A sensational Round 6 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition played out over the weekend, with some standout performances mixed in with plenty of action and competition for goal of the round.
Match of the Round – NWS Spirit v Bankstown City Lions – Full Match Report
Bankstown City Lions showed they are the comeback queens of the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition securing a 1-1 draw against the NWS Spirit at Christie Park on Saturday afternoon.
On a unusually warm Autumn afternoon, Spirit took the lead through a fantastic Monique Holder free kick inside the first ten minutes.
For the fifth time this campaign, Bankstown had to come from behind to get something from the game and managed to do that 15 minutes from full time through Siobahn Edwards.
Football NSW Institute v APIA Leichhardt at Valentine Sports Park
The first game of Sunday’s packed National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s schedule saw Football NSW Institute go down 2-1 to first-placed APIA Leichardt in a competitive match.
Earlier in the week, FNSW Institute secured a dramatic late win over the Emerging Jets with Tamara Lukanovic scoring one and Caley Tallon-Henniker notching a brace, the latter burying a last-gasp winner following a red card to Jets goalkeeper Tegan Harvey that assured Institute’s second win of the season.
APIA were primed for the opportunity to maintain their status at the top of the table from the outset, however FNSW Institute were riding the momentum of their win over the Jets and did well to stave off the league leaders, the aforementioned Caley Tallon-Henniker a standout defensively alongside Megan Mifsud who was relentless in winning back possession for the home side.
Despite this, the defensively astute APIA largely consigned the home side to strikes from outside the box and demonstrated impressive cohesion in their pressing in the front third.
APIA’s first tangible opportunity arrived when midfielder Estelle Fragale was able to maintain possession through the challenge and slide in forward Sophie Hoban for a fantastic opportunity that was met with an equally-impressive save by FNSW goalkeeper Tahlia Franco.
Building off of their strong showing in the first half, APIA opened the scoring when Charlotte Young’s floating free-kick met Isabella Coco-Di Sipio who did well to stave off her defender and lay the ball on to Ashlie Crofts, the ball hitting the back of the net with aplomb via a well-taken finish. 1-0 to APIA in the 35th minute.
Chances in the second half were few and far between, with APIA determined to maintain their ascendancy and FNSW Institute prepared to match them in a tight contest. This would be undone in the 76th minute when APIA’s Lauren Johnson received the ball in space and played a sumptuous ball over the top of the FNSW defence to an onrushing Crofts, who returned the favour for the first goal and setup Coco-Di Sipio for an easy finish.
FNSW would score the best goal of the match when substitute Anita Zordan reacted instinctively to a half-volley and launched it beyond APIA keeper Sophie Magus. A fitting consolation for a side that refused to give up across the ninety.
Bulls FC Academy v Illawarra Stingrays at Northbridge Oval
Northbridge Oval played host to a confident 2-0 win by Bulls FC Academy over the Illawarra Stingrays on Sunday afternoon.
From the outset of the first half the Bulls looked to hit their opposition on the counter with speed through the likes of Peta Trimis and Phoebe Handcock, the home side eager to build on their unexpected 1-0 away win against Sydney Olympic last round.
Mirroring their endeavour to push for an early lead and their subsequent effort to bring home the three points against Olympic, the Bulls went up 1-0 when Claudia Valletta’s throw-in was headed on by Cate Gyzen onto the path of Daisy Cheesman who eventually lofted the ball into the box, causing disarray for the Stingrays defence and an eventual poacher’s finish from Brazilian star Tamires Souza.
A spectacular second goal arrived for the Bulls when Trimis held off Bella Voisey-Youldon and sauntered beyond the Stingrays no. 20 from her own half towards goal, cutting in on her left and gloriously placing the ball in the top left-hand corner of the net.
The Bulls nearly had a third for the afternoon when Valletta picked up the ball from outside the box and attempted to curl it into the bottom left-hand corner, the shot collected by Stingrays keeper Sophie Emery.
Illawarra were committed to playing their possession-based football in the second half, with some exquisite plays being fashioned through the likes of Kaelah Austin and Jessica Cirignano, however it would prove to not be enough against an unflinching Bulls side.
The 2-0 result would ensure back-to-back wins for the Bulls, and leave a Stingrays side struggling for form in 12th at the end of Round 6.
Sydney Olympic v Emerging Jets at Peter Moore Field
Sydney Olympic showed that they were more than committed to making up for last week’s tough loss against Bulls FC Academy by running out 5-1 winners against the Emerging Jets at Peter Moore Field on Sunday.
The opening goal of the match was scored in the 9th minute when two Olympic players converged on Emma Dundas and won the ball in midfield through their diligent pressing. The ball was then successfully put through to Kiara De Domizio on the left wing, who finished excellently with her right foot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Having found themselves under pressure from an energized Olympic side, the Jets began to craft some chances of their own in the first half. The Jets put together a swift counter-attack in the 21st minute that began with Emma O’Hagan, shinpad in hand, picking out Jets star Brinley Gentle who dropped deep and proceeded to send an aerial through ball to Molly Salvador, only to see the resulting shot saved impressively by Olympic’s Courtney Newbon.
Despite her best efforts, Gentle was unable to continue her inspiring form for the away side and saw her under hit volley denied a few minutes later by Newbon.
Newbon was then heavily involved in dictating the state of play in the 29th minute, this time sending a precise kick up field for Allira Toby to head the ball on to De Domizio who picked her spot and proceeded to volley the ball into the bottom right corner with aplomb. Simply extraordinary.
The Jets would return serve in the 36th minute when a free-kick delivered into the box was touched down by Gentle and buried by Alisha Ingrey in spite of Olympic’s efforts to prevent a shot.
Unfortunately for the Jets, Olympic would add a third goal two minutes later when Lacie Bowling picked up a loose ball, drove through the Jets defence and beat Jets keeper Xanthe Parsons – who was taking over goalkeeping duties from the suspended Tegan Harvey – at her near post.
The second half could not have begun worse for the Jets as they gave away a handball in the box in the opening minute of the second stanza. The awarded penalty was then cleanly dispatched by Allira Toby for goal number four of the afternoon for Olympic.
Olympic’s 5-1 win was solidified when Megan Grew saw her cross mishandled by Parsons in the goalmouth, the subsequent dropped ball taken advantage of by Molly Jones for the final goal of the day.
Whilst conceding thirteen goals over the past three games will be cause for concern for Jets coach Sam Griffin, Olympic coach George Beltsos will take pride in a strong win in front of their home fans and his team sitting in second place on the ladder at the end of Round 6.
Blacktown Spartans v Sydney University at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans earned their first win of the season in a battling home victory against an out-of-form Sydney University.
With both teams determined to make up for their inconsistent form this season, the match was setup to be an intense affair. And it certainly did not disappoint.
The opening minutes were typified by neither side having a moment’s rest on the ball, leading to a few errant passes and scant opportunity for consistent attacks.
Sydney University would open the scoring in the 29th minute via a dynamic play initiated by Holly Duncan touching the ball smartly beyond Spartans defender Breanna Buccini and finding Rojin Palat in midfield, who would follow up Jaime Beaufils’ saved shot and arrive late into the box for a quality finish into the bottom left corner.
Sydney Uni sought to dominate possession in the second half, leaving Blacktown to pursue chances on the flanks and beyond Uni’s defensive line.
Philippines star Eva Madarang would prove to be the hero for the Spartans in the end, the skilful attacker guiding the home side to a comeback win with a brace that ensured a well-earned first 3 points of the season in the NPL NSW Women’s competition for the side from Sydney’s West.
Manly United v Northern Tigers at Cromer Park
Manly United returned to Cromer Park over the weekend and fell 3-1 to an undefeated Northern Tigers side.
Always a massive fixture on the NPL NSW Women’s calendar, Sunday’s matchup between Manly and the Tigers was an entertaining display filled with end-to-end action, with Manly striker Emily Minett going close in the 5th minute to opening the scoring. From there, chances were in abundance for both sides.
It would be Minett again who would be central to Manly’s best forays in the attacking third, this time receiving the ball from Phoebe Gilbane down the line, driving past Tigers defender Jessie Wharepouri, and squaring up an oncoming Mia Bales for a tidy finish into the left corner. 1-0 to Manly.
The old adage in football is that a team is at their most vulnerable just after scoring a goal, and Manly reaffirmed it when the Tigers equalised almost instantly to bring the game to 1-1. No. 99 for the Tigers, Jade Mcatamney, the provider of a superb lofted cross for former Manly player and Armenian international Claudia Cholakian to loop a header over Manly goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen.
Northern Tigers would end the first half on top as Beth Bernardi drove home arguably the goal of the round, courtesy of a magic volley from just outside the 18-yard line that rose beyond Simonsen and into the top right corner of the net.
The second half provided the Tigers with the chance to extend their lead to 3-1 when Lily McMahon slipped a delicate ball through to Caitlin Doeglas who slid home a precise finish.
A late flurry of shots from both sides was not enough to shift the scoreline, the Tigers taking the 3 points back to North Turramurra in the end.
Macarthur Rams v Gladesville Ravens at Lynwood Park
Last season’s champions the Macarthur Rams secured their third win in a row after defeating the Gladesville Ravens at Lynwood Park on Sunday.
Building off the back of successive wins across the past two weeks, Macarthur were forced to hammer away at a sturdy Ravens unit undeterred by the challenges that come with promotion to the first division.
Macarthur gained the ascendancy early in the match in the 11th minute when Leena Khamis received the ball in the box and dazzled her way past two defenders, only to lose control of the ball and see it forced out by the Ravens defence. The resulting clearance was struck by Maya Lobo and deflected to Khamis, who took the ball on her left foot and buried the ball beyond the outstretched arms of Ravens keeper Romina Parraguirre.
The second half saw a number of chances come the way of both the Rams and the Ravens, none of which they were able to capitalise on successfully.
Khamis went close to scoring her second goal of the match in the 50th minute, but her curling shot was stopped by Parraguirre, who has undoubtedly been one of Gladesville’s best this season.
Just seven minutes later, Macarthur added to the pressure on the Ravens when India Breier made her way down the left wing and teed up Kelli Brown for a shot that could not get past the heroic Parraguirre.
The match would conclude 1-0 to Macarthur.
-By Matthew Badrov