Round 15 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
The top two have begun to separate from the chasing pack after Round 15 in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, while NWS Spirit FC climbed off the bottom of the ladder for the first time this season in a big weekend of action.
NWS Spirit FC 4-0 Western City Rangers @ Christie Park
NWS Spirit FC made it three wins on the trot and lifted themselves off the bottom of the ladder in style with a commanding 4-0 win over Western City Rangers.
Sky Halmarick showed real bravery to open the scoring, rising highest to head home a cross from the left and set the tone early. Ella Abdul Massih doubled the advantage from a set piece 10 minutes before half-time, curling a superb effort around the wall and into the bottom corner. There was still time for one more before the break, with Tiana Fuller adding a third via a composed left-footed finish.
Olivia Page rounded off the scoring in the second half, reacting quickest to tap in after a scramble in the box and some poor defending from the visitors.
Illawarra Stingrays 0-3 Northern Tigers @ The Pond
The Northern Tigers produced a strong away performance to secure an important 3-0 victory over the Illawarra Stingrays on Sunday afternoon.
After a tight first half, the visitors struck first just after the break through Bethany Gordon, who used her height and timing brilliantly to lift the ball over Kiara Rochaix and open the scoring.
Gordon doubled her tally shortly after to complete her brace, collecting the ball on the edge of the area and rifling a stunning strike into the top corner with real class. Shadeene Evans then had the chance to put the game beyond doubt from the penalty spot, but Rochaix produced a save before the rebound struck the crossbar, with Charlotte Mortlock reacting fastest to mop up and make it 3-0.
Macarthur Rams 0-5 Bulls FC Academy @ Lynwood Park
Bulls FC Academy continued their push towards the top of the table with a dominant 5-0 win over Macarthur Rams, delivering a statement performance away from home.
Click here to view the full match report.
WSW 0-1 UNSW FC @ Wanderers Football Park
UNSW FC’s unbeaten start to the season rolled on Sunday evening as they edged out Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 in a tight contest.
The decisive moment came in the first half through Lexie Moreno, who produced something special on 23 minutes, curling a corner directly into the far corner to secure all three points in spectacular fashion.
Sydney University 1-1 Gladesville Ravens @ Sydney Uni Football Ground
The points were shared in a 1-1 draw between Sydney University and Gladesville Ravens in a competitive Sunday night clash.
The Ravens struck early through Gisella Pipino after just four minutes, with the attacker dribbling from halfway, benefiting from a fortunate bounce, and finishing confidently into the bottom corner.
Sydney University responded in the 55th minute through Asha Sutton, who once again showcased her set-piece quality by curling a superb left-footed strike into the top corner to level the match.
Late drama followed when Ravens defender Zoe Karpidis was shown a red card for violent conduct, reducing the visitors to 10 players.
Hills United 1-4 APIA Leichhardt @ Valentine Sports Park
APIA Leichhardt returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a strong 4-1 victory over Hills United at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday night.
Hills struck first after just five minutes when captain Aisling Davidson powered home a header from a corner to give the hosts an early lead.
APIA responded quickly, equalising on 15 minutes through Ash Letta, who swept home after a Mia Golding header. Letta then added her second on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a flowing team move with a powerful strike.
The visitors extended their lead through Talia Kapetanelis, who drove inside from the right before smashing home a clinical finish. Susan Phonsongkham then rounded off the scoring late on with a neat individual effort to complete the 4-1 result.
Manly United 2-2 Sydney Olympic @ Cromer Park
A four-goal thriller unfolded at Cromer Park as Manly United and Sydney Olympic shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Sydney Olympic struck first in the opening half when Peta Trimis delivered a perfect cross to the back post for Ruby Nathan to tap home.
Manly responded after the break, with Ellie Kerr unmarked to head home an Emma Bates cross and level the contest. Kerr then looked to have won it in the 89th minute, springing the offside trap before finishing calmly to make it 2-1.
However, there was late drama as Trimis stepped up again, showing her class by beating her defender and curling a superb effort into the net to rescue a 2-2 draw for Olympic.
-By Nikola Pozder
