Eagles soar, Cardiff City cause shock upset

Cardiff City, a club playing in the third tier in Northern NSW, caused the biggest upset in Round 5 of the Westfield FFA Cup Northern NSW Southern Pool Preliminary Rounds.

Up against local PS4 NPL side Lake Macquarie Roosters, the Tigers conceded the opening goal but responded swiftly through Ethan Reay and Mun-Nee Morgan to make it through to Round 6 for the very first time.

The Roosters are currently sixth in the 11-team PS4 NPL Northern NSW and were hot favourites to make it through but the Tigers proved too good at Macquarie Field.

Other matches on Wednesday night included a heavyweight battle between Hamilton Olympic and Edgeworth Eagles – the two best sides in the Northern NSW region over the last three seasons.

Edgeworth’s English import Kieran Sanders scored a hat-trick to lead the Eagles to a 4-2 victory. Sanders played for Far North Queensland Heat last year, who were knocked out by Edgeworth in the Round of 32 last year.

The Eagles dominated much of the match, but just couldn’t shake a dogged Olympic until the final quarter hour when Japanese import Keigo Moriyasu sealed the result.

Lambton Jaffas – who made it through to the Round of 32 last season – knocked out Adamstown Rosebud 1-0 in a tight affair at Adamstown Oval. Western Sydney Wanderers striker Ryan Griffiths will join brother Joel in the Lambton side for the next round of matches in June.

In the Coalfields Derby dubbed the “El Classicoal”, Maitland edged out Weston 3-2. The Magpies lead 3-0 for much of the match before a late fightback from Weston which almost forced extra-time.

Broadmeadow Magic, a side who made the Round of 32 in 2014 and 2015, will be aiming to make it back to the national stage under ambitious coach Ruben Zadkovich. They were too good for second tier club New Lambton Eagles 3-0.

In the final match in the Southern Pool PS4 NPL side Valentine Phoenix scored three goals in the second half to win 4-2 against third tier side the Newcastle Suns.

The six victors from the Southern Pool will now go into the draw with the two Round five winners from the Northern Pool.

The final two from the Northern Pool will be decided this weekend in Lismore when Coffs Coast play Byron Bay, and Coffs City meet Bangalow.

Round 6 will be played over the June long weekend.