Charlestown Azzurri moved into the box seat for a finals return and guaranteed a record 13th premiership for Edgeworth with a 2-0 victory over Broadmeadow Magic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday.
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The result meant Edgeworth (30 points), who had the round 13 bye, cannot be caught by second-placed Broadmeadow (25) with one weekend of the Northern NSW NPL season to go.
Another starring role from Rene Ferguson helped take Azzurri to fifth on 20 points, a goal behind Newcastle Olympic, who beat Adamstown 2-0 on Saturday night.
Also Sunday, Maitland (22 points) secured a top-five finish with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Valentine at CB Complex.
Braedyn Crowley scored from long-range after James Thompson intercepted a Valentine pass. The goal took Crowley to 13 for the season, three clear of his nearest rival, all but securing consecutive scoring titles.
Three teams will now fight it out for two finals spots. Olympic play Valentine and Azzurri take on last-placed Lake Macquarie, both away, in the final round on Sunday. Victories will give them a play-off berth but a loss or draw will open the door for Lambton Jaffas (18), who are away to Broadmeadow.
Jaffas, with plus seven, hold the edge on goal difference over Olympic (+5) and Azzurri (+4), meaning they can make the top five if they win and a rival draw.
In warm conditions on Sunday, Ferguson earned a penalty that Scott Smith converted in the 57th minute. Ferguson then scored with a strike on the turn in the 67th minute after Azzurri caught Magic napping at a free-kick.
It was a sixth goal in six games for Ferguson. Keeper Nathan Archbold was again outstanding for Azzurri but coach Graham Law was proud of his entire squad, which have fought back from scoring just one point in the opening four rounds to be on the cusp of a first finals appearance since 2014.
"I thought across the park we were outstanding today," Law said. "That's four clean sheets in five weeks, so that tells you something.
"I thought on balance, at half-time we'd had the best three chances and then we had six shots on target in the second half. Those stats don't lie.
"I'm just so proud of the boys. You can see what we're creating there. From Archie at the back to Rene at the point, and the subs on the bench, we've got each other's backs. We are definitely a team."
On Saturday, the Bears finished their season with a 3-0 victory over Lakes at Weston Park to move to 18 points and short of the top five. They have the bye next week with Maitland.
Cooper Buswell jumped on a defensive error to find Jarryd Sutherland for the opener in the 51st minute. Weston then scored from an Aaron Niyonkuru free kick in the 56th minute and strike from a tight angle in the 65th.
At Darling Street Oval, Olympic beat a 10-man Adamstown with goals from Reece Papas (38th minute) and Rhys Cooper (44th) at corners before Harry Frendo was given a second yellow card in the 52nd minute.