Both sides made it through to the nationwide Round of 32 in 2016, and both were expected to make it through again in 2017.That was until they were drawn against each other in Round 6.
Edgeworth Eagles made history last year in the Westfield FFA Cup when they were the first side from the Northern NSW region to make it through to the round of 16 last year. While, Lambton Jaffas went within inches of making it through their round of 32 match, losing 1-0 in the mud and rain of Devonport.
For one of these sides the FFA Cup dream will end this weekend. Edgeworth and Lambton have been the form sides in the NPL Northern NSW this season and they met just last weekend where Lambton were too good, winning 2-0 in one of the highest quality matches of the season.
Lambton have a side with star-power that could challenge many in the country, with former A-League players Ryan Griffiths, his brother Joel, JLICK obe Wheelhouse and Michael Kantarovski at the club. Not to be outdone, Jaffas keeper Brad Swancott also played on the national scene. Swancott played for the Newcastle Breakers in the now defunct National Soccer League.
While Edgeworth don’t have the same number of notable players, what they do have is a side whose core is almost unchanged from the one which has dominated the PS4 NPL NNSW for the last two seasons.
The Eagles major star is former A-League Golden Boot Daniel McBreen, and alongside Japanese sensation Keigo Moriyasu, Englishman Kieran Sanders and former Brisbane Strikers defender Josh Evans, Edgeworth have a formidable side.
This shapes up to be a real heavyweight battle with Lambton coming in as slight favourites, having beaten Edgeworth twice already in the league this season.
Edgeworth and Lambton will kick-off at 12pm and can be watched live HERE, courtesy of BarTV Sports.
In other round six matches, Broadmeadow Magic – who made the round of 32 in 2014 and 2015 – face the surprise packets of the PS4 NPL NNSW in 2017 in Valentine Phoenix.
The Phoenix were expected by many to finish towards the bottom of the ladder, however after 13 rounds they sit second, with American import Jalon Brown the key man for Valentine.
Broadmeadow are coached by former Socceroo Ruben Zadkovich and have struggled so far in 2017, sitting 7th. With a squad full of quality, they are expected to click soon, and a 4-1 win at the weekend could just prove the perfect tonic for a cup run.
With Valentine focusing on the league and resting some key players, Magic are the favourites to progress here.
This match will kick off at 10am and can be watched live HERE.
Northern NSW giant-killers Cardiff City Tigers meet Coffs City Lions in the 2pm match on Saturday, as the Lions look to be the first side from the North Coast to make round seven of the FFA Cup since Boambee in 2014.
The Tigers are from the third tier of Northern NSW football, and knocked off PS4 NPL side Lake Macquarie in the last round of competition. Meanwhile, Coffs City knocked off Bangalow 3-0 in Lismore.
This shapes as an extremely tight contest and either side could make it through to round seven. It will be live from 2pm HERE.
The final match of round six, will see Maitland Magpies meet Byron Bay Rams. Both sides are in uncharted waters, having never reached this stage of the competition before.
The Magpies have plenty of quality with former Newcastle Jets captain Matt Thompson in the side, alongside former Shrewsbury Town defender Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, and former Central Coast Mariners keeper Matthew Trott.
Midfielder Josh Dutton-Black is in his first year at the club after arriving from the UK, where he had previously played alongside Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott in the Southampton youth academy,
Maitland will meet a familiar face in Joel Wood, who played for the Magpies in 2014 and 2015. After playing for fellow PS4 NPL club Lambton Jaffas last year, Wood moved north to Byron Bay and now plies his trade with the Rams.
Maitland will be red hot favourites to go through in this match, which will be streamed live from 4pm HERE
