The Maitland Magpies are a single point away from promotion to next year’s Northern NSW National Premier League after thrashing Cessnock City 6-1 on Sunday.
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Maitland welcomed the Hornets to Cooks Square Park for their third coalfields derby meeting of the season knowing another three points would almost seal their place in the top flight next season.
It was a nervy opening 20 minutes for the hosts before Maitland won a penalty.
Magpies captain Blake Thompson calmly converted, giving them a 1-0 lead and easing the pressure on his teammates in the process.
Luke Lawless and Chris Broadley added their names to the scoresheet to give Maitland a comfortable 3-0 advantage at half-time.
Cessnock pulled one back just after the break but a second goal to Lawless and a double to substitute Roger Dowdell saw Maitland go on with the job in the second half.
Maitland coach Graham Law, in his first season with the club, said the team’s senior players helped the Magpies settle their nerves.
“The first 20 minutes I felt we were a bit under the cosh but I’ve got to give him a wrap, Justin Broadley was all over the park for us,” he said.
“He was verbally driving the players on, in the warm up you could see how nervous the boys were, more than we were against Valentine.
“Most of my players haven’t been in this situation before and it was Jutty that was getting in there, making sure the guys were prepared and focused.”
Maitland was without striker Joel Wood and defender Matt Toohey with work commitments and Law opted to rest Ben Martin and Chris Broadley at half-time.
Law said he was pleased with the contribution of the players that came into the team.
“The guys that came in did the job and it has been like that all year,” he said.
“That’s the kind of depth in the squad that we’ve got.”
A draw against fifth-placed Toronto Awaba at Cooks Square Park on Sunday will see Maitland promoted to the Northern NSW NPL next season.
If they secure promotion it would be the first time Maitland have played in the top flight of Northern NSW football since 2002.
Elsewhere, Thornton secured their place in the finals despite losing 4-1 to Valentine.
The Redbacks will finish fourth and could play Maitland over two legs for a place in the grand final.
In the other round 20 results Belmont Swansea downed Singleton 4-2 while Toronto Awaba edged out West Wallsend 1-0.
