Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 9 Review

The match scheduled between Marconi Stallions and Macarthur Rams at Marconi Stadium, along with the Manly United FC v Penrith Nepean United game at Cromer Park were washed out. They will now be played on a date to be fixed.
Illawarra Stingrays played host to NWS Koalas at J.J.Kelly Park.
The Koalas started in dominating fashion with Carlie Ikonomou scoring from a free kick for the visitors in the eighth minute. The Stingrays missed a couple of chances of their own with both Michelle Heyman and Ash Connor being off target.
In the 23^rd minute Ikonomou made another break for The Koalas before switching the ball inside to Adriana Cirjak who sent a stunning shot from 30 metres to give The Koalas a 2-0 lead. The Stingrays looked stunned and The Koalas could smell blood. They continued their rampage when, in the 28^th minute, Ikonomou converted a penalty to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.
The Stingrays attempted to regroup. The game appeared to drop in pace slightly and Illawarra managed to take advantage with Michelle Heyman grabbing a goal in the 43^rd minute to give The Stingrays a lifeline.
The Koalas maintained their lead after half time as both sides traded attacks. In the 70^th minute though the game was turned on its head when Illawarra were awarded a penalty and Adrian Cirjak of The Koalas was red carded for dissent. Hayley Kerrigan comfortably slotted away the penalty kick. At 3-2 to the visitors it was now game on.
Yellow cards were becoming the order of the day as the visitors became very frustrated. In the 80^th minute Talitha Kramer found herself on the end of a cross to put away the equaliser for The Stingrays. The Illawarra girls were coming home with a wet sail. Things went from bad to worse for The Koalas when Sophie Svinos was red carded, leaving the NWS team with only nine players for the remaining minutes of the match. The Stingrays took full advantage with Ash Connor scoring in the 85^th minute to put Illawarra in the lead for the first time in the match.
Michelle Carney then assured the locals of a win when she snatched Illawarra?s fifth goal in the 88^th minute. This was quite a comeback from The Stingrays though The Koalas would have left for home feeling hard done by at not taking something from this match.
Illawarra Stingrays 5 (M.Heyman 43m, H.Kerrigan 70m, T.Kramer 80m, A.Connor 85m, M.Carney 88m)
NWS Koalas             3 (C.Ikonomou 8m/28m, A.Cirjak 23m)
In the only other match played in Round 9 Sutherland Sharks met Sydney University. This game was moved to Seymour Shaw Park after the Harrie Dening Centre was closed due to the condition of the pitch.
In a hard fought game Sydney University came away with the points after Kimber scored their solitary goal in the 23^rd minute of the match.
This appears to have been an improved performance by the Sutherland girls. However, the win keeps the momentum going for Sydney University as they maintain their charge for a finals spot.
Sutherland Sharks  0
Sydney University   1 (H.Kimber 23m)
The frustration felt by coaches, players and supporters during the current run of bad weather is significant. Everyone just wants to play but the grounds are having little chance to recover before their hit with another bout of heavy rain. There are plenty of rescheduled fixtures to be played so there?s sure to be some weary muscles in coming weeks.
Come on sunshine. Let?s see some football!
-By Ross Anderson