Field, Saturday 2.30pm
Reigning premiers Maitland have not been getting the rub of the green following one win, one draw and three losses so far this season.
This year's NPL Men's NNSW competition is tight with fine margins. But when everything clicked for Maitland, they scored nine goals against New Lambton in round five.
But despite solid performances such as last week's 2-2 draw against Magic, Maitland will be looking to kickstart their 2023 campaign.
Lake Macquarie City have not had problems scoring goals but it is their defensive record of conceding 16 goals which has been the problem.
Under the vastly experienced Steve Piggott, Lakes have been improving and will look to upset the reigning premiers in front of their home crowd at Macquarie Field on Saturday afternoon.
Edgeworth FC v Cooks Hill United
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
Edgeworth will aim to continue where they left off last week after defeating New Lambton 3-0.
Seventeen-year-old Mason King dazzled on debut for the Eagles scoring a sublime lob and notching an assist.
If selected on Sunday, the left winger will have his first opportunity to play first grade football in front of his home supporters at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Edgeworth target man Sascha Montefiore has been in fine goalscoring form and will be brimming with confidence after his brace against New Lambton last week.
Chris Zoricich's Cooks Hill United stopped the Charlestown Azzurri juggernaut last week but only for 84 minutes.
Cooks Hill have scored 10 times in six matches but the problem has been in defence where they have conceded 11 times.
Zoricich has instilled discipline at Cooks Hill and with their prowess in attack will provide a stern test for the Eagles.