Round 10 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
Round 10 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW delivered a weekend full of goals, shocks, statement wins and standout individual performances across the competition.
From dominant attacking displays to tight, hard-fought finishes, the race for ladder positions continues to heat up as the season reaches a crucial stage.
Read on for the full breakdown of the round’s action.
Match of the Round – Gladesville Ravens 3 v APIA Leichhardt 2 at Christie Park
Gladesville Ravens came away with all three points in a Match of the Round classic in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition on Sunday evening, defeating APIA Leichhardt 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Christie Park.
Annie Daczko opened the scoring for the home side, before returning star Sophie Hoban restored parity for APIA. Gisella Pipino then struck on the stroke of half-time to give the Ravens a 2-1 lead, with Daczko adding her second early in the second half to extend the advantage. APIA fought back again through Ash Brodigan from the penalty spot, but the visitors were ultimately unable to find an equaliser.
UNSW 1-0 Macarthur Rams at The Village Green
Fresh off moving to the top of the ladder, unbeaten UNSW continued their strong run with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a determined Macarthur Rams side. The home side struck almost immediately, with Chloe Smith involved in the early build-up before finishing the move inside two minutes to give UNSW a dream start.
The Rams pushed hard for an equaliser across both halves and created several dangerous moments, but UNSW’s defensive structure held firm under pressure to secure a crucial clean sheet and all three points.
Northern Tigers 3-1 Sydney Olympic at North Turramurra Recreational Area
Northern Tigers delivered a sharp attacking performance to defeat Sydney Olympic 3-1 in an important clash for both sides. The Tigers came out firing, with Ellie Head finishing a slick early move in the 3rd minute before an own goal from Bella Voisey-Youldon doubled the advantage. Bo Burton added a third shortly after as the hosts ran rampant in the opening half.
Sydney Olympic pulled one back through Lola Sossai in the second half, but the Tigers had already done enough to seal a deserved win and continue their climb up the ladder.
Illawarra Stingrays 0-1 Manly United at The Pond
Manly United continued their push towards the top four with a gritty 1-0 win over Illawarra Stingrays in a tight contest at The Pond. Chances were limited early, with Manly controlling large periods without finding the breakthrough.
That changed late in the game when Anita Zordan produced a moment of brilliance in the 84th minute, turning her defender on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful strike beyond Kiara Rochaix to secure a vital away win.
Sydney University 0-6 Bulls FC Academy at Sydney University Football Ground
Bulls FC Academy produced a ruthless attacking display, dismantling Sydney University 6-0 in a statement performance away from home. Jade Guichon opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a composed finish before Olivia Vanderlaan pounced on a rebound early in the second half to double the lead.
From there, the Bulls took complete control. Amber Luchtmeijer added a superb solo effort before Vanderlaan grabbed her second, followed by goals from Elizabeth Barwick-Grey and Petria Phillips to cap off a dominant, clinical performance.
Western Sydney Wanderers 5-0 NWS Spirit FC at Wanderers Football Park
Western Sydney Wanderers delivered a commanding 5-0 win over NWS Spirit FC in a one-sided affair at Wanderers Football Park. Mia Nataly set the tone early with a brilliant individual goal in the 11th minute before two unfortunate own goals further extended the lead.
Amy Barker added a long-range strike in the second half before Sophie Aungle rounded off the scoring to complete a dominant performance from the home side.
Western City Rangers 0-1 Hills United at Popondetta Park
Hills United claimed a vital three points in a tight relegation battle, edging Western City Rangers 1-0 at Popondetta Park. Aya Seino produced the decisive moment early, reacting quickly inside the box to smash home a half-volley in the 4th minute.
Despite sustained pressure from the Rangers as the match progressed, Hills held firm defensively to secure a massive win in the context of their season.
By Matthew Badrov
