Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 9 of the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW Men’s competition.
Catch up on all the action below.
Match of the Round - Charlestown Azzurri 2-3 Lambton Jaffas
Lambton Jaffas closed the gap on league leaders Charlestown Azzurri to two points following an emphatic 3-2 victory at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
Sam Webb opened the scoring for the Jaffas after 13 minutes when he side-footed into the net after a penetrating run and assist from Kale Bradbery.
Miguel Fernandez equalised for the Azzurri on 25 minutes after a nifty build up play from Jacob Melling and a slide rule pass from Rene Ferguson.
But on the cusp of half-time, Ben Hay received the ball and blasted into the top left corner from 30 yards out to make it 2-1 to the Jaffas at the break.
The match took a twist on 68 minutes when Charlestown's Regan Lundy broke through the Jaffas back line but was chopped down by Lambton's Dylan Newbold who was subsequently sent off.
The Azzurri poured forwards against the Jaffas' 10 men but, against the run of play, Jaffas scored on from a fast counterattack on 82 minutes.
Bailey Newton won possession in his own half and sprinted to the halfway line leaving Taylor Regan and Bradbery in his wake, who collided together.
Newton played in Sam Webb on the right wing and squared across to Josh Benson who smashed the ball into the net to put Jaffas 3-1 up.
On 85 minutes Azzurri's Luke Callan won possession on the left touchline and put in a long cross to Dean Pettit who almost broke the net with a magnificent volley.
The Azzurri continued to search for the equaliser but the match ended 3-2 to the Jaffas.
After catching his breath, Lambton coach David Tanchevski provided match insights.
"I thought we were really good for the first 25 minutes and then Azzurri came back into the game," Tanchevski said.
"We finished off the half well with a goal and could have had another goal through [Scott] Pettit missing a one on one just before the break.
"The character of the team is really impressing me. It's the second time in four days we have been down to 10 men and had to play 30 odd minutes with a man short.
"To score again with 10 men and hold on for the win was a great result.
"We brought on four players to manage intensity and work rate in the second half. These players were all under 20-years-old who played really maturely and worked hard for us.
"It was a great team effort and a good result in what was a big game for the club.”
New Lambton FC 1-2 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic raced to a 2-0 half-time lead and managed to hold off New Lambton's second half onslaught to prevail 2-1 on Friday night.
It only took two minutes for Olympic to open the scoring at Alder Park, Jye Rodway converting from a corner after New Lambton failed to clear.
Olympic’s two left footed defenders Steven Theacos and Blake Green combined neatly and initiated multiple attacks down the left side.
Olympic doubled their lead on 24 minutes when left back Green flighted the ball down the left wing to goal scoring machine Lachlan Griffiths.
Griffiths sprinted towards goal and managed to cut inside onto his right foot and floated the ball into the top right corner to make it 2-0.
New Lambton launched a comeback and were the better team in the second half playing at a higher intensity.
On 72 minutes New Lambton converted their pressure into a goal when Joel Caldwell scored from a corner but the stubborn Olympic defence and impressive Adam Pearce in goal held on for a precious three points.
Newcastle Olympic coach Joel Griffiths was conscious of the higher intensity in the first half which ultimately won them the match.
"A lot better than last week with our intensity without the ball," Griffiths said.
"First half was really encouraging [but we] took our foot off in the second half.
"We are still in the contest.”
Adamstown Rosebud 0-5 Broadmeadow Magic
Four goals in the first 26 minutes wrapped up the contest before half-time as Broadmeadow Magic romped to a 5-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud on Saturday.
Magic got off to a flying start when right back Sam Kamper sent Riley Smith marauding down the right wing after six minutes at Adamstown Oval.
Smith sprinted towards goal and instead of shooting squared to Kamper whose shot rebounded to Jarred Baker which deflected for a corner.
Riley Smith was eventually rewarded for his efforts leaping highest to score from the corner.
Three minutes later a clever short corner from Baker to Keanu Moore set up Dominik Brymora who clinically finished to put Magic 2-0 ahead.
On 23 minutes a beautifully lofted ball from Baker found Smith charging forwards.
Smith held off the defender and nudged it past the goalkeeper with the outside of his boot to make it 3-0.
Two minutes later Baker and Bailey Wells combined from deep in their own half which resulted in Wells racing past the defender and side footing past the advancing goalkeeper to make it 4-0 at the break.
On 49 minutes Baker delivered a low corner into the front post which was flicked on to Kamper who finished from close range to wrap up the contest 5-0.
After some patchy recent results, the result saw Magic make a statement.
Broadmeadow coach John Bennis was delighted with the electric start.
"First 20 minutes was outstanding, we were very effective with our play," Bennis said.
"We made some changes second half [but we] still created some good opportunities so that was pleasing.
"Adamstown have had some good results recently so we were happy to bounce back.”
Maitland FC 0-0 Cooks Hill United
Cooks Hill United's disciplined defence earned a hard-fought point in a 0-0 stalemate against Maitland on Saturday.
Cooks Hill coach Chris Zoricich praised the effort from his players at Cooks Square Park as they kept an impressive clean sheet against Maitland’s dangerous attack.
"I thought it was a decent game from both sides and a draw was a fair result," Zoricich said.
"Both teams had chances to score but ultimately couldn't convert.
"I can't fault our players work ethic and application so far this season.
"To keep their strikers goalless was a fantastic effort especially away from home.”
Valentine FC 1-2 Edgeworth FC
An 86th minute winner from Edgeworth's Joseph Melmeth sealed the three points and a 2-1 victory over Valentine on Saturday evening.
A hard fought 45 minutes between two evenly matched teams resulted in a scoreless first half at Hunter Sports Complex.
The gaps and the game opened up in the second half and it was Valentine's Tyrone Mulder who broke the dead lock on 65 minutes to put Valentine 1-0 ahead.
Samuel Harper equalised for Edgeworth on 75 minutes and when the match was seemingly heading for a draw, Melmeth scored the winner with five minutes to go.
The three points consolidated the Eagles' position in fourth place with Edgeworth remaining in touching distance of front runners Charlestown Azzurri and Lambton Jaffas.
Edgeworth coach Peter McGuinness was pleased to grab the hard-earned points.
"Pleased to get the win, in the end," McGuinness said.
"I thought the boys worked very hard right to the end to get the result against a well-organised, resilient side.”
Lake Macquarie City 0-4 Weston Workers FC
After dropping two points against Adamstown last week Weston got their campaign back on track with an impressive 4-0 win over Lake Macquarie City on Sunday.
Jacob Dundas opened the scoring on five minutes at Macquarie Field with a well measured shot from the edge of the penalty area.
On 22 minutes Aaron Niyonkuru chipped a ball onto the stretching long leg of Cooper Buswell who controlled the ball immaculately and cut the ball back to Liam Wilson who side footed home to make it 2-0.
Mitch Dobson scored from a corner on 36 minutes to make it 3-0 at half-time.
On 71 minutes Buswell sprinted down the right wing and squared the ball to Ben Clouten who finished with his first touch to wrap an impressive 4-0 victory.
Weston coach Kew Jaliens was pleased with the improvement from last week.
"I thought we moved the ball well today," Jaliens said.
"By moving the ball we kept them under pressure, we created a lot of chances because of it and it was good to see us score goals from it.
"That was what was missing last week.”