NEW coach, same old Edgeworth.
Any doubts over the Eagles' premiership credentials after the sudden departure of coach Damian Zane were dispelled with a resounding 4-1 victory over Maitland at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Sunday.
New Edgeworth boss, Keelan Hamilton, conceded that the scoreline flattered the hosts but last season's grand-final winners again appear the team to beat.
"The result was excellent," Hamilton said. "I don't think the scoreline reflected how even the game was. Both teams had chances. We took more than Maitland.
"I think there would have been doubts. I haven't got the hugest profile as a coach and with Damian leaving, who was such an influential figure, people were going to doubt us. But the playing group here is strong and they are a tight-knit group. That hasn't changed.
"There are some things for us to work on. We weren't great today and we have come away with a 4-1 win. We have to tidy up some areas because on another day we could have been on the reverse of it. But first-up after a long break, against a good side ... I couldn't be happier."
Edgeworth, with Josh Rose playing as a central striker, led 2-0 at half-time through goals to Will Bower (31st minute) and Jose Atayde (45th).
Braedyn Crowley pulled a goal back for Maitland with a spectacular strike five minutes after the break. But Edgeworth responded with two goals in two minutes to Josh Evans (56th) and Kristian Brymora (57th).
Evans chested in a corner and Brymora stabbed a shot with his left foot from the edge of the box.
"We were a bit stretched for a five-minute period after their goal," Hamilton said. "To react and go bang, bang and give us a buffer was a big help."
Maitland created the bulk of chances in the first half, but were thwarted by poor finishing and good keeping from Josh Low. But coach Mick Bolch was most disappointed with the Magpies' lapses at set pieces.
"Edgeworth are fit, move the ball well and every mistake we made they pounced on," Bolch said. "We need to be better. There were two or maybe three goals from set pieces ... they were too good for us on the day."
In other games Sunday, Kale Bradbery scored from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute to secure Lambton a 1-0 win over Lake Macquarie at Macquarie Field.
Newcastle Olympic came from behind to pip Weston 2-1 at Weston, Adamstown Rosebud edged out Charlestown Azzurri 1-0 at Lisle Carr Oval and Magic beat Valentine 5-0 at CB Complex.
