Round 10 in the #NPLWNSW competition was a drama filled one with plenty of excitement.
Only four points separate second to seventh on the ladder while the Northern Tigers extend their advantage over their closest rival.
Manly United 5-1 Bankstown City
A second half capitulation meant that Bankstown City returned to Jensen Park with their tails between their legs as an on fire Manly United ran away with a 5-1 victory.
Bankstown scored first in the first half and lead at the break before United turned the tables inside the first four minutes of the second half, before adding another three goals to round off the scoreline.
The visitors took the lead though 30 minutes in, Manly failing to clear their lines before Emily Condon found the back of the net at the third time of asking after a calamity of errors at the back.
Bankstown were flying and thought they had a second after Daisy Arrowsmith volleyed home after a corner, only for the referee to rule the goal out.
That is where everything fell apart for the visitors.
It seemed as though Matthew Costantini’s girls didn’t return after the break, conceding just 9 seconds after the restart.
A long ball from the kick off was poorly dealt with by the Bankstown defence as Emily Minett took full advantage, finding the top corner from quite a long way out.
Not even five minutes of the first half had passed and United overturned the deficit. Phoebe Gilbane heading well from a Maddy Zahra corner to find the back of the net.
With just over 20 to go, United made it 3-1. Minett had thought she scored but Ambrose cleared off the line. From the resulting corner, Tegan Biasi rose highest to head home and extend Manly’s lead.
As the clock ticked, Manly added another from the spot as Zahra expertly dispatched the penalty.
With only minutes remaining, Manly rounded off the scoring. Minett became provider as Caitlin Jarvie looping one of the Bankstown keeper and into the back of the net.
Macarthur Rams 1-1 Sydney University
It was an exciting one at Lynwood Park on Sunday night as Macarthur Rams and Sydney University shared the spoils.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play mid-way through the second half before Alex Huynh saw red. But Stephen Peters’ Rams showed some character to come back and secure a point.
Uni had started the better and looked the more likely in the opening 15 minutes without creating a clear cut opportunity.
As the home team slowly got into the game, Leena Khamis almost had the Rams in front. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, Khamis aimed for the bottom left corner before Courtney Newbon pulled off a phenomenal save.
From the resulting corner it was Khamis again, rising highest in the box but heading just wide of Newbon’s goal.
The game was played at a high tempo from both ends and despite no goals scored in the first 45 minutes, there was definitely excitement at Lynwood Park.
Laura Murtagh was giving Emma Ilijoski all sorts of problems with the Rams winger unable to deliver the killed ball on various occasions.
10 minutes into the second half and the Rams should have been in front. Beth Gordon showed fine skill and vision to slip in a delightful through ball for Miku Sunaga, only for Newbon again to come to the rescue.
Out of nothing, Uni were in front. The Rams didn’t deal well with a cross and Rola Badawiya slammed home a loose ball inside the six-yard box.
Things went from bad to worse for the Rams as Alex Huynh received her second yellow card and subsequent red.
The home team didn’t lie down though and shortly after got a deserved equaliser.
Beth Gordon sent a hopeful ball forward toward Leena Khamis only for an under pressure Ashley Irwin to lob the ball over her own goal keeper and into the goal.
Despite being down to 10, the Rams still looked the more likely to score but neither team could find a winner in the final 10 minutes.
Northern Tigers 3-1 Illawarra Stingrays
The league leaders Northern Tigers secured another win and extended their lead at the top of the table as they defeated the Illawarra Stingrays 3-1.
It was the visitors that had an early chance from a spot kick but Michelle Carney was thwarted by Morgan Aquino in the Tigers goal.
Just after the half hour mark the Tigers had the lead from the spot as Hannah McNulty won and converted a penalty.
There were no goals until the 78th minute when Abbey Green rose at the far post to head the ball home and double the home team’s advantage.
Minutes later and Beth Bernardi secured the win for the Tigers with a fantastic finish from just inside the area.
Carney made up for her missed penalty with a late goal for the Stingrays but it would only be a consolation.
Sydney Olympic 4-0 Football NSW Institute
Sydney Olympic added another victory to their fine run as they dismantled an undermanned Fotoball NSW Institute team.
The Institute held out until the 27th minute as Sarah Yatim beat the offside trap and placed the ball home.
Claudia Cholakian made it two minutes later with a neat finish from inside the area.
Am eight-minute flurry was completed when Winonah Heatley scored a fine goal off a training ground corner routine.
Olympic rounded off the scoring in the second period as Teigan Collister got on to the end of a square ball from Taylor Ray.
APIA Leichhardt 1-0 Emerging Jets
APIA Leichhardt scored an important victory over the Emerging Jets at Lambert Park in the final match of round 10.
It looked a lot harder for the favourites APIA in this one as the Jets made it difficult for their more fancied opponents.
APIA had to wait until the 68th minute to hit the front and it was through substitute Isabella Di Sipio. The home side saw a bunch of chances get blocked and saved before Di Sipio popped up at the far post to score.
Tori Tumeth was also substituted injured and with a massive match against the Rams coming up, Spencer Prior will be hoping his centre back will be available.
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder