Stingrays pip Ravens at the death

The Illawarra Stingrays came away with a last gasp 2-1 victory over the Gladesville Ravens to send them to the top of the NPL Women’s NSW ladder.
It was the visitors that started the better and were rewarded for their good start with a goal mid-way through the first half to Sienna Saveska.
Just before the break, with the Ravens improving, Bella Habuda equalised.
With the game set to finish a draw, Siobhan Edwards popped up to tap the ball home to secure a massive three points for the Stingrays.
As mentioned earlier, the Stingrays started on the front foot and perhaps should have been in front on eight minutes when Edwards popped up at the far post, only to send her header wide.
With the Stingrays pressing high, they forced an error as Romina Parraguirre’s clearance fell to the feet of Saveska who calmly lobbed the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.
Things got worse for the home side as they lost Lexie Moreno to injury, the influential midfielder hobbling off with a calf injury.
Not long after, Saveska was involved again, this time latching onto a delightful Chloe Middleton cross, only to volley off target.
Edwards went close for the Stingrays again, turning outside the box and firing toward goal, forcing Parraguirre into a good save.
The Ravens needed to change something and began pressing higher themselves, turning the tide of the game somewhat.
From their press they forced a few errors and started to pin the Stingrays into their own half in the final minutes of the half.
First Patty Charalambous almost caught out Brianna Edwards at the near post, the keeper reacting just in time to parry the ball out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, the visitors couldn’t clear their lines, Annie Halls lofting the ball back into the danger area allowing Habuda to react quickest and head the equalise home moments before the break.
The second half saw the home side change formation and move to a back four, turning into the more dominant team.
Despite that, the Stingrays thought they had a second when Sofia Chistopherson scored, only to be denied for an offside.
Gladesville then thought they had the lead when Halls let fly from distance, her effort look destined for the top corner, only to rebound off the bar.
As the game was headed toward a draw, space opened up for substitute Renee Pountney, as she went to pull the trigger Alex McKenzie made a match winning challenge.
Down the other way went the Stingrays and they won the game.
Kaelah Austin latched on to a long ball and with Parraguirre caught in no man’s land, the Stingrays substitute lobbed her.
The ball bouncing just wide of the goal allowed Edwards to fly in, body on the line to tap the ball home for all three points and top spot.
Match Stats
Gladesville Ravens 1 (Habuda 44’)
Illawarra Stingrays 2 (Saveska 20’. S. Edwards 88’)
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Sunday, 16 June, 2024
Gladesville Ravens: 22. Parraguirre, 3. Daczko, 6. Davey, 8. Halls, 9. Moreno (26. Buccini), 13. De La Harpe, 17. Cholakian, 23. Allen, 33. Charalambous (7. Pountney), 37. Copus-Brown (5. Tanaka), 51. Habuda.
Subs Not Used: 1. Coleman, 4. Lidbetter, 18. Brewis.
Illawarra Stingrays: 31. B Edwards, 3. McKenzie, 4. Dekimura (13. Austin), 7. Middleton, 8. Nojima, 11. Matos, 14. Edwards (18. Lawless), 15. Cooper, 23. Saveska (2. Cannon), 28. Chistopherson, 32. Tylor-Young.
Subs Not Used: 1. Emery, 16. Nisbet, 19. Callow.
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By – Nikola Pozder