Eagles fly higher with third win in five days, Mid Coast appeal six-match ban

The fifth-placed Eagles (25 points) closed the gap on fourth-placed Broadmeadow (30) to five points with a game in hand after wins over Mid Coast, who are challenging a six-match ban handed to one of their players for match official abuse, on Friday night (12-0) and Sunday (14-1) followed by the Warners Bay rout at John Street Oval.

They complete a rough eight-day schedule with a must-win clash against sixth-placed Adamstown (21 points), who bested Broadmeadow 1-0 last weekend, at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night.

Looming large after Rosebud are second-placed Olympic (37), back-to-back clashes with leaders Maitland (38) then third-placed Charlestown (33) to complete the season proper.

Coach Aaron Stedman wants an improved effort after the Eagles led just 1-0 at half-time on Wednesday night. The sole first-half goal came from the penalty spot through Cassidy Davis.

"Not happy with the first half; we played horrible," Stedman said.

"It's up there with the worst parts of our game this year. Second half was much better.

"It's going to be a massive finish to the season. Saturday is must-win for us. Adamstown have been improving out of sight. They play really good football and all players are competitive. They don't stop.

"Each week, we've just got to turn up and play, turn up and play. We've had two plans. One was to get through all of these catch-up games and come out the other side unscathed. We've done that.

"Now it's a matter of getting some consistency with training and playing and see where everything lands in a few weeks."

Davis finished the game on Wednesday night with a hat-trick, taking her tally to 17 goals in six appearances.

Her Newcastle Jets teammate Lauren Allan produced a four-goal haul while midfielder Nina Collins and centre-back Hannah Bourke also got on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, Mid Coast have lodged an appeal against a six-match ban for player Ceara Walker, who was red-carded in the 60^th minute of their loss to the Eagles on Sunday after saying "F*** off" when called for offside.

The Newcastle Herald understands the club are hoping to have the initial charge of offence against a match official downgraded to using offensive language.

Northern NSW Football introduced tough new measures to stamp out match official abuse this year, and create a safer and more supportive environment for match officials.

The first instance of match official abuse from a team - player or coach - results in a three-point competition points deduction suspended until the end of the calendar year. In the case of a second offence from the same team, a total of six points will be deducted.

The minimum penalty for a player or team official directing offensive language or gestures at a match official was increased from a minimum four-match ban to six matches.