Spartans undone by late Ravens winner
The Gladesville Ravens came away with the spoils from Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening with a last gasp 3-2 victory over the Blacktown Spartans.
Blacktown got off to the perfect starting, hitting the front after five minutes, before being hit back on the half hour mark.
They wouldn’t be level for long, pushing in front again shortly after to take a 2-1 lead into the break.
The final half hour would be the Bella Habuda show though as she scored two goals, one in the final minute of normal time to secure all three points for the Ravens.
It was the prolific Habuda that had two chances in quick succession in the first five minutes, her first effort saved by Anna Norton, the second a volley over the bar.
Against the run of play, the home side hit the front.
Roukayah Al Fararjeh broke through the middle of the Ravens defence, shot low toward the bottom corner and what should have been a routine save for the reliable Romina Parraguirre, wasn’t, the ball squirming through her hands and into the goal.
Almost from the kick off it should have been two, Alyssa Mckenzie volleying over from a good position.
Blacktown somehow survived on 15 minutes, Keiko Tanaka hitting the bar direct from the corner and then Norton reacting well to a loose ball in the box.
How the home side weren’t two-up in the 22nd minute, they are still more than likely wondering.
Al Fararjeh did everything right, turned her defender got into the area, only to have her toe poke saved by Parraguirre.
The rebound fell to the Spartans striker with an open goal in front, only to get her bearing all wrong in arguably the worst miss of the season.
Shortly after the Ravens almost caught the Spartans napping, Norton making a good save.
On the half hour mark we had a Patty Charalambous special.
The Ravens mini magician showed fine skill in midfield, beating a defender with a fine touch before letting fly and catching Norton off her line with an exquisite effort from around 25m out.
As half time approached, the Spartans were back in front.
A fortuitous deflection fell into the path of Alyssa Winham with the young striker breaking through, beating Parraguirre with a well taken finish.
It was the visitors that came out the stronger in the second half and were rewarded with 30 minutes to go through Habuda.
Lexie Moreno picked up the ball in midfield, volleyed it through pinpoint for Habuda who obliged with a thunderous volley of her own beyond Norton to make it 2-2.
Habuda should have put the Ravens in front, but instead of shooting, the striker attempted to play in a teammate for an open goal.
Charalambous was inches away from putting the Ravens in front, her effort bouncing just wide of the goal.
With the game set to finish all square, Habuda made the Spartans pay for falling asleep at the back.
A long ball from the back from Annie Daczko saw Habuda latch onto the end of it, calmly slotting beyond Norton, bringing the Ravens in front.
Charlotte Carroll almost had the Spartans on level terms, only for Parraguirre to save well.
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Al Fararjeh 5’, Winham 38’)
Gladesville Ravens 3 (Charalambous 29’, Habuda 58’ 88’)
Blacktown Football Park
Sunday, 11 August, 2024
Blacktown Spartans: 1. Norton, 2. Maniti, 3. Owen, 4. Cleur, 5. Wilson, 7. Oliva, 9. Al Fararjeh, 12. Carroll, 16. Winham, 26. Caroona, 28. Mckenzie
Subs Not Used: 11. Mkali, 17. Duggan, 22. Latham, 33. Garcia, 35. Prostran, 40. Kent.
Gladesville Ravens: 22. Parraguirre, 3. Daczko, 5. Tanaka, 6. Davey, 8. Halls, 9. Moreno (27. Villa), 13. De La Harpe (7. Pountney), 17. Cholakian, 23. Allen, 33. Charalambous, 51. Habuda.
Subs Not Used: 1. Coleman, 4. Lidbetter, 35. Passafaro.
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By – Nikola Pozder
