VETERAN striker Ben Martin was the hero for Maitland in a day of late drama in the Northern NSW NPL that resulted in Broadmeadow moving to the top of the table and the top three creating a gap to the chasing pack.
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Maitland struck twice in the final three minutes, including a go-ahead goal to Martin, to beat Newcastle Olympic at Cooks Square Park on Sunday.
At Valentine, cellar dwellers Phoenix appeared set for the upset of the season when player-coach Adam Hughes bundled home from a goal-mouth scramble to go 1-0 up against leader Lambton with six minutes remaining.
But just when it looked like the home side was about to celebrate a maiden win, Jaffas replacement Finn Paris popped up in the box to stab home an equaliser in injury time.
There were no late heroics at Magic Park, where Broadmeadow inflicted a 5-1 thumping of Charlestown Azzurri.
The drama was in the lead-up as the clash between Edgeworth and Lake Macquarie at Jack McLaughlan Oval was postponed due to COVID-19 implications.
Edgeworth had five players - Jeremy Brockie, Josh Roe, James Scott, Sam Maxwell, Adam Cawley - who either live, work or visited lockdown areas in the past week and under the regulations were able to defer their match.
Adamstown and Weston drew 1-all at Adamstown Oval on Saturday.
Magic have leapfrogged Jaffas to head the table on 26 points. Jaffas are second on 25 points ahead of Maitland on goal difference.
Edgeworth remain fourth on 18 points, but have two games in hand. Olympic (16 points) round out the top five and also have two catch-up games.
Maitland striker James Thompson opened the scoring against Olympic and was relieved to get three points.
"It was a hard-fought win and a very big three points," he said. "It puts a big gap to fourth and pretty much guarantees a semi-final birth. Hopefully we can get three or four more wins and push for the minor premiership.
"Olympic fought hard. They hang in there and once they score they try and run over the top of you. They nearly did but out subs made a massive impact. I think that was Marto's 90th first grade goal for Maitland. He is club captain and is very good around the group."
Maitland took the lead in the 10th minute. Flynn Goodman won possession near halfway and delivered a beautiful pass over the top for Thompson. The striker chested the ball down on the run and then slid a left-foot shot under keeper Daniel Eisenhauer and into the right corner.
Olympic equalised in 72md minute. Tom Curran curled a freekick in from the left and Jared Muller climbed above the pack and powered a head home.
With time almost up, Grant Brown delivered a corner to the penalty spot and Martin, making his first top-grade appearance of the season, nodded a header into the right corner.
Ryan Clark put an exclamation on the win with a runaway goal in stoppage time.
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
