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Round 10 Review – NPL NSW Women’s

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What a round of football in the NPL NSW Women’s competition, thrills, spills and goals galore. 

Northern Tigers had a win and a loss in their double up week, while the same can be said for Sydney Olympic.

APIA Leichhardt are now three games without a win, but it’s a first loss in some time for Sydney Uni.

Bankstown City have now notched up two straight wins and are catching those in front of them.

Six points separate second all the way down to ninth in what is the closest season ever and we are still not at half way!

 

Northern Tigers 2-0 Macarthur Rams 

The Northern Tigers moved into second place on the competition table after defeating the league leaders Macarthur Rams 2-0 at North Turramurra.

After arguably their worst performance of the season mid-week, Jason Eagar had his girls eager to bounce back immediately.

It was the home side that probably started the better, racking up a large number of early corners.

The deadlock was broken with five minutes to go in the first half.

Malia Steinmetz took the ball outside the area and let fly on the half volley, into the top corner giving Khamis no chance.

20 minutes from full time the points were secure.

Shay Evan picked up a loose ball at the far post before blasting the ball beyond Khamis to make it 2-0.

 

Emerging Jets 1-3 Bankstown City 

Bankstown City made it two wins on the bounce when they defeated the Emerging Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Matthew Costatini’s side remain in 11th place but have edged closer to those in front of them on the ladder.

On the half hour mark, the away side hit the front.

For the umpteenth time this season, the Jets gave a goal away, this time Panayiota Petratos closing down the keeper to deflect the ball into the back of the net.

Things got worse for the home side as Bankstown doubled their advantage.

Some silky skills from Logan Garard slide in Olivia Price who dinked the ball over the keeper in expert fashion.

The Jets started the second half in the best possible way, scoring after only five minutes.

A ball cut back to the edge of the area had Brianna Williams smacking her shot into the top corner and beyond Annie Grove.

Just as the Jets began creating and pressing, they were brought right back down.

Olivia Price moved into the box before being brought down.

Price dusted herself to find the back of the net from the spot and claim all three points with less than 15 minutes remaining.

 

Football NSW Institute 1-1 APIA Leichhardt 

A fine game at Valentine Sports Park saw the Football NSW Institute and APIA Leichhardt share the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

It’s the third straight game now APIA have failed to win and their premiership hopes have taken quite a hit.

Sophie Hoban looked most likely for the away side, going close on a couple occasions.

22 minutes in though, the Institute punished APIA for a defensive error.

In fine form this season, Charlie Rule made no mistake with her finish on the edge of the area, putting away her sixth of the season.

APIA continued pressing as they were early on but couldn’t find a goal before the break.

Despite APIA’s pressure, the Institute should’ve doubled their lead as Rule hit her shot over from only a meter or so in front.

With 25 minutes remaining, Grace Maher had APIA on level terms.

With her second goal in as many games, Maher did well to get through the Institute defence before placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Hoban had a chance to win it for APIA late on but her effort went just wide of the goal.

 

Sydney Olympic 1-2 North West Sydney Koalas 

The North West Sydney Koalas broke a horrid run of form, scoring the biggest shock victory of the round against Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground.

After picking up four straight wins, including a mid-week win over the Northern Tigers, Olympic were one of the competition’s form teams.

And they continued in that fashion, taking the lead on 14 minutes through Mackenzie Hawkesby.

A ball through by De Domizio had Hawkesby beat her defender with speed before placing beyond Offer.

Only one minute later and the Koalas equalised in some style through Sophie Harding.

The Koalas striker burst through the Olympic defence, getting passed her markers with ease before dribbling passed Jada Mathyssen and sliding the ball into an empty goal.

Despite the early goals, neither side could add to the score line in the first half.

In the 57th minute, Harding became creator as she crossed across goal for Rachel Soutar who blasted the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Olympic pushed but the Koalas stood firm to secure their first win in seven matches.

 

Illawarra Stingrays 2-5 Blacktown Spartans 

Goals galore at JJ Kelly Park but it would be the visitors that had more, the Blacktown Spartans winning 5-2 against the Illawarra Stingrays.

It was the home side that hit the front from the spot as the ever-reliable Michelle Carney slotted the ball home in some style.

Talitha Kramer then had a couple chances to extend the Stingrays lead but wasn’t able to.

On the stroke of half time, the Spartans would punish the Stingrays for their missed opportunities.

Ash Crofts finally broke her duck with a smart finish on the edge of the area to secure her first goal of the season.

Five minutes into the second period and the away side over-turned the deficit, Rosie Galea playing a superb ball across goal for Tiarne Flavin who had her second in as many weeks.

This time though, the home side equalised.

Carney found herself with a golden opportunity inside the box, forcing Sally James into an incredible save before slamming the ball home on the rebound.

Not long after, the Spartans were back in front.

Maja Markovski continued her fine form in front of goal in some style, turning her marker before placing the ball into the back of the net.

Minutes later the lead was doubled with a goal of the season contender.

Hannah Lowry picked up the ball from more than 35 metres out before letting fly, her effort coming off the underside of the bar before hitting the back of the net.

The points were sewn up five minutes from half time, Maja Markovski brought down in the box with the referee awarding a penalty.

Markovski took the resulting penalty and despite the Stingrays keeper picking the right side, the penalty had too much power, hitting the back of the net.

 

Manly United 2-1 Sydney University 

We’ve been eagerly waiting for the champions to kick into gear and this week it looks like it has as Manly United defeated the premiers 2-1 at Cromer Park in the 2020 grand final rematch.

A tight first half with not many chance meant that the two sides entered the break locked at 0-0.

Supporters hadn’t even returned from the half time break when Manly hit the front, 12 seconds into the second half.

Remy Siemsen getting onto the end of a ball into the area before blasting a powerful volley beyond Boric who had no chance.

Sydney Uni have been dangerous from set pieces all year and with 10 minutes left, they had their equaliser.

Taren King rose the highest from the corner, powering her header into the back of the net.

As the clock ticked, Manly re-took the lead.

Siemsen laying off the ball for Caitlin Jarvie, as the latter side footed it beyond Boric to secure all three points for Tom Hopley’s side.

 

Round 2 rescheduled fixture reviews

Sydney Olympic 2-1 Northern Tigers 

Sydney Olympic welcomed the Northern Tigers to Valentine Sports Park on Thursday night after a last-minute change of venue.

It was the away side that got off to a great start when Aideen Keane muscled her way through before tapping the ball home.

But it was all Sydney Olympic in the first half.

Chance after chance came and went until Mackenzie Hawkesby changed that.

What seemed a nothing ball from the centre of defence, went all the way through to Hawkesby who made no mistake with her finish to equalise.

The Tigers came out better in the second period but couldn’t break down a stubborn Olympic defence.

Aimee Phillips then made a fine run down the right before crossing across goal for Teigen Collister who sent the ball into the back of the net.

It’d be Olympic that would look more likely after that, going close through Sarah Yatim and Hawkesby. Securing a massive three points.

 

Sydney University 1-1 APIA Leichhardt  

Sydney University and APIA shared the spoils at Sydney Uni Football game in the other rescheduled match last week.

APIA hit the front from after Grace Maher saw her penalty get saved before being quickest to the rebound to bundle the ball home.

Uni responded in the second half an should’ve equalised in the second period through Torpey.

Shortly after, Sarah Morgan had the home side level, popping up at the far post.

Both teams had opportunities to win it, Maher hit the bar from distance while Demi Koulizakis missed a sitter from right in front.

BY: NIKOLA POZDER, CHIEF NPL NSW WOMEN’S WRITER  

 

Round 10 Preview – NPL NSW Women’s

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The Macarthur Rams have managed to hold on to the lead at the top of the competition ladder of the NPL NSW Women’s competition but another challenger rises this weekend in round 10 action. 

They travel to North Turramurra to face the hungry Tigers, while Manly plays a must win clash against Sydney University.

A real six-pointer takes shape down the south coast between the Stingrays and Spartans, and the Jets and Lions will both be confident they can register victories on Sunday.

Sydney Olympic will look to keep their good form going against the Koalas as the Institute and APIA look to get back to winning ways.

Manly United v Sydney University @Cromer Park, Sunday 3pm 

Sydney University will travel to Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon as they take on Manly United.

June will be a tough and testing month for the Students with six games on the schedule for them.

After a slow start where they didn’t win in their first two games, they lost only once in their last five outings with some impressive victories to boast about.

They proved many wrong who doubted their credentials after their uncharacteristic start, but now sit a point outside the top five with two games in hand on most of their rivals.

Holly Caspers and Kaitlyn Torpey have been standouts in the goal scoring departments while it’s the rock in defence of Taren King who keeps things tight at the other end.

Should June go well for Uni, they could find themselves right in the battle for premiership honours, a title they currently hold.

It’s disappointing at Cromer Park.

They had three points in the bag at the 44th minute of their match on Sunday but unfortunately for them, football games last 90 minutes.

They were playing some good football, could’ve been four-goals to the good had it not been for the phenomenal Sally James and then just stopped playing.

The drop was unexplainable from Tom Hopley’s side and the coach was devastated at losing all three points, fully well knowing that a win would’ve thrown them right back in the finals mix.

A win is imperative on Sunday and with the quality at his disposal, Hopley will be expecting his side to be at their best.

Illawarra Stingrays v Blacktown Spartans @JJ Kelly Park, Sunday 3pm 

At JJ Kelly Park on Sunday, the Illawarra Stingrays host the Blacktown Spartans.

Only one win in six and two straight defeats has seen the Illawarra Stingrays drop out of the top five for the first time this season.

With Caitlin Cooper being selected into the Westfield Matildas squad (Congratulations to her), things will only get more difficult for the south coast side with one of their influential leaders absent.

With a tough run of games in front of them, they’ll need to reconsolidate quickly in order to keep their finals hopes alive.

Michelle Carney and Erica Halloway will need to step up now and help lead Bruce Tilt’s team.

Out at Blacktown Football Park, form has drastically improved and Brad Attard’s team is now closer to finals football.

This rise in form though coincided with the arrival of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin to the squad, two players they will soon lose after gaining selection into the Westfield Matildas team, a fantastic achievement for these two talented youngsters.

But how will Attard’s side cope without them? Nevin’s replacement Tanya Borazio is out with an MCL injury and Cooney-Cross is one of their most important players.

Rosie Galea and Maja Markoviski have been playing well, the latter scoring her first hat-trick on Sunday in a Spartans jersey.

They showed excellent character to come from two-goals down and win over the weekend but will need youngsters Lowry and McKenna to step up in midfield with the imminent departure of Cooney-Cross.

Without a doubt, the Spartans currently have the best goalkeeper in the competition in Sally James, pouring confidence across the rest of her team with her saves and leadership.

Emerging Jets v Bankstown City @Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Sunday 3pm 

Bankstown City travel North on Sunday afternoon to take on the Emerging Jets.

Fresh off their first win of the season, Bankstown enter this one full of confidence.

Matthew Costatini will believe his side can get on somewhat of a roll and a win here would set them up nicely for two straight home games.

Finishing has still been a major problem for them, even though only one was needed on the weekend, Meleri Mullan seems to possibly be the answer.

At the other end, Annie Grove was colossal in goals, pulling off a large number of top saves to secure Bankstown’s first three points of the campaign.

Finals are most definitely too far away but this season was all about consolidating and building for the future for Bankstown.

The tough season continue for the Jets, nine games and yet to register a point.

It genuinely seems as though the experience from their opponents gets the better of them as they are well in the battle for most games.

Nevertheless, they’ll feel they can take something from this game, in particular with it being at home.

Could the Jets score their first three points of 2021?

Sydney Olympic v North West Sydney Koalas @Peter Moore Field, Sunday 3pm

On Sunday afternoon at Peter Moore Field, Sydney Olympic host the North West Sydney Koalas.

The home team’s main problem in 2021 is consistency.

They have won their last three matches on the bounce but you get the feeling they should have picked up more points along the way.

Still, they have played two games less than most teams and came away with a magnificent victory on Sunday when they defeated premiership contenders APIA Leichhardt.

The last piece missing from the Olympic puzzle seems to be Cortnee Vine but with no real concrete return date, other will need to step up, other like the returning Sarah Yatim.

Yatim marked her full return with the winning goal in spectacular fashion on Sunday and she’ll be important to what Olympic do along with others such as Taylor Ray, Teresa Polias, Mackenzie Hawkesby and so on.

Aside from their round one defeat to Macarthur, the Koalas you can say have been unlucky so far in 2021.

Adam Keramea’s team has been right in the mix and usually only a goal away from a win or draw.

The inability to turn draws into wins and losses into draws has the Koalas in 10th place on the ladder.

With the quality the squad possess within, Keramea will be expecting things to turn around sooner rather than later.

Football NSW Institute v APIA Leichhardt @VSP, Sunday 3pm 

It’s second against fourth on Sunday at Valentine Sports Park as the Football NSW Institute host APIA Leichhardt.

These two enter this one both coming off defeats in their previous round.

The Institute did it tough against the league leaders and fell away courtesy of two first half goals on Sunday.

Jaime Gomez will expect an immediate response, much like they did the last time they tasted defeat when they disposed of Sydney Olympic.

The task won’t be any easier against a tough APIA side and Gomez’s youngsters will need to be at the top of their game to tame the potent strike force that APIA possess.

An APIA side coming off a defeat to Sydney Olympic in front of a bumper home crowd.

The club has put together a side worthy of winning the competition stacked with quality W League players, it’s now time for the players to prove the preseason expectations are real and not just hype.

Lisa De Vanna and Georgia Yeoman-Dale, both missed out on call ups to the Westfield Matildas side and will now need to turn their focus to leading their young team following the disappointment of the recent announcement.

With fire in their belly, you’d hate to be the team they come up against this weekend.

But, someone’s loss is another’s gain and Spencer Prior will be able to count on two of his super stars for up coming fixtures.

Two wins and two draws in their last four matches, consistency will be key for Prior’s team as they look to get back on with their premiership push.

Northern Tigers v Macarthur Rams @North Turramurra, Sunday 3:30pm 

In the final match of the round, all eyes will be on the top of the table clash at North Turramurra as the Northern Tigers host the league leaders, Macarthur Rams.

A massive battle is expected here along with the tussle for the golden boot as Rams’ Leena Khamis and Tigers’ Lauren Allan sit atop the ladder with seven goals apiece.

The Tigers have been very good and you wouldn’t expect anything less with the squad that Jason Eagar has at his disposal.

Since their opening day loss against the Stingrays, they’ve only lost to APIA and Jason Eagar will tell you that on both days, his team should’ve come away with more.

Aideen Keane is looking sharp, dangerous and in form, as is Shay Evans and top scorer Lauren Allan.

Winnie Heatley has been a rock at the back for the Tigers as has Malia Steinmetz in midfield.

They’ll expect all three points here and won’t be happy with anything less.

So the league leaders lost two weeks ago, but bounced right back and won their top of the table clash against the Institute…that wasn’t supposed to happen.

That was it for the Rams, their descent down the ladder should’ve started!?

No, Stephen Peters’ side fell off the bike, dusted themselves off and got straight back on it.

That is why they are real premiership contenders and that is why they currently lead the competition.

As mentioned earlier, Leena Khamis is in fine form as is captain Renee Rollason.

With the equal best defence in the league, Rollason and Sham Khamis have been massive for the Rams and they’ll be pivotal for a positive result on Sunday.

BY: NIKOLA POZDER, CHIEF NPL NSW WOMEN’S WRITER  

Why the 2021 NSW Women’s National Premier Leagues is one of the most exciting seasons yet

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Grace Maher takes three measured steps backwards, raises both of her arms in the air, and pauses.

The players shuffle and wrestle around in the penalty area, vying for the best position, their faces turned towards the corner flag.

The crowd in the small grandstand that hugs one side of the field begins to swell. The chorus is led by the bright, chirpy voices of dozens of young girls dressed in club colours.

They watch, starry-eyed, as their idols jostle and zip around the bright green Lambert Park turf.

The swell builds. The 1000-strong crowd breathes tension into the moment. Maher lowers her arms and takes two confident strides forward, her left leg curling backwards; a pistol-hammer ready to fire the ball through the barrel of the air.

Her connection is powerful and clean. The ball bends towards the back of the six-yard box and dips into a sea of blue and white. Mackenzie Hawkesby reacts quickest, meeting the ball with her thigh, trying for a first-time clearance. But her control lets her down; it ricochets awkwardly, bouncing out towards the penalty spot where Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna is waiting, coiled like a spring.

The ball barely has time to land before De Vanna pounces, blasting it into the roof of the net, past a bewildered Jada Mathyssen-Whyman. The crowd erupts; the screams of the tracksuited girls piercing through the afternoon.

De Vanna is swamped by team-mates: Rhianna Pollicina, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Deborah-Ann De La Harpe, Tori Tumeth, Susan Phonsongkham. Maher comes hurtling in from the right and joins the crushing team hug. Matilda McNamara, Jess Frampton, Charlotte McLean, Aimee Phillips and Angelique Hristodoulou take a breath before rallying their side to go again.

You may recognise many of these names; they’ve played on television, at major club finals, and in some of the biggest international competitions in the world.

But this isn’t the W-League or the Matildas.

This is APIA Leichhardt against Sydney Olympic FC in the NSW Women’s National Premier League, a competition that has, season after season, muscled its way into becoming the strongest state-based women’s league in Australia.

And the 2021 season may be the most entertaining and competitive yet.

Take this past weekend’s game between APIA and Sydney Olympic; two of Australia’s biggest and most storied NPL clubs. At the inaugural “Best In The Inner West” festival on Sunday on APIA’s home turf, both senior women’s teams traded blows.

De Vanna’s opener for APIA in the 8th minute was cancelled out in the tenth by a looping, curling effort from Olympic’s Alexia Karrys-Stahl. A slicing midfield move by Olympic early in the second half was finished superbly by Taylor Ray before APIA’s Maher equalised just on the hour.

But the game was put to bed by the visitors as midfielder Sarah Yatim launched a shot from 30 yards that crept in over the outstretched fingers of Sophie Magus, the win taking Olympic to within two points of their cross-town rivals.

It’s not just in the “bigger” clashes that excitement reigns, though.

Elsewhere this past weekend, while separated by five spots on the ladder, North West Sydney Koalas and Northern Tigers went toe-to-toe at Christie Park. It was the higher-placed Tigers who emerged 3-2 winners after a Lauren Allan Brace and stunning Malia Steinmetz strike.

A top-of-the-table clash between the Macarthur Rams and Football NSW Institute in Campbelltown saw the Rams cement first place with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from veteran Leena Khamis and young Canberra product Hayley Taylor-Young.

The shock of the round came from Bankstown City’s 1-0 win over traditional heavyweights Illawarra Stingrays after a lung-busting half-field sprint and finish by Meleri Mullan in addition to some crucial goalkeeping by Annalee Grove.

Last year’s Grand Final winners Manly United were also humbled by a new-look Blacktown Spartans outfit, who came from behind to score four goals (including a Maja Markovski hat-trick) to dampen an early Tara Andrews double, while Sydney University breezed past Emerging Jets in a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Holly Caspers (2) and Clare Wheeler.

With dozens more W-League-level players moving from across the country to play in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s this year, the standard of the competition continues to improve. Even a brief glimpse across the Goals of the Week contenders shows how much individual and team quality the league currently contains.

With almost 90 2020/21 W-League footballers now calling the NPL NSW Women’s home, and many more talented players emerging through the ranks, there has never been a better time to pay attention to Australia’s best women’s NPL competition.

-By Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur)

NPL NSW Women’s stars represented in Matildas squad

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The National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition received a huge boost following Westfield Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson’s 25 players selection to take part in its June international friendlies against Denmark and Sweden.

Blacktown Spartans duo of Courtney Nevin and Kyra Cooney-Cross as well as Illawarra Stingrays’ Caitlin Cooper will be flying the NPL NSW Women’s flag when they don the Green and Gold this month.

With over 400 matches of international experience combined, Australia vice-captain Steph Catley and centurion Elise Kellond-Knight spearhead a returning quintet of players – Catley, Kellond-Knight, Carpenter, Simon and Yallop – who assisted the team in qualifying for their fourth Games.

Westfield Young Matildas contingent Cooney-Cross, Nevin and Charlotte Grant all have the opportunity to join the 209 women who have represented Australia on the international stage.  On the other end of the spectrum, veteran defender Caitlin Cooper earns another shot at a major tournament, while midfielders Amy Harrison and Alex Chidiac have been rewarded for strong domestic seasons in the Netherlands and in the Westfield W-League.

Following an extensive process of evaluation, Gustavsson is keen to begin working with the squad – half of whom he will meet for the first later in the month.

“I believe this group of players bring together some excellent qualities and I am really looking forward to seeing how they can come together,” said Gustavsson.

“We spoke about the April camp giving us questions and answers and, over the past couple of weeks, Mel and I have been working with the technical staff to find the players that we believe can address certain key questions.  We have analysed the squad and identified the areas that require strengthening and players that have weapons to enhance the national team.”

With 50 days until Australia’s opening tournament match against New Zealand, Gustavsson emphasised the importance of team balance, building chemistry and maximising every moment until the July kick off.

“When it comes to building the roster, we need to ensure we have balance across the squad.  We need different player types; we need depth in different positions and need some players that provide flexibility between the lines.”

“All of this means that difficult decisions had to be made, particularly in positions like the forwardline where there is an abundance of talent but limited positions.  Unfortunately, that has meant some top quality players have not been selected this time around, however, the door is still open as football is unpredictable and we always need to be adaptable.”

“The focus of this camp will be on preparing ourselves for the opponents we will meet in 50 days.  It is why we have chosen tough opponents in Denmark and Sweden.  We need to observe, in a challenging environment, if the players called up can assist us in executing game plans that can be successful in July.”

“Finally, we will have a heavy emphasis on building chemistry on and off the pitch.  Several of the players coming in have built strong relationships over years of close connection and we want to re-establish that rapport while cultivating new connections within the team,” he concluded.

The squad will arrive in Bastad, Sweden from 6 June before meeting world number 16, Denmark (11 June), and world number five, Sweden (16 June), in Horsnes and Kalmar, respectively.   Full match details and broadcast details can be found below.

The Westfield Matildas are grouped alongside New Zealand, Sweden and United States for the Games with their first match against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on 21 July.

PLAYER NAME POSITION CLUB CAPS (GOALS)
Mackenzie ARNOLD Goalkeeper West Ham United (ENG) 25 (0)
Laura BROCK Defender En Avant de Guingamp (FRA) 62 (2)
Ellie CARPENTER Defender Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) 41 (1)
Steph CATLEY Defender Arsenal FC (ENG) 82 (3)
Alex CHIDIAC Midfielder Uncontracted 17 (1)
Kyra COONEY-CROSS Midfielder Blacktown Spartans (AUS) 0 (0)
Caitlin COOPER Defender Illawarra Stingrays (AUS) 10 (2)
Caitlin FOORD Forward Arsenal FC (ENG) 85 (20)
Mary FOWLER Forward Montpellier (FRA) 6 (0)
Emily GIELNIK Forward Vittsjo GIK (SWE) 39 (10)
Beatrice GOAD Defender SV Meppen (GER) 2 (0)
Charlotte GRANT Defender FC Rosengård (SWE) 0 (0)
Amy HARRISON Midfielder PSV Eindhoven (NED) 13 (0)
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT Midfielder Hammarby (SWE) 113 (2)
Alanna KENNEDY Defender Unattached 89 (7)
Sam KERR Forward Chelsea FC (ENG) 90 (42)
Aivi LUIK Midfielder Sevilla (ESP) 27 (0)
Teagan MICAH Goalkeeper IL Sandviken (ISL) 0 (0)
Courtney NEVIN Defender Blacktown Spartans 0 (0)
Clare POLKINGHORNE Defender Vittsjo GIK (SWE) 126 (10)
Hayley RASO Forward Everton FC (ENG) 48 (6)
Kyah SIMON Forward PSV Eindhoven (NED) 92 (26)
Emily VAN EGMOND Midfielder Unattached 99 (23)
Lydia WILLIAMS Goalkeeper Arsenal FC (ENG) 89 (0)
Tameka YALLOP Midfielder West Ham United (ENG) 87 (10)

Round 9 Review – NPL NSW Women’s

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There would be no change at the top of the competition ladder after round nine action in the NPL NSW Women’s competition. 

The Macarthur Rams got back to winning ways this week in the top of the table clash, while there was a first win of the season for Bankstown City.

A superb turnaround at Blacktown Football Park has the Spartans edging closer to the top five, while Sydney Olympic scored a massive victory in a direct clash with a premiership rival.

While the Northern Tigers and Sydney University kept the pressure on the league leaders with victories.

 

North West Sydney Koalas 2-3 Northern Tigers

In front of a packed crowd at Christie Park on Saturday night, it was the Northern Tigers that took the points in a five-goal thriller.

The first half got off to a timid start with both sides looking to expose the other tactically.

It took up until 10 minutes from half time for the away side to be gifted the perfect opportunity to hit the front from the penalty spot.

Lauren Allan made no mistake from the spot, finding the bottom left corner.

It seemed the goal brought the game to life as the Tigers soon doubled their advantage.

Aideen Keane showed all her skill and speed as she danced through the Koalas defence before slotting a ball across goal for Allan who made no mistake and secured her second of the evening.

Minutes later and the home side was back in the game.

It was a case of ‘whatever you can do I can do better’ from Sophie Harding, slaloming through the Tigers defence as the ball dropped for Isabella Volkanovski who blasted the ball home.

Eight minutes into the second half, in confusing circumstances it was 3-1 for the Tigers.

Malia Steinmetz let fly with an absolute piledriver which came off the underside of the bar and according to the assistant referee, over the line.

It was a perfect strike for the Tigers midfield.

Keane should’ve made it 4-1 not long after but she pulled her shot wide.

Just on the hour mark and once more the Koalas pulled themselves back into the contest.

A nice team move saw the pace of Sophie Harding explode through the Tigers defence and then roll the ball into the goal to make it 3-2.

The home side ran out of energy though and couldn’t find an equalising goal.

 

Blacktown Spartans 4-2 Manly United 

In an incredible come back, the Blacktown Spartans overturned a two-goal deficit to go home 4-2 victors.

Tara Andrews scored two goals inside the first 35 minutes before Maja Markovski halved the score right on half time.

Markovski scored two more after the break to complete her hat-trick as substitute Tiarne Flavin rounded off the scoring late in the piece.

Blacktown had the first chance, Maja Markovski forcing Isabella Whitton into a save.

It was the away team that struck first just after 10 minutes.

Emily Minnett one the ball off Courtney Nevin inside the Spartans box, cutting the ball back for Tara Andrews who placed the ball into the back of the net.

They almost doubled their lead after a fantastic diagonal ball from Sophie Nenadovic for Remy Siemsen who took her touch into the box and fired toward goals, forcing Sally James to tip the ball onto the bar.

Annie Daczko then made a penalty in a freak moment, clearing the ball onto her hand, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Andrews stepped up to take the spot kick and even though James picked the side and almost pulled off an incredible save, the shot went into the top corner.

Siemsen again thought she had scored, this time forcing James to make another unbelievable save, literally plucking the ball out of the top corner.

On the stroke of half time though, the Spartans had a lifeline.

Kyra Cooney-Cross delivered a free kick into the box which Hana Lowry flicked onto to Markovski who finished with ease.

The Spartans carried that form into the second half, Cooney-Cross delivering toward Lowry who couldn’t direct her volley goal wards.

In an almost identical move on the hour mark, Rosie Galea played in Cooney-Cross who this time found Markovski who placed the ball into the far corner.

Cooney-Cross was everywhere and almost scored a spectacular goal, catching Whitton off her line from more than 40 metres out, only for her shot to come off the bar. The rebound fell to Markovski who headed over the bar.

With 15 minutes to go, the Spartans were in front.

The home side’s striker rounded off her hat-trick with a thunderbolt from outside the area, giving Whitton no chance.

Spartans substitute Tiarne Flavin completed the victory after pinching the ball off the Manly defence before finishing in the bottom corner.

‘Resilience’ was the key word for Brad Attard.

“We weren’t in the game for the first 35 minutes, but we showed great resilience to score four goals in 46 minutes and turn it around,” said the Spartans coach.

There was one word for Tom Hopley to describe his sides performance.

“Devastating. I thought they tactically didn’t change anything but when you got players like Cooney-Cross, who I thought we were brilliant against in the first 45 and then we just went flat and got punished,” said Hopley.

 

APIA Leichhardt 2-3 Sydney Olympic 

A late strike insured that Sydney Olympic will go home with three points against APIA Leichhardt in a massive match in front of  a healthy crowd as part of the ‘Festival of Football’ festivities at Lambert Park.

The home side started the brighter and hit the front inside 10 minutes as Lisa De Vanna blasted home a shot from inside the box.

Less than two minutes later Olympic were level as Alexia Karrys-Stahl finished off a fine team move in style.

The away side turned the score line around as Taylor Ray placed a fine shot into the back of the net.

On the hour mark the home side were level after an excellent shot from Grace Maher from just outside the area.

The game look destined for a draw until the best goal of the afternoon from Sarah Yatim had Olympic returning to Belmore with all three points.

 

Sydney University 3-0 Emerging Jets 

Sydney University made light work of the Emerging Jets on Sunday afternoon, taking all three points with a 3-0 victory.

It took 10 minutes for Uni to hit the front, Clare Wheeler pouncing on a goalkeeping area to put Uni in front.

Holly Caspers doubled the advantage before the half hour mark with a smart finish into the back of the net.

Caspers then had her second in fortuitous circumstances, her cross came shot found the top corner and settled the points for Uni.

 

Bankstown City 1-0 Illawarra Stingrays 

There was something to sing about finally at Jensen Park as Bankstown City defeated the Illawarra Stingrays.

It was Matthew Costatini’s first win of 2021 with the Lions as the team will now look to build on that success.

It was the away side who had the earlier chances, unable to break the deadlock.

But it was Meleri Mullan who took the ball from within her own half before placing the ball expertly into the back of the net.

They didn’t really look like conceding after that goal and held onto to that solitary goal advantage to secure their first three points of the season.

 

Macarthur Rams 2-0 Football NSW Institute 

It was always going to be a test of character for the Rams after last week’s defeat but they showed great resolve to come back and record a 2-0 victory against the Football NSW Institute.

The top of the table clash got off to a perfect start for the home side.

Inside the first 10 minutes the Rams were in front as Leena Khamis took advantage of some sloppy defending after a good cross in by Rachael Goldstein.

Khamis turned provider on 25 minutes, picking out Hayley Taylor-Young who made no mistake with her finish, doubling the home side’s advantage.

There’d be no adjustments to the score line for the rest of the match as the Rams remain on top of the competition ladder.

BY: NIKOLA POZDER, CHIEF NPL NSW WOMEN’S WRITER