Rams taste first victory of 2023 with victory over Spartans

The 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Champions Macarthur Rams recorded their first win of the 2023 new season after a convincing 3-0 victory over the Blacktown Spartans at Lynwood Park on Sunday evening. 

A first half wonder free kick from Tenealle Hay had the Rams on their way before Leena Khamis and Laura Murtagh wrapped the result up in the second half.

It was a dominant performance from start to finish from the Rams and coach Stephen Peters can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a tough start to the season.

The Rams were in front after only five minutes with the first real chance of the game.

A free kick was awarded some 30 metres out with central defender Hay stepping up. Hay curled her effort over the wall and toward the top corner, with Spartans Keeper Ella Steward only able to help it on its way into the back of the net.

As the game went on, the Rams started creating more dangerous opportunities but it was the visitors that went closest.

A well worked training ground corner had Annabelle Daczko clipping a ball into the box, only for Zoe Sullivan to head just wide.

India Breier’s left foot was creating chaos and a cross following a short corner should have been put away, first by Leena Khamis, then by Laura Murtagh.

On the half hour mark, Kelli Brown forced Stewart to tap the ball onto the bar from a free kick. The rebound falling to Khamis only a yard or two out but the striker volleyed well over.

Minutes from the break, Khamis played through Murtagh who looked set in on goal, only for a fine challenge from 16-year-old Liana Panayi to make an excellent goal saving challenge.

The second half saw much of the same as the first with the home side dominating proceedings.

Breier was again creating, this time for Miku Sunaga who forced Stewart into another save.

Minutes later and it was two.

Murtagh found Khamis in the box as the veteran striker controlled the ball before blasting it into the top corner.

The Rams pilled on the pressure as they went searching for a third.

Chances came for Brown, Khamis and substitute Chelsea Barton, none of which could find the back of the net.

The points were settled fifteen minutes from the end as a Kelli Brown corner was headed home at the far post by Murtagh who was left unmarked.

Match Stats 

Macarthur Rams 3 (Hay 5’, Khamis 54’, Murtagh 73’)

Blacktown Spartans 0  

Sunday 2 April, 2023  

Lynwood Park. 

Macarthur Rams:  21. Clarke, 2. Bertolissio (19. Sloan), 9. Khamis (23. Houliaras), 12. Murtagh 960. Halios-Lewis), 14. Sunaga, 16. Lobo, 17. Breier (26. Barton), 18. Plummer, 27. Limon (28. Malone), 35. Hay, 44. Brown.

Subs Not Used: 1. Noble.  

Blacktown Spartans: 43. Stewart, 2. Maniti, 3. Daczko, 7. Oliva, 11. Sullivan (9. Moore), 12. Fressard, 16. Caronna, 20. Grech, 23. Owen, 27. Panayi, 33. Mkali (25. Prostran).  

Subs Not Used: 17. Vine, 22. McCormack, 42. Sankey.

-By Nikola Pozder