Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League Round 18 Review
With the final four already decided the honour of Super League Minor Premiers and Club Champions were up for grabs in the big clash between Illawarra Stingrays and Western NSW Panthers at J.J.Kelly Park.
Now, I?d have loved to have been in Wollongong for this one. However, I must admit that my own domestic competition obligations got in the way. My own Under 16 Girls team played their semi final at 1pm on Sunday afternoon and, by the time we?d managed to lose in a penalty shoot out, it was 3.30pm and I?d missed every boat; WSL or otherwise. My apologies to the two clubs as this particular game deserved coverage. The two teams have fought tooth and nail for the title all season. This final round match then came down to deciding everything.
I can?t offer an in depth analysis of what happened during the match. Michelle Carney put Illawarra in front but an 87th minute goal by Panthers speedster Ashleigh Sykes earned her side the draw that gave them the Minor Premiership. I know that The Stingrays were shattered by the outcome but probably no moreso than The Panthers who saw Illawarra claim the Club Championship and promotion to the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League in 2009.
So, you?d say that everyone came out a winner of sorts. It?s pretty clear though that both clubs wanted to walk away with ALL the spoils. These are two proud sides whose semi final clash next weekend should be worth going a long way to see. There?s nothing between the two sides but both will be looking for Grand Final glory to confirm their status as the number one side in the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League.
Illawarra Stingrays 1 (M.Carney)
Western NSW Panthers 1 (A.Sykes)
Elsewhere fourth placed Southern NSW FC tuned up for next weekend?s semi final clash with Gladesville Ravens by thumping UNSW by a score of 8-1.
With a first half brace from Cobb the Southern girls held a 2-0 lead at the break. However, the second half proved a goal fest with 7 goals being scored; six by Southern NSW and one by UNSW. Cobb came away with a bag of 4 with Johnston, Meehan, Lloyd-Jones and Copland adding the extras for the locals. Russo was the lone scorer for the UNSW side.
I guess the result was not totally unexpected but, given a couple of gritty performances the UNSW side has put in recently it was hoped that they might bow out with a positive finale. However, Southern NSW FC at Ison Park are not a very merciful opponent!
Southern NSW FC 8 (E.Cobb 4, S.Johnston, K.Meehan, L.Lloyd-Jones, B.Copland)
UNSW 1 (L.Russo)
Inter Lions completed their season with victory in the battle of the big cats at Ron Routley Reserve.
After a scoreless first half in which Inter held territorial advantage Samara Coiro opened the scoring for the locals in the 58th minute after some fine lead up work from Dominique Caridad. Inter then doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Sarah Semaan weaved her way through to score.
Tigers battled away as they always do but the Inter girls had obviously decided that they were going to end their season on a high. Coach Joe would have been a happy man come Sunday evening!
Inter Lions 2 (S.Coiro, S.Semaan)
Northern Tigers 0
St George FC ended their 2008 season with a comfortable win over Blacktown Spartans at Peakhurst.
McGuire opened the scoring for St George in just the 2nd minute before Blacktown equalised through Nikki Crompton in the 7th minute. The joy was short lived for Blacktown though as Hill and Arnold added goals to the St George tally by half time before a 53rd minute strike by Gatt completed the scoring.
St George have had a competitive season but have just fallen short against the leading sides. Blacktown?s year has been very disappointing. They?ll be looking for a big improvement in 2009.
St George FC 4 (B.McGuire, A.Hill, C.Arnold, R.Gatt)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (N.Crompton)
Gladesville Ravens revved up the motor before next week?s semi finals with a convincing 5-1 win over Bankstown Wildcats. Bankstown had given their supporters reason to smile when they opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a goal to Maria Kalogeropoulos. However, Gladesville hit back quickly through their blonde goal scorer Courtenay Parrott. Melissa Fornito then gave The Ravens the lead five minutes before half time.
Gladesville pulled away in the second half with additional goals from Parrott(60m), Fornito(50m), and Alyssa Hardie(51m). Coach Paul Wade will be hoping that his big guns continue to fire in the coming weeks.
Bankstown battled away but were outclassed by Gladesville in the second half. Chin up girls; 2009 is a new year with plenty of hope for a more successful campaign.
Gladesville Ravens 5 (C.Parrott 2, M.Fornito 2, A.Hardie)
Bankstown Wildcats 1 (M.Kalogeropoulos)
So, six sides now go into hibernation until 2009. The top four, Western NSW Panthers, Illawarra Stingrays, Gladesville Ravens and Southern NSW FC now ready themselves for battle in the finals series commencing next weekend. Here are four very talented teams who should provide us with plenty of classy football. May the best side win!
-By Ross Anderson
