Coach Jake Curley feels things are falling into place nicely for Broadmeadow as they look to open up a five-point competition lead in Herald Women's Premier League.
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Magic's start to the season was a slow one. They did not get on the park when the first two rounds of competition were played before the COVID-19 break but have been gathering momentum since play resumed.
They entered round nine on equal footing with Newcastle Olympic atop the league standings but moved to 19 points and three clear of Olympic (16) with an emphatic 9-1 victory over last-placed Thornton at Thornton Park on Sunday. The two sides meet again Wednesday night, giving Magic the chance to skip further ahead with another win.
Merewether, the only unbeaten team in the league, improved to 17 points and second position with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Olympic at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday night, relegating their opponents to third. United have two games in hand over Mid Coast and Thornton.
Gemma Harrison, Maddie Dean and Chelsea Lucas all produced match doubles for Magic and Lucy Jerram, Josie Rae and Kobie Ferguson also got on the score sheet. They led 5-1 at half-time with Ainsley Childs Thornton's sole scorer.
Curley described Harrison's performance as "outstanding". The former W-League player was having the season off but answered an SOS from Magic and signed up leading into round seven to help bolster squad numbers.
"She's getting fitter now and her and Lucy are working well together," Curley said on Sunday.
"Lucy got in behind about 10 times today because of Gem. I'm really happy that we got her. She's a great player, her touch and her vision, and she's a really good pick-up for us."
Warners Bay, fourth, and Adamstown, fifth, both secured crucial wins in their respective matches on Sunday.
Fullback Georgia Cook and striker Jen Hoy scored match braces as the Panthers moved to 15 points and closed the gap on the top three by beating Mid Coast 5-1 at John Street Oval.
Cook opened the scoring with a long-range effort on the 30-minute mark before Hoy pounced on a loose ball in the box from a corner, took a touch and buried it into the bottom left corner in the 42nd.
Mid Coast hit back through Layni Fens in similar fashion in the 60th minute but Warners Bay regained the two-goal advantage when Elodie Dagg scored from the spot in the 68th minute after Matiesse Loretan, in her first-grade starting debut, was felled in the box.
Hoy set up Cook's second goal with a neat ball through the Mid Coast backline in the 72nd then completed her own match double in the 81st when she scored from close range.
Warners Bay coach Craig Atkins described it as a "very important win" and a confidence boost as they prepared to do battle with Olympic next weekend.
"In patches we turned it over way too easily but we kept the ball better today and, once we picked our communication up, the goals came quite easily," Atkins said post-match. "There's still plenty to work on but it was encouraging to score five goals."
Adamstown moved to 13 points with a 3-1 win over New Lambton (four points) at Adamstown Oval. Rosebud led 1-0 at the break after Emma Bates scored with a free kick 10 minutes before the break.
The Eagles equalised through Taylah Bryde early in the second half before Kiarra Lewis and Ellen Hughes sealed the victory with goals in the final 20 minutes.
Rosebud coach Ryan Campbell said it was "a win we needed".
"What was good was that we gave away a lead but we kept on going and won the game," Campbell said.
Round 9 results:
Merewether 2 (Rhali Dobson, Jamee Ellis) defeated Newcastle Olympic 1 (Laura Hall) at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday. Half-time: 1-1.
Broadmeadow 9 (Gemma Harrison 2, Maddie Dean 2, Chelsea Lucas 2, Lucy Jerram, Josie Rae, Kobie Ferguson) beat Thornton 1 (Ainsley Childs) at Thornton Park. Half-time: Magic led 5-1.
Warners Bay 5 (Georgia Cook 2, Jen Hoy 2, Elodie Dagg pen) beat Mid Coast 1 (Layni Fens) at John Street Oval. Half-time: Warners Bay led 2-0.
Adamstown 3 (Emma Bates, Kiarra Lewis, Ellen Hughes) beat New Lambton 1 (Taylah Bryde) at Adamstown Oval. Half-time: Adamstown led 1-0.
Pointscore:
Broadmeadow 19, Merewether 17, Olympic 16, Warners Bay 15, Adamstown 13, Mid Coast 9, New Lambton 4, Thornton 0.
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Renee Valentine
Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au
Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au
