Maitland stayed fourth, moving to 27 points, with the round 17 Northern NSW NPL win which featured a missed penalty from both sides and goals from Alex Read, and James and Matt Thompson.

The Magpies, who have won five and drawn one of their past six games, are five points off leaders Edgeworth but with three games in hand. The loss left Charlestown, who have also played 13 games, in sixth on 22 points - five off the top four.

Given the closeness of the league, Tanchevski said the loss was "not the end of the world" for the Blues, who were backing up from 2-0 win over Hamilton on Thursday night. He believed the top four was well within reach but that Maitland were the team everyone had to beat for the title.

"They are tough to break down at the back and when they can bring Matt Thompson and Alex Read off the bench, that's a pretty good side," Tanchevski said.

"On paper they probably have one of the best sides in the comp now. They have three quality, fast guys up top with Wood, Clarke and James Thompson, then former A-League players Thompson and Cowburn in midfield, the Swan brothers as well, and they have a solid back four. They have definitely been the toughest side we've played."

Maitland missed a chance in the 22nd minute when Joel Wood hit a penalty over the crossbar after Zac Lloyd was judged to have fouled Ryan Clarke.

James Thompson scored in the 51st minute when he beat four defenders before burying his shot.

Charlestown keeper Nathan Archbold kept his side in the contest with a string of great saves before the Blues missed the chance to equalise in the 69th minute.

Magpies keeper Matt Trott made a low save to deny Riley McNaughton's penalty and Maitland extended their advantage 10 minutes later when Read produced a chipped finish off a Clarke run and cross. Matt Thompson finished the job with a strike in stoppage time.

Tanchevski said the penalty save changed the game.

"To get back to 1-all, we're in with a chance, but you miss that and then we had to take some risks," he said.

"We moved [Adam] Hughes into midfield and went to three at the back, and when you do that you're always susceptible to the counter."

Charlestown were without Kane Goodchild (hamstring) and Tom Smart (suspension) and both will miss the Adamstown away match next Wednesday.

Maitland coach Mick Bolch said his side deserved the win.

"I thought first half was pretty scrappy, but second half we were really good and we controlled the game really well," Bolch said. "They were coming off a Thursday night game, and with the wind behind us second half, they were always going to tire. But I thought we moved the ball really well and created plenty of opportunities."

At Weston Park, the Bears scored through Chris Hurley in the 89^th minute to salvage a point against the Jets Youth and move to outright second.

Maki Petratos earned a penalty and converted it in the 11^th minute to put the Jets ahead. Hurley scored with a shot after Jason Tjien-Fooh forced a save from Noah James onto the crossbar.

It moved Weston to 29 points, one ahead of Magic, who had the bye. They are three behind Edgeworth but have played a game less.

Also Sunday, Hamilton's Jed Hornery scored in the second minute of stoppage time for a 2-2 draw with last-placed Lake Macquarie at Macquarie Field.

The Roosters led in the 73^rd minute when substitute Nick Charlesworth crossed for Sam Walker to score. Hamilton levelled when Shinchi Kawachi dinked the keeper for a clever finish in the 81^st minute.

Lake Macquarie looked to have sealed a win when Charlesworth scored with a header in the 87^th minute off Walker's cross, but Hornery was on the spot soon after to make the Roosters pay for a failed clearance.

Hamilton moved to 15 points, 12 off the top four.