Maitland FC progressed with a 1-0 win over Broadmeadow Magic in the NPL Northern New South Wales preliminary final. Braedyn Crowley's 49th-minute goal proved decisive on an afternoon when Broadmeadow saw plenty of the ball but could not score.
The match was goalless until Crowley broke the deadlock early in the second half. Broadmeadow pushed forward looking for an equaliser, but Maitland held on to secure the result without a single booking being shown.
The statistics underline how one-sided the contest was in terms of territory: Broadmeadow had 60% possession and 12 corners to Maitland's four. They also managed seven shots on target to Maitland's three, yet Maitland converted one of their attempts and took the win.
