The Macarthur Rams made it eight straight victories on Sunday night when they came away with a tight 2-1 win over Bankstown City Lions in round 18 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition at Lynwood Park.
Set pieces were essentially the undoing of the visitors as Macarthur first took the lead via veteran Leena Khamis, who rose highest following a corner.
Bankstown equalised in the second period through on-fire star Alexia Karrys- Stahl with a header of her own, before Miku Sunaga reacted quickest in the box at the other end after another corner to win it for the Rams.
A game where momentum swung left and right for large parts of the fixture, the in form team of the competition, Macarthur, continued their run.
The first opportunity of the match presented itself within 90 seconds of kick off after Mel Caceres won the ball in midfield, something that would become the nature of the first half, only for Tiana Jaber to save the day.
Just before the quarter hour mark, Brianna Edwards was called into action, diving at the feel of Kelli Brown and saving well from the striker.
Only a few minutes later and the home side was in front.
Mel Caceres delivered an inch perfect corner to the far post as Khamis rose well and headed into the top corner, putting the Rams in front.
It was Khamis’ first start having returned back from an overseas trip less than a fortnight ago.
The Rams’ high press was rewarding them, not allowing Bankstown to get any rhythm with many attacks breaking down before the visitors even got near half way.
It took half an hour for Bankstown to create their first chance, Katie Bowler delivering a low cross toward the near post, Susan Phonsongkham flicking an effort just wide of the target.
Phonsongkham almost scored another special goal, showing fine technique and composure before rifling a shot toward the top corner, only for Khamis to save.
Whatever Matt Costantini said at the break worked as his team looked a complete different outfit in the second half.
The hunger was there, the press was there and so came the reward.
Phonsongkham delivered a delightful ball to the back post where Karrys-Stahl continued her excellent goal scoring form, heading well beyond the outstretched Khamis.
The Bankstown goal scorer was playing her final game in the Red and Black before going away.
From here the visitors picked up the pace and had the Rams on the ropes without creating a clear-cut opportunity.
As the Rams began relieving some of that pressure, they found the lead.
Another Caceres corner wasn’t dealt with by the Lions as Madison McComasky’s header came back off the post before Sunaga reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range.
It meant the Lions would need to react again and almost did from a corner of their own with five minutes to go, only for Khamis to react and save well.
Bankstown had one final chance from a corner as they pushed all they had in the box, Khamis again rising highest in the box to claim the ball
Stephen Peters’ team recorded their eighth straight win and made it nine games undefeated in their pursuit of APIA Leichhardt.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 2 (Khamis 18’, Sunaga 71)
Bankstown City Lions 1 (Karrys-Stahl 50’)
Sunday, 9 July, 2023
Lynwood Park
Macarthur Rams: 1. S. Khamis, 2. Bertolissio, 3. McComasky, 9. L. Khamis (8. Dipple), 10. Caceres (18. Sloan), 14. Sunaga, 18. Plummer (26. Barton), 22. Huynh, 32. Gordon, 35. Hay, 44. Brown.
Substitutes: 13. Pereira, 21. Clarke, 23. Houliaras.
Bankstown City Lions: 1. Edwards, 3. Ambrose (22. Frampton), 4. Karrys-Stahl (54. Scamardella), 5. Jaber, 6. Gullo, 7. Price, 8. Cassachia (40. Camelleri), 10 Phonsongkham, 15. Bowler, 19. Keir, 39. Apostolakis (20. Tolland).
Substitutes: 11. Bartels, 16. Mostaghimi.
By – Nikola Pozder