Charlestown Azzurri came from a goal down then held on with nine men to beat Weston on Sunday as Broadmeadow and Edgeworth broke away at the top of the table.
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In a Northern NSW NPL round five featuring just three games because of precautionary COVID-19 isolation, Broadmeadow and Azzurri came from behind to win, while leaders Edgeworth cruised past Lake Macquarie 3-0 to maintain their perfect record.
On Saturday, second-placed Broadmeadow moved to 12 points after scoring twice late to beat Lambton Jaffas 3-2 at Edden Oval. South American Sebastian Burich Lillo, in his first top-grade game for Magic, was the hero with a stoppage-time winner after Sam Walker had knocked in Jacob Dowse's cross in the 87th minute.
It capped a thrilling final half-hour. Magic's John Majurovski scored with a header from close range off a Jarred Baker cross in the 61st minute. Luke Remington finished a slick passing exchange to equalise for Jaffas in the 67th and Scott Pettit put the hosts ahead off an Anthony Wood cross in the 72nd.
Broadmeadow's late surge left third-placed Jaffas on seven points, eight behind Edgeworth.
The Eagles did the damage in the first half against Lakes at Macquarie Field on Sunday. A Kristian Brymora header hit the post and went in off keeper Stuart Plant in the 10th minute. Dylan Holz's strike made it 2-0 in the 32nd and Pat Wheeler headed home off a Josh Rose corner in the 40th.
Azzurri left the Bears on seven points with a dramatic win at Weston Park on Sunday.
With just one point from four games, Charlestown were down 1-0 in the 24th minute after Nathan Morris converted from the spot following a handball by Callum Bower.
The visitors levelled through former Bear Regan Lundy in the 67th minute after he found a way past advancing keeper Scott Carter with a shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box.
Azzurri were in front two minutes later when Riley Smith showed composure to beat two defenders and Carter with a quality strike.
However, Charlestown were under pressure late after Jackson Frendo (76th minute) and Lundy (81st) were sent off for second bookings.
Law praised the efforts of Matt Tull, Rene Ferguson, Kev Davison and keeper Nathan Archbold to get his depleted side over the line. Law said skipper Tull defied a hamstring injury at half-time to inspire his team.
"It was my two young strikers who finally scored but it was the old guard who got us home," Law said.
"They were outstanding today and our young kids took their chances up front."
The Valentine-Adamstown game on Sunday and Olympic-Maitland clash on Saturday were postponed because of players lost to isolation after links to confirmed COVID-19 cases. Adamstown and Olympic players were sidelined across multiple grades and age groups.
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