APIA Leichhardt recorded a come from behind victory against the Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW match of the round.
An intense game of football between two fantastic teams saw Macarthur take the lead through Tenealle Hay after 35 minutes.
Less than 60 seconds after the restart, Ash Crofts scored a fantastic header, before midfielder Estelle Fragalle scored early in the second half to secure a massive win for APIA.
The game started at quite the pace with some tenacity as well, adding to the occasion of two teams in the hunt for the Premiership.
Bronte Trew was the early outlet for the home side and she tested Sally James inside the opening 10 minutes, the APIA keeper saving well.
A minute after, Hay delivered a great ball to the back post for Miku Sunaga, the inger at full stretch couldn’t direct the effort on goal.
APIA’s first chance came on 15 minutes and they should have taken the lead as a Tanya Borazio cross from the right found its way to Mona Walker, the midfielder unable to steer her volley goalwards.
Much like their opponents earlier, APIA had another chance moments later, this time Kiara De Domizio pulling her shot wide from a good position on the counter.
Just after the half hour mark, a very quiet Charlotte Lancaster delivered a teasing ball into the box, missing Ash Crofts by millimetres.
On 35 minutes the home team had the lead.
A free kick by Kelli Brown from the left into the box pin-balled around the edge of the area, falling fortunately into the path of Hay who reacted quickest to place the ball beyond James.
From the resulting kick off, it was 1-1.
APIA moved the ball from right to left, Lancaster picking it up, beating Hay and then delivering a perfect cross to Crofts who expertly headed her effort beyond Kiara Rochaix, giving the Rams keeper no chance.
With half time fast approaching, the Rams almost re-took the lead.
A Kelli Brown corner to the far post found Beth Gordon whose volley seemed goal bound had it not been for a fine James save.
Only five minutes into the second half and APIA had the lead.
Fragalle first won her challenge with Mel Caceres, before taking a touch and letting fly from outside the box with her weaker left foot, the ball beating Rochaix and coming off the post and into the goal.
Trew tried to respond for the home side, latching onto a Gordon pass, but unable to send her effort beyond James who saved well.
Trew and Gordon then made good forward runs with the ball, only for Charlotte Young to step across and thwart the danger.
The home team stepped it up and put the pressure on but APIA continued to repel, standing strong in defence.
With 15 minutes to go the Rams came close, Trew delivered a cross from the left but Caceres in the area didn’t quite get the connection required and James gathered comfortably.
With two minutes to go, APIA should have sewn up the win as Ash Crofts burst through the Rams defence, only for Rochaix to step up and save on the edge of her area.
The visitors managed the game well and deserved the points in the end, a hard fought victory that could be massive for Brad Attard’s side come the business end of the season.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 1 (Hay 35’)
APIA Leichhardt 2 (Crofts 36’, Fragalle 50’)
Lynwood Park, St Helens
Sunday, 26 May, 2024
Macarthur Rams: 1. Rochaix, 2. Bertolissio (24. Sossai), 3. McComasky, 10. Caceres (15. Mucenski), 11. Trew, 14. Sunaga, 16. Lobo, 25. Malone, 32. Gordon, 35, Hay, 44. Brown (17. Breier).
Subs Not Used: 5. Gordon, 19. Sloan, 46. Morrissey.
APIA Leichhardt: 90. James, 3. Borazio, 5. Kilbride (4. Prior), 6. Walker, 7. Lancaster (15. Pipino), 8. De Domizio (19. Lane), 11. Crofts, 16. Fragalle, 21. Kiparizov (18. Hoban), 24. Young, 25. Hayward.
Subs Not Used: 1. Magus, 14. Golding.
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By – Nikola Pozder