Round 19 – National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Review
The North West Sydney Koalas missed a golden chance to find their place in the top five but not all hope is lost after round 20 in the NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Macarthur Rams 2-2 Football NSW Institute
Macarthur Rams had to come from two goals down at Lynwood Park to rescue a point against the Football NSW Institute.
It was a special goal from Kylie Ledbrook that got them that point and one that will make the highlight reel for many years to come.
The first chance of the game fell the way of the home side on 14 minutes when Kylie Ledbrook slipped in Georgia Yeoman-Dale but Jada Mathyssen-Whyman was quick off her line.
Yeoman-Dale was in again two minutes later, this time finding the back of the net, only for the goal to be chalked off for an earlier handball.
Rose Galea was next to try her luck on 19 minutes, beating her defender well before poking her effort just wide of the goal.
Institute’s first chance fell to Holly Mcnamara in the 24th minute but the Rams keeper saved well.
McNamara then teed up Rachel Lowe a minute later but again the Rams keep was up to the task.
The away side kept coming and in the 27th minute Sheridan Gallagher somehow didn’t score after a set piece.
On 29 minutes it was the Rams’ chance to go forward and after a neat cut back by Yeoman-Dale, Galea got her bearings all wrong, shooting well over the bar.
But two minutes later Institute was in front.
Some fine work by Susan Phonsongkham saw her beat her defender before playing the ball across goal for Mcnamara who swept the ball home.
Yeoman-Dale was in the mood and a minute before the break she played in Ledbrook but the experienced campaigner couldn’t find the back of the net.
It was the young Institute side that would double their advantage only seven minutes after the break.
Mcnamara turned provider, laying the ball off for Kyra Cooney-Cross who blasted her effort into the back of the net.
But only two minutes later, Yeoman-Dale was brought down in the box, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.
The striker stepped up and found the bottom right corner to halve the Institute’s lead.
Shadeene Evans had an opportunity to restore the Institute’s two-goal advantage but she couldn’t get her effort on target.
But down the other way went the Rams and found their equaliser through Kylie Ledbrook.
Ledbrook showed all her class and why she is one of the best players in the league, scoring from 40 metres out and catching Mathyssen-Whyman off her line.
A truly spectacular goal.
Kate Hensman should’ve had the Rams in front six minutes from full time but she sent her effort over the bar from only metres out.
Hensman had another chance in the 88th minute, getting on the end of a corner, only to volley straight into the arms of Mathyssen-Whyman.
Evans had an opportunity in stoppage time but couldn’t find the back of the net with a guilt edged chance.
Blacktown Spartans 4-0 Sutherland Shire
The Blacktown Spartans hosted the Sutherland Shire at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday.
It was the home side who got off to the perfect start, finding the lead after only five minutes through Tanya Borazio.
Gab Marzano made it two before the break as the home side went into half time leading 2-0.
Rhianna Pollicina and Lucy Jerram each picked up a goal in the second half to give the Spartans a 4-0 victory.
Illawarra Stingrays 8-1 Bankstown City
The free scoring Illawarra Stingrays hosted Bankstown City at JJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon.
And they wasted no time, picking up where they left off last week, taking a 3-0 lead after only 11 minutes.
Bankstown pulled a goal back through Tania Baban 10 minutes later to make it 3-1 but that’s as close as they’d get before Illawarra scored another to go into the break 4-1 up.
Another four goals in the second period had Illawarra home with an 8-1 victory, scoring a ridiculous 23 goals in two games.
Michelle Carney had four goals to her name while Evelyn Chronis, Erica Halloway, Talitha Kramer and Mackenzie Hawkesbury all scored one.
The win means they keep the pressure on Uni as they wait for them to slip up.
Northern Tigers 0-0 NWS Koalas
At North Turramurra Recreational Area, the Northern Tigers took on the North West Sydney Koalas.
The Koalas knew they needed points to continue their push for a finals place.
The teams couldn’t be separated at the break and the stalemate continued into the second half as the Tigers and Koalas shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw.
It was a opportunity missed for the Koalas who would’ve snuck into the five with a win.
North Shore Mariners 1-2 Manly United
It was derby day at Northbridge Oval as the North Shore Mariners welcomed local rivals Manly United.
The Mariners went into this one in some form and carried that into the first half, taking the lead through Hannah Peric in the 38th minute.
With their finals position in the balance, United needed a response in the second half.
That’s exactly what Chris Williams’s side did, equalising four minutes after the break through Claudia Cholakian.
Only minutes later and Cholakian was at the double, scoring what would be the winner and a massive three points for Manly.
Emerging Jets 0-5 Sydney University
At lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility the Emerging Jets faced off with top of the table Sydney University.
The away side took the lead through Cortnee Vine before Clare Wheeler doubled the advantage.
A second to Vine along with goals for Katherine Ebbs and Clare Woods had Uni home with a 5-0 victory.
BY Nikola Pozder
