Round 18 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
The Macarthur Rams are the 2017 PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Women’s Premiers after the final round of the competition.
The Macarthur Rams wrapped up the 2017 Premiership in style with a commanding 3-0 win over the Football NSW Institute.
Goals to Teresa Polias, Lauren Ralston and Leena Khamis saw Norm Boardman’s side lift the trophy.
Leena Khamis had the first chance of the match on 13 minutes, forcing the Institute keeper to tip the ball over the bar.
Again the home side threatened from the resulting corner, this time Kristina Maksuti having an attempt saved.
The away side had their first chance on 20 minutes.
Aideen Keane showed great determination to chase down a ball and cross into the box, only for the ball to fall for Susan Phonsongkham who scuffed her finish into the arms of Shamiran Khamis.
Only a minute later and the young Institute side got punished.
Courtney Newbon first pulled off a fantastic save after a corner, only for her team mates to fail to clear the danger as Teresa Polias buried her shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
With the match moving into the final moments of the half, Lauren Ralston thought she had doubled her side’s lead, only for the referee to rule the goal out for an earlier foul.
Leena Khamis should’ve had the Rams two goals in front after only two minutes played in the second period but the experienced striker couldn’t beat Chantelle Symes.
On 52 minutes, Shadeene Evans almost caught Khamis out at her near post but the Rams keeper got down well.
The Institute almost gifted the Rams a goal on 54 minutes but again Khamis couldn’t find the back of the net where it seemed harder to miss than score.
Lauren Ralston got her goal on 65 minutes, latching onto a Kylie Ledbrook free kick before volleying into the back of the net.
Ledbrook look to put the Rams further in front, forcing Symes into a full stretched save in the 77th minute.
Khamis finally had her goal on 82 minutes after some nice link up play, slotting the ball beyond Symes.
Another fantastic team move in the 87th minute again gifted Khamis another chance to add to the scoreline but this time Symes came out on top.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 3 (Polias 21’, L. Ralston 65’, Khamis 82’)
Football NSW Institute 0
Blacktown Spartans 0-2 NWS Koalas
At Blacktown Football Park, the Blacktown Spartans and North West Sydney Koalas closed out the season.
Two first half goals to the Koalas courtesy of Rachel Perrins and Natalie Tobin saw them go into the break 2-0 up.
Stephen Peters’ side held this result till full time to give the Koalas coach bragging rights against his good friend Andrew Mastoris.
The win meant the Koalas finished the season in a respectable sixth place.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-2 North Shore Mariners
At JJ Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays took on the North Shore Mariners.
The Stingrays knew that all they could do was win and hope other results went their way.
That’s what they did, going into half time 1-0 to the good.
But the away side wouldn’t lie down and pushed hard in the second period to secure a 2-2 draw.
Michelle Hayman and Emma Rolston scored for the Stingrays while Madeleine Bart and Tiffany Paterson scored for the travelling side.
The two dropped points meant that the Stingrays finished in third place while the Mariners secured fifth spot.
Emerging Jets 1-4 Sydney University
The Emerging Jets hosted Sydney University at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Neither side had much to play for moving into this one.
Uni came away with the points to put themselves in a positive place heading into next week’s elimination final.
Building on their 1-0 half time lead, Uni added a few more for a 4-1 full time victory.
Northern Tigers 1-2 Manly United
The Northern Tigers and Manly United took to the field at North Turramurra Recreational Area on Sunday.
The Tigers had little to play for while Manly had some hope of stealing the Premiership.
It was a close first half as the two sides went into the sheds locked at 1-1 as Servet Uzunlar scored for the home side while Nikola Orgill scored for Manly.
Remy Siemsen and United would have the last laugh though as Manly came away with a 2-1 win.
The victory didn’t bring them the Premiership but it did second place and a ‘chance’ in the finals series.
-By Nikola Pozder
