Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW Women’s competition.
Match of the Round - Adamstown Rosebud JFC 7-1 Mid Coast FC
Adamstown Rosebud climbed into the top four with an emphatic 7-1 victory over Mid Coast on Saturday night.
Rosebud arrived at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility looking to back up their impressive victory over Maitland last weekend, with the opportunity to replace the Magpies in the finals places if results fell their way.
But Adamstown did not make an ideal start, with Zora Boskovski giving the visitors the lead after 13 minutes.
Middies held onto their advantage until half-time only for Adamstown to come out a much different side in the second half.
Rosebud wrestled back the lead 10 minutes after the break with two goals in two minutes, first from Eva Donnelly then Charli O’Connor.
Josie Morley added a third on 66 minutes with O’Connor scoring her second five minutes later.
Adamstown kept going and scored three more goals after the 89th minute, with Courtney Anderson and Darcie O’Connor notching, while Morley completed her double.
The win saw Rosebud climb to fourth, with Middies remaining seventh.
Newcastle Olympic 10-0 Warners Bay FC
Newcastle Olympic maintained their place at the top of the table with a 10-0 victory over Warners Bay on Saturday.
Jemma House scored five goals to send last year’s grand finalists on their way while Georgia Amess completed a double after coming off the bench for the final half hour.
Marion Dunbabin, Rosie Copus, Laura Hall and Sophie Walmsley were also on the scoresheet for the hosts.
It was the second heavy defeat Olympic have inflicted on the reigning premiers and champions this season, having won their round one fixture 16-0.
The win saw Olympic remain at the summit on goal difference from Broadmeadow, though Neil Owens’ side have a match in hand.
Warners Bay remain rooted to the foot of the table, conceding 97 goals in their opening eight matches.
Maitland FC 1-2 Charlestown Azzurri
Charlestown Azzurri ended their two-match losing streak to down Maitland 2-1 on Sunday.
Azzurri took the lead from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time following a tense and tight first period.
Maitland midfielder Sophia Laurie was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in her own penalty area following Brianna Williams’ shot from close range.
Indianna Asimus stepped up to cooly dispatch the penalty past Imogene Tomasone, with the half-time whistle blown immediately after.
Charlestown doubled their advantage four minutes after the break when midfielder Evie Horgan was allowed the freedom of Cooks Square Park, strolling through the heart of Maitland’s midfield before unleashing a stunning strike over Tomasone.
Maitland got themselves back into the game with 20 minutes to play following some good work down the right from Indianna Auddino, whose cross found its way to Mercedes McNabb who fired confidently past Malli Blanch.
The Magpies continued to search for an equaliser to no avail, with Azzurri holding on for their second one-goal victory over Maitland this season.
It was a disappointing result for the Magpies who, having won four matches in a row to be within touching distance of the summit, have now lost two games in a row to slip out of the top four.
But the victory saw Charlestown get their season back on track and remain one point behind leaders Newcastle Olympic in third.
New Lambton FC 1-2 Broadmeadow Magic
A Lucy Jerram double gave Broadmeadow a blistering start but Magic were made to work for their 2-1 victory over New Lambton on Sunday.
Chelsea Lucas provided the cross from the right for Jerram to give Broadmeadow the lead after just five minutes at Alder Park, with the pair reprising their combination less than a minute later.
But New Lambton refused to quit and got themselves back in the game eight minutes into the second half.
Former APIA Leichhardt striker Sarah Moore celebrated her New Lambton debut with a fine finish from outside the penalty area, with Moore finally recovered from the foot ligament injury that had delayed her start at the club.
The Golden Eagles pushed for an equaliser but Magic managed to hold on to remain second on the table, only behind leaders Newcastle Olympic on goal difference.
New Lambton remain sixth, six points outside the top four. But the Golden Eagles will be looking to climb the table with Cassidy Davis and Lauren Allen now available following their Newcastle Jets commitments.