Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Minor Semi Final Review
What looked like being one of the matches of the season became a second half nightmare for The Koalas as the Manly juggernaut ran riot. It was certainly a disappointing end to 2009 for Claude De Francesco?s side after they?d looked the most consistent of the top four coming into the finals series.
The game had started well enough for the visitors with little between the sides in the opening exchanges. The first goal was looking a vital commodity but neither side could quite grasp their opportunities.
However, within the shadows of half time Manly?s goal scroing magician Caitlan Jarvie found the back of the net to give her side the lead. The Koalas side barely had time to settle when, just two minutes later, Bronte Bates extended the Manly United advantage to two with a well taken goal. Suddenly what had seemed like a tight encounter had been broken open by twin Manly strikes.
It would have been tough for The Koalas to go into half time having shared the spoils for 39 minutes of the first half only to go into the dressing rooms two goals down. The Koalas need to regroup quickly but things only got worse after the break.
Two minutes after the resumption that girl Caitlan Jarvie was in the action again, completing her brace and giving her team what looked to be an unassailable 3-0 lead. The shell shocked Koalas got no relief though when, three minutes later, Elyce Bates completed a big day out for the bates family in scoring Manly?s fourth goal.
NWS Koalas now looked resigned to their fate. Try as they might nothing was going right for the last season?s runners up and it was no surprise when they conceded once more in the 55th minute. This time it was former Matilda Gill Foster on hand to notch up Manly United?s fifth goal in what was becoming an embarrassing rout for the unfortunate Koalas.
After a sixteen minute period that had produced 5 goals the match setteld for a period as the NWS girls tried to add some respectability to the scoreline. In the 74th minute The Koalas found their mark when promising youngster Stephanie Ascone put her side on the scoreboard with a nice goal.
Manly appeared to be somewhat peeved by this intrusion on their parade however. Three minutes after the Koalas goal Manly United regained their five goal advantage when Liz Morrison bobbed up to add her name to the list of Manly scorers. Manly now lead 6-1 and more pain didn?t look mout of the question for a stunned Koalas side.
The final thirteen minutes brought some relief for The Koalas in that the rampant home side didn?t add to their tally. But The Koalas were unable to find the back of the net themselves as their 2009 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League campaign drew to a close.
When the referee blew the whistle to bring the semi final to a conclusion manly United FC had run out impressive 6-1 winners.
This was a sad way for Claude De Francesco?s talented Koalas side to bow out of the finals series. They?ve played some exciting football this season; certainly so in the last month in particular. Having overcome the loss of a number of leading players during the off season The Koalas are to be congratulated on their efforts this season.
Manly Coach Larry Bates, however, will belicking his lips in anticipation of what lies ahead for his side. This game was very reminiscent of Manly?s 5-0 demolition of the Macarthur Rams and, in this sort of form, the sky is the limit for the talented Manly side.
I certainly wouldn?t like to be the Coach of the losing side in Sunday?s major semi final, preparing to meet a Manly side who think they can go all the way to the title.
There apepar to be a few twists and turns still remaining in the race for the tag of Champions of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
Manly United FC 6 (C.Jarvie 39m/47m, B.Bates 41m, E.Bates 50m, G.Foster 55m, E.Morrison 77m)
NWS Koalas 1 (S.Ascone 74m)
In other semi final action at Cromer Park, in the Under 12 Girls NWS Koalas defeated Marconi Stallions in penalties after the teams were locked 0-0 at the end of extra time.
The Under 14 Girls semi final went to Sutherland Sharks 2-0 over Manly United FC.
The Under 16?s game was won 1-0 by Sydney University over Sutherland Sharks.
Sydney University also triumphed in the Reserve Grade match, defeating NWS Koalas 3-0.
A great day?s football with all the winners now look forward to next weekend?s preliminary final.
-By Ross Anderson
