The Magpies lost seven players, including gun striker Braedyn Crowley, from their 2020 grand final team and they have rebuilt with mostly young talent to sit atop the ladder after seven rounds.

They were untroubled at Adamstown Oval against second-last Rosebud on Saturday. Joe Melmeth, one of their young recruits, scored on two minutes with a shot on the run from an acute angle to lob keeper Tom Jenkin.

Alex Read, who returned to Maitland from Valentine this year, earned a penalty when taken down by Jenkin. James Thompson converted in the 32^nd minute.

Read finished a one-on-one chance in the 72^nd minute and Ryan Clarke was on the end of another long-range counter-attack in the 84^th for 4-0.

Bolch was pleased with another three points but warned they now faced a challenging period.

"We played well in patches, but we've still got a lot of improvement," Bolch said.

"Including the FFA Cup, we've got a run now of Magic, Olympic, Jaffas and Edgeworth, so that's going to test us.

"It's a young group and they are ahead of where I thought they'd be. A lot of people thought we might struggle to make the semis, so to have themselves in this position is great.

"The next four weeks obviously defines our season. Whether they are going to be realistic premiership contenders or fighting for a semi-final spot, so it's going to be a big month."

Maitland (18 points) leapfrogged Broadmeadow (16) into first after Magic suffered their first loss of the year on Saturday night.

Lambton Jaffas (15) won 2-1 at Magic Park, although Broadmeadow appeared unlucky not to gain an injury-time penalty when Mitch Rooke was felled.

Jaffas' winner came in the 83^rd minute when Reece Papas scored from the spot after Jon Griffiths was penalised for handball from an on-target Kale Bradbery shot.

Scott Pettit opened the scoring for the visitors with a header in the 10^th minute. Broadmeadow equalised through James Virgili's finish in the 73rd.

Also on Saturday night, Lake Macquarie beat the Bears 3-1 at Weston Park. John Majurovski (21^st minute) and Chris Berlin (27th) scored for Lakes before Liam Wilson (34th) hit back for Weston. Josh Maguire then put Berlin in behind for 3-1 in the 43^rd.

On Sunday, Jeremy Brockie and Josh Rose starred as Edgeworth beat last-placed Valentine 4-0 at CB Complex to move to 12 points.

Brockie scored on 19 minutes and Rose less than a minute later. Brockie then deflected in a ball from Rose in the 54^th minute before roles were reversed for a well-worked goal in the 91^st.

The Charlestown v Olympic match on Sunday evening was abandoned at halftime at 1-1 because of lighting failure at Lisle Carr Oval.