Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 10 Review

The pitches at Lambert Park and Francis Park were deemed unplayable causing the postponement of the Sydney Tigers v Inter Lions match and the Blacktown Spartans v Western NSW Panthers game. Thankfully the three other matches from Round 10 went ahead as scheduled, providing fans of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League with some football action for the weekend.
I ventured out to the famous St George Stadium for the match between St George FC and PCYC Lady Hawks. The stadium has been home to some wonderful teams of talented players over the years. It would certainly hold iconic status in Australian football. It?s sad to see the stand condemned, awaiting a wrecking ball rather than a soccer ball but here?s hoping that the stadium soon returns to its glory days.
These two sides are sitting in the bottom half of the league standings, both with a catch up game or two to come. PCYC have had a promising start to their debut season in the competition whilst St George FC have battled a mounting injury toll to stay competitive. Both sides approached this match keen to add to their tally of competition points.
St George?s chances in the match took a terrible blow in the opening minutes when their Captain, Natalie Di Francesco, collapsed with what looked like a significant leg injury. Di Francesco eventually left the field on a stretcher and, after trying to walk the injury out, was replaced by Amanda Wilson. Not the start the locals were looking for!
Both teams parried for supremacy early with PCYC probably playing slightly the more enterprising football. The visitors appeared to be targeting the right side of the St George defence with Katherine Potts and Grace Ryanhart prominent. St George created some half chances but the crosses into the box were unable to find an owner. Neither side were able to set up any meaningful shots on goal.
The home side came up with the best chance in the first half when Rebecca Browning made a strong run down the left flank. As she cut back inside Browning let loose a fine shot from about 25 metres. PCYC keeper Danielle Bartels did an outstanding job to tip the ball over the bar. The ensuing corner saw a dipping place kick from Kirra Hooper which caused some angst in the PCYC defence before finally being cleared.
St George had now settled into a territorial advantage but it wasn?t bringing them any results. Hooper shot across goal whilst a free kick from Alisha Hill almost bobbled back to the feet of a St George player before being dived upon by the Lady Hawks keeper. Rebecca Browning was involved in most of the attacking raids for St George, ably supported by Lauren Gardner, Kirra Hooper and defender Roberta Andrade.
The Lady Hawks best chance in the half came after a poor goal kick by St George was pounced upon by Grace Ryanhart. As Ryanhart raced for goal she let fire with strong shot but was wide of the mark. PCYC?s Maria Kalogeropoulos was also starting to make her presence felt with some good runs out of midfield.
The two sides traded opportunities just prior to half time, the best of these being a free kick  from Danyelle Pringle which beat the St George keeper but cannoned off the post to save St George?s bacon. The two teams went to oranges without having disturbed the scoreboard attendant.
The second half had barely got underway when St George grabbed the lad. Kirra Hooper did well to win a ball on the right of the PCYC box. Hooper cut back inside before releasing a pin point perfect cross to the back post where Rebecca Browning headed the ball into goal. Great stuff from St George FC!
The local girls now snatched the initiative. The Lady Hawks seemed stunned to have conceded and struggled to stop St George from extending their lead. St George dominated for the next ten minutes but couldn?t turn that domination into another goal. Slowly PCYC started to work their way back into the game as the St George side were noticeably tiring. 
The Lady Hawks started to push forward with Katherine Potts and Maria Kalogeropoulos making their mark. A great ball from Grace Ryanhart saw Maree Di Martino bursting onto the ball but St George keeper Rani Hayman dived at Di Martino?s feet to save the day.
PCYC Coach Leena Khamis then brought Christina Ferreyra into the game, replacing Kimberly Lennard. Ferreyra?s pace certainly opened up the game and sorely tested the leg weary St George defence. The pressure now seemed to be coming all one way as PCYC went after the equaliser.
In the 71^st minute St George were unable to adequately clear the ball after a PCYC corner. When they turn over possession Ferreyra takes the ball for PCYC, delivering a great cross to the feet of Kalogeropoulos who beats the advancing St George keeper to the ball and scores a fine goal.
It was now a matter of hanging on for St George as The Lady Hawks pressed forward at every opportunity. Ferreyra is prominent in much of the cation as PCYC try to use her pace to get in behind the St George defence. Though she stretches St George to the limit Ferreyra isn?t able to capitalise on her opportunities as a combination of good goalkeeping and poor shooting keeps the sides locked together. When the referee blows the final whistle it?s 1-1; a fitting result to a game where both sides deserved something.
St George FC Coach Craig Fletcher was happy with his girls? effort. Given that their squad is decimated by injury and the early loss of the team captain Fletcher feels that the girls should be proud of their performance. Whilst unhappy to miss out on the three points the coach seems quite satisfied.
PCYC Coach Leena Khamis said that her girls were very lethargic after three weeks without training. She said that her team had started slowly but grabbed the momentum in the second half. They?d done well to grab a goal said Khamis and were probably unlucky not to snatch a winner.
This wasn?t a high quality game but both teams gave it their all in an absorbing struggle.
St George FC            1 (R.Browning 47m)
PCYC Lady Hawks 1 (M.Kalogeropoulos 71m)
In other matches the Gladesville Ravens lived up to their recent good form with an emphatic 4-0 win over the Northern Tigers at Magdala Park.
The Ravens goals all came in the first half with Liz Talarico opening the scoring for the home side in the 7^th minute. Fatma Agar did the rest of the damage for the home side with a great hat trick in the 15^th, 18^th and 43^rd minutes.
The Tigers battled hard through the second half but the damage had been done with The Ravens scoring a well deserved win.
Gladesville Ravens 4 (F.Agar 15m/18m/43m, L.Talarico 7m)
Northern Tigers      0  
In a fine game of football at Ison Park the Southern NSW FC and Central Coast Lightning sides fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Both these sides are well in the race for a finals berth and gave the game everything.
I haven?t received any further information regarding this game, other than the goalscorers.
Southern NSW FC          2 (K.French, E.Dowse)
Central Coast Lightning 2 (R.Johnson, C.Brewis)
Three games but plenty of highlights in each of them. Hopefully next weekend will see all the sides in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League return to action.
-By Ross Anderson