Just as we thought that the finals places were close to complete in the #NPLWNSW competition, think again as the Top Four race has been wide open after Round 18 results.
Emerging Jets 0-2 Blacktown Spartans
The Blacktown Spartans finally snapped their winless run on Sunday afternoon after defeating the Emerging Jets 2-0.
After six games without a victory, Brad Attard’s side secured the three points with a goal either side of half time.
It took the visitors until the 43rd minute to hit the front. Some neat work by Jordan Jasnos down the left, finding Alyssa Rose in the box who finished into the bottom corner.
10 minutes into the second half and Ash Crofts had her fifth goal of the season against the Emerging Jets. Again the ball came in from the left, Crofts reacted well to flick the ball over the keeper as it rebounded off the upright and in.
Attard’s team will take confidence from this win moving into the finals rounds of the campaign.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-3 Macarthur Rams
Travelling south, the Macarthur Rams saw and conquered at JJ Kelly Park as they held on to take all three points against the Illawarra Stingrays.
It was the home team though that hit the front before the quarter hour mark and in bizarre fashion. Kaelah Austin delivered an in swinging corner which caught Sham Khamis unawares at the near post, putting the Stingrays in the lead.
Within five minutes, the Rams were level in similar fashion. Alex Huynh delivered a free kick from deep, catching the Stingrays keeper off her line as the back hit the back of the net.
The Rams were in front 10 minutes later. Leena Khamis sprung the offside trap, getting onto the end of a Huynh ball, finishing expertly with a lob with the outside of her foot over the Stingrays keeper.
Second before half time and Khamis and her second, the Rams’ third. Patty Charalambous this time delivering an excellent cross, finding the head of Khamis her lift her header over the line.
Down 3-1 at the break, the Stingrays responded the way they needed to in the second half.
It took just 13 minutes for them to halve the deficit as Chloe Middleton laid a ball off for Michelle Carney who doesn’t miss from the edge of the area, placing her shot beyond an outstretched Khamis.
The Stingrays threw all they could forward in search of an equaliser but it wasn’t to be as the Rams held on for a massive three points.
Sydney University 1-0 Sydney Olympic
Sydney University continue to march toward the Premiership after another excellent victory, this time over Sydney Olympic.
People will say that Olympic came into this one understrength with no Mackenzie Hawkesby but it was the league leaders 15th game without defeat, securing their 11th clean sheet of the season.
It was a complete and confident performance from Uni who dominated the match from start to finish across the park.
They could not break the deadlock in the first half despite peppering Jada Whyman’s goal for large parts of the opening 45 minutes.
It only took eight minutes from them to find the goal in the second half. Still unsure if she meant it or not, Ash Dribbus scored one of the goals of the weekend as she left fly from almost the corner flag with a thunderbolt, giving Whyman no chance.
Olympic found it difficult to break down the best defence in the competition as Uni secured another three points.
NWS Spirit 1-2 Bankstown City
Just as you thought finals football wasn’t coming to Jensen Park, Bankstown City scored a massive win away at NWS Spirit.
Four points outside of the Top Four, it is all to play for for the Lions with four rounds remaining in the competition and some catch ups to play.
Bankstown hit the front half way through the first half. Taking advantage of a Spirit error, Daisy Arrowsmith rounded Katie Offer before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net against her former employers.
One became two minutes after the break as Arrowsmith secured her brace. Jessica Fallah crossed in an inch perfect ball finding Bankstown’s striker who made no mistake with the finish.
Spirit put some pressure on late and were rewarded with a goal 8 minutes from full time. Sasha Grove was brought down in the box with the referee pointing to the spot as Rachael Patterson stepped up to take the penalty, dispatching her effort with some power.
It would only be a consolation though as Bankstown held on for the spoils.
APIA Leichhardt 1-3 Manly United
Manly United proved they have what it takes to play finals football with a big win over APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park.
In control from the start, Manly never looked like losing (or drawing in their case), taking the points with a 3-1 victory.
After a quiet start where APIA perhaps had the better of the opening exchanges, it would be the visitors that went in front.
Phoebe Gilbane picked the ball up from the right, delivered into the box as Yuka Honda found the back of the net with her header.
Instead of the home team reacting, Manly almost went two in front. Tegan Biasi reacted to an APIA defensive error, picking the ball up on the edge of the area before letting fly, only for her effort to rebound off the bar.
They wouldn’t need to wait too long for their second, this time taking advantage of another APIA error. A miscued pass from Claudia Cicco was pounced on by Yuka Honda who beat Sarah Langman with a perfect half volley lob over the APIA keeper.
APIA needed to react after the break and came close on a few occasions from Rhianna Pollicina corners.
They finally halved the deficit with a little more than 15 left on the clock. Sophie Hoban the substitute added some spark to the game, leading a counter attack before slipping in Pollicina who made no mistake with her finish.
Just as you thought APIA would take the momentum forward, they were pegged back.
Less than two minutes on the clock had passed when Emily MInett restored the two goal advantage. A Maddie Zahra corner was not cleared by APIA with a bouncing ball falling at the feet of Minett who blasted the ball home.
Manly did well to manage the remainder of the game as they threw themselves right back into finals football conversation. A massive week lies ahead from Tom Hopley’s team who are away to Olympic on Thursday before hosting the Rams next Sunday.
Northern Tigers v Football NSW Institute PP
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder