30-05-2025
Coach releived for league to be back up and running after 'mini preseason'
CHARLESTOWN Azzurri coach James Pascoe has treated the past month like a mini preseason.
His players have done circuit classes, run along Nobbys breakwall and played modified games on a five-a-side court.
It has been a similar scenario for all NNSW NPL clubs.
Finally, the big wet has broken long enough to allow games to be played.
Fourth-placed Azzurri host fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic at Lilse Carr Oval on Sunday at 2pm.
The clash will be Azzurri's first league match since a 1-0 loss to Cooks Hill on April 28.
Though relieved to be back in action, Pascoe expects it will take at least two weeks for teams to get up to full speed.
"Tuesday night was the first time we have trained on a grass pitch in four weeks," Pascoe said. "It has been a bit like preseason. Even on five-a-side courts, you are restricted in what you can do. You need a distance element to simulate a 90-minute game.
"The only good thing about it is that everyone is in the same boat.
"I had a bit of a look at the Magic-Valentine catch-up game [Tuesday night]. It looked to be at a slower pace than most games. I imagine that is how every game will be in the next week or two."
Azzurri have four catch-up games to play.
"You go from not much football to having a huge game-load schedule," Pascoe said. "We will have to keep a close eye on the injury risk. That is why we have biggish squads, I guess. Players will be rolled in and out at different times.
"What will be, will be for the next couple of weeks until players find their rhythm again."
Azzurri edged Olympic 1-0 in their first encounter at Darling Street Oval on March 2.
However, they are coming off consecutive losses to Maitland (2-1) and Cooks Hill (1-0).
"A lack of goals has been our downfall in the past couple of games," Pascoe said. "We have created plenty of chances but haven't converted. We should have been fairly confortable in term of chances created.
"Hopefully that changes. We have plenty of firepower up top in Harrison Frendo, Reece McManus, Regan Lundy and Jarryd Sutherland. Rene Ferguson has been doing a job off the bench.
"Roy O'Donovan will be back for Olympic. He is a very good finsiher and will make a difference for them."
In round 14 games on Saturday, Lambton host Eadgeworth (2pm), Belswans' clash with Valentine has been shifted to Croudace Bay Complex (4.30pm) and Maitland welcome Adamstown (6.30pm).
However, the battle between Cooks Hill and Weston has been postponed due to unsafe areas on the surface.
Broadmeadow, who were playing New Lambton on Friday night, moved top of the table midweek after beating Valentine 2-0.
It was the first of five catch-up matches for the defending champions and premiers.
In NPLW, fourth-placed New Lambton closed the gap on third-placed Olympic to one point with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lake Macquarie on Tuesday night.
Tara Andrews scored in the 84th and 87th minutes to seal the important win and take her season tally to 21 goals in 10 games.
In NPLW this weekend, Olympic were hosting Maitland on Friday night, Adamstown travel to Charlestown on Saturday (4pm) and last-placed Magic, who lost 2-0 to Adamstown in a midweek catch-up, are home to New Lambton on Sunday (4pm).
CHARLESTOWN Azzurri coach James Pascoe has treated the past month like a mini preseason.
His players have done circuit classes, run along Nobbys breakwall and played modified games on a five-a-side court.
It has been a similar scenario for all NNSW NPL clubs.
Finally, the big wet has broken long enough to allow games to be played.
Fourth-placed Azzurri host fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic at Lilse Carr Oval on Sunday at 2pm.
The clash will be Azzurri's first league match since a 1-0 loss to Cooks Hill on April 28.
Though relieved to be back in action, Pascoe expects it will take at least two weeks for teams to get up to full speed.
"Tuesday night was the first time we have trained on a grass pitch in four weeks," Pascoe said. "It has been a bit like preseason. Even on five-a-side courts, you are restricted in what you can do. You need a distance element to simulate a 90-minute game.
"The only good thing about it is that everyone is in the same boat.
"I had a bit of a look at the Magic-Valentine catch-up game [Tuesday night]. It looked to be at a slower pace than most games. I imagine that is how every game will be in the next week or two."
Azzurri have four catch-up games to play.
"You go from not much football to having a huge game-load schedule," Pascoe said. "We will have to keep a close eye on the injury risk. That is why we have biggish squads, I guess. Players will be rolled in and out at different times.
"What will be, will be for the next couple of weeks until players find their rhythm again."
Azzurri edged Olympic 1-0 in their first encounter at Darling Street Oval on March 2.
However, they are coming off consecutive losses to Maitland (2-1) and Cooks Hill (1-0).
"A lack of goals has been our downfall in the past couple of games," Pascoe said. "We have created plenty of chances but haven't converted. We should have been fairly confortable in term of chances created.
"Hopefully that changes. We have plenty of firepower up top in Harrison Frendo, Reece McManus, Regan Lundy and Jarryd Sutherland. Rene Ferguson has been doing a job off the bench.
"Roy O'Donovan will be back for Olympic. He is a very good finsiher and will make a difference for them."
In round 14 games on Saturday, Lambton host Eadgeworth (2pm), Belswans' clash with Valentine has been shifted to Croudace Bay Complex (4.30pm) and Maitland welcome Adamstown (6.30pm).
However, the battle between Cooks Hill and Weston has been postponed due to unsafe areas on the surface.
Broadmeadow, who were playing New Lambton on Friday night, moved top of the table midweek after beating Valentine 2-0.
It was the first of five catch-up matches for the defending champions and premiers.
In NPLW, fourth-placed New Lambton closed the gap on third-placed Olympic to one point with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lake Macquarie on Tuesday night.
Tara Andrews scored in the 84th and 87th minutes to seal the important win and take her season tally to 21 goals in 10 games.
In NPLW this weekend, Olympic were hosting Maitland on Friday night, Adamstown travel to Charlestown on Saturday (4pm) and last-placed Magic, who lost 2-0 to Adamstown in a midweek catch-up, are home to New Lambton on Sunday (4pm).
CHARLESTOWN Azzurri coach James Pascoe has treated the past month like a mini preseason.
His players have done circuit classes, run along Nobbys breakwall and played modified games on a five-a-side court.
It has been a similar scenario for all NNSW NPL clubs.
Finally, the big wet has broken long enough to allow games to be played.
Fourth-placed Azzurri host fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic at Lilse Carr Oval on Sunday at 2pm.
The clash will be Azzurri's first league match since a 1-0 loss to Cooks Hill on April 28.
Though relieved to be back in action, Pascoe expects it will take at least two weeks for teams to get up to full speed.
"Tuesday night was the first time we have trained on a grass pitch in four weeks," Pascoe said. "It has been a bit like preseason. Even on five-a-side courts, you are restricted in what you can do. You need a distance element to simulate a 90-minute game.
"The only good thing about it is that everyone is in the same boat.
"I had a bit of a look at the Magic-Valentine catch-up game [Tuesday night]. It looked to be at a slower pace than most games. I imagine that is how every game will be in the next week or two."
Azzurri have four catch-up games to play.
"You go from not much football to having a huge game-load schedule," Pascoe said. "We will have to keep a close eye on the injury risk. That is why we have biggish squads, I guess. Players will be rolled in and out at different times.
"What will be, will be for the next couple of weeks until players find their rhythm again."
Azzurri edged Olympic 1-0 in their first encounter at Darling Street Oval on March 2.
However, they are coming off consecutive losses to Maitland (2-1) and Cooks Hill (1-0).
"A lack of goals has been our downfall in the past couple of games," Pascoe said. "We have created plenty of chances but haven't converted. We should have been fairly confortable in term of chances created.
"Hopefully that changes. We have plenty of firepower up top in Harrison Frendo, Reece McManus, Regan Lundy and Jarryd Sutherland. Rene Ferguson has been doing a job off the bench.
"Roy O'Donovan will be back for Olympic. He is a very good finsiher and will make a difference for them."
In round 14 games on Saturday, Lambton host Eadgeworth (2pm), Belswans' clash with Valentine has been shifted to Croudace Bay Complex (4.30pm) and Maitland welcome Adamstown (6.30pm).
However, the battle between Cooks Hill and Weston has been postponed due to unsafe areas on the surface.
Broadmeadow, who were playing New Lambton on Friday night, moved top of the table midweek after beating Valentine 2-0.
It was the first of five catch-up matches for the defending champions and premiers.
In NPLW, fourth-placed New Lambton closed the gap on third-placed Olympic to one point with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lake Macquarie on Tuesday night.
Tara Andrews scored in the 84th and 87th minutes to seal the important win and take her season tally to 21 goals in 10 games.
In NPLW this weekend, Olympic were hosting Maitland on Friday night, Adamstown travel to Charlestown on Saturday (4pm) and last-placed Magic, who lost 2-0 to Adamstown in a midweek catch-up, are home to New Lambton on Sunday (4pm).
CHARLESTOWN Azzurri coach James Pascoe has treated the past month like a mini preseason.
His players have done circuit classes, run along Nobbys breakwall and played modified games on a five-a-side court.
It has been a similar scenario for all NNSW NPL clubs.
Finally, the big wet has broken long enough to allow games to be played.
Fourth-placed Azzurri host fifth-placed Newcastle Olympic at Lilse Carr Oval on Sunday at 2pm.
The clash will be Azzurri's first league match since a 1-0 loss to Cooks Hill on April 28.
Though relieved to be back in action, Pascoe expects it will take at least two weeks for teams to get up to full speed.
"Tuesday night was the first time we have trained on a grass pitch in four weeks," Pascoe said. "It has been a bit like preseason. Even on five-a-side courts, you are restricted in what you can do. You need a distance element to simulate a 90-minute game.
"The only good thing about it is that everyone is in the same boat.
"I had a bit of a look at the Magic-Valentine catch-up game [Tuesday night]. It looked to be at a slower pace than most games. I imagine that is how every game will be in the next week or two."
Azzurri have four catch-up games to play.
"You go from not much football to having a huge game-load schedule," Pascoe said. "We will have to keep a close eye on the injury risk. That is why we have biggish squads, I guess. Players will be rolled in and out at different times.
"What will be, will be for the next couple of weeks until players find their rhythm again."
Azzurri edged Olympic 1-0 in their first encounter at Darling Street Oval on March 2.
However, they are coming off consecutive losses to Maitland (2-1) and Cooks Hill (1-0).
"A lack of goals has been our downfall in the past couple of games," Pascoe said. "We have created plenty of chances but haven't converted. We should have been fairly confortable in term of chances created.
"Hopefully that changes. We have plenty of firepower up top in Harrison Frendo, Reece McManus, Regan Lundy and Jarryd Sutherland. Rene Ferguson has been doing a job off the bench.
"Roy O'Donovan will be back for Olympic. He is a very good finsiher and will make a difference for them."
In round 14 games on Saturday, Lambton host Eadgeworth (2pm), Belswans' clash with Valentine has been shifted to Croudace Bay Complex (4.30pm) and Maitland welcome Adamstown (6.30pm).
However, the battle between Cooks Hill and Weston has been postponed due to unsafe areas on the surface.
Broadmeadow, who were playing New Lambton on Friday night, moved top of the table midweek after beating Valentine 2-0.
It was the first of five catch-up matches for the defending champions and premiers.
In NPLW, fourth-placed New Lambton closed the gap on third-placed Olympic to one point with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lake Macquarie on Tuesday night.
Tara Andrews scored in the 84th and 87th minutes to seal the important win and take her season tally to 21 goals in 10 games.
In NPLW this weekend, Olympic were hosting Maitland on Friday night, Adamstown travel to Charlestown on Saturday (4pm) and last-placed Magic, who lost 2-0 to Adamstown in a midweek catch-up, are home to New Lambton on Sunday (4pm).
