Broadmeadow Magic seized the Newcastle Herald Women's Premier League lead with a four-goal demolition of Newcastle Olympic while Warners Bay snapped a four-game losing streak to remain in striking distance of the top four.
The results came in a round of lopsided scorelines over the weekend.
The top-of-the-table clash between Magic and Olympic at Magic Park on Friday night failed to live up to its hype with an Olympic goal through Georgia Amess in the opening five minutes of the match the only blip on an otherwise dominant performance by the hosts.
Lucy Kell continued her impressive return from injury with a first-half brace before second-half goals to Nadja Squires, Kalista Hunter and Lucy Jerram sealed the 5-1 rout of the defending premiers and champions.
Magic improved to 40 points, relegating Olympic to second spot on 39 with six games remaining to determine the premiership.
Broadmeadow coach Jake Curley, who is in lockdown on the Central Coast, was "ecstatic" with the performance but said his side now needed to keep focus.
It was only the second loss for Olympic this campaign after being beaten 2-0 by Magic in round two and coach Harmonie Attwill said the result was "a bitter pill to swallow".
"They were just the better team," Attwill said. "They played really well in key positions and we just made too many critical errors."
While Magic and Olympic are well clear of the chasing pack, a battle remains for third and fourth.
Kimmie Trappett scored six goals and Kiarra Lewis three as Adamstown (25) trounced Mid Coast (4) 10-0 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night to stay third. Ellen Hughes also scored.
Maitland (24) consolidated fourth place with an important 5-1 victory against sixth-placed Charlestown (18) at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday afternoon. Bronte Peel and Mercedes McNabb scored first-half braces. Kaitlin Radstaak added another off a corner before Azzurri's Lori Depczynski slotted from the penalty spot.
Panthers coach Craig Atkins was thrilled to see a "more consistent and clinical" performance as the fifth-placed Panthers (22) snapped a four-match losing run with a 5-1 win over last-placed New Lambton (3) at John Street Oval on Sunday.
The Panthers led 3-0 at the break after Elodie Dagg, Mia Cook and Lilly-Jane Babic scored. Eagles striker Macy Anthony got one back for the visitors before Dagg made it a match double and Georgia Cook also found the back of the net.
Warners Bay are now eyeing a return to the top four as they prepare for a weekend double-header against Mid Coast in Taree while Maitland and Adamstown get set to battle next round.
"I'm really happy with that performance and the three points is huge really," Atkins said post-match on Sunday.
"We haven't been playing bad football, just dropping in and out of games. But it was a great team performance today. We needed to win. Now we've got the double-header against Middies. We win those two and we're back in the race."
Related:
Round 16 results
Broadmeadow 5 (Lucy Kell 2, Lucy Jerram, Kalista Hunter, Nadja Squires) beat Newcastle Olympic 1 (Georgia Amess) at Magic Park on Friday night. Half-time: Magic led 2-1.
Maitland 5 (Mercedes McNabb 2, Bronte Peel 2, Kaitlin Radstaak) beat Charlestown 1 (Lori Depczynski) at Lisle Carr Oval on Saturday. Half-time: Maitland led 4-0.
Adamstown 10 (Kimmie Trappett 6, Kiarra Lewis 3, Ellen Hughes) beat Mid Coast 0 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday. Half-time: Adamstown led 3-0.
Warners Bay 5 (Elodie Dagg 2, Mia Cook, Lilly-Jane Babic, Georgia Cook) beat New Lambton 1 (Macy Anthony) at John Street Oval on Sunday. Half-time: Warners Bay led 3-0.
Points: Broadmeadow 40, Olympic 39, Adamstown 25, Maitland 24, Warners Bay 22, Charlestown 18, Mid Coast 4, New Lambton 3.
