Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 13 Review

Finally all of our favourite teams and players were able to provide us with some much anticipated football action. The girls responded with plenty of goals as two of the competition heavyweights went about their respective games in dominating style.
This weekend I didn?t watch the big guns in action but rather I dropped in to Cook Park at St Marys for the clash between the league?s two cellar dwellers, Penrith Nepean United and Sutherland Sharks. This promised to be a match with plenty of enthusiasm between two sides who were both desperate for a win.
Penrith Nepean United made the early running in this match, controlling the ball well whilst knocking passes around the park. The weight of possession, however, didn?t bring any meaningful shots on goal and Sutherland gradually worked their way into the match. Taryn Ruiz and Kylie Stabb were prominent for the visiting side in these opening exchanges.
The first real shot of the game came from Sutherland when Selva Barosso released Jasmine Hitchen with a nice pass but Hitchen shot wide from a tight angle. Barosso then combined well with Taryn Ruiz to prise open the Penrith defence but Ruiz?s shot on goal was a tame effort.
Soon after Penrith were awarded a free kick about 25 metres from the Sutherland goal. Gillian De Rooy took the spot kick for the Penrith side but put the ball over the crossbar. Penrith then took advantage of a slip by Sharks defender Jenna Flight to grab possession. Sam Collins raced away, turning the last Sutherland defender inside out to put herself in a one on one situation with Sharks keeper Amanda Horafios. The young keeper was equal to the task though, showing good reflexes to hold Collins?s shot at goal.
Within minutes Sam Collins made another great dash out of defence, putting Penrith deep into Sharks territory. Unfortunately Penrith then turned the ball over, ruing another good opportunity. Whilst play was tending to go from end to end it was rare for either side to threaten goal. Taryn Ruiz made an incisive run for Sutherland but was dispossessed by the last defender. I imagined that both coaches were finding this a very frustrating afternoon!
A loose ball in the Sharks box saw Britt Simmons of Penrith United race onto the ball. Her shot from the tightest of angles looked headed for the back of the net before Sharks keeper Amanda Horafios stuck out a glove to palm the ball away. A follow up shot was cleared off the line by Sharks defender Adriana Michael but The Sharks were living dangerously.
In the shadow of half time Sutherland were awarded a free kick just outside the Penrith penalty area. Nadia Hamson flighted the ball beautifully into the goal mouth hit the cross bar, bouncing back into the field of play. The whistle blew and it was time for those half time Powerade?s and oranges. The 0-0 scoreline was probably what the two sides deserved.
Sutherland started the second stanza quickly with Kathryn Prior racing upfield from the kick off. As she reached the by-line Prior tried to cross to goal but the ball was quickly cleared by the Penrith defence. Penrith then launched another raid after Sutherland lost the ball. Gillian De Rooy moved away with the ball before linking up with Zoe Kalos. Kalos hesitated momentarily before passing on to Brooke Conroy who was ruled offside. A chance had gone begging for Penrith.
In the 53^rd minute Penrith Nepean finally grasped their opportunity. A Penrith free kick from the edge of the Sutherland box saw Gillian De Rooy hit the ball low and hard. The ball came through the wall and was deflected by Zoe Kalos into the corner of The Sharks net. Suddenly it was 1-0 to Penrith.
Taryn Ruiz and Kathryn Prior combined to create a chance for Sutherland to reply but Prior?s shot was deflected for a corner. Nadia Hamson rose above the pack from the kick but headed over the bar. Similarly Narelle Forth surged onto a pass for Penrith, just beating the Sutherland keeper to the ball but, unfortunately, pushing the ball wide of goal. Both teams were trying hard but Penrith were appearing the side more likely to get the job done.
So it was that, in the 69^th minute, Penrith struck from another free kick. The ball sailed into the goal mouth where it was met by Zoe Kalos whose kick seemed to deflect off a Sutherland player and rebound into goal. At 2-0 Penrith were looking confident of snatching win number two for 2009. Penrith Coach Lisa Warrener subbed in Lauren Vosota for Narelle Forth.
Yellow cards then became fashionable with firstly Kylie Stabb of Sutherland and then Emma Noro of Penrith going into the referee?s book.
Sutherland weren?t looking as if they could muster a goal at this stage whilst Penrith worked hard to push forward. Another Penrith free kick was not well handled by the Sharks defence but Penrith?s Lauren Vosota?s shot was wide of the mark. Penrith United?s Emma Noro was then replaced by Jacoda Garner whilst Kim Doohan was subbed in for Brooke Slaughter.
Brooke Conroy then made a break for Penrith before passing to Zoe Kalos but Kalos?s quest for another goal sailed well wide. Taryn Ruiz missed by a similar margin at the other end of the field for The Sharks as the match started to wind down to it?s conclusion. Britt Simmons and Brooke Conroy had played well for the home side. The final whistle saw a 2-0 win to Penrith, leaving Sutherland stranded at the bottom of the ladder.
Penrith Nepean United Coach, Lisa Warrener, was happy with her team?s effort. Lisa pointed out that every player on the field for Penrith was under 19 years of age. This had been a b game for them and they?d followed the game plan well. Lisa said that the win would be a good confidence builder for the girls. ?They will only get better? said Warrener.
Adriana Michael stood in for Sutherland Coach Michael Michael to answer a few uestions about the match. Adriana said ?This was a big game for us but we failed to rise to the occasion. A lapse of concentration led to the first goal. Once that was scored we dropped our heads?. Adriana said that The Sharks had produced patches of play which showed promise, just not enough of them.
Sutherland Sharks were disappointing. Penrith Nepean United deserved their win. Penrith played with much more enthusiasm.
Penrith Nepean United 2 (Z.Kalos 53m, 69m)
Sutherland Sharks        0
In other matches Macarthur Rams proved much too strong for an under strength NWS Koalas side at Lynwood Park.
Renee Cartwright put The Rams in the driver?s seat with goals in the 15^th and 22^nd minutes. Macarthur maintained this 2-0 advantage until half time but stepped up a gear in the second half with three unanswered goals. The mercurial Kylie Ledbrook scored in the 53^rd minute before Stephanie Haim added a brace in the 63^rd and 83^rd minutes.
The Rams were much too good on the day, continuing their surge towards another title. The Rams girls will be looking towards their big clash with the Illawarra Stingrays in a fortnight?s time as a pivotal match in the fate of the Minor Premiership title.
The Koalas are still in the hunt for the finals but they?ll be getting nervous as they, Manly United FC and Sydney University battle for the third and fourth spots in the finals series.
Macarthur Rams 5 (R.Cartwright 15m/22m, S.Haim 63m/83m, K.Ledbrook 53m)
NWS Koalas        0
At Cromer Park Manly United FC were looking for a big performance against the competition leaders, the Illawarra Stingrays.
The opening minutes looked promising as both sides looked to take the upper hand. However, it was The Stingrays who struck first through the consistent Hayley Kerrigan in the 20^th minute. Michelle Carney doubled The Stingrays lead in the 37^th minute before the contest was pretty much killed off two minutes later when Talitha Kramer added a third goal for the visitors.
At 3-0 down the second half wasn?t looking like a pleasant experience for Manly but, to their credit, they managed to put a stop to the Illawarra scoring machine until the 88^th minute when the girl with the golden boot, Michelle Heyman, scored The Stingray?s fourth and final goal.
A disappointing result for Manly, but yet another notch on the belt for the formidable Stingrays.
Manly United FC    0
Illawarra Stingrays 4 (H.Kerrigan 20m, M.Carney 37m, T.Kramer 39m, M.Heyman 88m)
In the final match for review in Round 13 Sydney University played host to the Marconi Stallions at Hensley Field.
University were firm favourites for this match against a Marconi side who?ve been struggling for form. However, there was a twist in the tail of this match. Amanda Georgovski put Sydney University on their way in just the second minute with a well taken goal. It wasn?t the start the visitors were after but The Stallions showed plenty of heart to bounce back in the 20^th minute with a goal by Filiz Urkanci. The game remained level until half time.
Both sides had chances after the break but it was Marconi who broke the deadlock in the 57^th minute when Candace Sciberras scored. The Stallions were looking good but the game wasn?t over. Erin Wilson then grabbed an equaliser for Sydney University in the 71^st minute to set up a grandstand finish to the game. Neither side could quite find the winner however with the game finishing a 2-2 draw.
Sydney University will be unhappy at dropping points in this match but The Stallions will be relieved to see a return to some good form. Hopefully they can produce more efforts such as this one in the coming weeks. University?s finals hopes wouldn?t be too harshly affected but this was one that got away.
Sydney University 2 (A.Georgovski 20m, E.Wilson 71m)
Marconi Stallions  2 (F.Urkanci 20m, C.Sciberras 57m)
So, the season marches on with the finals almost within reach. The pressure is on for a couple of sides and the results in the next few weeks will take on maximum importance. Who?ll be capable of lifting the bar?
See you next week everyone.
-By Ross Anderson