Magic and Eagles reach last 32

Both Broadmeadow Magic and Edgeworth Eagles FC will represent Northern NSW on the Westfield FFA Cup national stage for a third time after winning their respective Round of 32 deciders.

Broadmeadow Magic FC 3 (Paul 46’, Virgili 69’ 87’) def. Coffs City United FC 1 (Lambert 48’)

Broadmeadow Magic will represent Northern NSW in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 for the third time after defeating Coffs City United 3-1 at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.

With both teams only having 1 days’ rest, both coaches elected to make changes to their starting line ups which took the park on Saturday for Round 6. Broadmeadow had the better of the first half, controlling large amounts of possession and creating a number of chances which they were unable to convert with the score remaining nil-nil at the break.

With a chance to regroup at half time, Broadmeadow came out for the second half looking to make amends for the missed opportunities in the first half. Shane Paul ensured they wouldn’t have to wait long, picking up the scraps after placing a shot in the bottom right hand corner to give Broadmeadow the lead.

Coffs City refused to drop the heads, hitting back straight away courtesy of Nick Lambert (48’) who volleyed home after a 30 yard strike from Scott Goddard was parried by Magic keeper, Nick Giantsopoulos.

Despite the setback, Broadmeadow took control of the match as Coffs showed signs of tiring after their extra time win over Cardiff City Tigers on Saturday. Magic would restore their lead in the 69th minute with after James Virgili hammered a bouncing ball into the bottom left hand corner after Jon Griffiths drove into the area before cutting the ball back.

Broadmeadow would seal the match in the 87th minute when James Virgili was able to get on the end of a long ball and bundle the ball passed the Coffs keeper, extending the Magic lead.

Edgeworth FC

Edgeworth Eagles FC 1 (Cawley 29’) def. Maitland FC 0

Edgeworth FC joined Broadmeadow Magic in the last 32 after defeating fellow PS4 NPL Northern NSW outfit Maitland FC 1-0.

Edgeowrth coach Damien Zane named an unchanged starting line up from the one which dispatched of the Lambton Jaffas in Saturday’s Round 6 clash, whilst Phil Dando made three changes, including starting former Hyundai A-League championship winner Matt Thompson, who was forced to play in headgear due to stitches in his head.

Despite only having two days’ rest from their respective Round 6 clashes, both teams showed little signs of fatigue as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other. Edgeworth would however start to take control midway through the half and were took the deserved lead in the 28th minute when Keiran Sanders attracted four defenders in the box before cutting back to Adam Cawley who managed to slide his shot past Trott into the bottom right hand corner.

Maitland’s best chance of the half would come in the 35th minute when Edgeworth keeper, Nate Cavaliere, was adjudged to have stepped outside of his area when clearing the ball from his hands, however Matt Thompson’s powerful freekick just went over the bar.

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