Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 15 Review

The highlight of the round was certainly out at Lynwood Park where the defending premiers, Macarthur Rams, faced up to the competition leaders, the Illawarra Stingrays.
Both sides had met with some complications in the lead up to the match; The Stingrays squad being hit with the flu bug during the week whilst The Rams started the match without their ace playmaker Kylie Ledbrook due to work commitments. This certainly promised to be the match of the season with both sides possessed with plenty of attacking weapons and quality players.
The match commenced with Illawarra pushing forward. They certainly held the territorial advantage for much of the first 20 minutes but were unable to turn that dominance into any meaningful shots on goal. The Rams, for their part, lacked cohesion with passes going astray and a general lack of direction out of the middle of the park.
The Stingrays put The Rams under pressure from an early corner with the ball rebounding off players before bringing a good save from Rams keeper Michelle Grigg. Soon after Illawarra?s Michelle Heyman dived in to intercept a Rams throw in and race downfield. Heyman was felled by a defender, winning The Stingrays a free kick. The ball was sent in high by Illawarra, eventually falling to an unmarked Ash Connor who was unable to turn for a shot on goal. Connor did enough to get her side a corner however, which Hailey Kerrigan tipped just over the bar.
The Rams then break from defence with Sigrid Manty making a great run. Manty closed on goal before firing her shot which Stingrays keeper Sarah Gallop flicked to just one side of her left post. The resulting corner saw Gallop to the fore again as she finger tipped away a dipping ball.
Michelle Heyman, playing in a lone striker role for Illawarra, was imposing herself physically on the game. Heyman kept up the pressure on The Rams defenders. In the 30^th minute Heyman pounced on a misdirected pass from Macarthur?s Clare Walsh and headed for goal. Rams keeper Michelle Grigg did her best to save the day but Heyman calmly slotted away her shot. The Stingrays were in front; a deserved lead given their dominance to this point.
Illawarra went in search of another with Ash Connor breaking clear before being knocked over on the edge of the Rams box. The referee blew the whistle, giving Illawarra a free kick, but the tame place kick bounced off the wall and was cleared by a scrambling Rams defence. A touch of push of shove in a contest for the ball brought Michelle Heyman a yellow card moments later.
Lauren Ralston made inroads for The Rams before losing the ball. The Stingrays tried to turn defence into attack but Macarthur were quick to cover. Sigrid Manty earn herself a yellow card after a solid challenge. The match was starting to heat up as these two teams worked hard to gain the ascendancy.
Just prior to half time another Stingrays free kick sailed into the Rams box, going straight through the hands of the keeper. Fortunately though The Rams cleaned up quickly, leaving the score at the break at 1-0 to The Stingrays.
Rams Coach Matt Turvey had obviously shaken his team up with his half time address. The Rams came out with some improved resolve after the break. Seeing Kylie Ledbrook warming up on the sideline was also enough to warm any Rams heart. The Macarthur star took her place on the field as a substitute for Leesa Thompson within minutes of the restart.
Ledbrook?s inclusion certainly appeared to give The Rams the direction they?d lacked in the first half. Still, it was Illawarra who threatened first after half time from a corner. The tall timber of Michelle Heyman and Ash Connor were causing Macarthur problems from these place kick situations. The Rams were indeed lucky that keeper Michelle Grigg was ready to put her body on the line to keep Illawarra at bay.
The Rams were soon able to break out of defence with a nice ball seeing Sigrid Manty race into the clear. Manty did not quite have the toe to go on with the job though and, as she slowed to pick up support, the movement broke down. However, this was a reminder to The Stingrays that The Rams were ready to take advantage of any lapses in Illawarra?s defence.
The game was becoming much more physical as well. Trudy Camilleri and Kylie Ledbrook renewed pleasantries from a clash last year; this one bringing Camilleri a yellow card. It was no place for the feint hearted out in the centre as the league?s two ace teams gave it their all.
Heyman and Connor then combined well for Illawarra but Heyman?s shot was pushed wide for a corner. Rams keeper Gallop brought gasps from the crowd with her leaping, diving grab to snare the ball from the corner. Another yellow card for Illawarra came soon after when Jayd Cunningham resented a tackle and came up swinging. Cunnigham got the free kick though and The Stingrays pushed out of their danger area.
Disaster struck the visitors soon after though when Michelle Heyman received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after Rams had been awarded a free kick. The tall Stingrays striker?s physical style of game always seems to attract the ire of the referees. Maybe Michelle should start sending the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League referees Christmas cards?
The loss of Heyman certainly put the acid test to The Stingrays. Would they be able to hold out against a surging Rams? Kylie Ledbrook quickly stepped up her game, dispossessing a Stingrays defender before racing to goal. Ledbrook approached at a slight angle though with Stingrays keeper Gallop able to smother the shot and defuse the situation.
Ledbrook was also staring to find some space for her supports. Renee Cartwright was coming into her own with some good play. Ledbrook worked hard to once again take the ball away from a defender before crossing into goal where Sigrid Manty volleyed wide. As hard as Te rams tried though they just could not find the equaliser. The Stingrays slowly managed to get the game back on an even keel. They started to find a few half chances of their own. The free kick count was also staring to mount as frustration set in for The Rams.
Successive corners to Illawarra pressured Macarthur before a break away by Ash Connor looked likely to seal the game for the visitors. Connor pulled the trigger only to hit the post with the ball then bouncing clear. Macarthur had dodged a bullet on that one but with little time left they weren?t able to mount another meaningful raid. Hailey Kerrigan managed to add to the yellow card tally in the closing moments but it was Illawarra?s day as The Stingrays held on for a 1-0 win.
Stingrays Coach Brett Wallin was over the moon with his team?s performance. Wallin said that his side had come to do a job and they?d been very committed. He was impressed with how the girls had kept their mental strength, even after losing a player. Wallin felt that his side had had the better of the game. ?We know that Macarthur are a champion side, we knew that the game would be tough? said Wallin. ?I?m very proud of my girls?.
Macarthur Rams Coach Matt Turvey was circumspect. He felt that his team had failed to stick to their game plan. He was also disappointed that the girls had lowered themselves by getting involved in some off the ball incidents. Turvey also said that his side had missed Kylie Ledbrook?s presence in the first half and were guilty of trying to force the ball and turning over possession. ?Illawarra took their chance, we didn?t? was Matt?s succinct way of putting it though he gave The Stingrays every credit for their win.
So, does this result wrap up the Minor Premiership for The Stingrays? There?s still some tough games between both sides and the finals but Illawarra are now the architects of their own destiny. If they keep winning they can?t be caught whereas The Rams now have to rely on other results going their way to bring them back into the Minor Premiership battle.
The first half was a fairly tame affair but the second stanza made for plenty of excitement. The crowd certainly got involved as the match went on, at least in the Lynwood Park stand, and these two sides are sure to have some further monumental clashes before the title is decided.
Macarthur Rams     0
Illawarra Stingrays 1 (M.Heyman 30m)
Elsewhere results didn?t quite go according to the script, most significantly at Harrie Dening Centre where the bottom of the ladder Sutherland Sharks upset the NWS Koalas.
After a scoreless first half The Koalas grabbed the lead in the 59^th minute through a goal by Carlie Ikonomou. If this was the signal for The Koalas to break away someone forgot to tell Sutherland. Within three minutes they?d equalised through Selva Barosso. At 1-1 it was anyone?s game with The Sharks showing more spark than they had in some weeks.
In the 76^th minute Sutherland?s Jenna Flight scored giving the home side a 2-1 advantage which they held until the final whistle. I can imagine that there was plenty of euphoria in the Sutherland camp with this being just their second win of the season.
The Koalas would be wondering what happened; this was a game that they were expected to win. The NSW girls still sit in fourth place however but they?ll need to be wary in the coming weeks that they don?t let Sydney University back into the finals race.
Sutherland Sharks 2 (S.Barroso 62m, J.Flight 76m)
NWS Koalas           1 (C.Ikonomou 59m)
The Marconi Stallions played host to Penrith Nepean United at Marconi Stadium.
The Stallions would still have been smarting at their recent defeat by Penrith and the home side got off to the perfect start when Dempsey scored in the 10^th minute. Penrith hung in, trying everything to get back into the match.
Marconi maintained their slender lead into half time before sealing victory with a 73^rd minute strike from Ciberras. It?s not a Grand Final win but it certainly was a welcome return to the winning list for The Stallions. The players and coaching staff will be happy to snare three points and set their sights on next week and a battle with the Macarthur Rams.
Penrith tried hard but couldn?t quite come up with the goods on the day. Their job doesn?t get any easier next week when they host Manly United FC at Cook Park.
Marconi Stallions          2 (T.Dempsey 10m, C.Ciberras 73m)
Penrith Nepean United 0
The other major match of the round saw Manly United FC and Sydney University come to grips at Cromer Park.
This was a must win game for University but the game started disastrously for the visitors when they conceded two goals in the first nine minutes. Gill Foster opened the scoring for Manly in just the 6^th minute before Caitlan Jarvie doubled the home side?s advantage in the 9^th minute.
To Sydney University?s credit they bounced back quickly with a well taken strike by Angelina Koncurat in the 10^th minute of play. This remained the half time score with both sides still well in the match. Sydney University strove hard to find the equaliser but their hearts sank in the 60^th minute when Louise Neville stretched the Manly United FC lead to 3-1.
Neither side could fashion another goal though both threatened. Manly?s 3-1 win leaves them third on the ladder with their place in the finals assured. Sutherland Shark?s shock win over NWS Koalas did Sydney University an enormous favour, mathematically at least keeping them in the race for fourth spot in the finals.
Manly United FC   3 (G.Foster 6m, C.Jarvie 9m, L.Neville 60m)
Sydney University 1 (A. Knocurat 10m)
I love a weekend that throws up an upset or two. Granted, NWS Koalas and Macarthur Rams won?t share my enthusiasm but it always breaths new life into the competition when a few surprises emerge. Yes, The Stingrays win over The Rams wasn?t an upset of mammoth proportions but any time the defending premiers bite the dust it?s something different.
What does next weekend have in store for we fans of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League?
-By Ross Anderson