A fantastic round of football involving two come from behind wins and a heap of goals in Round 15 of the #NPLWNSW competition.
APIA Leichhardt 2-1 Sydney Olympic
In the final match of the round on Sunday evening, APIA Leichhardt recorded a fantastic come from behind win against Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park.
The away team hit the front through a fortunate goal from Gisella Pipino on 19 minutes against the run of play, before APIA hit back before the break through Shea Connors.
The winner came with three minutes to go as Nikki Flannery forced the ball home to the delight of Spencer Prior.
With both teams missing some key players, it was APIA that adjusted the better and looked the more likely.
Connors looked up for the match from the get go and came close on two separate occasions for APIA without testing Jada Whyman.
Next to go close was Rhianna Pollicina who managed to test Whyman but the Olympic keeper made a confident save.
Going the other way, Olympic went in front. Pipino picked the ball up from the right and sent a cross into the box which changed it’s flight and ended up in the top corner of Sarah Langman’s goal. To the surprise of everyone at the ground, Olympic was in front in bizarre fashion.
Going a goal down did not change APIA’s game plan and less than 10 minutes later they were level. Connors picked the ball up on the edge of the area, beat one defender and got through the second before placing her shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
Neither team created any real chances for the remainder of the half as the teams went into the sheds square.
APIA began the second half the same as the first but struggled to break down a stubborn Olympic defence, Jess Frampton and Charlotte McLean colossal at the back.
With 20 on the clock remaining, APIA created a good chance. Deborah-Anne De La Harpe broke down the right wing and with both Sophie Hoban and Connors streaming forward and unmarked in the box, the winger could not find either.
APIA should have been in front in the 83rd minute, Hoban put in clear on goal, only for Hada Whyman to make a fantastic reflex save with her leg.
As the clock ticked, APIA’s pressure finally told. An excellent run down the left flank and cross from De La Harpe found Nikki Flannery at the back post as the APIA attacker got the ball over a lunging Whyman who almost made another great save.
Olympic created some pressure of their own late but APIA stood firm to collect all three points.
Bankstown City 2-0 Emerging Jets
Bankstown City kept their finals hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over the Emerging Jets at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
Matt Costatini’s team had to get off to a good start and they did just that, hitting the front after eight minutes. It was Demi Koulizakis with a fine strike from just outside the box giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Just before the half hour mark Bankstown doubled their advantage. The home team pinched the ball from the Jets defence before Daisy Arrowsmith turned on the after burners, flying through in on goal and calmly slotting the ball home.
Bankstown dominated the remainder of the fixture and could have had a few more but were unable to score.
The afternoon ended on a sour note as Paige Hayward was given her marching orders for a swinging elbow and will be a major loss for Bankstown when they take on Blacktown Spartans next week.
Football NSW Institute 0-3 Macarthur Rams
Macarthur Rams recorded an important 3-0 victory away from home on Sunday against the Football NSW Institute.
It was the veteran Leena Khamis that put the Rams in front just before the break. Laura Murtagh was the provider, sliding a ball through for Khamis who latched onto it before slotting it under the on rushing keeper.
Just after the break, the Rams made it two. This time Khamis the creator, flicking a header into the path of Murtagh who slotted the ball home.
The Rams made the points safe 10 minutes later as a Beth Gordon shot turned into a perfect through ball for a late coming Murtagh who grabbed her second and the Rams’ third of the evening.
It was the Rams that dominated the match and went home with a deserved three points.
Sydney University 1-0 NWS Spirit
NWS Spirit travelled to Valentine Sports Park in hope of pinching a point from Sydney University but it wasn’t to be as the league leaders recorded another win.
Tiana Gauci in the Spirit dug out was making a return to her former employers but it wasn’t a happy evening for her.
Uni took the lead in the first half with 30 minutes gone on the clock in spectacular fashion. Annabelle Martin whipped in an in swinging corner from the left, evaded everyone including Katie Offer and made it’s way into the net.
Spirit reacted well, created many opportunities, in particular in the second 45, but were unable to find a way into the Uni goal.
The victory means that Uni now go 12 matches without defeat.
Manly United 1-1 Northern Tigers
It was derby day at Cromer Park as Manly United entertained the Northern Tigers with the local rivals having to settle for a share of the spoils.
The visitors dominated the first half but neither team could break the deadlock as both went into the sheds locked at 0-0.
It was the home team that struck first though with the second half barely kicking off. Alexia Forner had her first Manly United goal after getting onto the end of a through ball and slotting it into the back of the net.
With just over 20 to go, the Tigers were level. Maddie Bart in style lobbing the on-rushing goalkeeper to get the Tigers back into the game and scoring her sixth goal of the campaign.
Neither team could find another goal and would have to settle for a point each.
This draw was Manly’s ninth of the season, an incredible number with 14 matches played.
Blacktown Spartans 2-3 Illawarra Stingrays
The Illawarra Stingrays managed to overturn a deficit on Sunday at Blacktown Football Park to return to the South Coast with all three points after defeating the Blacktown Spartans 3-2.
Brad Attard’s team started the match well and after 13 minutes were in the lead. Jessika Nash played in Bryleeh Henry who made no mistake with her finish from just inside the area, placing the ball beyond the keeper.
With half time beckoning, it was two. On the counter attack, Henry turned provider as Ash Croft added another to her season tally, poking the ball beyond the Stingrays keeper to make it 2-0.
It was the perfect start to the second half for the Stingrays as they scored a goal with 30 minutes to go. Sheridan Gallagher took full advantage of some poor defending, emphatically smashing the ball home from the penalty spot.
The visitors thought they were level with 10 to go but were thwarted by the assistant referee’s flag.
The Blacktown Spartans thought they were heading to a massive three points with five minutes left on the clock but everything changed quickly.
With only minutes remaining in the 90, the Stingrays were level. A fine team move was capped off by Chloe Middleton at the back post as she finished confidently with a side footed effort.
Both teams were destined to settle for a draw but the Stingrays had other ideas. Pilling on the pressure, the Stingrays scored in the 92nd minute. Alicia Meuronen scored one of the goal of the season contenders with an absolute pile driver from some 35 metres, finding nothing but Sally James’ top corner.
That goal was worthy of the three points as the Stingrays celebrated a major victory in their finals football drive.
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder