Macarthur Rams crowned 2023 Champions

18 September , 2023 By Football NSW

The Macarthur Rams made it back-to-back Grand Final victories on Sunday night at Valentine Sports Park as the legendary Leena Khamis stole the show late on against Bulls FC Academy.

Khamis came on as a second half substitute and scored a late brace to secure the second straight Championship for the Rams.

It was the Rams that came out of the blocks hungry by putting the pressure on the Bulls.

They almost had the lead on 11 minutes after some neat passing, Mel Caceres threading the ball for Beth Gordon who forced Trudy Simmons into a save.

It was the Rams again threatening, this time a cross coming in from Olivia Sloan from the left, Kelli Brown the target but unable to steer her header goalwards.

India Breier then found space on the edge of the area 10 minutes from half time but she got the shot all wrong.

Things started heating up on the pitch as the Rams saw three players booked in the final five minutes of the half.

Deep in first half stoppage time, Simmons was alert again as Caceres blasted an effort toward the top corner, the veteran keeper somehow tipping the ball out.

The resulting corner saw Madison McComasky rise highest in the area, only for the ball to be cleared off the line.

The second half started very even with neither side creating a clear cut chance until we hit the hour mark.

A Beth Gordon deflected pass bounced into the path of Brown as the prolific striker drove a low shot toward the far corner, the ball going inches wide.

Shortly after, Khamis entered the fray with 25 minutes left on the clock.

Finally, the Bulls had an opportunity with 15 minutes to go as Tamires Souza showed fantastic technique to beat her defender but unable to trouble Khamis who saved comfortably.

With 8 minutes to go, the Rams hit the front as the crowd exploded.

Tenealle Hay showed why she earnt her way back to the top tier, chasing down Claudia Valetta before delivering an inch perfect cross into the box for Khamis who showed fine composure to bury her effort.

Not long after and Khamis turned provider, feeding in Brown who was stopped by Simmons who again made a good save.

As the Bulls pushed for an equaliser, the Rams extinguished any hope with a second goal.

As she has for many years, Khamis had another with a fantastic header, rising highest in the box to head home a delightful Brown delivery.

A Ram through and through, it was a fairytale finish to the game as one of the greatest strikers to ply their trade in the top flight showed she isn’t ready for retirement yet.

Khamis almost made it a hat trick late on but wasn’t able to find the back of the net on that occasion.

It was also a special moment for Stephen Peters who not only made it two straight grand final wins but also helped the Rams break Sydney University’s record of 18 undefeated games, taking their streak to 19 now.

Match Stats

Bulls FC Academy 0

Macarthur Rams 2 (Khamis 82’, 87’)

Sunday, 17, September, 2023

Valentine Sports Park

Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 3. Grey, 4. Seaman, 5. Lancaster (8. Rutstein), 7. Prakash, 9. Chessari, 10. Souza, 11. Valletta, 13. Di Sciascio, 17. Volkanovski (12. Corry), 19. Cheeseman (Gyzen).

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Segavcic, 22. Popovic.

Macarthur Rams: 1. S. Khamis, 3. McComasky, 10. Caceres (20. Duggan), 14. Sunaga (9. L. Khamis), 17. Breier (28. M. Malone),19. Sloan (Barton), 22. Huynh, 25. D. Malone, 32. Gordon, 35. Hay, 44. Brown (8. Dipple).

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Clarke.

Match Officials

Referee: Mikayla Ryan

Assistant Referees: Alexis Johnson and Lara Hogan

Fourth Official: Isabella Mossin

By Nikola Pozder

Rams book 2023 NPL NSW Women’s Grand Final ticket

11 September , 2023 By Football NSW

A late flurry from the Macarthur Rams booked their spot in the National Premier Leagues Grand Final as they overcame NWS Spirit at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday.

Stephen Peters’ side left it late but got the job done in the final 10 minutes of regulation time as Bethany Gordon, Alex Huynh and Leena Khamis all got themselves on the scoresheet.

The Rams will now face Bulls FC Academy in this Sunday’s Grand Final at Valentine Sports Park in hope of making it back-to-back championship victories.

Despite both teams missing a number of players, Tiana Gauci’s team perhaps hurting more with their absentees, it was an excellent tactical display from both sides.

The first test for Mio Nemoto in the Spirit goal came after a long distance strike by Kelli Brown which was comfortably held.

Sham Kamis’ first call to action came late in the first half as Skye Halmarick tried getting on to a long ball but the Rams keeper reacted well.

With five minutes to go in the first period, again Nemoto was tested, this time by India Breier but the keeper dealt with it comfortably.

Brown, who has become somewhat a free kick specialist this campaign, then had an opportunity from a set piece but again Nemoto came on top, palming the effort wide.

The Rams were on the front foot immediately in the second period, putting the Spirit defence under pressure and calling Nemoto into action with another good save.

But it was Spirit that almost went in front with maybe the best chance of the game so far, Erin Pridmore picking up a lose ball and placing it wide of Khamis’ goal.

The Rams were the dominant side from here but were unable to create anything that would really trouble Nemoto.

But with 10 minutes to go the Rams were awarded a penalty.

Spirit were slow to react to a short corner which Beth Gordon and Mel Caceres took advantage of, the latter bought down in the area.

Gordon stepped up to the spot and sent her effort right but the fantastic Spirit keeper read the penalty and saved, the rebounding falling back into the path of a fortunate Gordon who blasted it into the back of the net.

With minutes remaining in the 90, the Rams doubled their advantage.

Alex Huynh took a free kick from some way out, it avoided everyone and bounced into the side netting away from a fully outstretched Nemoto.

With Gauci’s team throwing no caution to the wind and with nothing to lose, the Rams added a third.

Short in numbers at the back, Khamis picked up the ball and hit it first time after a blocked Brown show to find the top corner and seal their place in the big dance next week.

Match Stats

Macarthur Rams 3 (Gordon 81’, Huynh 88’, Khamis 90+1’)

NWS Spirit FC 0

Sunday, 10, September, 2023

Valentine Sports Park

Macarthur Rams: 1. S. Khamis, 3. McComasky, 10. Caceres (19. Sloan), 14. Sunaga (9. Khamis), 17. Breier (20. Duggan), 22. Huynh, 25. Malone, 26. Barton (8. Dipple), 32. Gordon, 35. Hay, 44. Brown.

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Clarke, 28. M. Malone.

NWS Spirit FC: 21. Nemoto, 2. Perrins, 3. Pridmore, 7. K. Buchanan, 12. Tavares, 13. Roberts, 15. Thomas (8. Schembri), 16. E. Buchanan, 18. Casha, 32. Halmarick, 97. Sullivan (23. Holder).

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Offer, 5. Martin, 45. Osborn, 98. Fazzari.

By Nikola Pozder

Bulls FC Academy book ticket to the big dance

7 September , 2023 By Football NSW

Bulls FC Academy booked their place in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over the newly crowned Premiers APIA Leichhardt on Wednesday night.

In an intense game, the fourth placed Bulls overcame APIA in an intense match up, the home side falling at the same stage for the second consecutive year with another late goal.

Charlotte Lancaster opened the scoring for the Bulls just before half time.

League top scorer Ash Crofts then equalised with 10 minutes remaining, before Lancaster won it late from the spot.

Jaime Gomez’s side pushed hard from the beginning and tried to put APIA under pressure from the kick off.

Their first chance came inside the first 10 minutes as the home side failed to clear a corner, the ball falling into the path of Avaani Prakash who side footed her effort over the crossbar.

With both Sophie Magus and Morgan Aquino unavailable, youngster Emilija Vidakovic stepped up in goals and was soon called into action, making an excellent finger tip save from an Isabella Volkanovski pile-driver.

The APIA attack was too cut off from midfield with Rhianna Pollicina missing and the likes of Ash Crofts and Bella Habuda could not get involved.

It would be the visitors that would go close again next, Tamires Souza breaking into the box, rounded Vidakovic before Claudia Cicco cleared the effort off the line.

As the game approached half time, the Bulls scored a well-deserved goal.

Daisy Cheeseman found space on the left, delivering a fine ball into the box to find Lancaster who held off two defenders, turned in the area and buried the ball with a powerful effort into the bottom corner.

The second half saw two tiring teams with APIA improving somewhat.

Spencer Prior’s tactical change pushing Claudia Cicco higher to the right wing almost led to immediate success, her dangerous ball in the area only just cleared.

APIA went down the same flank again, this time finding the equaliser in the 77^th minute.

Cicco’s delivery to the edge of the area found an on coming Ash Crofts who let fly with a first time volley, burying it beyond Trudy Simmons in the Bulls goal.

The game opened up from here with both teams pushing forward to try and steal the win and book a grand final ticket.

The best chance in that period fell the way of the Bulls who reacted well, some fine combination play between Amy Chessari, Cheeseman and Prakash had the latter popping up in front of Vidakovic, only for Tanya Borazio to make a phenomenal last ditch challenge.

With the match destined for extra time, Souza went down in the box following a challenge from the APIA keeper, the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Lancaster stepped up and once more found the bottom corner to secure her brace and the lead for the Bulls.

APIA pushed hard for another equaliser but the Bulls managed the match expertly and secured their place in the big dance next week where they face the winner of the Macarthur Rams and NWS Spirit match.

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt 1 (Crofts 77’)

Bulls FC Academy 2 (Lancaster 42’, 88’)

Wednesday, 6, September, 2023

Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt: 40. Vidakovic, 2. Cicco, 3. Borazio (22. Jasnos), 4. Prior, 7. Habuda (14. Coco-Di Sipio, 11. Crofts, 15. Pipino (17. Bozanic), 16. Fragale (21. Kiparizov), 18. Hoban, 24. Young, 32. Daczko.

Substitutes Not Used: 99. Halpin.

Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 3. Grey, 4. Seaman, 5. Lancaster, 7. Prakash, 9. Chessari, 10. Souza (8. Rutstein), 11. Valletta, 13. Di Sciascio, 17. Volkanovski, 19. Cheeseman.

Substitutes Not Used: 12. Corry, 18. Clout, 21. Segavcic, 22. Popovic.

By Nikola Pozder

Round 26 Review – NPL NSW Women’s

4 September , 2023 By Football NSW

APIA Leichhardt secured the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premiership in the final round of competition.

Bulls FC Academy secured the last finals spot on Sunday, while the Blacktown Spartans came from behind to confirm their survival in the top tier.

Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt 7-1 Emerging Jets – Full Match Report

APIA Leichhardt have been crowned National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premiers after a resounding 7-1 victory over the Emerging Jets at Lambert Park on Sunday night.

Ash Crofts also claimed the individual accolade of the league’s Golden Boot with a hat-trick against the Jets, captain Rhianna Pollicina had a brace while Sophie Hoban and Isabella Coco-Di Sipio had a goal each.

Bulls FC Academy 2-1 NWS Spirit

Jaime Gomez’s Bulls FC Academy knew they needed to win on Sunday to play finals football and they did just that against NWS Spirit.

The home side had the lead inside the first 10 minutes as Jessica Seaman took advantage of a spilled ball by Katie Offer in the Spirit goal to tap the ball home.

It was two soon after as Peta Trimis combined with Avaani Prakash before the speedster Trimis showed fine technique to get beyond her defender and put away the rebound after her initial effort was saved by Offer.

Spirit was awarded a penalty late in the piece as Mary Stanic-Floody dispatched her spot kick with the final kick of the game.

Bankstown City Lions 0-0 Football NSW Institute

Bankstown City Lions and Football NSW Institute rounded off the season in a stalemate at Jensen Park on Sunday.

There were tears at Sefton as news came in from the result at Cromer Park which consigned Bankstown to relegation from the top tier.

With much of their concentration placed on the way things were turning out at Manly, neither side were able to break the deadlock after the first 45.

It was much the same in the second period as the game ticked through to the 90 at 0-0.

Sydney University 1-2 Macarthur Rams

The Macarthur Rams did what they needed to and took all three points against Sydney University but it was not enough for the Premiership.

Just after the hour mark the home team had the lead, Talia Kapetanellis dropping the ball for Ava Pritchard who battled to poke the ball home.

From the kick off though, the Rams were level.

Mel Caceres pinched the ball from the Uni defence before feeding in Kelli Brown who placed her effort into the top corner.

In the 89^th minute the Rams secured the win as an unselfish Leena Khamis played in Brown who had her second with the simplest of finishes.

Illawarra Stingrays 3-1 Sydney Olympic

At Macedonia Park, the Illawarra Stingrays finished their season in the best possible way with a 3-1 win over Sydney Olympic.

It was Olympic who took the lead though after only two minutes, Brianna Oliverio winning the ball on the edge of the area before finding the finish.

Moments before half time the Stingrays well level after an excellent head by Bronte Pyke at the back post following a corner.

Stingrays captain and veteran Michelle Carney then made it 2-1, reacting quickest in the box to put the home side in front.

The points were secure with 15 minutes remaining as Sakura Nojima finished into the bottom corner with a well struck effort into the bottom corner.

Manly United 2-3 Blacktown Spartans

There were scenes of jubilation at Cromer Park on Sunday as the Blacktown Spartans secured survival in the top tier with an incredible turnaround victory against Manly United.

United had the lead after 18 minutes as Emily Minett reacted quickest in the box after a corner wasn’t dealt with by the Spartans.

Less than 60 seconds later their lead was doubled as Daisy Arrowsmith showed great composure to bury her effort.

The goals kept coming, only this time it was Blacktown’s turn to score.

Young gun Amber Luchtmeijer ran onto a through ball, rounded Nicole Simonsen and tapped the ball home.

Minutes later and the Spartans were level with the best strike the competition had seen this season.

Christa Oliva let fly on the volley with her first touch, blasting the ball over Simonsen to equalise for the Spartans in remarkable style.

The teams went into half time locked at 2-2 and with this result, the Spartans were going down.

But the hero and saviour of Blacktown stepped up again as Luchtmeijer got onto the end of an Alyssa Ng-Saad pass to place the ball beyond Simonsen to the absolute elation of everyone involved with the Spartans.

The young Spartans held on and did enough to dramatically rescue their status in the NPL competition.

Gladesville Ravens 0-1 Northern Tigers

At Christie Park the Northern Tigers finished their league season with victory as they defeated the Gladesville Ravens 1-0.

It was a victory that did not mean much as the Tigers finished the season in fifth place, missing out on finals football.

The two teams could not be separated in the first period as they went into the sheds locked at 0-0.

Just before the hour mark the Tigers had the lead as Ash Brodigan ran onto a long ball, lifting the ball over the keeper and into the goal.

It was enough for the victory for the Tigers who turn their attention to the Sapphire Cup final on Sunday.

By Nikola Pozder

APIA Leichhardt FC crowned 2023 NPL NSW Women’s Premiers

3 September , 2023 By Football NSW

APIA Leichhardt have been crowned National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premiers after a resounding 7-1 victory over the Emerging Jets at Lambert Park on Sunday night.

APIA raced off to a three-goal lead after only 13 minutes, going into half time 4-1 up.

They added another three in the second period which signalled the start of wild celebrations in Sydney’s inner-west.

A large crowd crammed into the stands of Lambert Park with APIA’s SAP and youth girls were in full voice.

It didn’t take long for the home side to open the scoring as Crofts got on the end of a Pollicina pass to place the ball beyond Tegan Harvey.

They doubled the lead not long after as Bella Habuda did well down the right before delivering into the box, finding Hoban who dispatched her volley into the bottom corner of the goal.

Two became three as Crofts returned the favour for her captain Pollicina who took a touch before placing the ball passed Harvey from the edge of the area.

The visitors gave themselves some hope after 20 minutes when the ball fell to Milan Hammond who placed her side foot volley into Morgan Aquino’s bottom corner, a fine finish by the youngster.

The Jets grew in confidence and created a few half opportunities but couldn’t really test Aquino.

With 10 minutes to go, APIA restored their three-goal advantage with their best goal of the afternoon.

An excellent combination between Pollicina and Holly McNamara saw the latter unselfishly square the ball for Crofts who had her second of the evening, finishing into an empty net.

It was Déjà vu at the start of the second as APIA scored another early goal.

Captain Pollicina found space just outside the box and took full advantage, driving a powerful effort into Harvey’s goal, with the Jets keeper rooted to the spot.

Five minutes later it was six, Pollicina again involved.

APIA’s number 10 delivered a great corner into the box, finding the head of Crofts who powered her header into the back of the net, rounding out her hat-trick.

Both teams made a number of changes which saw the game go into a quieter period.

The seventh came inside the final 10 minutes of the game, substitute Isabella Coco-Di Sipio got onto the end of a long ball, beat her defender before lifting the ball over Harvey to Crofts.

Crofts tapped the ball back to Di Sipio who made no mistake with the finish to round off the scoring.

Premiership winning coach Spencer Prior was proud of his squad who lead the competition from the first round to the last.

“Madness! The conclusion of a really good season, we finished the way we started, we lead right from the first game,” said Prior.

“It’s been a really tip op season for everyone.”

A massive congratulations to APIA who have risen through the ranks and placed themselves amongst the leaders of women’s football in NSW.

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt 7 (Crofts 4’, 36’, 54’, Hoban 10’, Pollicina 14’, 49’, Coco-Di Sipio 82’)

Emerging Jets 1 (Hammond 23’)

Sunday, 3, September, 2023

Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt: 90. Aquino (40. Vidakovic), 3. Borazio, 7. Habuda (22. Jasnos), 9. McNamara (14. Coco-Di Sipio), 10. Pollicina (4. Prior), 11. Crofts, 16. Fragale (15. Pipino), 18. Hoban, 21. Kiparizov, 24. Young, 32. Daczko.

Substitutes Not Used: N/A.

Emerging Jets: 49. Harvey, 5. Walandouw, 6. Grass, 7. Adams (24. O’Brien), 9. Gentle (40. O’Driscoll), 10. Allan, 15. Hammond (14. Murray), 16. Salvador, 22. Wilde (8. Dundas), 28. Ingrey (47. Knipe), 29. Karpidis.

Substitutes Not Used: 64. Convery.

By Nikola Pozder

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