Round 3 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
There are no longer any teams left with a 100% win record after only three rounds in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Three draws, a tight victory and a blowout were the tale of the tape for this round after the Easter long weekend break.
NWS Koalas 1-1 Sydney University
It was a grand final rematch at ELS Hall Park in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Women’s competition as the Champions Sydney University took on the NWS Koalas.
It was a tactical battle on the sidelines as Stephen Peters attempted to knock off Heather Garriock’s Uni side after four straight defeats (including last season’s pre season cup final).
Peters showed his team is getting closer, securing a 1-1 draw in a match that saw two fantastic goals scored.
Nikki Flannery really should’ve had the away side in front after only two minutes, latching onto a defence splitting through ball.
Flannery moved in on Sarah Easthope but the striker couldn’t slide her shot into the back of the net, pushing the ball just wide.
Neither team could settle early with their renowned passing play as both sides pressed each other hard.
Flannery was almost in again after Georgia Plessas lobbed a ball over the defence but Easthope was quick off her line.
Uni restarted, sending the ball wide to Evelyn Chronis, the winger crossed first time and almost surprised the Koalas keeper as the ball flew inches wide of the far post.
Rachel Perrins had the first attempt for the Koalas on 16 minutes but she dragged her shot well wide of the far post.
On 20 minutes the Koalas had their best chance of the first half.
Uni failed to clear the danger from a corner, allowing Francesca Hocking to try and poke the ball home but the away teams defence reacted well to block the attempt.
Only four minutes later though and Uni were in front in some style.
Georgia Plessas received the ball about 25 metres out, saw Easthope slightly off her line and let fly, sending the ball into the top corner of the goal.
On the half hour mark the home side had their equaliser.
Siahn Bozanic stepped up to take a free kick on the edge of the area and curled the ball over the wall and into the back of the net, giving an outstretched Georgia Boric no chance.
On 36 minutes Uni should’ve been back in front.
Clare Wheeler received the ball on the edge of the area and really should’ve beat Easthope but the young keeper made a fine save.
A quick break counter attack saw the Koalas three on one but Daisy Arrowsmith and Nat Penman couldn’t convert the chance with the latter’s shot an easy save for Boric five minutes before the break.
Only a minute later and some confusion from everyone saw the ball somehow end up in the hands of Boric just before Bozanic would’ve picked up her second.
The second half saw the first chance fall the way of the away side with 9 minutes gone.
A deep free kick found substitute Bianca Galic who squared the ball up for Wheeler but again she couldn’t find the back of the net.
On 56 minutes, Liana Danaskos crossed in a fantastic ball from the right toward Flannery who volleyed first time, with the ball going just wide of the target.
The home side again threatened from a corner after Uni didn’t deal well with the cross, this time Boric sticking out a strong hand to deny Erin Pridmore on 62 minutes.
With 19 minutes remaining, Uni had a golden chance to take the lead.
Some fantastic build up play saw Flannery nip in between the defence and break into the box. The Uni striker was unable to get her shot on goal, sending the ball just wide of the far post.
Minutes later and again Flannery was in with a chance after a clearance from Boric, but all she could do was send her shot straight at Easthope.
Uni’s dominance continued and in the 76th minute Kendall Fletcher almost put the away side in front as her header went wide of Easthope’s goal.
Fletcher had another opportunity with five minutes to go but her powerful effort went just wide of the post.
With the seconds ticking in injury time, Uni had one final chance but the home side got back well to block Flannery’s effort.
NWS Koalas 1 (Bozanic 30’)
Sydney University SFC 1 (Plessas 24’)
Els Hall Park, North Ryde,
Sunday, April 23, 2017
NWS Koalas: 1. Easthope, 2. Pridmore, 5. Perrins, 8. Tobin, 10. Bozanic, 11. Rohrer, 13. Roberts, 15. Penman, 16. Davey, 22. Arrowsmith, 18. Hocking.
Substitutes: 4. Seaman, 6. Peak, 17. Farquhar, 21. Digiandomenico, 14. Petratos.
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney University SFC: 1. Boric, 5. King, 6. Danaskos, 8. Chronis, 11. Ambrose, 13. Plessas, 14. Fletcher, 15. Flannery, 20. Wheeler, 22. Hunt, 38. Gordon.
Substitutes: 2. Soutar, 24. Peak, 27. Pollit, 29. Galic.
Yellow Cards: Hunt
Red Cards: N/A
Illawarra Stingrays 2-1 Manly United
Manly United travelled down the south coast to take on the Illawarra Stingrays at Albert Butler Memorial Park.
The home side was desperate to notch win number one of 2017 on the board and they got off to a great start, taking a 1-0 lead into half time.
The second half was as tight as the first but the Stingrays managed to hold their nerve and record an important victory, 2-1.
Erica Halloway and Blaize Kendis got the goals for the Rays while Isabella Walker scored for Manly.
The result give Chris Williams a couple headaches while Brett Wallin will hope his Stingrays team can build from this result.
Emerging Jets 1-5 Blacktown Spartans
The Emerging Jets welcomed the Blacktown Spartans to Lake Macquarie Football Facility.
The Spartans finished the job in the first 45 minutes, taking a commanding 5-0 into the break with Amy Dahdah scoring an impressive first half hat-trick, while Nicola Bolger and Patricia Charalambous got the other two.
The young Jets side managed to grab a consolation in the second half and bring the full time score to 5-1.
Andrew Mastoris’ team now moves into the top four on the back of this victory, somewhere they’ll be keen to stay.
Macarthur Rams 2-2 Northern Tigers
The Northern Tigers faced a tough trip to Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon to take on the Macarthur Rams.
Macarthur didn’t find the match to be going particularly their way as the Tigers showed they’re certainly no pushovers with the scores locked at 1-1 at the break.
It was much the same in the second stanza as the sides couldn’t be separated, with the score finishing 2-2.
Leena Khmais and Kristina Maksuti were the scorers for the home side while Hannah McNulty and Eilidh Mackay scored for the Tigers.
After their convincing opening day defeat, Pat O’Sulivan’s team has taken points off two of the competitions heavy weights and been quite impressive.
North Shore Mariners 0-0 FNSW Institute
At Northbridge Oval, the North Shore Mariners hosted Football NSW Institute.
It was always going to be a tough fought battle between these two sides and that is exactly what we got.
Both defences were at the top of their games as the teams couldn’t be separated, having to settle for a 0-0 draw.
-By Nikola Pozder
