The start to the season has been far from ideal with weather playing havoc on the fixture list for FMNC. Extreme heat, an electrical storm and a water logged pitch due to heavy rain has put paid to three of their opening five matches. To add to their problems, the side has also faced the top two teams on the ladder in their only two outings.

This weekend’s opponents, the Roosters, have two losses and two draws to their name after an opening round victory. They’ll be keen on three competition points knowing they are due to face the top two in the next couple of rounds.

A win for FMNC will kick start their campaign ahead of taking on Lambton Jaffas FC the following week.

The NPL Youth competitions have a weekend off meaning the FMNC squads will next take to the field on Saturday the April 28 when they face Adamstown Rosebud in Newcastle.

FOOTBALL Mid North Coast’s under 20 Herald Women’s Premier League side have a busy weekend with the round two rescheduled fixture and also a round seven match up both on the calendar.

On Saturday, the FMNC side will host South Wallsend JSC at South Street in Tuncurry, the match kicking off at 2.15pm. The original match last month was abandoned due to extreme heat conditions posing a player safety threat. Back-to-back victories against Adamstown and Wallsend FC with clean sheets in will give the side confidence after a slow start to the season. A win this Saturday will put them three points behind the second placde Warners Bay side, Sunday’s opponents.

Round seven fixtures for FMNC’s WPL squads will take place on Sunday. They will face Warners Bay FC at John Street Oval with games kicking off at 2.15pm (U20s),12.30pm (U17s) and 11am (U14s).

Warners Bay are the top scorers in the 20s with 19 goals from their six matches so the FMNC defence will need to be at their best to ensure they have a chance to take all three points. FMNC could draw level on points with the second placed Panthers should they win on  Saturday and Sunday.

In the U17s only four points separate the teams between second and seventh on the ladder. FMNC are fifth with Panthers fourth. Both teams have seven points. Winner of the match will take an important three points and for FMNC, it would get them back in the winner’s circle after back-to-back defeats.

The table topping FMNC 14s will take on third placed Warners Bay, who lost their first game of the season last weekend when going down 1-0 to Merewether United FC. FMNC it 4 wins from 5 with a 4-3 win over Wallsend FC bouncing back from their first defeat of the season the week prior to Adamstown.