The Macarthur Rams made a statement on a chilly Sunday evening at Lynwood Park as they defeated Bulls FC Academy 4-1 in the National Premier League NSW Women’s match of the round.
It didn’t all start as the Rams would have wanted with Peta Trimis putting the Bulls in front early.
The game changed at around the half hour mark when the experienced Jessica Seaman had to be replaced due to a head injury.
From there the Rams took over, Beth Gordon equalised before the break, with Kelli Brown, Maya Lobo and Brown again rounded off the convincing victory.
It was in fact the Rams that had the first chance of the game, 20 seconds in, Brown flashing a shot just wide of Trudy Simmons’ goal.
Trimis then had the first real chance of the game minutes later, Breanna Clarke quickly off her line to bravely save at the winger’s feet.
Trimis did not need to wait long for her goal, finding some space in the box after an Avaani Prakash pass. Her first shot was blocked by the Rams defence, but reacted quickly to blast the rebound into the back of the net.
The Bulls controlled the game from here without creating a real clear cut opportunity, until the previously mentioned Seaman came off injured which subsequently changed the momentum in the match.
First, Miku Sunaga forced Trudy Simons into one of the saves of the season, before the Rams took the lead with an excellent team move.
Mel Caceres took the ball on the left, found Beth Gordon central who played a one-two with Brown before calmly slotting beyond Simmons for the equaliser on the stroke of half time.
The second period started with the Bulls on the front foot, Trimis picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park and drove through on goal, placing the ball underneath Clarke, only to be denied by the post.
Shortly after, Amy Chessari delivered a fine cross from the right for Prakash who reacted superbly to lift the ball over Clarke and goal bound, only for Madison McComasky to head off the line.
This seemed to have spurred the home side as they took the lead not long after.
A missed clearance by the Bulls defence saw Brown take full advantage and poke the ball beyond Simmons to give the Rams the lead.
It didn’t take long for the Rams to double their advantage.
Tenealle Hay came off the bench to deliver a delightful free kick into the area, which was powered into the back of the net with an excellent header by Maya Lobo.
With only minutes remaining, Brown had her second and the Rams’ fourth.
The Rams striker outmuscled Yasmin Popovic, before getting the ball on her favoured right and smacking a powerful effort into Simmons’ top corner to finish the rout and a fine comeback by Stephen Peters’ team.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 4 (Gordon 44′, Brown 62′, 88′, Lobo 68′)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Trimis 12′)
Sunday, 21 May, 2023
Lynwood Park
Macarthur Rams: 21. Clarke, 2. Bertolissio, 3. McComasky, 10. Caceres, 14. Sunaga, 16. Lobo (28. M. Malone), 18. Plummer (35. Hay), 22. Huynh, 25. D. Malone, 32. Gordon (26. Barton), 44. Brown.
Subs Not Used: 17. Breier, 19. Sloan, 46. Morrissey.
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 2. Trimis, 4. Seaman ((19. Cheeseman (95. Manos)), 5. Lancaster (12. Corry), 7. Prakash, 8. Popovic, 9. Chessari, 10. Souza (18. Rutstein), 11. Valletta, 13. Di Sciascio, 17. Volkanovski (16. Gyzen).
Subs Not Used: 21. Segavcic.
By – Nikola Pozder