Round 11 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
In spite of the inclement weather conditions this weekend, the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition delivered some fascinating results, which included a loss being dealt to 1st place Manly United.
Read on for our full breakdown as Round 11 brought a successful end to Female Football Week.
Match Of The Round – Macarthur Rams 4-2 Manly United at Lynwood Park
Six goals and a fantastic game of football in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW match of the round saw the Macarthur Rams overcome league leaders Manly United 4-2 on Sunday night.
It was the perfect way for Stephen Peters to celebrate his birthday as the Rams came away with the spoils in an enthralling clash.
Click here to read the full match report!
Northern Tigers 3-2 Illawarra Stingrays at North Turramurra Recreational Area
The Northern Tigers held on for a hard-fought 3-2 win over the visiting Illawarra Stingrays at North Turramurra Recreational Area on Saturday evening.
The Tigers entered the fixture in great form, with four wins in six games effectively turning their season around after a poor start. Having not played last weekend, the Stingrays will have been focused on picking up the three points to stay close to the top four.
Saffron Grass opened the scoring for the home side in the 13th minute after a brilliant through ball played her into prime position to take advantage of a backtracking Stingrays defence.
A glorious looping header from Siobhan Edwards gave the Stingrays an important equaliser in the 28th minute, with a determined Sakura Nojima playing provider via a pinpoint cross.
The Tigers would take the lead again in the second half through Isabella Keech, who buried a lethal header from a corner that rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced in. 2-1 to the Tigers in the 61st minute.
Nojima showcased plenty of skill in finding the equaliser for her side in the 69th minute, with the attacking maestro picking up a loose ball in the box following a free-kick to cut inside and smash the ball above goalkeeper Aimee Hall. 2-2.
With her side needing an immediate response, Jade McAtamney stepped up to deliver a stunning winner, curling the ball in from the right side of the box and in to the far netting.
APIA Leichhardt 1-1 UNSW at Valentine Sports Park
APIA Leichhardt versus UNSW epitomised the classic footballing tale of an early lead and a late equaliser, leaving both sides to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Valentine Sports Park.
This time last year APIA were solidifying their position at the top of the ladder, but after an inconsistent start they found themselves in 4th place heading into Round 11. The home side will be eyeing a win over UNSW but will have known to be cautious against a team that were unbeaten in their last three games heading into this fixture.
And it would be Allira Toby who would be open the scoring early on in the 5th minute of the match, with the UNSW forward making a huge statement of intent by stepping up to fire a precise free-kick finish that eluded APIA goalkeeper Sophie Magus and slipped into the bottom left corner of the net. 1-0 to UNSW.
In addition to holding on to their early lead, UNSW were forced to make two first half changes due to unfortunate injuries to Chloe Smith and Margaux Montegut (initially a substitute herself).
And in spite of their best efforts to hold onto the lead, UNSW would cop a 74th minute equaliser after APIA substitute Gisella Pipino played through a sublime pass into the path of Kiara De Domizio, which the dynamic No. 8 struck wonderfully into the back of the net after beating her defender. 1-1 the final score.
Emerging Jets 2-7 NWS Spirit at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
An entertaining 9-goal showcase played out at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday evening, with NWS Spirit triumphing 7-2 over the Emerging Jets.
Despite sitting in last place, the Jets remain a competitive side this season, particularly at home where they will have been amped up to take on a Spirit side that have struggled to score goals and earn wins this season.
A fantastic ball from defence to attack would be the catalyst for Spirit to open the scoring, as Morgan Roberts showed total assurance in firing a chipped finish beyond Jets goalkeeper Lily-Rose Dunbar from distance. 1-0 to Spirit in the 12th minute.
Spirit would waste no time in adding another goal, this time via a deflected own goal from Zoe Karipidis after possession was robbed on the wing and a cross was unwittingly turned into the Jets’ own net.
A quickfire brace from Ella Abdul Massih pushed Spirit’s lead to 4-0, with the first a sensationally fashioned goal sparked by Massih’s initial brilliant run and capped off with a quality strike, and the second a confident finish after making a smart run in-behind.
The second half would continue the momentum for Spirit, as a fifth goal was crafted via a cross from the right wing that Massih then smartly laid onto Erin Tavares, who emphatically smashed the ball home for 5-0.
Jets star Josie Allan would provide a goal for her side in the 56th minute after Alexis Collins played a wonderful backheel pass into her path, giving her the space to place an assured finish past Katie Offer in the Spirit goal.
Roberts earned her second of the day via a strong header in the 61st minute, before Clare Holder unleashed a rocket of a finish beyond Dunbar and into the top right corner of the net in the 64th minute.
The Jets would score the final goal of the day through Claire Adams, who took a Collins pass in her stride and finished across Offer into the bottom left corner.
Gladesville Ravens 2-1 Blacktown Spartans
Despite conceding early, the Gladesville Ravens would claw themselves out of trouble and finish the game with the three points after defeating the Blacktown Spartans 2-1.
The Ravens have shown themselves to be a top side this season and will have wanted to back up their draw against league leaders Manly United with a win this round. The Spartans on the other hand will have known that a win or a draw would be a strong catalyst for their 2024 campaign.
The away side would get off to the perfect start in the 3rd minute after a tremendous cross from the right wing was finished off by the well-placed debutant Jynaya Dos Santos, who assuredly knocked the ball into the back of the net. Having recently won an A-League Championship with Sydney FC, Dos Santos will no doubt be instrumental for the Spartans as they push to leave their mark on the competition this season.
The Ravens then found an equaliser in the 29th minute through Lexie Moreno, who shot from distance and bested goalkeeper Anna Norton with a lethal finish which, after some deliberation from the officials, was awarded a goal. 1-1.
Isabella Edwards would be the hero for the Ravens in the 32nd minute after spotting a low cross from Patricia Charalambous that eluded the Spartans defence and being first to the ball to strike a thunderous finish beyond Norton. 2-1 the final score.
Sydney Olympic v Football NSW Institute – WASHED OUT
Sydney University v Bulls FC Academy – WASHED OUT
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By Matthew Badrov
