Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 12 Review
The matches between Sydney Tigers and Central Coast Lightning, Gladesville Ravens and PCYC Lady Hawks as well as the St George FC v Southern NSW FC clash were all victims of the continuing wet weather which has plagued the competition. There?s going to be some very bust officials at various clubs in the next few days trying to come up with a formula for getting the competition back on track amidst all the looming catch up games. It?s times like these that I?m glad I?m a poor football journalist who isn?t that important in the greater scheme of things!
Thankfully I was able to find myself a game to wander out to yesterday so that I could achieve my weekend fix of women?s football. Francis Park at Blacktown isn?t always a field that is open when the weather turns sour but yesterday it was in pristine condition for the match between Blacktown Spartans and Inter Lions. The Lions, sitting atop the competition ladder well clear of their nearest challenger, The Spartans around mid table but seemingly showing signs of improvement. This promised to be good match with Blacktown determined to put the lie to their first round belting at the hands of The Lions.
The match started with Inter knocking the ball around the park and constantly moving forward. The Spartans were struggling to keep the lid on The Lions attack. It seemed as if, at this early stage, The Spartans were on the back foot. After an early skirmish or two which saw Catherine Cannuli unleash the first shot on goal of the day, it was little surprise when Inter Lions opened the scoring. After some good play down the left flank by The Lions the ball was laid back to Elyce Goss who hit a great shot from outside the box, angling into the top left hand corner of the net. A goal down after six minutes didn?t look a promising start for Blacktown.
The Lions continued to go forward, creating a number of chances. Elyce Goss intercepted a pass from the Blacktown defence but was well tackled by Bronwyn Jarvis. Jill Rowland, Dani Calvi and Clare Tyson combined well before Tyson?s shot flew to the Spartans keeper. It was all Inter at this stage as they continued to build pressure. Blacktown?s chances weren?t helped by the fact that, when they did get the ball, they turned it over with misdirected passes. The Spartans first foray upfield came through a nice run by Elif Albayrak but she was denied a shot on goal. Blacktown were slowly coming into the game as play evened out.
The best scoring chances, however, were still being created by The Lions. Clare Tyson did well but her cross was volleyed over the bar by Renee Tomkins. A Catherine Cannuli free kick was not cleared by the defence but the ensuing shot from Dani Calvi went wide. It must be added at this stage that the Blacktown keeper, Sarah Galdes, was doing a fine job between the sticks. Galdes made a diving save to defuse a shot by Natalie Spirovski and then did enough to put Calvi off her chance as she came at goal from a tight angle.
For all their dominance Inter couldn?t add to their tally. Blacktown surged upfield through Lorissa Monkerud but her shot on goal was deflected by an advancing Tani Rosekelly. Erin Connell was doing a lot of hard work in midfield for The Spartans with the home side also making good use of the pace of Amanda Xuereb on the right flank. Larissa Monkerud was combining well with Xuerub and the Spartans were finding some space behind the Inter defence. The problem for The Spartans was that the last pass seemed to be going astray with the turnover of possession meaning they struggled to sustain pressure on their opponents.
Elyce Goss was proving a constant threat to the home side, forcing another good save from Sarah Galdes after breaking away and turning defenders. A great long ball by Blacktown then found Amanda Xuereb charging to meet the ball but she didn?t have sufficient control to manufacture a shot. The half ended with one last opportunity for Inter Lions when a great distance shot from Tomkins is knocked down by the Blacktown keeper, landing at the feet of Dani Calvi. Calvi?s shot, however flies across the face of goal, ensuring that The Spartans get to half time down just 1-0.
The spectators had barely settled into their seats for the second half when Erin Connell and Elif Albayrak combined beautifully before Albayrak slotted away the goal to bring the side level.This was a great reward for Blacktown?s persistence. The goal sparked Inter Lions who started to increase the pressure. Their shots were mainly distance efforts though with one from Natalie Spirovski taken above her head by keeper Galdes. Spirovski backed this up soon after with a sizzling shot which flew over the crossbar. It wasn?t all Inter though as some good play from the home side saw chances for Amanda Xuereb, Larissa Monkerud and Zineta De Beer. Blacktown just couldn?t quite fashion a definitive scoring opportunity though. In games like this one that can often prove deadly. Blacktown were holding there own however and, at this stage, it was still anyone?s game.
Close games are often blown wide open by the brilliance of individual players. Inter are very fortunate this season to have a plethora of players who can do something magical to change the course of a match. And so it was in this match. In the 70 minute Renee Tomkins raced clear from a defensive situation. The Blacktown players backed off her, allowing her to break into the Spartans half where she passed to Catherine Cannuli. The former Young Matilda shimmied, turned and let loose a stunning shot which left the Blacktown keeper stranded as it thundered into the back of the net. Inter had regained the lead.
Cannuli then started to torment the defence with a succession of distance shots which flew wide of the mark. In the 82nd minute Blacktown?s Cassandra Inman was yellow carded after a foul. A free kick was awarded to Inter on the right edge of the Blacktown box. Up stepped that girl Cannuli again, potting a high kick into the goal mouth where confusion reigned amongst the defence. The ball ricocheted off a defender and bounced into goal to extend the Inter lead to 3-1.
Short of hitting Cannuli with a guided missile the Blacktown defence were left unable to control The Lions star. Minutes after her free kick Cannuli let go another bomb from distance which left poor Sarah Galdes with no chance. Suddenly it was 4-1 to Inter Lions on the back of the silken skill of Catherine Cannuli.
The Spartans didn?t give up and, in the remaining minutes, Bronwyn Jarvis threatened the goal with a distance shot and a free kick. To no avail though as the final whistle saw Inter Lions run out 4-1 winners.
Inter Lions Coach, Joe Baldacci, praised Blacktown on their whole hearted effort. He described the match as a ?good game? where The Spartans had given the competition leaders a run for their money. He felt that the difference had mainly been his side?s consistency, certainly in the final fifteen minutes. Baldacci was happy to have got the game played and was pleased with his side?s performance. Inter were now looking ahead for the trip to Bathurst next weekend.
Blacktown Coach Neil Ross was happy with his team?s effort. He felt that they had been very competitive but stated that it was hard to defend against the type of goals scored against them in those final fifteen minutes. Ross said that his side had started slowly but he was pleased with the way they?d worked their way back into the match. They?d been beaten by a better team but Blacktown?s had improved markedly on their first round performance.
This was a good game of football but a touch of class shone out in the end. The Spartans should be well pleased with themselves. They were not disgraced and pushed Inter for most of the match. The Lions? Wow, when you?ve got the firepower they?ve got you can almost always be sure that someone will do something extraordinary to bring you through. This time it was the very special Catherine Cannuli. A few weeks back it was Renee Tomkins. Next week it?s likely to be Natalie Spirovski. An abundance of riches to be sure.
Blacktown Spartans 1 (E.Albayrak 47m)
Inter Lions 4 (C.Cannuli 70m/83m, E.Goss 6m, own goal 82m)
In the only other game played on Sunday the Western NSW Panthers continued their resurgence with a solid 5-0 win over the Northern Tigers in Bathurst.
The Panthers burst from the blocks with Tegan Courtney scoring in just the 4th minute. The Tigers then showed plenty of resolve to battle back, keeping the Panthers at bay until a nine minute burst of action that saw four goals scored.
In the 40th minute Annie Holiday scored before Lisa Matthews added a third just two minutes later. Tegan Courtney then completed her brace with a goal in the 44th minute sending the home side to the sheds with a 4-0 lead. If the shattered Tigers felt they?d regroup Shannon Waine put that idea to rest within four minutes of the resumption with a nice goal which had her side sailing at 5-0.
To The Tigers credit they didn?t concede another goal, during the match. A similar situation occurred to the girls in an earlier match this season against Southern NSW FC where a batch of goals was given up in a small space of time. The last two weeks has seen The Tigers suffer a couple of big defeats; unusual after the side has generally been quite competitive in 2009. Hang in there girls, you can still do some damage before the year ends.
Western NSW Panthers 5 (T.Courtney 4m/44m, A.Holliday 40m, L.Matthews 42m, S.Waine 49m)
Northern Tigers 0
So, an abbreviated weekend of football with many teams left facing even more catch up games. We need to chase those rain clouds away otherwise Santa Claus may be refereeing the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Grand Final on Christmas Day! Players are getting tired of spending their Sundays at home so come on sunshine!
-By Ross Anderson
