NPL NSW Women’s – Round 1 Review
The highly anticipated 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW women’s season kicked off with a round full of goal-fests and fresh feats.
Let’s check out all the action and excitement as well as the Match of the Round that took place at Lambert Park between APIA Leichhardt and Sydney University SFC.
Sydney Olympic 3-0 NWS Spirit at Peter Moore Field
The opening game for the 2023 season was a positive one for Sydney Olympic as they took away their first three points with a 3-0 victory over NWS Spirit.
Spirit saw a few promising chances early on, but it was a penalty for Olympic put neatly away by Kiara De Domizio that opened the score sheet, sending the home side into the second half with a 1-0 lead.
It was early in the second 45 when two consecutive yellow cards had Natalie Casha seeing red, and Spirit found themselves down to ten players for the remainder of the match.
Spirit pressed on, creating numerous chances on a number of occasions, but remained unable to find the back of the net.
Just as Spirit had seemed to settle into their squad of ten, Sydney Olympic came back with a seamless switch across the pitch resulting in a floating goal by Sarah Yatim.
A corner for Olympic in the final minutes of the game followed by some tight play in the box and a classy finish by Lacie Balling put the hosts on the score sheet once again for a 3-0 finish.
Blacktown Spartans 0-3 Bankstown City Lions at Blacktown Football Park
Bankstown City strode comfortably into their 2023 campaign with a strong 3-0 win over the Blacktown Spartans.
Their first goal was found within just eight minutes of play. A curling corner by Alexia Karrys-Stahl found the back of the net, putting Bankstown up in front nice and early.
It was only ten minutes later when a slip up in the Spartans’ defence had Siobhan Edwards sneaking through the backline, creating the opportunity for Daisy Arrowsmith who made it 2-0 for the visiting side.
It was a scramble in the box following a Bankstown corner early in the second half that led them to their third and final goal of the match, scored by Baxter Threw.
The Spartans picked up their pace for the remaining thirty minutes of the match but were unable to get one back before the final whistle.
Emerging Jets 2-3 Bulls Academy at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
The Bulls came out on top over the Emerging Jets in a quality, see-sawing match.
While the Jets played well in possession, it was the Bulls who had the goalscoring radar on as they proved too strong in the end.
The Bulls opened the scoring in the ninth minute, somewhat against the run of play, with a long range shot from Liz Grey.
Some classy lead up work from Molly Salvador, and a nice finish from Josie Allan levelled the scores at 1-1, twenty-four minutes in.
Only a minute later, the Jets turned over the ball in the middle of the park, which eventually led to Bulls capitalising from Avaani Prakash and the visitors went up 2-1 at the break.
As the second half progressed, the Jets created several unsuccessful opportunities.
The youthful outfit failed to clear the ball from their box and Peta Trimis pounced to put the Bulls 3-1 up in the 82nd minute.
With rain starting to fall, the game opened up as the clock ticked down. There were chances at each end, and some solid passing saw Josie Allan slot her second goal for the Jets five minutes into extra time but it was to be too little too late as the Bulls held on for their first win in 2023.
Macarthur Rams 2-2 Manly United at Lynwood Park
Points were shared between the Macarthur Rams and Manly United after the hosts incredibly scraped in two last-minute goals to grab themselves a point.
The first half went goalless, with neither side able to break the other, almost foreshadowing the scoreline to come.
It wasn’t until early in the second half when Manly’s Emily Minett finally found the back of the net from the penalty spot after a tussle on the edge of the box.
Fifteen minutes later, the ball landed at the feet of Caitlin Jarvie who found a piercing line through to the back of the net after a bit of mess following a Manly corner, putting them up 2-0.
However, just as the visiting side started to get comfortable, Rams’ ever-reliable experienced campaigner Leena Khamis got on a break and chipped the keeper to put the Rams on the scoreboard in the 87th minute.
A corner during injury time had Macarthur finding themselves a late equaliser through Amalia Plummer, bringing the score to 2-2.
Rams goalkeeper Brianna Clarke then delivered a fantastic double save in the final seconds to preserve a point for the home side.
Gladesville Ravens 0-2 Football NSW Institute at Christie Park
It was a tough start to its 2023 NPL NSW Women’s campaign as newly promoted side Gladesville Ravens found it tough against a youthful Football NSW Institute outfit.
Mikayla Duong struck early for the Institute with a quality taken goal in the ninth minute that gave her side the early lead.
Following the opening goal, the match continued back and forth, with chances on either side.
Lisa Warrener’s squad took all three points in the 75th minute as Duong was at it again thanks to a spectacular goal that secured the 2-0 win.
Northern Tigers 3-0 Illawarra Stingrays at North Turramurra Recreation Area
The Northern Tigers left it late but their dominance was shown defeating the Illawarra Stingrays 3-0 albeit with all goals coming in from the 82nd minute.
Difficult conditions at the North Turramurra Recreation Area saw a tight battle in which the Tigers generally held the edge.
The deadlock wasn’t broken until the last ten minutes, with a Stingrays defender heading the ball into her own net to put the Tigers in the 82nd minute.
A minute later classy defender Teal Kilbride got on the end of a cross with a great header which put the Tigers further ahead. Some nice passing, including a tricky back-heel saw Ariella Cabezas on the attack for the Tigers in the 90th minute. A pinpoint cross allowed Beth Bernardi to slot the goal from right in front as Jake Stephenson’s side celebrated taking all three points against a dogged Stingrays outfit.
Match of the Round
APIA Leichhardt 4-2 Sydney University at Lambert Park
Spencer Prior’s APIA Leichhardt got their season off to the perfect start on Sunday night at Lambert Park, defeating the 2022 NPL NSW Women’s Premiers Sydney University, 4-2.
It was a dominant display from the home team who had to wait until first half stoppage time to hit the front, courtesy of Ash Crofts. Three quick goals in the second half to Isabella Coco-Di Sipio, Bella Habuda and Crofts again had the result all but sewn up.
Uni managed to score two late goals, but they were to be consolations as the reigning Premiers fell on match day one.
Both teams cautiously entered this game, missing key players.
Gisella Pippino, Siahn Bozanic and Tash Prior were missing for APIA, while Steph Augoustis, Tess Quilligan, Nadine Knight and Sophia Varley were unavailable for Uni.
New APIA recruit, Ash Crofts, was causing trouble down the left wing and created a couple half chances for the home team.
While at the other end, Rojin Polat and Jaime Beaufils came close from distance without testing APIA keeper Sophie Magus.
As we looked set to go into the break locked at 0-0, a deep free kick from English import Charlotte Young found Isabella Coco-Di Sipio on the left, crossing a low ball into the six-yard box for Crofts to flick home off the post. It was to be her first goal of what will be many for her new club since making the switch from the Blacktown Spartans.
It was the home team that started the second the better with Canadian import Isabella Habuda getting in on the action and earning an early corner after a shot was blocked.
Not long after that, Habuda became creator, lifting a ball over the Uni defence for Coco-Di Sipio who finished calmly into the bottom corner of Chelsea Hromek’s goal.
Less than 10 minutes later and APIA were running away with the victory after being awarded a penalty. Also on debut, Habuda stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it expertly into the back of the net.
Just when you thought it could not get worse for Uni, it did. Crofts picked up the ball on the left on the edge of the area and let fly with her right foot, finding the top corner of Hromek’s goal to pick up her brace and APIA’s fourth.
With 20 minutes remaining, Uni pulled one back. Annabel Martin let fly with a powerful free kick which wasn’t dealt with by Sophie Magus, allowing Rojin Polat to pick up the pieces and tap the ball home.
Time was running out and substitute Anna Hunt took things into her own hands for Uni, letting fly with an excellent shot, forcing the save of the match from Magus.
From the resulting corner, APIA didn’t deal with the ball into the box, allowing new recruit Margaux Chauvet to respond quickest and prod the ball home.
There were late chances to Uni duo Georgia Pollitt and Talia Kapetanellis but neither could find the target to make for an interesting finish to the game.
By Neve McGavock and Nikola Pozder
