PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 8 Review

At the completion of Round 8 in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition, we now have only one undefeated team left in the league.
The Macarthur Rams are the sole leaders at the top of the table with only three points separating second to fifth place.

North West Sydney Koalas 4-1 Central Coast (Match of the Round)
At ELS Hall Park, it was a battle of two struggling sides as the North West Sydney Koalas met Central Coast.
It would be the fifth 4-1 loss the Central Coast would register this season as the Koalas scored their first win since round 1 this season.
Natalie Penman scored a brace for the home side while Hannah Beard and Helen Petinos got the other two. Adrianna Jones scored the lone goal for the travelling side.
It was quite the opening to the game with both sides having opportunities to take the lead.
Penman had the first opportunity only three minutes in after Beard played her through on goal. Her low cross goal shot was well saved by Debra Carlin who tipped the ball out for a corner.
Penman then looked to turn provider, cutting the ball back for Natalie Tobin who skied the ball over the bar from the penalty spot only three minutes later.
The Coast had a golden opportunity of their own in the seventh minute as Lucy Metcalfe played a great ball for Kayla Alexander who couldn’t find her feet, shooting straight at Amanda Horafios who made a good save.
It was on 18 minutes that the home side had the lead. Petinos stepped up to a free-kick and made no mistake from just outside the box. Who shot curled over the wall and into the top corner of the goal.
Neither side could really muster a real opportunity until Penman struck in the 41st minute. Beard again was the creator as Penman this time made no mistake with the finish, placing the ball in the bottom left corner.
Four minutes after the break and the home side extended the lead. A great team move saw right back Jade Booty cross in for Penman who expertly chipped the ball over the on rushing Carlin for her second and the Koalas third of the game.
A quite period in the game followed with the Koalas looking the more threatening and likely to score.
Jones almost had the Coast back in the game with a goal in the 70th minute but her shot smacked the under side of the bar and into the hands of Horafios.
Jones had her goal five minutes later as she rounded Horafios and tucked the ball home from a tight angle to give the away side a lifeline with 15 minutes to go.
Only two minutes later though and it was game over as the Koalas made it 4-1. Some individual brilliance from Beard saw her dribble through the Coast defence, slotting the ball past the keeper.
Petinos should’ve had another goal to her name but same great scrambling defence from the away side meant the score would stay as is.

Blacktown Spartans 3-1 Football NSW Institute
At Blacktown Football Park, the in form Blacktown Spartans welcomed the out of sort champions, Football NSW Institute.
The Spartans would continue their fine form while the torrid spell would not end yet for the Institute.
The home side took a one goal advantage into the break and built on their advantage in the second half to go on and record a 3-1 win.
Elizabeth O’Reilly, Rachel Doyle and captain Alix Roberts all got their name on the scoresheet for the Spartans, holding onto fifth spot in the ladder and moving into equal third place.

Manly United 2-3 Sydney University
Manly United looked to continue their undefeated start to the season as they took on another in form team in Sydney University at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.
It was the away side that got off to the better start, going into the break two goals to the good. United wouldn’t lay down though and a strong second half performance would’ve had Heather Garriock pulling her hair out but her team managed to sneak ahead and go home with a tight 3-2 win.
It was a high intense game between to sides that will challenge for the Premiership.
Olivia Price, Stephanie Ambrose and Georgia Keen got their names on the scoresheet for the victorious Uni while Louise Neville and Kristie Crawford scored for the home side.

Macarthur Rams 5-0 North Shore Mariners
First placed Macarthur Rams welcome second placed North Shore Mariners to Lynwood Park.
The Rams would remain the only undefeated side in the competition after Norm Boardman’s girls put out a tremendous second half performance, scoring four goals, adding to the one scored before the break to run away with a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
There were five different scorers for the home side as captain Renee Rollason, Elisha Williams, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Kate Hensman and Tenealle Hay all found the back of the net.
Macarthur are now on their own at the top of the table as they go in search of a second consecutive Premeirship.

Illawarra Stingrays 6-2 Emerging Jets
If you want to see goals, the Illawarra Stingrays are the team to watch as they took on the Emerging Jets at WIN Stadium.
Coach Grahame Shaw would have been sweating when his side went ahead at the break 3-2 after their previous few rounds results.
There was no turning back for the girls in pink this time though as they stepped on the accelerator in the second period, adding another three goals for a high scoring 6-2 victory.
The win was the first for the South Coast side this season as the team begins its pursuit of a finals position.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter