Back-to-back champions Merewether and minor premiers New Lambton hold 3-1 advantages heading into the second leg of Herald Women's Premier League semi-finals after wins on Sunday.
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United beat Warners Bay at Myamblah Oval and the Eagles were winners over South Wallsend at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Leah Giuffre opened the scoring in the 32nd minute for Merewether with a long-range effort and United were 1-0 up at the break.
Tamara Nash added another in the 53rd and Courtney Anderson in the 72nd before Jenna Kingsley slotted from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box.
Merewether coach Cassandra Koppen was pleased with the performance but anything but comfortable heading into the return leg at John Street Oval next weekend.
"It was end to end and there were plenty of chances for both teams but our defence in particular did exceptional and I think we probably just had a bit of a mental edge on them," Koppen said.
"In some ways it's a dangerous score. They only really need to get one goal and they're right back in it. We can't afford to be complacent and obviously two goals and we lose because they've got that important away goal."
Warners Bay captain Cassidy Davis described it as "probably one of our worst games".
"With the ball we weren't as good as we need to be," Davis said.
"We just have to move on and try to beat them 2-0 next week.
"We know we can score goals and we know on our day we can beat anyone ... but we have to be a lot better. I think we'll enjoy being on a good field next week and being able to play football."
At Speers Point, Tara Andrews scored a hat-trick to seal the Eagles win. The Newcastle Jet found the back of the net inside the first five minutes then again in the 44th minute to have New Lambton ahead 2-0 at the break. MJ Mason got one back for the Wolves midway through the second half before Andrews scored again in the 74th.
Eagles coach Keelan Hamilton was happy with the two-goal buffer but said "we've got a lot of hard work still to do next week".
"I thought we were good in the first half and should have been out of sight," Hamilton said.
"Their keeper, to her credit, made two really good saves or I think the tie could have been over tonight. But to South Wallsend's credit, they put us under some pressure in the second half and they got the goal that they probably deserved for that little bit of pressure and definitely made it nervy for us. We responded well and I think the scoreline reflected the match.
"The three away goals is a big thing but in this game a lot of games get scored and it's definitely not a safety net."
South Wallsend coach Cas Wright felt it was an improved effort on the 6-1 loss to the Eagles two weeks earlier but said there remained plenty to work on before the second leg at Alder Park.
"At 2-1 I definitely thought we were in it and could have come over the top but we just couldn't get there," Wright said.
Semi-finals, first leg results:
Merewether 3 (Leah Giuffre, Tamara Nash, Courtney Anderson) beat Warners Bay 1 (Jenna Kingsley) at Myamblah Oval. Half-time: Merewether led 1-0.
New Lambton 3 (Tara Andrews 3) beat South Wallsend 1 (MJ Mason) at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Half-time: New Lambton led 2-0.
