Round 4 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
Another round of incredible action in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW played out over the weekend, with a few late wins and several sensational strikes among the standout moments in a great round of action.
Have a read of our full Round 4 Review below.
Match of the Round – Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 v APIA Leichhardt 0 at Popondetta Park
Newly promoted Mt Druitt Town Rangers made a massive statement of intent in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW on Sunday evening with a memorable 2-0 victory over league leaders APIA Leichhardt FC at Popondetta Park.
Two late goals by the Rangers inflicted APIA their first loss of the campaign as substitute Clare Holder and attacker Roukayah Al Fararjeh found the back of the net.
Ben Gough’s team secured win number two of the 2025 season and kept their unbeaten start to the campaign going, incredibly, still yet to concede a goal in 2025.
For Brad Attard and APIA, it’s their first defeat of the season and the first time they have been kept scoreless, albeit in a solid performance against a good opponent.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MATCH REPORT
NWS Spirit 0-0 Illawarra Stingrays at Christie Park
A tight 0-0 draw played out between NWS Spirit and Illawarra Stingrays, with the two sides left to share the points after a ninety-minute battle took place at Christie Park on Saturday afternoon.
Spirit will have wanted to keep the momentum going after earning their first three points of the season last weekend in a 1-0 win away at Sydney University. Coming up against an Illawarra Stingrays side who have remained unbeaten to start the season will have been viewed as a real challenge for Spirit, though it was one the home side would have been certain of meeting.
The home side absolutely met the challenge that laid in front of them in the first half, having carved out several chances and shots on target of their own to put the Stingrays – who remained competitive despite Spirit’s pressure – on alert in defence.
The Christie Park faithful would have been impressed that their team’s determination to get on the scoresheet carried over into the second half, however Spirit were unable to translate their positive play into goals. In contrast, the Stingrays found it difficult to bypass the Spirit defence and were unable to gain a foothold on the game in midfield. The match would ultimately conclude 0-0.
Northern Tigers 2-1 Bulls FC Academy at North Turramurra Recreation Area
Despite a late push by the visitors, the Northern Tigers were able to hold onto a 2-1 victory over Bulls FC Academy in an entertaining clash at the North Turramurra Recreational Area on Saturday evening.
Though the Tigers have shown plenty of quality so far in 2025, they have been unable to consistently see out games to secure the three points. The Bulls however are very much in an opposite position to the Tigers, with only a single point earned in their opening three matches leaving them sat nearer to the bottom of the ladder.
The home team were able to unlock the Bulls defence in the 24th minute after Nicola Dominikovich drifted inside to lay an excellent through ball into the path of Beth Bernardi – via a sly bit of play from Haley Johnson – who hit a decent strike at Mio Nemoto that was saved by the Bulls keeper, which allowed Bo Burton in to fire the rebound home. 1-0 to the Tigers.
Burton would then score her second in the 72nd minute after racing onto a terrific long ball over the top of the Bulls defence from Savannah Murray, which allowed the dynamic Tigers attacker to run at Nemoto and round the outrushing keeper for goal number two for her side.
Late on in the match, Bulls substitute Ashlee Brodigan scored a brilliant half-volley in the 82nd minute to give her side a route back into the match, with the goal well-taken from just inside the 18-yard box and eluding the pressure of Tigers goalkeeper Anna Norton. However, the match would conclude 2-1 in favour of the home team.
UNSW 3-0 Macarthur Rams at The Village Green
UNSW delivered a statement win in front of their home fans by defeating the Macarthur Rams 3-0 at the Village Green.
UNSW have endured a mixed run to begin their campaign, and will have entered this fixture knowing they needed to be at their best to hold off a Rams side that notched their first win of the season last weekend. As for the opposition, the Rams will have wanted to build on the three points earned last week in an effort to push up the ladder.
However, UNSW looked determined from the get-go and would open the scoring in the 24th minute courtesy of a brilliant goal by Chloe Smith, who held off her defender to keep a hold of the ball before turning in the box and sneaking the ball in at the near post. 1-0 to UNSW.
The home side were intent on adding to their lead and would do so on the stroke of halftime after Marcella Santos’ marauding run ended in a save from Rams goalkeeper Issabella Coelho and a block on the line by a defender, with Smith first on the spot to promptly finish the rebound. 2-0 in the 45th minute.
Tiana Petkovski then put the finishing touches on the match with a sublime strike from distance that sailed into the top right corner of the net and in for 3-0 in the 52nd minute.
Newcastle Jets 2-3 Manly United at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Manly United overcame a 2-1 deficit and a red card to triumph 3-2 late on over the Newcastle Jets at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
The Jets secured a brilliant late win against Bulls FC Academy last weekend, proving that they are indeed stepping it up this season after laying solid foundations in 2024. On the other hand, Manly have been one of the stronger sides this campaign but were left frustrated by Mt Druitt Town Rangers’ unbeatable defensive efforts last round. Fans will have expected an open attacking clash between the two sides here.
Alexis Collins conjured a sensational opener for her side when in the 34th minute she found herself on a solo run up against the Manly backline and opted to hit a speculative strike from distance that bested goalkeeper Jodie Drever via the bottom left corner. 1-0 to the Jets.
Manly remained determined to get on the scoresheet however and would do so in the 38th minute via Tegan Biasi, who found herself in space on the right side of the 18-yard box and struck a low finish across the goal to earn her side an equaliser. 1-1.
The end to the first half was not ideal for Manly however, with Bonny Adams picking up a second yellow card and a subsequent red card for shoving a Jets player off the ball in the 41st minute.
The Jets then went ahead early in the second half after Chloe Walandouw beat her defender and squared the ball to Marni Duggan, who displayed superb composure in placing a looping strike beyond Drever. 2-1 to the Jets in the 51st minute.
Manly fought well to bring the match level in the 84th minute, with Daisy Arrowsmith playing a quality ball through to Siahn Bozanic who finished confidently with a strike toward the far post. 2-2.
Manly were not keen to settle for a draw though, and would find a triumphant winner in the final 45 seconds of the match through Anita Zordan, who capped off a brilliant performance with a perfect late winner struck superbly from range that rattled against the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line. 3-2 the final score.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Gladesville Ravens at Wanderers Football Park
The Western Sydney Wanderers continued their rollercoaster start to the NPL Women’s season with a 2-1 win over the Gladesville Ravens at Wanderers Football Park.
An up-and-down start for the Wanderers had them in 10th place with the most goals conceded heading into Round 4. Though scoring goals is proving to be no problem for them, they would have known heading into this matchup with the Ravens that their defence needed to be better. The Ravens have had a difficult start, and will have expected a better result out of their opening three matches than just a solitary point.
After largely dominating the first half, the Wanderers would have been delighted to see a bit of luck come their way as the Ravens inadvertently knocked the ball into their own net from a Wanderers corner that proved difficult to handle. Eliza Coleman with the own goal in the 45th minute.
Amy Barker’s tireless work down the right wing paid dividends in the second half after her cross, which was just out of reach of Anika Stajcic, deflected off of a Ravens defender and back to Stajcic, who fired home a strong finish to make it 2-0. An unfortunate moment for the Ravens defence in the 63rd minute.
Though they would end the match as the losing side, the Ravens would easily score the goal of the game late on in extra time through substitute Lexie Moreno, who cheekily shifted the ball away from her defender and proceeded to unleash a rocket from distance that flew into the top right corner for a well-earned consolation. 2-1 the final score.
Sydney Olympic v Sydney University – WASHED OUT
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Words by Matthew Badrov
