PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 4 Review
It was another round in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition that was marred by wet weather with only two matches being played out of the five.
The Emerging Jets recorded their first three points of the season while the North Shore Mariners showed they mean business this season with another massive victory.
Match of the Round
Football NSW Institute 0-2 North Shore Mariners
At Valentine Sports Park, the North Shore Mariners inflicted the Champions Football NSW Institute with their first loss of the 2015 campaign.
The Mariners had to do it without goal scoring machine Tara Andrews but two second half goals were enough for a massive victory.
The Institute had the first opportunity of the game but Hannah Bacon saw her shot go just wide of the post.
The Institute looked to continue their play of possession football, moving the ball from one side of the park to the other. Carla Trimboli was next to try her luck after picking up the ball from Lorena Budgen but the Mariners keeper held the ball well.
With about 20 gone, Demi Koulizakis left the field of play with an injury and was replaced by Jacqueline Anyon-Smith
On 23 minutes, the Institute failed to clear their lines from a corner and Carly Ussher sent a well struck volley toward goal. Melati Abdullah reacted well in the Institute goal and palmed the ball over the bar.
With Koulizakis off and Princess Ibini-Isei absent, the Institute started to lose their bite in attack.
Anyon-Smith should’ve done better with her opportunity close to the half hour mark but her header from a delightful Ally Green cross went just wide.
Neither side could break the deadlock though as they went into the shed’s locked at 0-0.
Lauren Featherstone showed some skill on the edge of the box immediately after the break as she unleashed a shot toward goal. Erin Herd in the Mariners goal made a great save though to keep the scores locked at 0-0.
In the 49th minute Lorena Budgen was next to have a go. Bugden must’ve thought that she hit the back of the net but again Herd came to the Mariners rescue.
In the 54th minute the Institute paid for their missed opportunities. Ussher rose highest from a corner and headed the ball into the top right corner of the goal, giving Abdullah and the Institute defence no chance.
The away side then extended their lead on 72 minutes through jasmine Courtenay. Courtenay shot just inside the box and what seemed like a routine save for Abdullah turned into a howler as the ball slipped through her hands and rolled into the back of the net.
Despite the Institute’s best efforts, they couldn’t find a goal to get back in the contest.
Emerging Jets 1-0 Blacktown Spartans
It was always going to be a tight affair at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday as the Emerging Jets met the Blacktown Spartans.
With both teams desperate to secure their first wins of the season, it was expected that the team to score first would probably take all three points home and start their climb up the table.
An odd goal was enough for the home side as they recorded their first ever victory in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition. The win moved them to seventh place on the ladder.
The Blacktown Spartans continue to search for that first win of the season and will turn straight to round 5.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
