From having five across the top locked in a share of first place, there are only two after round seven action in the #NPLWNSW competition.
There was a first win of the season for Spirit, while the Northern Tigers showed characted to come from behind to take the points on Sunday night.
Football NSW Institute 1-2 Northern Tigers
The Northern Tigers overturned an early deficit to come away with all three points on Sunday night against the Football NSW Institute at Valentine Sports Park.
The home team were in search of their first win of the season and got off to a great start through Isabella Chidiac only for Claudia Bunge to equalise shortly.after.
Annalise Brewster secured the points for Jake Stephenson’s team with a goal with just over 10 minutes remaining.
It was a match with minimal chances at both ends but it was the Institute who started the better. The Tigers struggled to deal with the early high press from their young counterparts and the home team took a deserved lead on 10 minutes.
Anabelle Ghabach received possession on the right before finding Chidiac on the edge of the area who scored a fantastic goal. Using the inside of her foot on the half volley, Chidiac swept the ball into the top corner and beyond an outstretched Morgan Acquino.
It didn’t take the Tigers long to respond, six minutes to be exact. Abbey Green picking up the ball on the right and crossing in a teasing ball which was well headed by Claudia Bunge, giving Tahlia Franco no chance in the Institute goal.
If the Tigers responded quick, the Institute were almost faster. Chidiac again the culprit, this time her top corner bound free kick was well saved by Acquino.
As the half wore on, the Tigers improved and kept that momentum going into the second half. Total dominance in the second period but without an end product.
First, Ash Brodigan had a fine opportunity from a set piece, but her effort sailed high over the bar.
With the match heading toward a share of the spoils, it was the visitor’s that responded with 10 minutes to go. Having been on for only minutes, substitute Annalise Brewster popped up unmarked in the box to tap the ball home following a delightful cross from right back Josie Wilson.
The Tigers could have made it 3-1 late on but again Brodigan could not get her free kick from the edge of the box on target.
Blacktown Spartans 5-1 Emerging Jets
The Blacktown Spartans continued their undefeated start to the season with a commanding 5-1 win over the Emerging Jets.
The visitors held out for 41 minutes before they capitulated. The Spartans hit the front after the Jets keeper spilled an effort from Hana Lowry, allowing Ash Crofts to tap home.
Susanna Behn-Smith then gave away possession, allowing Crofts to pick the ball up and place it into an open goal only a minute later.
Crofts had her hat-trick 13 minutes after the restart, cutting onto her right from the left and finding the bottom left corner.
The next would come with five to go to you guessed it, Ash Crofts. Fine work by Maja Markovski to set her team mate up as Crofts unleashed at goal from just inside the box.
The goals rained down as the Spartans conceded their first goal of the season with four minutes to go. Some neat footwork and individual brilliance from Claire Adams forced Sally James into a save which she couldn’t hold, allowing Brinley Gentle to tap home.
Substitute Kate Duffy rounded off the scoring after Behne-Smith made a fantastic save off the original effort to make it 5-1.
Bankstown City Lions 1-2 NWS Spirit
NWS Spirit’s hard work over the last few weeks was rewarded Sunday afternoon after they took their first three points, defeating Bankstown City at Jensen Park.
A strong start by the visitors saw them take the lead after just 13 minutes. A poor interception from Brianna Edwards from a corner saw Victoria Martin pop up at the back post and put the ball in.
Spirit managed to weather the Bankstown storm following that to take a one-goal lead into the break.
With half an hour to go, Morgan Roberts thought she secured the points for Spirit. Getting onto a low cross from the right, Roberts got just enough on the ball to get it over the line after it hit the post.
The Bankstown barrage came again and they had a goal with four minutes to go to make for a grand stand finish. Paige Hayward managed to get one back after a scramble in the box to give the home team a chance.
Spirit stood firm though and secured their first win of the season.
Manly United 2-2 APIA Leichhardt
It was spoils shared at Cromer Park on Sunday night as Manly United and APIA Leichhardt played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
It was somewhat against the run of play that the home team hit the front on 35 minutes. Maddison Zahra has been in fabulous form and she continued that here with a contender for goal of the season, scoring from almost 30 metres out, her strike hitting the underside of the bar and going in.
It didn’t take APIA long to respond and four minutes later they were level. Leah Davidson struck a fine volley into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Minutes later and they had turned the result around through top scorer Shea Connors. Picking up the ball on the right, Connors cut onto her left before beating Simonsen at her near post.
With 15 minutes left on the clock the home team were level after a fantastic run down the right by substitute Tegan Biasi. Biasi beat her marker with pace before cutting back to Caitlin Jarvie who placed the ball home from near the penalty spot.
Emily Minett could have won it in stoppage time but Sophie Magus did well to repel the Manly attack and secure a point for APIA.
With only two wins from six and three consecutive games without a victory, along with the quality squad assembled at Lambert Park, the pressure must be mounting on Spencer Prior from the APIA hierarchy.
Macarthur Rams 1-1 Illawarra Stingrays
Just when they thought they would finally host their first home match of the season, the Illawarra Stingrays were away once more, this time at Lynwood Park as they faced the Macarthur Rams.
It was a tight game with chances at either end, both teams having to settle for a point at the end of the 90.
The Stingrays took the lead 5 minutes after the restart after bundling home the ball after a corner was not dealt with by the Rams.
As was the case in most games this round, the opposition hit back immediately. Mel Caceres was fed a perfect ball through the Rams defence before placing the ball beyond the keeper and into the net.
It’s Macarthur’s third game without a win while the Stignrays have now made it three games without defeat.
Sydney Olympic v Sydney University – Washed Out
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder