At the half way point of the #NPLWNSW competition, no undefeated teams remain with the last of them falling in round 11.
A round that threw up as much excitement as any other saw the gap at the top of the table close as well as the top 6 teams bunch closer together.
Blacktown Spartans 2-1 Sydney Olympic
A depleted Sydney Olympic put up a phenomenal fight on Sunday night but went down to a hard fighting Blacktown Spartans, 2-1.
Olympic started the better and forced mistake upon mistake on the Spartans before hitting the front In style through Claudia Cholakian.
The Spartans turned around the half time deficit in a five-minute spell as Rosie Galea and Abbey Lemon meant the home team would take the spoils.
George Beltsos’ team were without stars Cortnee Vine, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Taylor Ray, Winnie Heatley and Charlie Rule. You wouldn’t have known though as their high press was causing the Spartans all sorts of problems.
They were rewarded on 19 minutes as Claudia Cholakian let fly with a thunderbolt from some 25 metres out, giving Sally James no chance and finding the top corner.
Blacktown then had two chances of their own where they should have equalised, first Jada Whyman pulled off a fantastic save from Abbey Lemon before Ash Croft missed a one on one of her own.
Brad Attard rang the changes at the break and the Spartans improved somewhat but nowhere near the level they needed to be at.
The Spartans had the first real chance of the second 45 as Crofts was played through by Maja Markovski, only for the Spartans striker to miscontrol the ball before her effort was saved by the Olympic keeper.
It was Olympic again who threatened next, first James pulled a save off from the top draw, saving from Cholakian, before Kiara De Domizio should have made it two but for the Spartans keeper again.
The match took a turn with just over 15 to go though as Angelique Hristodoulou took a poor first touch, allowing Galea to pounce and shoot first time, catching Whyman out of position.
Minutes later and it was almost a turnaround after a training ground corner kick was taken, catching Olympic unaware before Galea’s swerving effort rebounded off the bar.
It would not take long for the Spartans to find the winner after some nice work down the right, freed up space for Lemon whose cross come shot slipped in at the near post, beating Whyman who made an uncharacteristic error.
The Spartans managed to hold on for the three points but it would be Beltsos and his team leaving disappointed after deserving so much more.
Bankstown City 0-0 Football NSW Institute
It was a share of the spoils at Jensen Park as Bankstown City and the Football NSW Institute had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Neither side was able to create much and find the elusive goal that would have brought them all three points.
This point does neither side any good as the finals places get further and further away for both teams.
Bankstown had a golden opportunity after only 3 minutes but Siobahn Edwards could not beat the Institute keeper in arguably the best chance of the game.
Emerging Jets 1-5 NWS Spirit
The NWS Spirit managed to secure their second win of the season on Sunday, taking all three points in a 5-1 win over the Emerging Jets.
Tahlia Macri nudged Spirit in front just before the half hour mark before Sunny Franco made it 2-0 within a minute.
The two-minute salvo was halved just before the break as Brinley Gentle blocked a Katie Offer clearance into the goal.
Spirit still had enough time though to restore the two-goal advantage as Macri coolly added another.
10 minutes into the second half it was 4-1 as Rachel Patterson scored a belter from some way out.
Patterson wrapped up the score line, scoring from the sport 15minutes from half time to make the score 5-1.
Macarthur Rams 0-3 APIA Leichhardt
APIA ran riot at Lynwood Park on Sunday night scoring their second straight win with a 3-0 victory over the Macarthur Rams.
It was the home team who thought they had the lead after 5 minutes as Patty Charalambous found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
APIA sent their first warning sign through Sophie Hoban only for Brianna Clarke to save for the Rams.
And two minutes later APIA was in front. Shea Connors sent in a dangerous cross as the Ra s didn’t deal with it, leaving Nikki Flannery at the far post to take the ball home.
Again the Rams thought they had scored, this time Miku Sunaga’s effort cleared off the line by Alex Tims.
In the mood to score screamers, Deborah Anne De La Harper thought she had another in her highlights reel, only for her effort from more than 30 metres out to smack against the underside of the bar and stay out.
APIA was the more dominant and likely to score next but did not find the net until the 65th minute. Flannery had her second getting onto the end of a De La Harpe corner to push APIA further in front.
Three minutes later it was game over as Shea Connors sprung the offside trap after some good work by Leah Davidson, rounding the keeper and placing the ball home.
It was enough for Spencer Prior’s team to record a massive three points.
Sydney University 1-0 Northern Tigers
Sydney University knocked off the only remaining undefeated side in the competition on Sunday, coming away with an odd goal victory over the Northern Tigers.
The first real chance of the game went the way of the home team but Morgan Aquino saved well from Annabel Marting.
Those two would be at it again on the 30 minute mark, this time Martin coming out on top. The Tigers failed to clear their lines and Martin volleyed beyond Aquino in the Tigers goal.
It was a fairly straightforward performance from then on by Uni who are a tough team to break down even on a bad day.
Uni cutting the lead at the top of the table to just one point with a game in hand also.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-1 Manly United
The Illawarra Stingrays celebrated their return to JJ Kelly Park with a 2-1 victory over Manly United on Sunday evening.
After some sustained pressure, the home team hit the front on 38 minutes. The reward came after Chloe Middleton pounced on a poor clearance to smash the ball home.
Minutes later and their advantage was doubled. If Middleton’s first goal was good, then this one was special. Picking the ball up from the right, Middleton cut in on her left before curling a spectacular shot into the top corner of the goal.
Manly was better in the second period but still couldn’t find a way to goal all up until the last 10 minutes.
This time Illawarra couldn’t clear their lines and after a scramble in the six-yard-box Meisha Westland somehow got the ball over the line.
It would prove just a consolation though as the Stingrays held on for a massive three points.
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder