Round 19 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
The National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition returned in full swing, with a stack of goals scored across the weekend’s matches.
Have a read of our full breakdown below.
Match of the Round: Gladesville Ravens 5-3 Bulls FC Academy at Christie Park
The Gladesville Ravens came away with a 5-3 victory against the Bulls FC Academy at Christie Park on a rainy Sydney Sunday evening.
Isabella Edwards was the star of the evening with a hat-trick, while Claudia Cholakian and Elizabeth Copus-Brown got the other two.
Amber Luchtmeijer had the visitors in the game until half-time with her 24th-minute strike before she scored her second late on and Amy Chessari rounded off the scoring.
Click here to read the full match report!
Northern Tigers 1-3 APIA Leichhardt at North Turramurra Recreation Area
Despite taking an early lead, the Northern Tigers were unable to hold on for the victory and were ultimately undone 3-1 by the visiting APIA Leichhardt at the North Turramurra Recreation Area.
The Tigers have rediscovered the positive form that pushed them up the ladder in April and May, and were looking to upset league leaders APIA, who had the added exertion of a midweek draw with Premiership rival Sydney Olympic.
And the Tigers certainly put the visitors on the back foot early by taking the lead in the 3rd minute via a strong first-time volley from their captain Lily McMahon, who did well to put away an Abby Middleton touch down in the box. 1-0 to the Tigers.
APIA quickly regathered themselves and put the Tigers under pressure, leading to an own goal from a corner by Josie Wilson, who unintentionally headed the ball home at the near post in her attempt to clear it over the bar. 1-1 in the 6th minute.
With the first half momentum swinging in favour of the visitors, Ashlie Crofts stepped up to give her side the lead with an instinctive half-volley that rocketed past goalkeeper Aimee Hall from well outside of the 18-yard-box. 2-1 to APIA in the 30th minute.
Charlotte Lancaster added a third and final goal for APIA in the 61st minute when her shot from distance caused trouble for an outstretched Hall, who was unsuccessful in keeping the ball from tumbling into the back of the net despite getting a hand to it. The goal solidified APIA’s lead and secured the three points in the process.
Macarthur Rams 6-0 Emerging Jets at Lynwood Park
The Macarthur Rams proved to be too strong for the visiting Emerging Jets in big 6-0 win at Lynwood Park.
The Rams have hit fantastic form at a key point in the season and will have been gunning for a win coming up against the Jets this round. Though they endured a loss to the Northern Tigers last weekend, the Jets have displayed plenty of quality recently to notch two wins and a draw in their last four matches, and will have wanted to build on their recent performances in a big test away to the Rams.
A stellar opening goal launched the home side in front in the 20th minute, with Bronte Trew picking the ball up on the right wing and placing a superb finish over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner for 1-0.
Macarthur would not have to wait long to extend their lead after Bethany Gordon turned her defender in the box and was brought down in the process, with the Rams star showing total assurance in planting the ball into the top right corner from the resultant spot kick. 2-0 in the 22nd minute.
A fantastic strike courtesy of India Breier would give the Rams a 3-0 lead in the 36th minute, with the talented attacker contesting well for the ball before turning and hitting a screamer into the top right corner.
Breier then earned a brace for herself soon after the second half kick-off by being in the perfect position to cap off a brilliant Kelli Brown through ball that evaded the Jets defence and landed at the feet of the Rams winger for a thumping finish. 4-0 to the Rams in the 47th minute.
The Jets held strong in the second half to keep the scoreline at 4-0 but were again unable to prevent Breier from finding the back of the net after the No. 17 received a classy pass from Gordon and buried the ball underneath an outrushing Lily-Rose Dunbar to earn a hattrick for herself. 5-0 to the Rams in the 81st minute.
The final goal of the day would then arrive via an own goal in the 89th minute after Zoe Karipidis unwittingly buried a header from a dangerous Olivia Sloan cross into her own net. 6-0 the final score.
Football NSW Institute 1-6 Manly United at Valentine Sports Park
Manly United headed out to Valentine Sports Park and conquered, earning a 6-1 win on the road against Football NSW Institute.
After a run of losses, FNSW Institute will be eyeing an urgent return to winning ways. Up against a Manly side fresh from breaking their losing streak last weekend, the Institute will have entered this match cautious not to allow too much space for Manly’s attackers.
However, a mistake would lead to FNSW Institute conceding in the 15th minute, after a pass across goal was intercepted by Emily Minett, who made no mistake in burying the ball into the bottom corner. 1-0 to Manly.
A sublime Emily Bastow through ball in the 17th minute led to a brilliant opportunity for Nicole Stuart to score Manly’s second of the day, which she promptly did after just getting a foot to the ball and tucking it away for 2-0.
Institute attacker Adelaide Wyrzynski would then earn a goal back for her side in the 22nd minute after dispossessing Manly goalkeeper Jodie Drever just outside of the 18-yard-box and scoring into an empty net to make it 2-1.
Manly began the second half with back-to-back goals over a two-minute stretch, the first arriving via an unlucky own goal from Zanthe Juric in her attempt to clear the ball in the 52nd minute, and the second being earned off the back of a lethal Manly counterattack and a fantastic run and assist by Stuart for Minett, who buried her strike at the back post in the 54th minute.
A fifth for Manly would be scored by Corinne Winkler in the 78th minute – a decent header from the centre of the box into the ground and in past a sea of FNSW defenders – before a sixth and final goal was produced by Bonny Adams’ late run into the box from a corner and subsequent header.
Sydney University 1-2 Blacktown Spartans at Valentine Sports Park
The Blacktown Spartans defeated Sydney University in a closely-fought 2-1 win at Valentine Sports Park.
A matchup between two sides who have consistently struggled to earn the three points this season will be an interesting clash for fans, with Sydney Uni known as masters of the draw and Blacktown consistently being giant slayers this campaign. Undoubtedly, both sides will have been eager for a result here.
Both defences were playing with urgency and diligence throughout the first half, as it was clear neither team wanted to walk away without at least a point in the fight to avoid relegation.
With the teams heading into the half-time break locked at nil-all, the Spartans returned to the second half determined to make an instant impact, with Alyssa McKenzie stepping up to keep a hold of the ball on the right wing before fashioning a miraculous run and a well-taken finish from close range at the near post. 1-0 to the Spartans in the 48th minute.
Seeing McKenzie’s own moment of magic, Sydney Uni star Talia Kapetanellis proceeded to procure her an outstanding goal of her own after dropping into midfield from the wing and unleashing a strike from distance that bested goalkeeper Anna Norton and bounced in for 1-1 in the 55th minute.
The visitors had one more trick stored up their sleeve however as Roukayah Al Fararjeh expertly teed up Despina Vasiliadis, who guided the ball into the bottom left corner to give her side the lead. 2-1 the final score at the full-time whistle.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-0 UNSW at Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Sir Ian McLennan Oval played host as the Illawarra Stingrays defeated UNSW 2-0 in an entertaining clash on Sunday evening.
The Stingrays will be looking to get the win this round in an effort to stay in the top four, whilst UNSW will be determined to notch the three points to stave off the possibility of relegation come the end of the season.
The match began well for the Stingrays, who were able to fashion a well-worked team goal after pressuring UNSW to relinquish position and setting up Kaelah Austin, who remained composed in firing a strike that did just enough to beat goalkeeper Tiahna Robertson. 1-0 to the Stingrays in the 6th minute.
Outside of the early goal for the Stingrays, the first half was a fairly even contest between the two sides, with the second half continuing that theme until the Stingrays were able to solidify their win late in the game.
Sienna Saveska would be the one to put the official stamp on the match for the Stingrays after her excellent dribble through the UNSW defence put her in prime position to confidently finish for 2-0, giving her side a significant three points in the race for top spot in the NPL Women’s.
Sydney Olympic v NWS Spirit – WASHED OUT
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Words by Matthew Badrov
