Maitland dropped a position to fourth after they were well-beaten 5-1 by second-placed Broadmeadow at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
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The Magpies will be eager to bounce back in what shapes as a must win game against Charlestown Azzurri next Saturday.
It was a weekend of moves on the ladder, Adamstown jumped into third after beating New Lambton 2-0 at Alder Park on Friday night and Warners Bay dropped out of the top four to fifth with a 5-2 loss to top of the table Newcastle Olympic.
Magic led 1-0 at the break then scored four more in the second half with Lucy Kell, Maggie Quinn, Bella Carlisle all finding the back of the net and Ash Brodigan producing a match brace before Maitland found a 90th minute consolation goal through Chelsea Gay.
Magpies coach Keelan Hamilton conceded Magic were far too strong in the second half.
"They were just better than us today," Hamilton said post-match on Saturday. "We limited their chances in the first half but second half was really one-way traffic, unfortunately.
"But it doesn't define our season. The top two, Broadmeadow and Olympic, have only lost to each other. And from what I saw today I don't see Broadmeadow dropping a point to anyone else other than Olympic."
The Magpies are on the road on Saturday when they take on Charlestown Azzurri at Lyle Carr Oval from 3.40pm.
It's a critical game for Maitland with Azzurri in sixth just three points behind the Magpies.
Maitland, Azzurri, Adamstown and Warners Bay all very much in the chase to claim third and fourth spots on the ladder with Newcastle Olympic and Broadmeadow Magic firmly entrenched in the top two.
Victory against Azzurri will give the Magpies a welcome buffer with another tough fixture the following week at home when they host Adamstown, followed by an away game at Warners Bay the week after.
The final three rounds see the Magpies pitted against Newcastle Olympic (home), New Lambton (away) and Mid Coast FC (home)
