NNSW WPL: Adamstown wary of foul play danger against Merewether

Rosebud coach Ryan Campbell watched United come from behind to beat Newcastle Olympic 2-1 last Friday night. Jamee Ellis sealed the win in the dying stages with a trademark, long-range free kick.

It was the second time this season the left-footer has delivered the killer punch late in an important game. She also proved the matchwinner in similar fashion in a 4-3 win over Broadmeadow in round four.

"We're going to have to work on making sure we don't give fouls away in and around the box because against them it's a chance for a goal every single time," Campbell said.

"Even corners. So we've just got to be aware of that and of not letting them get chances in our end because she'll score. She puts it in when it's an important time."

Adamstown are one of only two teams to take a point off unbeaten United this season. They drew 0-0 in round three. After two much-needed wins in their past two outings, Rosebud need to keep picking up points to stay in touch with the top four. They are fifth with 13 points, two adrift of Warners Bay in fourth.

Merewether coach Scott Ellis described the round-nine victory as "huge" as they moved to 17 points and into second place ahead of Olympic (16). United are two points below leaders Magic but have games in hand against Mid Coast and Thornton. They face Magic in round 11.

"If we can get past Magic and don't stumble when we shouldn't, we're a really good chance of getting the minor premiership," Ellis said.

"But the other teams are all capable of causing a problem and we've got a double-header against Mid Coast coming up which is going to be a big weekend."

Coach Michael Grass hoped a 5-1 loss to Warners Bay on Sunday served as a wake-up call for sixth-placed Mid Coast. The four-goal loss left them six points outside the top four and came after a roller coaster week in which they were put out of WPL for six weeks on NSW coronavirus-related advice only to be back in two days later.

Grass delivered some home truths to his young and relatively inexperienced side after the defeat.

"First 25 minutes I thought we were good then I think we fatigued pretty badly late in the first half," Grass said on Sunday.

"Our players can't not commit themselves and think that they're going to compete in this competition. Other clubs have that luxury but we don't have that luxury. The last few weeks haven't been great for us in that regard. Obviously, this past week has been a bit of a shambles but that's been coming for a few weeks ... attitudes probably need a bit of a readjustment.

"We're back in, we're playing football. A lot of hard work went into that. Our players just need to respect the hard work that went into getting us back in and, hopefully, after to speaking to them now that respect will come back."

Broadmeadow beat last-placed Thornton 9-1 on Sunday and can extend their league lead to five points with a repeat performance when they meet again at Magic Park on Wednesday night.

Coach Ash Wilson wants the Emerging Jets to work on maintaining focus for 90 minutes and composure in the front third when they host Illawarra at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in NPL NSW Women's on Sunday. The Emerging Jets conceded all four goals in the final 20 minutes of a 4-0 loss to Blacktown last weekend.

Wilson praised the efforts of goalkeeper Tiahana Robertson and midfielders Hannah Jones and Josie Morley in the match, which was the first for the Emerging Jets in three weeks. Their round five and six fixtures were postponed due to coronavirus concerns.