SPROULE SPORTS FOCUS
Northern NSW Football’s (NNSWF) FFA Cup Round 5 Southern Conference concluded overnight as the final six teams that will compete in the State Qualifiers, Round 6, at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, were confirmed following some classic encounters.
Four-time Round of 32 participants Broadmeadow Magic, will feature once again in the State Qualifiers after picking up a 2-1 extra-time victory over Lambton Jaffas on Tuesday night.
Ryan Ensor scored the first for the current National Premier Leagues Northern NSW (NPL NNSW) league leaders in the opening half, but late drama ensued as Jaffas’ Braedyn Crowley levelled the score before then being shown a red card not long after, leaving the hosts to finish with 10-men.
The second half of extra time saw the winning goal as former Lambton man Jarrod Baker sealed the victory for Magic.
Thrilling moments also took place on Wednesday night as Valentine Phoenix beat Weston Bears on penalties despite being a man down for much of the match.
After holding on for a 0-0 draw in normal time, Valentine found themselves down in extra time after Weston’s Cooper Buswell scored, but a late equaliser from Ben Hay took the game to spot-kicks where the visitors won 4-1.
A third game of the round had to be decided in extra time as Kahibah FC and Cessnock City Hornets played out an incredible 5-4, with the hosts, Kahibah, being the first NEWFM Northern League One team to progress to the State Qualifiers since 2016.
After going 2-0 early in the match, Kahibah fought their way back with three goals before the Hornets then equalised late in the game forcing an extra 30 minutes of football. There, both teams scored before Sean Greene found the winner in the 117th minute.
Maitland FC knocked out last year’s Round of 32 participants, Charlestown City Blues, after winning 4-3 thanks to a Joel Wood double, while Hamilton Olympic and Edgeworth Eagles dispelled the lower-league opponents.
Olympic defeated Zone Premier League team, Warners Bay FC 11-0 away from home, while in the ‘Battle of the Eagles’, Edgeworth picked up a tidy 2-0 victory moving onto the State Qualifiers for the fifth straight year.
Broadmeadow Magic, Maitland FC, Edgeworth Eagles, Hamilton Olympic, Valentine Phoenix and Kahibah FC will now join Northern Conference teams Boambee Bombers and Bangalow Bluedogs as the last eight teams in the State Qualifiers, Round 6, on the June long weekend, 8th – 10th.
The winners of those matches will continue onto the second round of the State Qualifiers, Round 7, in the few days afterwards depending on the progressing teams.
The Round 6 Draw will be determined via a LIVE Facebook video on Monday 27th May.
Complete match details and scores can be found at theffacup.com.au.
Southern Conference Round 5 results:
Lambton Jaffas FC 1 def. by Broadmeadow Magic FC 2 – Tuesday 21st May, 7:00pm @ Arthur Edden Oval
Kahibah FC 5 def. Cessnock City Hornets FC 4 (AET) – Wednesday 22nd May, 7:00pm @ Kahibah Oval
Weston Bears FC 1 def. by Valentine Phoenix FC 1 (1-4 on pens) – Wednesday 22nd May, 7:00pm @ Rockwell Automation Park
New Lambton FC 0 def. by Edgeworth Eagles FC 2 – Wednesday 22nd May, 7:00pm @ Alder Park
Maitland FC 4 def. Charlestown City Blues FC 3 – Wednesday 22nd May, 7:15pm @ Cooks Square Park
Warners Bay FC 0 def. by Hamilton Olympic FC 11 – Wednesday 22nd May, 7:30pm @ John Street Oval
State Qualifiers (Round 6) Draw
Where: Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Speers Point
When: Monday 27 May, 2019
Time: From 12:30 pm
Live Link: Please follow our corporate Facebook channel for LIVE Stream. (FB: Northern NSW Football, Twitter: @nnswf, IG: nnswf)
