Round 3 Review – NPL NSW Women’s
Round three in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition threw up some interesting results with only one team still with a 100% intact.
The 2022 Champions Macarthur Rams and Premiers Sydney University are still both without a win in the new season.
Match of the Round – Gladesville Ravens 1-1 Manly United
The Gladesville Ravens recorded their second successive draw on Sunday evening as they drew 1-1 with Manly United at Christie Park in Round 3 of NPL NSW Women’s competition.
The opening goal didn’t arrive until 10 minutes into the second half when Georgia Vlangos found the back of the net for the Ravens.
United responded only seven minutes later through Nicole Stuart but neither side could find a winner in the time remaining.
Click here to read the full match report!
Football NSW Institute 0-1 Sydney Olympic
The only two teams in the competition who still had 100% records clashed at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday as the Football NSW Institute hosted Sydney Olympic.
Olympic started the better and had the ascendency in the first half with shots from Teresa Polias and Sarah Yatim from distance.
The Institute went close through Alvina Khoshaba with a shot from distance but it went just wide of the goal.
Again the home team went close, this time Tiana Petkovski had a one on one opportunity only for Courtney Newbon to make a fantastic save.
In the second period, the Institute were on the attack through Mikayla Duong, her shot from the left coming off the post.
Minutes later and the visitors were in front.
A Teresa Polias corner was not dealt with as Sarah Yatim picked up the scraps and volleyed home.
Olympic managed the game well, not giving the Institute an opportunity to find an equaliser.
Disappointingly for George Beltsos, Teresa Polias received her marching orders toward the end of the game in what was the only sore point for the Blues.
Blacktown Spartans 0-1 NWS Spirit
NWS Spirit made it two wins on the trot after coming away from Blacktown Football Park with a 1-0 victory against the Blacktown Spartans.
Carleigh Frilles had the first chance of the game but was thwarted by an on-rushing Mio Nemoto.
Makayla Kent was then called into action as Sarah Morgan tested the Spartans keeper with a free kick which needed saving.
Erin Tavares should have had the visitors in front but for a fantastic challenge by youngster Liana Panayi.
Shortly after, Spirit was in front in fortuitous circumstances. Morgan Roberts headed a cross toward goal which took a huge deflection, wrong footing Kent and finding it’s way over the line.
Tiana Gauci’s team held on comfortably in the end to record their second win of the campaign moving them into third spot on the ladder.
Sydney University 2-2 Bulls FC Academy
It was a fantastic game of football at Sydney University Football Ground as Sydney University and Bulls FC Academy shared the spoils.
After only three minutes, Uni were in front. A cross from the right found Stephanie Augoustis in the box as she headed home from within the 6-yard box.
Not long after the opener, the home team doubled their advantage. Maxine Peak played through a delightful ball for Jaime Beaufils who rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the back of the net.
Beaufils went close again, forcing Trudy Simmons into a strong save in the Bulls goal.
As the half wore on, the visitors gained confidence and began creating opportunities.
Tamires Souza thought she had her first goal for the Bulls in the top tier with a cheeky lob, only for Chelsea Hromek to make a fine save.
The constant Bulls pressure paid dividends in the final minute of the first half as Peta Trimis rose highest at a corner to head the ball beyond Hromek.
Minutes after half time the Bulls were level, in some style with a goal of the season contender. Trimis was at it again, picking up the ball at half way and beating one defender, before beating another and blasting the ball into the back of the net.
Both teams had chances in the second half but neither could find a winning goal.
Emerging Jets 1-3 Illawarra Stingrays
At Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, two winless teams went in search of their first three points of the season as the Emerging Jets hosted the Illawarra Stingrays.
It was the visitors that scored an early goal, within the first 15 minutes. A cross into the box was not dealt with by the Jets, allowing Ella Gilles to head toward goal with Michelle Carney putting the keeper off.
Emma Dundas showed some individual brilliance to beat her defender before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper to equalise for the home team.
After half time, the Stingrays hit the lead again. A corner wasn’t dealt with by the Jets defence allowing the experienced Caitlin Cooper to volley the ball home.
The Stingrays weathered the storm and settled the game with minutes remaining after a good run and strong finish from Halle Callow.
Bankstown City Lions 1-1 APIA Leichhardt
All eyes were on Jensen Park as the Bankstown City Lions took on fellow title contenders APIA Leichhardt.
Bankstown went close around the half hour mark but Daisy Arrowsmith could not poke the ball home.
Arrowsmith was hungry for more and went close again, this time forcing a fabulous save from Sophie Magus.
APIA took the lead from their first chance of the game after a fine team move on 36 minutes. Tanya Borazio played a pass to Isabella Coco Di-Sipio who played it right to Sophie Hoban and she finished it with aplomb.
Hoban cut into the box, evaded a couple defenders and then placed the ball beyond Bankstown keeper Stephanie Grimbilos.
Arrowsmith looked to get the Lions straight back on level terms after rounding Magus, only for her shot to be cleared off the line by Shelby Milton.
Bankstown started the second the way they ended the first with some early pressure as the chances continued to mount.
Alexia Karrys-Stahl and Skye Cassachia had efforts from distance but could not beat Magus.
From the resulting corner, Steph Ambrose’s in-swinging corner got the better of the APIA defence and keeper as it curled in for the equaliser at the near post.
Bankstown captain Liana Gullo almost found the winner in the dying embers with a fine shot from distance but once more, Magus was up to the task.
Northern Tigers 3-0 Macarthur Rams
The Northern Tigers got their revenge for last season’s grand final loss with a commanding 3-0 victory over the Macarthur Rams.
The home team took the lead mid-way through the first half after a corner to the far post was taped home by Claudia Cholakian.
Minutes after the restart, the Tigers had the chance to double their advantage.
Caitlin Doeglas burst into the box and was brought down by Maya Lobo. Doeglas dusted herself off to take the spot kick and slot it into the bottom corner.
The Rams tried to get back into the fixture, creating many opportunities and putting the Tigers under some real pressure.
But the points were settled seven minutes from full time as Tigers captain Hannah McNulty found a third goal.
Gemma Woolley broke away down the right, delivering a fine cross for McNulty who volleyed the ball home.
It now means the Champions go into round four with only one point to their name and a lot of work to do for coach Stephen Peters.
By Nikola Pozder.
