Round 17 Review – NPL Women’s NSW

The league leaders UNSW FC suffered their first loss of the season in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition in Round 17 action as the title race came alive.

Lets check out how the round unfolded.

NWS Spirit FC 2-1 Northern Tigers
At Christie Park on Saturday afternoon, NWS Spirit continued their fine run of form with a 2-1 win over the Northern Tigers.

The visitors took the lead early on, with Lily McMahon converting a penalty after Ellie Head was brought down in the box.

Lara Gooch had the home side level 10 minutes into the second period, teed up by Ella Abdul Massih, it was a simple finish from the winger.

With the game heading toward a draw, Skye Halmarick had other ideas with 15 to go, springing the offside trap and finding the back of the net.

Bulls FC Academy 1-0 UNSW FC
The champions showed they aren’t giving up that easily on the Premiership, handing UNSW FC their first defeat of the season, 1-0 at Northbridge Oval.

Erin Nayler was the busier of the two keepers in an entertaining first half, with neither team able to break the deadlock.

Amber Luchtmeijer continued her fine form this season, scoring her 10th goal of the season in the second half to secure all three points.

The potent striker scored four minutes into the second half, getting on the end of an Indi Dos Santos cross to volley home.

Manly United 1-2 APIA Leichhardt FC
APIA Leichhardt came from behind to defeat Manly United at Cromer Park and keep their title hopes alive with a 2-1 win.

Manly opened the scoring in phenomenal fashion, with Ruby Jackson opening the scoring from some way out. Her drive came off the underside of the bar and went in.

Heading toward three points, Charlotte Lancaster had other ideas, scoring from range and curling her effort over the keeper and into the back of the net.

The points went home with the visitors as Ash Letta found the back of the net after a late stoppage-time scramble for APIA.

Sydney University SFC 5-2 Western City Rangers
Sydney University snapped their losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Western City Rangers.

Uni raced out to a 2-0 first-half lead, with Isabella Read and Sarah Farrow finding the back of the net for the home side.

They added another two in the second period and were cruising as Asha Sutton scored twice in four minutes with just over an hour gone.

The Rangers hit back with two quick goals, with Trudy Camilleri and Chelsea Barton both scoring.

That was short-lived though, with Juliet Chiew rounding off the scoring late on to make it 5-2 for Uni.

Hills United FC 1-0 Sydney Olympic FC
Hills United secured the win against Sydney Olympic, with one goal enough for all three points at VSP.

It took an hour for the deadlock to be broken, with Olivia Sloan scoring the goal.

Sloan ran onto a ball from Mary Stanic-Floody, volleying toward goal, with her effort coming off the post and bouncing in.

Illawarra Stingrays 3-0 Gladesville Ravens – Click here to view the full match of the round report. 
The Illawarra Stingrays snapped a nine-match winless run on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Gladesville Ravens 3-0 at The Pond in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Match of the Round.

Macarthur Rams v WSW – POSTPONED

– By Nikola Pozder