There were four goals in four of the five matches played in round eight of the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Macarthur Rams v Sydney University
A fantastic top of the table clash took place at Lynwood Park between the Macarthur Rams and Sydney University.
Neither side could be separated as coaches Norm Boardman and Heather Garriock had to settle for a share of the spoils.
The away side were without influential midfielder Liana Dansakos as well as Georgia Yeoman Dale, Georgia Plessas and Evelyn Chronis.
Uni got off to a flyer, scoring inside the first three minutes of the match.
A deep free kick to the far post saw Mel Caceres bring the ball down and square it across goal to Kendall Fletcher who had the easiest of jobs tapping home into an empty net.
After six minutes the home side had their equaliser courtesy of Amy Harrison.
A well taken shot from distance by Leena Khamis could only be palmed into the path of the on rushing Harrison who made no mistake, burying her shot into the back of the net.
Harrison could’ve had her second four minutes later but Georgia Boric was quick off her line to clear the danger.
But the lanky Rams striker had her second on 17 minutes and the Rams in front.
Teresa Polias played a fantastic ball between the Uni defenders to find Harrison who first beat her defender before calmly slotting the ball beyond Boric.
In the 28th minute the home side almost had a third.
Great link up play between Kristina Maksuti and Khamis saw the latter volley toward goal, only for her shot to clatter off the cross bar.
Nikki Flannery looked to get Uni back on level terms on the other side but her shot went wide of Sham Khamis’ goal.
Caceres was again involved for Uni and some fine skill saw her beat her defender and force Khamis into a fingertip save on 32 minutes.
Khamis had the Rams on the front foot in the second half and almost put them further in front but Boric was quick to get down and save well.
In the 48th minute though, Uni were level.
A ball across goal found Stephanie Ambrose who couldn’t get it out of her feet before it bounced into the path of Amy Sayer who blasted the ball home.
Liz Ralston then played a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Maksuti in the 53rd minute but again Boric managed to make a fantastic save.
In the 69th minute a Flannery shot turn cross almost caught Sham Khamis out but the keeper managed to tip the ball wide.
Clare Wheeler played in Ambrose as the winger moved in on goal, only to shoot wide of the target.
The Rams are still probably wondering how they didn’t take the lead in the 78th minute.
A wonderful team move saw Khamis lay off the ball for new signing Panayiota Petratos.
The substitute let fly, as the ball cracked against the post with the rebound falling to her again. Her first time shot looked to bounce in before it hit the other post and into the grateful hands of Boric.
As Uni went up the other end, Demi Koulizakis decided to have a go but her goal bound effort cracked against the far post in a frantic 60 second period.
In injury time, Fletcher almost had the winner for the away side but her shot sailed inches over the bar.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 2 (Harrison 6’, 17’)
Sydney University 2 (Fletcher 3’, Sayer 48’)
Lynwood Park, St Helens
Sunday, 28th May, 2017
Macarthur Rams: 1. S. Khamis, 2. Polias, 3. Walsh, 5. E. Ralston, 9. L. Khamis, 10. Ledbrook, 15. Galea, 23. Featherstone, 29. Maksuti, 30. Harrison, 37. Campbell.
Substitutes: 6. Brekic, 8. Skerlevska, 16. Petratos, 41. Henley-Sandgrove.
Sydney University: 1. Boric, 5. King, 10. Caceres, 11. Ambrose, 14. Fletcher, 15. Flannery, 20. Wheeler, 22. Hunt, 23. Oliverio, 38. Gordon, 40. Sayer.
Substitutes: 2. Soutar, 3. Guzman, 4. O’Reilly9. Koulizakis, 49. Bastow.
Illawarra Stingrays 3-1 North West Sydney Koalas
At JJ Kelly Park, the Illawarra Stingrays hosted the north West Sydney Koalas.
The away side started the better and moved into the break leading 1-0 courtest of a Daisy Arrowsmith goal.
Brett Walin’s team wouldn’t lie down though and came out in the second period firing, scoring three unanswered goals and winning 3-1.
It was a first defeat since round one for Stephen Peters’ team as they dropped down to sixth on the ladder, while the Stingrays share second spot.
Blacktown Spartans 1-3 Manly United
With a later 4pm kick off, the Blacktown Spartans hosted Manly United at Blacktown Football Park.
Manly started well and moved into half time two goals to the good as Remiy Siemsen and Madeleine Neville got on the scoresheet.
Things didn’t change much after the break as United held onto their two goal advantage, closing out the match 3-1 winners.
Jessie Wharepouri got the third for the away team while Shanaye Kuntze picked up the Spartans only goal.
Emerging Jets 1-0 North Shore Mariners
At Lake Macquarie Football Facility, the Emerging Jets took on the North Shore Mariners.
It would be the young Jets side that would score a valuable 1-0 victory in this one.
This was the first one for the Jets, which will prove as a massive confidence booster as the season goes on.
Northern Tigers 0-4 Football NSW Institute
The Football NSW Institute travelled to North Turramurra Recreation Area as they played the Northern Tigers.
Two goals either side of the break were enough for Craig Foster’s team to record a convincing 4-0 victory.
The win is a first since round two for the Institute as they have reignited their finals hopes.
-By Nikola Pozder