Riley Smith strikes again for Azzurri as Broadmeadow miss another chance

Last-paced Valentine held Broadmeadow to a goalless draw at Magic Park, keeping Damian Zane's side in third spot and four points off leaders Lambton Jaffas (35), who drew 0-0 with Edgeworth at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday night. Magic are also three points behind Maitland, who beat Weston 4-1 on Saturday night.

The stalemate with Valentine, on the weekend for catch-up games, came a week after Magic drew 1-1 with second-last Adamstown. The dropped points could be costly for Broadmeadow, who have another chance to make up ground on Wednesday night in their rescheduled match against the Bears at Weston Park.

Also Sunday, Charlestown's challenge to fifth-placed Olympic for the final play-off spot continued with a 3-2 win at Lisle Carr Oval. Azzurri moved to 18 points, one behind Olympic, who they play again next Sunday at Darling Street Oval.

Smith, who scored a treble in a 4-1 victory over Lake Macquarie last week, was the star again. His consecutive hat-tricks rocketed him to equal top scorer in the league on 11 with Maitland's James Thompson, who had a double on Saturday night.

Smith scored from the penalty spot in the 35^th minute following a handball at a free kick. He doubled Azzurri's advantage in the 64^th minute when he buried a ball played down by Dom Bizzarri.

However, Olympic equalised with two goals inside a minute. Tom Curran converted a penalty in the 75^th after Ryan Griffiths was fouled. Jed Hornery then scored with a strike moments after the restart.

Smith had a fortunate winner in the 88^th minute when Tom Davies' header out of defence deflected off him at close range and into the net.

Azzurri coach Graham Law was thrilled with the effort

"Apart from the start of the game and that five minutes [when they scored], I was very happy with how we played," Law said.

"Now we have the boys on the park, we are a hard front third to deal with. We go there next week on the front foot and with a little bit of gas in the tank."

Meanwhile, Jaffas captain Michael Sessions faces a long stint on the sidelines after being sent off for striking.

Sessions hit Eagles teenager Nick Curran high and off the ball in the 88^th minute and was shown a straight red. Curran played on after being treated for a bloody nose.

Under competition regulations, violent conduct causing, or with the potential to cause, serious injury carries a five-match suspension.

Fourth-placed Edgeworth moved to 28 points with a match in hand against Lakes on Wednesday night.

At Weston, Thompson found the top corner with a free kick in the 12^th minute to cancel out Cooper Buswell's opener before a powerful finish in the 70^th. Alex Read (76^th) and Ryan Clarke (93rd) struck late. Weston remain on 15 points.