Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 1 Review
I must admit that I was looking forward to this weekend?s round of football with great relish. I enjoyed my role as Women?s Football Reporter last season.
The off season seems endless when you?re waiting to get out to the grounds again.
The weekend?s major clash appeared to be between last season?s Super League and Premier League Champions; the Illawarra Stingrays versus Macarthur Rams. Both sides play an exciting brand of football that displays the many talents of their star studded squads.
The game started with both teams feeling their way as they attempted to gain some rhythm. No trial games now; this was the real thing. The Stingrays had added new arrows to their danger laden quiver; the leading goal scorers of 2008, Michelle Carney and Michelle Heyman now being joined by Marconi pair Trudy Camilleri and Ash Connor. Connor was on the bench for this game but had already scored twice for The Stingrays in Reserve Grade.
Tilly Kramer and Hannah Minogue tormented the Rams defence early so it was fitting when a Kramer cross found a leaping Heyman who headed away the first goal of the Illawarra Stingrays season. Though The Rams tried to mount a counter attack The Stingrays were equal to the task and held on to their 1-0 lead into the half time break. After oranges Ash Connor made her debut for Illawarra, coming on in place of Ann Mayo.
The second half was an end to end affair as Macarthur tried everything to conjure up an equaliser. A brace of fine saves by Stingrays keeper, Sarah Gallop, kept The Premiers at bay. Goalscorer Heyman suffered a bad head knock late in the second half but soldiered on to take Player of the Match honours as her side took the match 1-0.
This was a fine start to 2009 for The Stingrays. Things don?t get any easier for them next week though when they meet last season?s beaten Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Grand Finalists, NWS Koalas. A winning start is a great tonic for what lies ahead however.
The Rams, whilst disappointed at their loss, will recall that they lost their first round clash in 2008 by a score of 5-0 to the Marconi Stallions. That didn?t stop Macarthur on Grand Final Day. Methinks the defending Premiers will be right in contention come the business end of the season.
In other matches Manly United FC, with goals in the 25th minute to Neville and 78th Minute to Foster held off Sydney University. University had countered Neville?s early goal with an equaliser from Wilson in the 54th minute but the Manly girls were just a little too strong at the finish. A promising start for both teams though.
At Marconi Stadium The Stallions opened the scoring through Sam Muscat in the 61st minute. Penrith United FC replied only four minutes later through a goal from Kalos. Marconi lifted the tempo however, snatching a 79th minute winner when Muscat completed her brace.
In the final match of the round NWS Koalas went visiting at Harrie Dening Centre against locals the Sutherland Sharks. Hopes of a Sharks? revival in 2009 took something of a battering as The Koalas showed they are still serious contenders, despite any off season personnel losses, with an emphatic 4-0 win. McLean (2), Chronis and Neilson scored for The Koalas in what was an impressive start to their 2009 campaign. The Koalas meet up with an Illawarra Stingrays outfit next weekend; a team that will be on a big high after their defeat of defending Premiers, Macarthur Rams in this week?s round. Sounds like another blockbuster coming up!
So, the weekend?s winners will now attempt to build on that momentum as the season moves forward. The losers should console themselves in the fact that one game isn?t all there is of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.. Good luck as game two appears around the corner!
On a sidenote, on Saturday morning at 7.30am my mobile phone rang. The caller informed me that a young footballer from the junior club of which I?m President had passed earlier that morning. What youngster dies from a ruptured appendix nowadays? How do we console the parents of a nine year old boy when his happy, smiling face no longer greets them in the morning? No, this wasn?t right. Next time any of us start thinking that a game of football or the result of same transcends all else spare a thought for little Jake, his Mum and his Dad. God bless young fella.
-By Ross Anderson
