Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 1 Review

Your intrepid reporter ventured out to the wide open spaces of Concord Oval to watch the Italian Derby between Inter Lions and Sydney Tigers. Both clubs had been successful in a major recruiting drive in the off season; Inter Lions in an effort to boost their status to that of finals contender, Sydney Tigers to assemble a side that would signal their intentions from the start of their inaugural season.  There?d been controversy, plenty of good natured sniping between the coaches but at the end of the day all the players wanted to do was play. As famous author Thomas Kennealy once said in that ill fated NRL commercial ?Blow that whistle Ref!?
It became obvious quite early that this was not to be a game for the feint hearted. The challenges were strong and hard. The ice packs and physios at both clubs looked destined to get quite a Monday morning work out.
We didn?t have to wait long for our first spark of brilliance as, from an Inter corner the Tigers keeper knocked down the ball. Unfortunately it fell into the path of a rapidly advancing Natalie Spirovski who buried said ball into the back of the net. This was Spirovski?s first goal in Inter Lions colours and sparked much rejoicing from the local fans.
This early setback did not deter the visitors as they pushed forward in menacing fashion. W-League star Lisa Gilbert was showing flashes of her class in The Tigers midfield as she and Inter?s Spirovski did battle. From a Tigers corner a rapidly advancing Gilbert just failed to put her head on the ball with the Inter goal at her mercy. Both keepers were being given a testing time as flighted crosses and free kicks piled on the pressure. The Tigers created a few good opportunities, one being cleared off the line by the defence after a RoseKelly fumble. But Inter were equal to the task as they broke on the counter attack. The defence of both sides was fairly brutal. So it was, in the 31^st minute, the Tigers won a free kick after a foul on Lisa Gilbert. A beautifully judged free kick saw Gilbert rise above the pack to place her header out of reach of the Inter keeper and bring the equaliser.
The goal sparked Inter into action with renewed pressure resulting in a hat trick of corners. However, the Tigers defence held. Minutes later Inter tried a variation by playing the corner short but lost possession and created a Tigers counter attack through Alicia Cavanagh. Whilst the final kick sailed over the crossbar it was a warning to Inter that their opponents were to be watched carefully.
The two teams went to the dressing sheds at 1-1 with the match evenly poised. Both sides had created opportunities but the final blow hadn?t yet been struck.
Within minutes of the restart the Sydney Tigers produced a marvellous piece of play with Lisa Gilbert?s pinpoint pass releasing Spilarewicz down the right flank. As she cut inside Spilarewicz spiralled a great cross to the back post where Alicia Cavanagh headed the ball into the back of the net. WOW. If the Tigers can produce play like that throughout the season they will turn plenty of heads!
However, within three minutes Inter equalised after Tiger’s keeper spilt a curling corner kick from Tomkins into her own goal.  This sparked a flurry of attack from The Lions with Natalie Spirovski dancing her way into the box before firing off an ineffectual shot. Goss, Laws and Calvi produced some nice play for Inter but the Tigers found some momentum from dead ball situations. There were quite a few of them as the players clattered into each other, looking to gain the vital edge. The coaches looked to their benches with Tiger?s Madani subbing in Deidre Barham for Hayley Murray. Inter coach Baldacci replaced Rowland with Sue Yatim. Lisa Gilbert took another heavy knock from Renee Tomkins. The Sydney FC star certainly appeared to have a target on her back!
In the 78^th minute, with the game still in the balance, Elyse Goss made a dazzling run at the Tigers goal. Keeper Bartlett advanced from goal to block the shot but the ball falls back to the feet of Goss who tried to push around the defence for another shot. As she does so she is brought to the ground, handing Inter Lions a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot. Up stepped Dani Calvi to calmly slot away the spot kick and put Inter back in the lead. The remaining minutes saw the two teams? trade opportunities with Spirovski, Cavanagh, Spilarewicz and Goss dominant. However neither side can advance the score with Inter Lions taking bragging rights with a 3-2 win.
Tigers coach, Tarek Madani, was a disappointed man. He felt that Inter deserved to win as ?they seemed to want it more than us.?  Madani felt that his team looked good in patches, citing the wonderful team goal just after half time as an example of what his side is capable of.
Inter Lions coach, Joe Baldacci, was a happy man. He described the match as ?hard, even brutal? but a good game of football. Baldacci felt that his team could only get better with the inclusion of Catherine Canulli adding more firepower to his attack. Big Joe also felt that his team?s pre season preparation held them in good stead fitness wise. He admitted to being very happy with his sides start.
This was a good game of football with plenty of highlights. If you like your football tough you?d have enjoyed the physicality of the game. If you like watching ?pretty? goals scored then Spirovski?s early effort and Sydney Tigers’ second goal, in particular, were fine examples. The good thing is that both these sides will get better which is a bad sign for their future opponents. Yes, the off season recruiting at both clubs looks as if it will most certainly bring success.
In other matches Central Coast Lightning got their season off to a solid start with a 2-0 win over Southern NSW FC. Goals to Cooper (21m) and Keane (61m) were enough to grab the points for the home side. The Lightning girls will be keen to build on this momentum and quickly bury the demons of 2008. Southern, on the other hand, will take solace from the fact that a slow start last season didn?t stop them from charging into the finals. Both teams showed promising signs as they dusted off the cobwebs. There?s a long way to go in the season yet.
Gladesville Ravens didn?t return the Northern Tigers hospitality too kindly, taking home a 2-1 win over the locals at Parklands. The Ravens snatched the lead in the 19^th minute through a nice goal by Najla Eid. They doubled that lead just 6 minutes later when Ashleigh Smith scored her first goal of 2009. Gladesville held this 2-0 lead until the 89^th minute when Gabriella Dal Pozzo scored a consolation goal for The Tigers. This match had some good signs for both teams although their respective coaches will be looking for improvement if either side is to challenge for finals contention in 2009.
The St George FC girls had a bye this weekend as PCYC Ladyhawks finalised their squads in preparation for their first game in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League next weekend. Both clubs will be chomping at the bit to get amongst the action sooner rather than later.
So, the season has begun. Winners will grin for the next seven days; losers will be planning their way forward for week two. One thing has been proven in round one; it?s going to be a bumper season in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League.
-By Ross Anderson