Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 17 Review

The weekend?s matches may well have settled a couple of issues in the competition with the Premiership race and the battle for fourth spot having most of the attention in recent weeks.
Sunday saw your scribe travelling to the home of the greatest rugby league team in the world, Manly Sea-Eagles to, oops, sorry! I get carried away when I think of Manly. Of course I was visiting God?s own country to catch the action of the mega match between the Manly United FC side and the Macarthur Rams. The Rams have had the wood on Manly over the last few seasons but the girls from the peninsula seem to be endowed with a stronger mettle in season 2010 and were obviously keen to take on the defending premiers.
The early pressure certainly came from Manly. They pressed forward with Caitlan Jarvie and Gill Foster prominent in the initial exchanges. After winning a corner Manly are denied when Rams keeper Michelle Grigg punches the ball away. The Rams turned defence into attack, bursting forward to win a corner of their own. From this dead ball situation Kylie Ledbrook leapt above the pack to head towards goal, only to see her effort hit the post. This was a definite let off for the home side.
The Manly side were playing some enterprising football with Pelay Ingles playing a strong role in the middle of the field. Similarly Kylie Ledbrook was the main thrust behind the Rams attack as she opened up space for her supports.
Slowly the tide of the match started to even out as Macarthur survived the Manly onslaught and settled into a rhythm. Ledbrook and Lisa Dudek were combining well whilst Renee Cartwright was coming into her own. Cartwright had two opportunities but was wide of the mark with her shot on both occasions.
A loose ball near half way bounced the right way to see Gill Foster race clear for Manly only to put her shot wide of target. More good play by Jarvie, Foster and Ingles once again stretched the Rams defence. This was a good game of football with some skilful play on show. They certainly weren?t taking any prisoners out there either with Manly on the wrong end of a mounting free kick count.
The Rams pushed forward to win successive corners, neither of which were convincingly handled by Manly. Yet, the local girls still survived. A Manly free kick at the other end caused some panic in the Macarthur defence but The Rams actually mounted a counter attack which saw them threaten the Manly goal.
Manly continued to go forward, with Caitlan Jarvie making a fine run into the Macarthur box. Jarvie twisted, turned and effectively spun the defence inside out. Jarvie shot from point blank range but Macarthur keeper Michelle Grigg was able to palm the ball down. Unfortunately it fell straight at the feet of Liz Morrison but her stab at the ball somehow saw it go wide of the post. Macarthur had certainly dodged a bullet there!
In the 41^st minute, with a half time stalemate looking likely, Manly mounted another attack. Elyce Bates worked her way through and ran for goal, creating a one on one situation with the Rams keeper. Once again Grigg was equal to the task, making a great save but, from the ensuing play disaster struck for Macarthur. The referee pointed to the spot, giving Manly a penalty. Worse was to come though as he brandished a red card for Rams defender Claire Walsh.
Gill Foster stepped up to calmly slot away the place kick, giving Manly a 1-0 lead which they took into half time. Macarthur had it all to do now; down on the scoreboard and left to play the second half with only ten players.
Macarthur came out after half time looking to break back immediately. Lauren Ralston and Sigrid Manty combined well to open Manly up but the resulting cross was poor. Both sides traded blows in these opening minutes of the half but it was manly who had the momentum.
In the 54^th minute, after an earlier chance to Liz Morrison was missed, Manly broke forward again through Caitlan Jarvie. The diminutive Manly striker made a nice run down the right flank before cutting into the box. From a sharp angle Jarvie let fly, beating the diving keeper and giving Manly a 2-0 lead. Was there an upset on the cards?
A flat three at the back wasn?t working for Macarthur and Manly were exploiting it with their pace. The Rams weren?t presenting much danger at the opposite end of the park despite Kylie, Ledbrook having pushed forward. The game stagnated for a period here as Manly seemed happy to push the ball forward. That tactic may not have been a bad one under the circumstances.
In the 69^th minute it all paid off for Manly when a free kick from Manly found Jarvie in open space. As The Rams keeper advanced to meet her Jarvie put a deft little chip over the top to score her second goal. All of a sudden it was 3-0 to Manly and The Rams task looked insurmountable.
Just one minute later Jarvie latched onto another nice through ball. The Rams players called for offside but the linesman?s flag stayed down. Jarvie races to goal and shoots, claiming a magnificent hat trick! The ?curse? looked broken as manly had stormed to a 4-0 lead.
To Macarthur?s credit they attempted to attack. A beautiful Kylie Ledbrook pass saw Sigrid Manty burst down the right flank. Manty?s superb cross is met at the back post by Elisha Williams. Incredibly her header takes the ball away from goal rather than into it and Manly escape. Ledbrook also released a ball for Renee Cartwright but The Rams star was beaten to the ball by Manly keeper Shannon Heath.
The game looked to be winding down but Manly still had a trick up their sleeve. With seven minutes remaining they push upfield with that girl Caitlan Jarvie again advancing on goal. Rams keeper Grigg slides to the ball; blocking it just outside of the area with her body. Unfortunately for Macarthur the ball rebounded into the path of Liz Morrison who coolly dispatches the ball into the back of the net for Manly?s fifth goal.
Manly didn?t pack up their game after this. Jarvie again threatened only to be stopped by The Rams in sight of goal number four. Eilish Sheerin also made a spirited run down the flank before more good work from keeper Grigg saved further embarrassment for Macarthur.
In the final moments a magical run by Kylie Ledbrook sees her jinking her way into the Manly box. Ledbrook wrong foots the defence before offering a quality cross to Lauren Ralston whose header hits the cross bar. Manly then turned defence into attack with Jarvie again racing clear before passing to an unmarked Liz Morrison who sprayed her shot wide.
No matter. It?s Manly?s day as the beat Macarthur Rams 5-0 in a stellar performance.
Rams Coach Matt Turvey said that Manly had played his side off the park. Turvey lamented a lack of depth in his squad that left the side struggling when three first graders were unavailable for the match. He felt that the side lacked go forward under the restructure. Turvey said that the second half had been disappointing. Macarthur had pushed players forward when they fell behind but it was too little too late. Turvey gave full credit to Manly on their excellent performance.
Manly Coach Larry Bates looked a happy man. Bates said that his side can play as well as any side in the competition. Bates said that his side was rolling along nicely. He was happy with the way his team had followed instruction and felt that this had been a good game of football. Bates gave Macarthur credit in that they kept coming at his side, even when they game appeared lost.
Manly certainly proved their worth in this match. They went up a gear in the second half, in what will be a confidence building performance leading into the finals. Macarthur?s Minor Premiership hopes now look dashed as they attempt to regroup for a catch up game with Marconi Stallions on Wednesday evening.
Manly United FC  5 (C.Jarvie 54m/69m/70m, G.Foster 41m, L.Morrison 81m
Macarthur Rams  0
In other matches Illawarra Stingrays broke out to a six point lead on the competition table with a 2-0 win over the Sutherland Sharks.
After Michelle Heyman scored in the fifth minute The Stingrays looked as if they could be ready to give Sutherland a very gruelling afternoon. The Sharks conceded again in the 29^th minute when Ash Connor scored for Illawarra but that was to be the end of the scoreboard attendant?s work for the afternoon.
Illawarra seem to coast through this one though The Sharks put in a worthy effort; maintaining their improved form of recent weeks.
Illawarra Stingrays 2 (M.Heyman 5m, A.Connor 29m)
Sutherland Sharks   0
Sydney University?s semi final chances may have been struck a death blow when they surprisingly went down to Penrith Nepean United at Hensley Athletic Field.
After Angelina Koncurat scored for Sydney University in the opening minute of play it looked a matter of how far for the home side. However Penrith fought back strongly with Zoe Kalos equalising for the visitors in the 48^th minute.
As the game progressed University couldn?t halt the Penrith challenge with Brooke Slaughter deciding the match with a brace in the 57^th and 71^st minutes.
Sydney University were very disappointing having now dropped six points off fourth place with just four matches to play. Penrith Nepean have broken away from the wooden spoon position with just their third win of the season.
Sydney University         1 (A.Koncurat 1m)
Penrith Nepean United 3 (Z.Kalos 48m, B.Slaughter 57m/71m)
The NWS Koalas did their final hopes a big favour in scoring a good 4-0 win over the Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium.
After an even start Georgina Stylianous opened the scoring for The Koalas in the 22^nd minute. Marconi hung in though and the two sides went to the break with this being the only goal.
Within four minutes of the resumption Rachel Jones took her side to a 2-0 lead. Seven minutes later Stylianous scored again before Evelyn Chronis adding the finishing touches with her goal in the 65^th minute.
The win kicks The Koalas clear of their chasers and fourth spot now looks theirs for the taking. There?s a lot of hard work ahead for The Koalas but, once you?re in the finals, anything can happen.
Marconi put in another solid first half effort but faded away in the second stanza.
Marconi Stallions 0
NWS Koalas         4 (G.Stylianous 22m/56m, R.Jones 49m, E.Chronis 65m)
There?s an old saying that the games never over until the fat man sings but I find it hard to believe that the Premiership and the top four haven?t been decided by this weekend?s football. Manly have served notice that they won?t be in the finals series merely to make up the numbers. Their win over Rams was top drawer and no-one is safe if they can continue that form.
There?s plenty more good football to come though so be ready for next weekend?s round.
-By Ross Anderson