James Virgili lifts Broadmeadow as Charlestown and Weston fall short | videos

Broadmeadow's last-round win at Magic Park and Lambton Jaffas' 3-0 victory over Edgeworth at Edden Oval meant the trio all finished on 38 points, five behind premiers Maitland.

The results relegated Charlestown from third to sixth spot on 36 points, while Weston won 5-2 over Lake Macquarie to rise to 37 - a point outside the top four - in the most thrilling finish to a season in memory.

The Bears led 4-0 and 5-1 at Weston Park in the second half. Those scores would have given them a top-four spot ahead of Broadmeadow and Charlestown had the Blues found a late equaliser.

In the end, the same top four sides from 2018 qualified for this year's two-leg semi-finals. Although in a different order - Maitland, Jaffas, Edgeworth and Broadmeadow - the match-ups are the same. Maitland take on Broadmeadow and Edgeworth meet Jaffas.

All eyes were on Magic Park late on Sunday. Virgili, who had returned early from a groin strain, had a goal denied for offside before scoring in the 22^nd minute with a perfectly placed chip from the corner of the 18-yard box.

The defending champions, fifth before Sunday, then held out the Blues, who had Kev Davison red carded for a hit on Josh Piddington in the 82^nd minute. Magic's Justin Broadley copped a second yellow card deep in stoppage time.

Virgili's effort, though, proved the difference.

"He's got a great attitude and playing today, he's not fit and his greatest asset is his pace, but he played on heart," Magic coach Ruben Zadkovich said.

"He wanted to make sure his teammates who are retiring, like Josh Piddington and Justin Broadley, that we send them out the right way.

"He put in a big shift under pressure and he was fantastic. I thought he really deserved the goal.

"Charlestown have got some handy players and quality boys, and they certainly give a lot physically and effort wise, but we had the quality and we created enough chances to win that comfortably.

"We didn't take them and it turned into a nail-biter but that resilience I always talk about with my boys really kicks in."

Coach David Tanchevski said his Blues dominated after an even first half.

"We belted them the whole second half but we couldn't put it in the back of the net," Tanchevski said. "They defended well, but we hit the crossbar, we had a couple of one-on-ones. But I can't be more proud of the boys' effort. They worked their butts off that whole second half but it just didn't drop for us."

Hamilton beat Valentine 4-0 in the other match.

At Edden Oval, Braedyn Crowley set up Josh Sutton in the 22nd minute and scored a 24^th-minute penalty, giving him the leading scorer title with 14 - one ahead of Joel Wood (Maitland) and Virgili.

Luke Remington scored in the 82^nd minute to end the Eagles' hopes.

"The boys deserved what they got today," Jaffas coach James Pascoe said.

"They've become a very tight group over the course of the season and I'm very proud of them.

"Time now to treat our bumps and bruises and get ready for what will be a vastly different looking Edgeworth team for the next fortnight."

Edgeworth, backing up from the 5-1 loss to the Jets in FFA Cup on Wednesday night, were without Daniel McBreen, Oliver Smith, Keanu Moore, Dylan Holz, Josh Evans and Aaron Oppedisano. All but McBreen and Holz are expected back next week.

At Weston Park, Regan Lundy scored twice as the Bears did all they could to make the top four.