Again, only two games played in another round of the NPL NSW Women’s competition. 

Manly United 4-0 Macarthur Rams

Manly United made it 10 goals in two games as they blasted the Macarthur Rams 4-0 at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

With the rain pouring down on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a late first half goal had the home team in front at the break. They added another three in the second period to complete the rout.

Claudia Cholakian opened the flood gates for United with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

Cassidy Davis played in a fine through ball, allowing Cholakian to spring the offside trap before slamming the ball into the back of the net off the cross bar.

It was tight for most of the second half before the away side crumbled in the final 15 minutes.

Japanese import Naoko Wada showed her dead ball prowess once more. This time rom the corner, Sham Khamis couldn’t hold onto the ball as it somehow made it’s way over the line.

Only a few minutes later and it was 3-0 to Manly.

Kahli Johnson picked up the ball down the wing and looked to cross it into the box.

It came slightly off the top of her foot, caught out Khamis and found the back of the net to put the game to bed.

Elizabeth Copus-Brown then broke through the Rams defence and looked to square up for Nicole Stewart only for a Rams defender to knock the ball into her own net.

Chris Williams’ perfect start to the season continues as they sit top of the NPL NSW Women’s competition after two, incomplete round.

Northern Tigers 2-2 Sydney University

At NTRA it was grand final rematch time as the Northern Tigers looked for revenge against the Champions Sydney University.

They couldn’t be separated here though in cold conditions with the score finishing at 2-2.

It took the home side only eight minutes to hit the front as Maddie Bart found the back of the net.

Uni couldn’t clear their lines as the striker took charge of a loose ball in the box to smash the ball home.

Six minutes later though Uni had the chance to equalise from the spot after a handball in the box.

Nikki Flannery stepped up to the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way to put the teams on level terms.

Bart had the home side back in front just before the half hour mark with a sublime header.

A great ball from Servet Uzunlar was met by Bart at the far post as she gave the Uni keeper no chance with her powerful header to score her second of the afternoon.

The home side went into the break leading by the odd goal.

And the Tigers looked set to record a massive win until the 89^th minute.

Stephanie Augoustis looked to be chasing down a nothing ball until she closed down the Tigers keeper to bundle the ball home for a late equaliser.

That’s how the match finished up, first points on the board for both teams this season.

By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

 

 

The NPL NSW Women’s competition finally kicked off over the weekend but it was an incomplete round.

In fact, only two of six games were played in the whole round with three postponed due to Westfield W-League player commitments and one washed out

Match of The Round 

Bankstown City 1-6 Manly United

At Jensen Park, it was the perfect start to 2020 for Manly United who battered Bankstown City 6-1.

Bankstown struggled to cope with Manly’s five in midfield and their continuous high press throughout the game.

Even more pleasing for Chris Williams was that six different scorers found themselves on the scoresheet.

It would be the home side with the first chance through new signing Aimee Phillips but her shot couldn’t find the target.

But with their first real chance, Manly took the lead.

Japanese import Naoko Wada crossed in a menacing ball which Corrine Winkler attacked, heading into the back of the net just after the quarter hour mark.

This is where Manly began their dominance.

10 minutes later and the away side doubled their advantage.

Nicole Stuart played in a fine ball for Elizabeth Copus-Brown who expertly finished beyond Jordan Weisman.

Wada was creating all sorts of problems for Bankstown and almost had her second assist of the game when she played in Chloe O’Brien who shot just over.

With 10 minutes to go in the half, it was three.

Wada’s shot from distance was fumbled by Weisman as the ball trickled over the line giving the Japanese import a goal on debut.

Phillips looked most likely to make something happen and again went close for Bankstown.

As half time approached, Wada almost had her second, hitting a wicked free kick which Weisman somehow kept out.

But the Lions picked one up just before the break to give them some hope, courtesy of Nicole Simonsen.

Similarly to Weisman at the other end, Simonsen couldn’t hold onto what looked a routine save from Georgia Plessas as the ball trickled over the line.

It was the substitutes that kicked United into gear in the second period.

A fine run by Bryany parker down the left and an equally good cross for Nicole Stuart almost had Manly adding to the score.

From the ensuing corner, Hannah Peric held the ball up well before O’Brien struck, only for Clauadia Cholakian to stick a foot in and force the ball over the line.

It could’ve been five only a few minutes later after Cholakian was brought down in the box.

Wada stepped up to take the spot kick but slammed her effort against the upright.

Substitute Grace Arnold then went close with a cheeky chip but Weisman saved well.

With three minutes remaining, Copus-Brown delivered a fine free kick allowing Peric to head home to make it six.

Only one minute later and it was six as another substitute Kate Stanbridge picked up her debut goal with an excellent finish after a great ball by Copus-Brown.

With players missing from both teams, we can see improvement coming from each as the season progresses.

Macarthur Rams 1-0 Emerging Jets

Troy Spink’s Macarthur Rams got off to a winning start as they defeated the Emerging Jets 1-0 at Lynwood Park.

It was the young Jets side that probably started the better, creating a few half chances.

The teams couldn’t be separated though and went into half time locked at 0-0.

Seven minutes after half time though, the Rams hit the front.

Renee Rollason’s free kick wasn’t held by the Jets keeper, allowing the experienced Leena Khamis to arrive on the spot and blast the ball into the back of the net.

The brave Jets pushed for an equaliser but couldn’t break down the Rams defence.

Khamis almost had her second with a first time volley but her powerful effort cannoned back off the bar with minutes remaining.

The Jets almost had an equaliser through Babic in stoppage time but the ball went inches wide of the post.

Illawarra Stingrays v Northern Tigers – PP

FNSW Institute v Blacktown Spartans – PP

APIA Leichhardt v Sydney Olympic – PP

Sydney Uni v NWS Koalas – WW

By: Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

 

 

The Northern Tigers booked their place in next Sunday’s NPL NSW Women’s grand final against Premiers Sydney University at Valentine Sports Park after defeating Sydney Olympic 3-0.

For the second time in two weeks, the Tigers came away with Victory against Sydney Olympic.

Malia Steinmetz had the first real chance of the first half but her header went straight into the arms of Jada Whyman on 15 minutes.

Olympic responded with their first chance similarly through Angelique Hristodolou but her header didn’t trouble Eliza Campbell.

Olympic did hold much of the possession but without creating a great chance until two minutes from half time.

Panagiota Petratos let fly with a pile driver but Campbell reacted extremely well to tip the ball over the bar.

With that, the teams went into half time locked at 0-0.

Four minutes after half time, George Beltsos would’ve been thinking how his team wasn’t in front.

First Mackenzie Hawkesby had a great chance before a lay back to Petratos was expertly saved by Campbell with her feet.

And if you don’t take your chances, you get punished.

Exactly that happened in the 57th minute as Hannah McNulty picked up a loose ball in midfield, connecting with Daisy Arrowsmith before blasting toward goal.

Her powerful effort came back off the cross bar straight into the grateful path of Aimee Phillips who couldn’t miss from a metre out.

Olympic kept pressing, going close through Teresa Polias from distance.

On 69 minutes it was 2-0 to the Tigers.

McNulty took a free kick from the side of the box, the ball evaded all and made its way into the back of the net.

In the 78th minute the result was wrapped up.

Another free kick, this time through Servet Uzunlar, wasn’t well dealt with by Olympic with the ball falling to Steinmetz who gave Whyman no chance. Belting the ball into the top netting.

Saba Murray could’ve made it four in the 92nd minute but Whyman pulled off a fine save.

Olympic couldn’t find a consolation as their fantastic first season in the top flight came to an end.

Jason Eagar will now prepare his team for the daunting task against the premiers Sydney University.

By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

 

Sydney University became the first team to book their place in the 2019 NPL NSW Women’s Grand Final on Sunday afternoon.

Sydney Olympic (2nd) 2-1 Illawarra Stingrays (5th) 

In a drama filled afternoon at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon, Sydney Olympic kept their championships hopes alive with a 2-1 win over the Illawarra Stingrays.

The referee awarded an incredible three penalty through the match for Olympic with the regular season runners up scoring two.

A fantastic season came to an end for Scott Chipperfield’s girls while Olympic progress to take on the Northern Tigers, the team that beat them only a week ago.

Olympic had the majority of the play but it was the Stingrays who had the better chances early on.

First Michelle Carney, the Erica Halloway but neither could really test Jada Whyman.

With the team set to move into half time locked at 0-0, Talitha Kramer brought down Sarah Yatim in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Up stepped the experienced Teresa Polias but Trudy Burke read her well, diving the right way and tipping the ball out.

As the second half got underway, substitute Rochelle Borromeo’s persistence paid off as Kramer committed her second foul in the box of the game.

This time top-scorer Susan Phonsongkham stepped up and despite Burke picking the right way, too much power and precision on the ball saw it hit the back of the net.

As the game looked set to end 1-0, the Stingrays had other plans.

A corner wasn’t cleared by Olympic with the ball popping up for Caitlin Cooper who hit a sublime cross goal volley into the top corner for delirium amongst the Stingrays faithful.

Now the match looked destined for extra time.

But almost immediately it could’ve been 2-1 as Polias hit a piledriver which smacked back against the cross bar.

And then, Olympic were awarded their third penalty of the afternoon.

Polias saw Phonsongkham making a run and found her with a sublime ball as Burker this time brought her down in the box.

Young centre back Ange Hristodolou showed nerves of steal to las the ball down the middle and despite Burke getting a touch, their was no keeping that effort out.

Olympics game management was fantastic in the last few minutes as they held on to progress.

Sydney University (1st) 2-0 Northern Tigers (3rd)

Sydney University became the first team in the 2019 season to book their place in the season decider with a 2-0 win victory over the Northern Tigers.

Rachel Soutar was the star of the afternoon, scoring from two set-pieces in each half to confirm the win.

It meant Alex Epakis has now got his team to consecutive finals and will aim to go a step further in two weeks time.

For Jason Eagar, his team needs to regroup as they face off against Sydney Olympic to earn another coach at the Premiers.

It took Uni 15 minutes to hit the front and they did it in some style.

Soutar lined up a free kick from some distance out and let fly, finding the top corner and beating an outstretched Eliza Campbell.

The Tigers tried to respond but could only do so through deep free kicks from Servet Uzunlar that were easily dealt with by the Uni defence.

Five minutes before the break, Uni should’ve doubled their advantage.

A Soutar corner found Cortnee Vine at the far post, her volley came off the cross bar and into the path of Taren King but the centre back headed over from close range.

The second period started much the same as the first with Uni in control.

Uni’s high press throughout the whole game made problems for the Tigers and didn’t allow the to have any fluidity in their play.

Soutar almost had her second with another special effort from distance, this time the ball flying just over the bar.

Only minutes later, another wicked Soutar free kick was put into the back of the net by a Tigers defender and that was the game.

The Tigers pushed hard and went close in one scramble but Uni managed to clear the ball.

By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer