Stingrays no match for ruthless APIA
APIA Leichhardt sent a statement to the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition with a dominant victory over the high-flying Illawarra Stingrays at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon, coming away with a 5-2 victory.
In perhaps their final game at Leichhardt Oval this season, APIA ensured they would take the points with a convincing win.
They opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes through Charlotte Lancaster.
It was a frantic start to the second half as we saw three goals inside the first 10 minutes, first Choe Middleton equalising, before Ash Crofts turned up the heat, scoring a quickfire brace.
An own-goal had APIA in front 4-1 with 15 minutes remaining, as Siobhan Edwards scored from the spot in stoppage time to cut the deficit for the Stingrays.
Angelique Hristodoulou then scored late into stoppage time to secure the 5-2 win for APIA.
It was on seven minutes that the home side took the lead with the first real opportunity of the game.
Mona Walker found space in midfield, sent an inch perfect ball over the Stingrays defence, allowing Lancaster to run onto it and finish first time beyond Sophie Emery.
From there neither side could break the other down with chances few and far between before the final shot of the first half.
Siobhan Edwards showed good strength to out muscle her defender but couldn’t get her shot on target from just inside the area, pulling it wide of the goal.
The visitors started the second half the way they finished the first, on the front foot and after only five minutes, it was 1-1.
Edwards found Chloe Middleton with a neat reverse pass which the midfielder took in her stride, beat her defender and placed her effort beyond Sophie Magus.
Just as the Stingrays equalised, they were behind again.
After scoring the opener, Lancaster then turned provider, squaring the ball up for Ash Crofts who at full stretch tapped the ball home.
Not even 120 seconds later and it was 3-1 to APIA, again Crofts on the score sheet, this time in spectacular fashion.
With everyone expecting a cross for Lancaster, Crofts surprised everyone, including Emery as she let fly from some 35 metres out, catching the Stingrays goalkeeper off her line and finding the back of the net.
A minute later we were almost flipping through world records to record the quickest completed hat-trick as Lancaster again provided for Crofts, this time Emery making a fabulous save.
With 15 minutes to go, APIA made it 4-1 after a Lancaster corner was put into the back of the net by Stingrays substitute Alicia Meuronen.
The Stingrays were then awarded a penalty as Edwards was brought down, the striker dusting herself to dispatch the spot kick into the back of the net.
If you thought the scoring was complete, you were wrong as Hristodolou scored two minutes later.
Brinley Gentle delivered an excellent cross into the box, which the midfielder ran onto and rifled a half volley into the top corner to round out the scoring.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt 5 (Lancaster 7’, Crofts 52’, 54’, Meuronen OG 73’, Hristodoulou 93’)
Illawarra Stingrays 2 (Middleton 49’, Edwards 91’)
Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
Sunday, 28 April 2024
APIA Leichhardt: 1. Magus, 3. Borazio, 5. Kilbride, 6. Walker, 7. Lancaster (9. Gentle), 11. Crofts (35. Calabro), 16. Fragale, 17. Hristodoulou, 19. Lane (15. Pipino), 21. Kiparizov (14. Golding), 24. Young.
Subs Not Used: 40. Vidakovic, 37. Bowles.
Illawarra Stingrays: 1. Emery, 4. Dekimura, 7. Middleton, 8. Nojima, 13. Austin (2. Cannon), 14. Edwards, 15. Cooper, 16. Nisbet (19. Callow), 18. Lawless, 37. Etherington, 39. Hooks (6. Meuronen).
Subs Not Used: 21. Emms, 17. Thompson, 33. Giles.
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By – Nikola Pozder
