Arrive alive Women?s Premier League Round 1 Review
Match of the Round
Manly United FC v Sutherland Sharks
Summer like conditions welcomed the players to Cromer Park for the start of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. The girls from the two beachside suburbs were probably wishing they?d bought their surfboards with them rather than shin pads and football boots. Prayers were placed pre match for a cooling sea breeze.
Good lead up work for Manly by Neville and Morrison saw Gill Foster unleash the first salvo of the day. However, the ball could only find the side netting. Racing to the other end of the field Sutherland?s Freya Hickey found herself open in front of goal but pushed her shot wide of target. This was an entertaining start to the game with both sides willing to attack.
Sutherland may have been seen as the underdogs coming into this match but they had started in menacing fashion. Taryn Ruiz worked hard in midfield. Manly were taking some time to find their feet. Gill Foster worked a nice ball through for Liz Morrison but Manly could only win a corner.
Ruiz, Browning and Hickey combined to break out for Sutherland but Frickey?s shot from distance was wide of the goal. Manly worked forward, before a cross from Foster found Morrison in front of goal. Her attempt at header missed however and Sutherland attempted to clear the ball. They were not very successful in doing so before Manly?s Elyce Bates was clear in front of goal only to hit straight to keeper Alchi.
Manly then broke down the right from defence with Gill Foster?s cross finding Liz Morrison once again. Morrison shed her defender but, one on one with the keeper, poked a feeble shot into the Sharks custodian?s gloves. It was an end to end style of game but neither side seemed able to make the most of their chances. Sutherland won a succession of corners but were unable to capitalise. They were building some momentum but needed to be careful of Manly on the break.
In the 32nd minute Sutherland tried to play safe by putting the ball out when under pressure. However, Manly took advantage with Louise Neville racing through down the by-line before crossing to a charging Elyce Bates. Bates put the ball past the Sutherland keeper for the opening goal of the match. Manly grab a 1-0 lead. This turn of events seems to get Manly surging and they started to monopolise possession. After a succession of passes Louise Neville found herself open and shot at goal but her effort sailed over the crossbar. Manly were now camped in the Sutherland half as they looked to extend their lead. Sutherland dig deep but they couldn?t seem to maintain any possession. Manly just kept coming but were proving somewhat ineffectual in front of goal. Manly seemed keener on the ball and the Sharks appeared to be tiring as the half is nearing an end. Manly pushed forward again through Louise Neville, who was dominating the middle of the park. Once again she shot over the bar. Gill Foster then breaks down the left but shot hits the side netting.
Manly were in total control of the game at this moment. If Gill Foster?s shot radar had been working she?d have had a hat trick by now as there are plenty of opportunities. Liz Morrison got into the act as well with a solid hit from distance but the keeper flipped it over the bar. The half time whistle blew with Manly holding a slender 1-0 lead. They had been right on top though so The Sharks were going to need to lift considerably to make an impression in the second half.
It didn?t take long after the half time break for Manly to camp themselves back in the Sharks half. Sutherland had lots of players behind the ball but they had no options when trying to clear their line. Gill Foster broke out of midfield before she laid on a perfect ball to put Liz Morrison in the clear. Morrison?s shot went straight to the keeper but was followed in quick succession by shots from Foster and Bates. These merely provide Sutherland keeper Alchi with catching practice. Foster broke again but her shot went into the side netting. Manly were making heavy weather of what should have been a cricket score result. At the 54 minute mark Olivia Mann of Sutherland was replaced by Melissa Danning.
Alchi was being called upon to put her body on the line and used her legs to block another powerful shot from the home side. It looked like a matter of time before Manly doubled their score. A free kick by Heidi Van Weeren found an unmarked Louise Neville at the back post but her header was met by the keeper. Gill Foster once again found herself with space in front of goal but the former Matilda put her shot over the bar. There had to be some frustration setting in for the Manly girls as the number of near misses kept mounting.
A momentary resurgence for Sutherland gave some respite but Manly then brought it up the other end quickly. Sutherland worked their way up field with a good passing rush before Browning cut back inside to shoot but missed wide. Sutherland were now making a number of forays into the Manly half. However, Manly were always look dangerous breaking out of defence. Manly pushed forward, with a great Gill Foster cross finding Liz Morrison. Morrison laid the ball back to Neville who found Rachel Marr in front of goal. Marr got around a defender and pushed the ball wide of the keeper for Manly?s 2nd goal. After 75 minutes it?s 2-0 to Manly.
Manly now entrenched themselves in front of the Sutherland goal, hungrily waiting for their next opportunity. Sutherland were desperate in defence with Kathryn Pryer a standout. Sutherland were under heavy pressure and, as a result, errors were creeping into their game. Despite their two goal lead Manly?s shooting skills hadn?t improved with a number of players spraying shots in front of goal.
In the 89th minute Manly broke from defence with the ball finding Gill Foster who made yet another burst down the right flank. Her cross was superb, finding Bronte Bates at the back post. Bates controlled the ball, stepped back inside and buried the chance to extend the manly lead to 3-0.
In injury time a speculator from Sutherland saw Kelly Woods head the ball over the advancing Manly keeper for a consolation goal to the visitors. Final score was 3-1 to Manly United FC.
The home team were well deserved winners though their margin could have been much more convincing. Sutherland showed glimpses of ability, especially in the first half; glimpses that could bring promise of a better season than in 2009. Manly created plenty of scoring opportunities but one suspects that Coach Larry Bates will call an extra training session this week just to concentrate on shooting at goal!
Manly Captain Gill Foster stood out for the winners though every Manly player contributed on the day. Taryn Ruiz, Kathryn Pryer and replacement Melissa Danning did well for Sutherland. Both Captains; Gill Foster and Adriana Michaels saw positives for their sides from today?s match. Foster felt that Sutherland had put in a good effort, especially in the first half. Michaels conceded that Manly were too good on the day but hope that her team could build on today?s effort.
MANLY UNITED FC 3 (E. Bates 32m, R.Marr 75m, B.Bates 89m)
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 1 (K.Woods 90m)
In other matches Macarthur Rams opened their season with a solid 2-1 win over NWS Koalas at Lynwood Park.
A Renee Cartwright brace scored in the 33rd and 48th minutes was enough to see the home side collect the three points. The Koalas gave themselves a chance with a 77 minute reply from Anna McLean but Macarthur held on too strongly.
MACARTHUR RAMS 2 (R.Cartwright 33m/48m)
NWS KOALAS 1 (A.McLean 77m)
Defending Champions Illawarra Stingrays started their title defence with a strong 3-0 win over Sydney University at J.J.Kelly Park.
Ash Connor started her season as Illawarra?s number one ?go to girl? with a classy hat trick scored in the 12th, 28th and 32nd minutes. Sydney University tried hard but never recovered from the first half Stingrays onslaught.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 3 (A.Connor 12m, 28m, 32m)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 0
The match up at Marconi Stadium between the Marconi Stallions and Inter Lions proved to be a tight encounter.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 10th minute through former Marconi girl Catherine Cannuli. Try as they might though The Lions could not add to their tally. The Stallions tried hard and may have escaped with a share of the points but it wasn?t to be. They could take heart from their effort against last season?s Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Champions.
MARCONI STALLIONS 0
INTER LIONS 1 (C.Cannuli 10m)
On Saturday afternoon in South Nowra the visiting Western NSW Panthers did battle with their old foes Southern Branch in the season opener.
As always this was a tight match up with a 74th minute goal by M.Embelton of The Panthers proving to be the difference.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 1 (M.Embelton 74m)
A great weekend?s football to kick start this season?s Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. I?m already looking forward to next week!
-By Ross Anderson
