Arrive Alive NSW Women’s Super League Round 12 Review
However, their Super League sisters played their round 12 matches that had been postponed from the 22nd June due to the Socceroos v China World Cup Qualifier.
The Northern Tigers hosted bottom of the ladder UNSW at Parklands Oval. The Tigers really need maximum points from this match to maintain their slim semi final hopes.
This match turned into something of an arm wrestle. Neither side was able to grab any dominance until very late in the first half when Georgie Eastoe produced one of her trademark efforts to put The Tigers in front. Within three minutes UNSW had hit back with a goal by Smith that sent the teams to the break at 1-1.
Despite the best efforts of both sides to find a winner in the second stanza the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Not the result Northern Tigers would have been hoping for but another welcome competition point for UNSW.
Northern Tigers 1 (G.Eastoe)
UNSW 1 (A.Smith)
Inter Lions and St George FC were both hungry for points in their clash at Ron Routley Reserve. The two sides? diminishing semi final chances hinged on winning but neither side were able to find the back of the net.
Both sides played with plenty of commitment but were unable to produce the final pass or shot to get them home. St George, at least mathematically, are still some chance of sneaking into fourth place. Inter Lions? second successive scoreless draw may have been the death knell though to Coach Joe Baldacci?s hopes of finals participation for his side.
Inter Lions 0
St George FC 0
Blacktown Spartans gave Southern NSW FC an early scare when Paige Grant opened the scoring in just the 5th minute of their clash at Cook Park.
However, Blacktown?s joy was short lived with a brace by Cobb in the 14th and 41st minutes having the visitors in front 2-1 by half time.
Southern went on with the job in the second half adding goals by Armitage (58m) and Meehan (89m) to secure the win. This now puts Southern NSW FC six points clear of the pack, in fourth place on the table. They?ll be hard to keep out of the semi finals now.
Next weekend is Southern?s big ?local derby? clash with Illawarra Stingrays. That should be a clash worth going to see.
With the Gladesville Ravens v Western NSW Panthers game being the only match of the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League postponed for the weekend that left us with just one more match to review; The Illawarra Stingrays v Bankstown Wildcats.
The Stingrays were certainly hot favourites for this match, having convincingly beaten The Wildcats in the earlier rounds of the competition. However, The Wildcats came to play and kept pace with Illawarra early. The Stingrays built pressure on the visitors and, about mid way through the first half, they were rewarded with a goal to Maniso Michael after good lead up work by Michelle Carney.
Michael soon after had her brace after completing a fine Illawarra attacking raid with a well placed finish. Things were not looking good for The Wildcats as The Stingrays dominated play.
The Wildcats bounced back though on the strength of an uncharacteristic Illawarra defensive error with Serreyra tapping away the presentation to leave her side just 2-1 down at half time.
The Stingrays lifted after half time, must have been an excellent motivational chat from the coaching staff, and went looking for goals. Cassie Halloway scored to put her side up 3-1 before Illawarra?s favourite daughter, Michelle Carney, showed all her class in putting away goal four. It would have been unusual for Carney to score just one goal and, 15 minutes from time, she added another to stretch Illawarra?s advantage to 5-1.
Carney was joined late in the game by her strike partner Michelle Heyman, who was returning from an injury suffered against Western NSW Panthers. Heyman had scored earlier in the Reserve Grade game so obviously decided to carry on the good work in the top grade. She and Carney combined for Heyman to slot away a screamer leaving the final score at 6-1 to Illawarra Stingrays.
Bankstown put up a creditable showing on the day but were just outclassed by the Illawarra side. Best for the locals were Maniso Michael and Michelle Carney. The win, at least temporarily, leaves Illawarra atop the table with western NSW panthers having a game in hand. Keep the 10th August free in your calendar as that?s the day the top two side meet again to quite possibly decide the Minor Premiership and the Club Championship.
Illawarra Stingrays 6 (M.Carney 2, M.Michael 2, M.Heyman, C Halloway)
Bankstown Wildcats 1 (C.Serreyra)
Next week life returns to normal in both Women?s League with some exciting matches. Be ready for plenty of action as we start the countdown to the semi finals.
-By Ross Anderson
