Barker’s Last-Gasp Strike Lifts Wanderers Over Stingrays
The Western Sydney Wanderers secured all three points in the Match of the Round in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Illawarra Stingrays 1-0 at Wanderers Football Park.
A dramatic last-minute goal sealed the victory for Jamie Dib’s side, who look well placed to have secured finals football.
The home side were on the front foot early and after only three minutes, Mia Nataly got on the end of an Amy Barker pass, seeing her angled shot come off the far post, with the rebound put just wide.
Nataly went close again, but some strong goalkeeping from Kiara Rochaix again denied the Wanderers attacker.
Western Sydney’s next chance came after a corner, the ball bouncing in the box before Amelia Bennett volleyed wide.
The Stingrays saw their first chance five minutes before half-time, with Lucy Baggio slotting a pass through for Sofia Christopherson, who couldn’t bring the ball under control on the edge of the area.
Amy Barker would next try her luck from distance, with Rochaix once more up to the task.
In the second half, the Wanderers started much like the first, with Bennett pulling the strings from midfield and finding Nataly with a fine through ball, the striker placing her shot inches wide of the post.
Baggio came close for the visitors on the hour mark, cutting in from the right but seeing her shot comfortably saved by Annabelle Croll.
The Stingrays gained some confidence, with Adelaide Thompson next to test Croll, but once again the Wanderers keeper stood firm.
Nataly had another chance for the Wanderers soon after. Miriam Zumaya crossed from the left and found the striker, with Nataly turning and seeing her shot deflected wide from the six-yard box.
With just under 20 minutes to go, Savannah Murray blasted a free kick from almost halfway, the effort clipping the top of the bar and going out.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 92nd minute.
Amy Barker found space down the left and delivered a cross into the box that took a deflection off Ella Gilles, with Alyssa McKenzie just behind her. The ball beat Rochaix and gave the Wanderers the lead.
There was no time left for the Stingrays to respond as the Wanderers secured another crucial three points.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1 (Gilles 92 +2’)
Illawarra Stingrays: 0
Sunday 7 June
Wanderers Football Park
WSW: 20. Croll 2. Keep, 3. Murray, 5. Bennett, 8. Nataly, 13. Khoshaba, 17. Ng Saad (11. Mckenzie), 21. Barker (18. D’Costa), 23. Zumaya, 27. Bradshaw, 28. Karaberis (6. Callil).
Substitutes not used: 4. Calusic, 25. Dal Broi, 30. Church, 45. Aungle..
Yellow Cards: Nataly
Red Cards: Nil
Illawarra Stingrays: 1. Rochaix, 2. Trew, 6. Limon (58. Garard), 7. Middleton (34. Hudson), 8. Gilles, 16. Nisbet (23. Pinkard), 17. Thompson, 19. Grove, 30. Baggio (36. Rowley), 77. McKenzie, 78. Chistopherson.
Substitutes not used: 13. Austin, 21. Russell.
Yellow Cards: Hudson
Red Cards: Nil
-By Nikola Pozder
