Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 13 Review

The scrap for the top four places is becoming quite intense as five teams jockey for positions. You can be sure that fans of the league will be treated to some exciting encounters in the coming weeks as the finals countdown begins.
Certainly this weekend?s match of the round looked to be the Western NSW Panthers v Inter Lions clash at Alec Lamberton Field in Bathurst. The two teams didn?t disappoint us with the game proving to be a high scoring thriller.
The Inter girls were obviously keyed up for this one, having yet to forget their first round loss to the Panthers side. They went into the match without the in form Catherine Cannuli who was unavailable for the trip to Bathurst. The visitors started with a flourish when Nichole Laws scored in just the third minute of play. However, The Panthers struck back just two minutes later when their Captain, Gillian Rosconi, spanked away the equaliser. Two minutes later The Panthers were in front when Lauren Diduszko scored. Three goals in 7minutes! What a start by the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League?s two top teams.
The Lions worked hard to regain a level footing, with their second goal coming from a Panthers error that led to an own goal in the 16^th minute. The two teams went at each other hammer and tongs up until half time but neither could add to the score sheet. With a 2-2 scoreline at the break the second half promised an absorbing contest.
Both sides worked hard to gain the upper hand at the beginning of the second stanza. In the 57^th minute Kira Churchland broke the deadlock to put the home side 3-2 up. It was beginning to look like a big day for The Panthers. However, Inter Lions dug deep and surged back into the match. In the 65^th minute influential midfield star Natalie Spirovski scored to balance the ledger for the visitors before Lions striker Dani Calvi stepped up in the 71^st minute to score what was to be the winner for her side.
A tremendous game of football; one that which will have fans of both teams wetting their lips in anticipation of further battles during the finals series. Inter Lions will be cock a hoop over their win but beware the wounded Panther. Barring a catastrophe the result almost certainly wraps up the Minor Premiership for the high flying Lions.
Western NSW Panthers 3 (G.Rosconi 5m, L.Diduszko 7m, K.Churchland 57m)
Inter Lions                      4 (N.Laws 3m, own goal 16m, N.Spirovski 65m, D.Calvi 71m)
Up at Pluim Park in Gosford Central Coast Lightning met the league?s big improvers the Gladesville Ravens.
Central Coast were backing up for their second game in two days, having inflicted a 3-1 defeat on St George FC on Saturday.  The locals were caught napping in the 13^th minute when Alyssa Hardie scored for The Ravens. Despite the best efforts of both teams this was the only score up until half time. The Lightning desperately searched for the equaliser as the second half wore on but The Ravens were more than capable of defending their line. The visitors appeared to seal the match in the 65^th minute when Ashleigh Smith scored.
Central Coast Lightning seemed to be feeling the effects of their heavy schedule but allied to give themselves some hope when Laura Mah scored in the 76^th minute. Gladesville were able to maintain their composure though to run out 2-1 winners on the day. Paul wade certainly has this side humming at the moment.
Central Coast Lightning 1 (L.Mah 76m)
Gladesville Ravens          2 (A.Hardie 13m, A.Smith 65m)
Over at Melita Stadium the PCYC Lady Hawks were keen to celebrate Assistant Coach, Danielle Brogan?s 21^st Birthday with a win as they went to war with Blacktown Spartans.
There wasn?t much between the side in the first half but PCYC struck a vital blow one minute before the break when Grace Ryanhart scored. Erin Connell replied for the visitors four minutes after half time, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
It was The Lady Hawks who came to the fore though with Grace Ryanhart snatching her second goal in the 58^th minute before Katherine Potts ensured PCYC of the points with their third goal in the 87^th minute. A big win for Lady Hawks but a disappointing result for The Spartans.
PCYC Lady Hawks  3 (G.Ryanhart 44m /58m, K.Potts 87m)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (E.Connell 49m)
St George Stadium saw plenty of use over the weekend with St George FC playing a double header; a catch up match with Central Coast Lightning on Saturday, their Round 13 game with Sydney Tigers on Sunday.
Considering the problems that St George have encountered with injuries in recent weeks one would have thought that a double header wasn?t something in the best interests of the team?s well being. After going down 3-1 to The Lightning on Saturday St George could have been seen to be sitting ducks for the The Tigers the following day. However, the St George FC girls are made of sterner stuff.
Whilst The Tigers certainly had the better of play during the first half the St George side showed plenty of grit to hang on. The Tigers were guilty of wasting chances and would have been unhappy to go to oranges with a 0-0 scoreline beaming at them from the stadium scoreboard.
After the resumption Sydney Tigers found their range with Kate Meehan snatching a brace within four minutes. It was a tough ask to expect St George to come back but they didn?t give up. A third Tigers goal to 14 year old sub Lauren Rossillo in the 79^th minute effectively confirmed the result as The Tigers jumped back into the top four. If they can pluck 14 year old goal scorers off the bench then Sydney Tigers can?t be doing too bad! Well done young Lauren!
St George FC  0
Sydney Tigers 3 (K.Meehan 46m/49m, L.Rossillo 79m)
Our final Round 13 match for review saw the Northern Tigers travelling to Nowra for a game with the Southern NSW FC girls.
There?s not much I can tell you about this game, other than the goal scorers. I note that Katie French wasn?t amongst the scorers but I?m hoping that my favourite Southern NSW player can get amongst the goals in her final match for Southern next weekend. It?s sure to be a sad moment for all concerned as Katie?s presence and freakish goal scoring ability will be sorely missed by Southern NSW for the remainder of the season.
Emma Cobb bagged a brace for the locals whilst Louise Lloyd-Jones added to her tally for the season as well. The 3-0 finals scoreline reflected Southern?s dominance of the game.
Southern NSW FC  3 (E.Cobb 2, L.Lloyd-Jones)
Northern Tigers      0
It was great to see a full weekend of football in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League. There were plenty of goals and plenty of action as some of the league?s best sides went head to head. I?m looking forward to the finals, hoping that the top four teams will be at their best once the fight for the title comes down to the biggest games of the season.
See you all next weekend!
-By Ross Anderson