Round 1 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
A stellar opening round of National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW action delivered plenty of excitement and shocks to kick-off the new season in style.
Have a read of our full review of all the Round 1 action below.
Match of the Round – Northern Tigers FC 2-2 NWS Spirit FC at North Turramurra Recreation Area
The 2024 National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition kicked off on Saturday night as the Northern Tigers came from two goals down to secure a last gasp draw against fellow derby rivals NWS Spirit FC at North Turramurra.
The visitors were in cruise control at half time as Tony Candy’s team led 2-0, courtesy of goals from Clare Holder and Morgan Roberts.
It was a night for the debutants at the Tigers as two goals late to Nicola Dominikovich and substitute Ameera Makunja rescued a point.
Click here to read the full match report!
APIA Leichhardt FC 0-1 Manly United FC at Leichardt Oval
2023 NPL Women’s Premiers APIA Leichardt were left shocked over the weekend as they went down 1-0 to a determined Manly United side at Leichardt Oval on Sunday.
Having impressed in 2023, APIA were keen to begin the season with a win to recapture the rhythm that had led them to successful 1st place finish last campaign.
However, Manly, looking to improve in 2024, had other plans in mind and immediately put APIA on the back foot in the 1st minute when midfielder Caitlin Jarvie reacted to a loose pass out of the APIA backline and split the defence to lay a precise through ball into the path of Nicole Stuart, who calmly dodged the onrushing Sophie Magus to slot the ball in the back of the net.
Brinley Gentle, still acclimatising to her new surroundings throughout the match, would get the chance to find the equaliser for APIA when in the 56th minute she latched onto a cross from Ashlie Crofts, only to see the ball bounce past the post.
Former Sydney Olympic star Angelique Hristodoulou nearly made an instant impact for APIA in the 62nd minute when she set herself up for a firm header from a corner that landed just shy of the near post. Barely a minute later, Charlotte Lancaster fired a lofted effort from range in the 63rd minute that left Manly goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen stranded as it rattled the crossbar.
APIA would continue to hound the Manly defence in the second half, but it was Stuart again who found herself in acres of space in the 76th minute when Minett headed on a free-kick for the No. 5 to potentially secure her brace with a near post effort that was eventually well-saved by Margus.
Manly defender Phoebe Gilbane capped off a heroic performance when in the 89th minute she blocked a goal bound effort from APIA substitute Imogen Lane, ensuring her side would take home the three points in the end.
Football NSW Institute 1-1 UNSW FC at Valentine Sports Park
Football NSW Institute hosted UNSW FC on Sunday afternoon in a match that ended in a tight 1-1 draw at Valentine Sports Park.
FNSW Institute looked to begin the match on the front foot and had a few chances of their own fly off target in the early stanza of the match. As a young squad brimming with talent, FNSW Institute certainly impressed as they showed their intent to dominate possession and attack early on, however as the first half wore on, they were largely kept to shots from distance.
It was a historic day for UNSW FC, who entered the NPL Women’s competition for their first time ever this campaign. Though they were new arrivals on the pitch, UNSW were determined to show that they were not out of their depth in this competition and displayed some tidy movement in their build-up throughout the first half.
A fantastic counterattack proved to be the spark FNSW Institute needed to find the opener, with Adelaide Wyrzynski receiving the ball on the halfway line and confidently charging at the UNSW defence with gusto before eventually making space for herself to bury a curling effort into the bottom right corner in the 77th minute.
This would not be the final goal of the game however as UNSW won a free kick on the edge of the box that star signing Allira Toby would successfully dispatch in the 91st minute to secure her side a well-earned 1-1 draw.
Blacktown Spartans FC 1-3 Bulls FC Academy at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Football Park played host to the Blacktown Spartans’ 3-1 loss to Bulls FC Academy on Sunday afternoon.
Although the Spartans are intent on turning Blacktown Football Park into a fortress after escaping relegation last year, they found it tough against a Bulls FC side primed for another strong year after finishing as surprise Grand Finalists in 2023.
And it would not take long for the away side to open the scoring as new signing Isabella Coco-Di Sipio picked up the ball on the left wing and placed the ball directly at the feet of Amber Luchtmeijer, with the striker proceeding to turn her defender and smash the ball into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute.
The Bulls would add a second in the 28th minute when Isabella Volkanovski delivered a lethal corner that was met by Elizabeth Grey, who had left her marker to flick on the cross beyond the Spartans defence and into the goal.
A devastating second goal for Luchtmeijer on the stroke of halftime – the striker sneaking the ball past Spartans goalkeeper Makayla Kent after a positive run by Daniella Naeimi left the home side scrambling – meant the Bulls would begin the second half with a 3-0 lead.
A consolation goal for the Spartans would ultimately arrive in the 55th minute when Christa Oliva put her body on the line to tuck the ball into the back of the net.
Sydney Olympic FC 4-0 Emerging Jets at Peter Moore Field
A strong showing in the first half was enough for Sydney Olympic to run out 4-0 winners over the Emerging Jets on Sunday afternoon.
With Olympic looking to rebuild their side after losing key talents Allira Toby and Angelique Hristodoulou, the matchup with the Jets served as a chance for the squad to build their chemistry early.
For the Emerging Jets coming into this game, three points would have been hugely sought after, having been the only side to not win a game throughout the entirety of last season.
Olympic’s Maxine Peak provided the opener for her side after strongly retaining possession and stepping beyond her defender to ruthlessly fire the ball beyond Jets goalkeeper Tegan Harvey. 1-0 to Olympic in the 13th minute.
Olympic would not have to wait long for goal No. 2 with Peak doing well to earn a penalty for her side which was dispatched coolly by Demi Koulizakis in the 15th minute.
Koulizakis would work hard to secure her brace when in the 24th minute the striker picked up the ball just outside the box and drove at the Jets defence, sending a sumptuous chipped effort over Harvey that deflected off the cross bar and back toward Koulizakis to tuck it away. 3-0 to Olympic.
Almost immediately after the restart following the 3rd goal, Peak showed great determination to slide the ball through the surrounding Jets defenders and into the path of Priya Sciuriaga who showed no signs of stopping as she forayed past the opposition to confidently best Harvey with a chip for 4-0.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-3 Macarthur Rams at Macedonia Park
Despite a competitive performance, the Illawarra Stingrays were unable to prevent the Macarthur Rams from taking the three points back to Sydney in a hard-fought 3-2 loss.
Both the Stingrays and the Rams were standout sides from the backend of last season, with the Rams going on to earn back-to-back Championships after finishing 2nd in the regular season.
With several key talents retained by the Stingrays, the side looked resolute in the opening minutes at Macedonia Park as they withstood the Rams’ repeated attacks. The home side would earn the first goal of the game after star Sakura Nojima took advantage of some chaotic interplay after a freekick to slip the ball onto Siobhan Edwards who quickly stuck out a foot to edge the ball past Rams keeper Teresa Morrissey. 1-0 to the Stingrays in 7th minute.
The Rams did not take long to respond as the team from Sydney’s South-West smartly worked a free-kick to Tea Mucheski on the edge of the area that caught the Stingrays defence off guard as the ball exquisitely nestled into the bottom left corner. 1-1 in the 28th minute.
Miku Sunaga, who looked lively throughout the opening half, would put the Rams ahead in the 32nd minute after Chrystal Duggan pressured the Stingrays defence and saw her attempt saved by the outstretched Sophie Emery, with Sunaga there to pick up the pieces. 2-1 to the Rams.
The Stingrays refused to back away though as Alicia Meuronen stepped up to confidently put away a penalty won by Edwards just before the halftime break.
Bronte Trew would be the match decider in the end after the Stingrays were unable to clear a cross that the Rams No. 11 then gratefully latched on to and fashioned into an excellent finish underneath Emery.
3-2 the final result as the Rams reminded the competition of exactly what made them a Championship-winning side.
Gladesville Ravens 5-0 Sydney University at Christie Park
The final match of Round 1 saw the Gladesville Ravens triumph 5-0 over Sydney University at Christie Park.
The Ravens proved to be no pushovers following promotion to the NPL Women’s at the end of 2022, and now, under the tutelage of former UNSW FC coach Guillermo Rubio, they look to go one step further in 2024.
Similarly, Sydney University are in their own state of transition under newly-appointed head coach Oz Rowley.
The Ravens opened the scoring in the 6th minute when a perfectly-weighted aerial ball from midfield was chased down and easily dispatched by Isabella Habuda. 1-0 to the home team.
A second goal was created by the wily Patricia Charalambous, who forced Sydney Uni into giving away a penalty that was smashed home by Lexie Moreno in the 24th minute.
Charalambous brought the house down with a thumping finish for the third goal, with Habuda involved via a tidy through ball that allowed the skilful No. 33 for the Ravens to place the ball above Sydney Uni goalkeeper Chelsea Hromek and in off the underside of the crossbar. 3-0 in the 42nd minute.
The second half would see the Ravens maintain their strong momentum as Renee Pountney pounced on the ball after Hromek brilliantly saved a rocket from Moreno for 4-0 in the 60th minute.
Moreno would then secure a sensational 2nd goal of the day from a free-kick placed directly into the top right corner of the net. 5-0 the final score at Christie Park.
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