We’re one round closer to crowning our 2019 premiers in the NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Sydney University 2-0 Northern Tigers
It was a clash for the premiership and it was the home side that would come away with the points in a 2-0 victory.
Two second half goals, one each to Rachel Soutar and Annabelle Martin were enough for Uni.
Alex Epakis’ team are now ever closer to securing first place with only three rounds remaining.
Uni dominated early, starving the Tigers of the ball and moving it from side to side waiting for an opportunity.
On 11 minutes Julie-Ann Russell had a chance after turning her defender well but shooting just wide of the far post.
Five minutes later Cortnee Vine had a speculative effort from distance but her half volley went inches over the bar.
The chances kept coming and again Vine was in the thick of it, shooting well over from the penalty spot.
Just before the break Mel Caceres went down for the home team in what looked a serious injury.
Daisy Arrowsmith had the first chance for The Tigers inside the first minute of the second half but she headed over the bar.
Clare Wheeler then stung the palms of Eliza Campbell who made a good save with 30 minutes to go.
Uni thought they hit the front only minutes later but the referee chalked the goal off.
And with the match heading for a draw, Uni hit the front in ridiculous fashion.
Soutar let fly from distance and as her shot took a deflection, the wicked bounce of the ball saw it bizarrely go over Campbell and into the back of the net.
Wheeler went close again with just over five remaining, forcing Campbell into a fingertip save.
With the away side pushing desperately hard to find an equaliser, Uni secured the win in the 3rd minute of stoppage time.
Martin picked up the ball on the left, dribbled into the box before letting fly with a fine left footed strike, giving Campbell no chance.
Manly United 0-3 Sydney Olympic
Manly United has become a side that’s done damage in this run to the finish line but Sydney Olympic weren’t in the mood for any surprises.
It was a tight first half though with neither creating much and going into the break scoreless.
In the 57th minute Olympic had the lead as a cross come shot by Georgia Plessas found the top corner of Nicole SImonsen’s goal.
Not long later it was 2-0 as Susan Phonsongkham danced her way though the United defence before finding the back of the net.
Kiara De Domizio then came off the bench to wrap up the 3-0 scoreline after Phonsongkham played her in.
Illawarra Stingrays 1-0 Blacktown Spartans
The Illawarra Stingrays came away with all three points in a tight contest against the Blacktown Spartans.
It was the home side who were quick out of the blocks and hit the front inside the first 10 minutes.
Caitlin Cooper’s effort was parried by Casey Dumont as Chloe Middleton was first on the scene to tap the ball home.
It was all the Stingrays needed, going a step closer to confirming finals football for the club.
Emerging Jets 0-2 Football NSW Institute
Lots of talent was on show at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility as the two academies clashed.
It was the Institute though that would come away with the spoils, winning 2-0.
The win was important for the Institute as it kept the above the Jets on the ladder.
NWS Koalas 4-0 North Shore Mariners
With finals all but done for the North West Sydney Koalas, they made sure they’d finish their season on a high, defeating the North Shore Mariners 4-0.
Two goals in each half were enough at Christie Park for the Koalas, leaving them with a mathematical chance of making finals football.
Deborah-Anne De La Harpe, Annika Clayton, Princess Ibini and Kiara Karqhuar all found the back of the net for the Koalas.
Bankstown City 1-5 Macarthur Rams
Nothing but Ws will keep the Macarthur Rams season alive and they got one off with a comprehensive victory against Bankstown City.
Leena Khamis opened the scoreng for the away team, taking advantage of some poor defending.
10 minutes later Khamis had her second after a fine turn and powerful shot that gave Renee Krstanovska no chance.
Kylie Ledbrook made it 3-0 before half time with a neat finish, this time the on form Khamis setting her up.
The Rams number 10 then secured her brace in with an acrobatic finish to make it 4-0.
Bankstown pulled a goal back in some style with probably the goal of the evening.
But Khamis then completed her hat-trick and wrapped up the 5-1 win with a goal 15 minutes from half time.
By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s writer