Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 3 Review
Match of the Day Inter Lions v Manly United FC
A warm, sunny day greeted the players as they took the field for this clash of two of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League?s two undefeated teams.
Inter are the team pushing forward early but Manly also look dangerous breaking out of defence. The early signs are that this match will live up to its pre game build up. The inter attack is all about hard running and crisp passes but Manly are certainly up to the task defensively in the opening forays. Ex Manly star Caitlan Jarvie had the first shot on goal from outside the box but the ball lobbed safely into the arms of Manly keeper Rutlidge.
Cannuli, Loguidice and Calvi combined well in attack to win Inter a corner. Whilst the corner itself is not threatening the ball lobs back to Renee Tompkins whose powerful shot pings wide of the mark. After some good work by Liz Morrison for Manly, Emma Stewart crosses nicely from the left but Gill Foster couldn?t do much with the half opportunity she was offered.
Both teams were playing with plenty of enthusiasm but weren?t able to fashion a viable goal scoring opportunity. Emma Stewart was in the thick of the action for Manly whilst Caitlan Jarvie was a busy presence in the middle of the park for Inter.
In the 17th minute Manly were awarded a free kick. The ball from Liz Morrison found a Manly head in the penalty area but went backwards towards Bronte Bates, positioned at the edge of the area. Her shot was a classy effort; hitting the back of the net to give Manly united FC a 1-0 lead.
Manly were now pressing forward against a rattled Inter; winning a corner which saw a shot wide of goal from Emma Stewart.
Inter had a few tricks up their sleeves though and a touch of Catherine Cannuli magic saw her break the lone and offload to a flying Dani Calvi. Calvi turned her defender and swivelled back inside to slot away the equaliser for Inter Lions. After 23 minutes the teams were level at 1-1.
Inter now attacked with confidence. A fine run by Natasha Loguidice ended with a quality cross which Catherine Cannuli attempted to bicycle kick into goal. For once Cannuli?s magical touch didn?t work and she was left in a crumpled heap in front of goal as the ball whizzed past her.
Manly?s Liz Morrison made a nice run down the left flank but her cross to Emma Stewart saw the support offside allowing Inter to escape from any danger. The pace of the game seemed to be slowing however as the warm conditions took their toll on both sides. Some good Inter pressure saw Inter Lions win the ball through Caitlan Jarvie. The ensuing trademark distance throw in by Natasha Loguidice caused some headaches for the Manly defence before keeper Anne Rutlidge punched the ball clear. A follow up distance shot from Renee Tomkins then went wide.
Seven minutes before the break Catherine Cannuli attempted to shimmy thought the Manly defence. She was brought down just inside the box with referee Ariane Nemorin immediately pointing to the spot. Cannuli, after being treated by the team physio, duly converted the penalty to give Inter a 2-1 lead.
In the shadows of half time a long shot from Inter was fumbled by Rutlidge but a swooping Dani Calvi was unable to take advantage of the opportunity.
The half time score was 2-1 in favour of Inter Lions.
Inter dominated the opening moments of the second half but Manly created the best chance when Gill Foster put Emma Stewart into the clear. Stewart?s shot was partially blocked by Inter?s keeper Amanda Horafios before a scrambling defence cleared the ball.
Renee Tomkins then made a scything run into the Manly box before being dispossessed by the defence. Some good lead up work at the other end of the park by Louise Neville saw her shot fly over the bar but a deflection earned Manly a corner. From that play Inter were unable to clear the ball. A seemingly harmless shot from Manly was spilled by the Inter keeper with the ball then being crossed back across goal where Emma Stewart was on hand to bury the ball in the back of the net. After 56 minutes the scores were level again at 2-2.
Manly were on the attack again soon after when Louise Neville?s excellent pass saw Emma Stewart bursting into the Inter Lions box. Her shot beat the advancing Inter keeper but hit the post and bobbled across the face of goal. The defence cleared the ball just in the nick of time.
The chances were coming thick and fast for Manly now and soon after a misunderstanding between an Inter defender and their keeper presented Stewart with another chance to score. This time she took full advantage to shoot the visitors into a 3-2 lead, 15 minutes into the second half.
From the kick off Dani Calvi charged forward for Inter Lions but her shot on goal was knocked down by Manly keeper Anne Rutlidge.
Inter then went on the attack but, as Caitlan Jarvie hovered on the edge of the box, a Manly defender dispossessed her of the ball. An immediate long ball by Manly over the defence saw Emma Stewart win the race to the ball, cut back into the box and calmly slot past the keeper to extend Manly?s lead to 4-2 in the 67th minute. It was now a long way back for the locals.
Inter tried to get fight their way back into the game but their passes weren?t sticking as a spirited Manly side took charge. A fine dash through the middle of the park by Gill Foster went unrewarded but reflected Manly?s dominance.
Inter managed to win a corner but it hooked like one of my five irons. Racing up the other end of the field Emma Stewart again threatened but lost the ball as she closed on goal.
Inter then attacked, with Brooke Starratt making a fine run. Her cross found Catherine Cannuli in front of goal but the Inter Captain?s header sailed over the bar. Play now travelled from end to end; not something that was helping Inter?s hopes of a comeback. They needed to dominate possession but it wasn?t happening. The frustration was starting to show as Inter were being outplayed by the enthusiastic Manly side.
Brooke Starratt continued to look dangerous for Inter Lions but her efforts were going unrewarded. Moore good work by the Inter number six saw her set up Caitlan Jarvie who looked likely to score before shooting wide. To Inter?s dismay Manly then raced straight up the other end of the field to win a corner which keeper Horafios was forced to punch over the bar. The follow up corner saw a flick of the head by Liz Morrison carry enough power for the ball to elude the keeper and give Manly their fifth goal of the afternoon. There were only two minutes remaining and this was the icing atop the cake for a rampant Manly team.
Referee Nemorin soon after blew the final whistle with Manly United FC running out convincing 5-2 winners.
A happy but exhausted Manly Captain, Gill Foster, felt that everyone in her side had played well. ?We can hold our heads high in coming away with a winner here. Inter are a very good side? said Foster. Foster also gave praise to the younger members of the squad who she said had risen to the occasion when called upon in the second half. ?We have good depth in our squad? said Foster.
Inter Lions Captain Catherine Cannuli was not happy with her team?s second half performance. Cannuli felt that her side?s fitness had been found wanting. ?Manly kept coming at us in the second half and we couldn?t cope? said Cannuli. ?They wanted it more than us?.
This was a good game of football. Manly looked in trouble at the half time break but lifted in the second half to score an excellent win. I wouldn?t write Inter Lions off on today?s effort but they now know exactly what?s required of them if they hope to be contenders in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
INTER LIONS 2 (D.Calvi 23m, C. Cannuli 38m)
MANLY UNITED FC 5 (B.Bates 17m, E.Stewart 56m/60m/67m, L.Morrison 86m)
At J.J.Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays were stung by a 19th minute goal for Koalas by Anna McLean. It took the 2009 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Champions until 2 minutes before half time to equalise through the inspirational Michelle Carney.
Nine minutes after half time Hailey Kerrigan broke the deadlock by putting Illawarra up 2-1. Ash Connor then continued her rich vein of goal scoring form with a third Stingrays goal in the 73rd minute. That was enough to secure the points for the home side though Evelyn Chronis snagged a consolation goal for the Koalas in injury time.
Overall The Stingrays were just a little too good on the day in what was quite a competitive game. Their title defence is certainly right on track with three wins from three starts.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 3 (M.Carney 43m, H.Kerrigan 54m, A.Connor 73m)
NWS KOALAS 2 (A.McLean 19m, E.Chronis 90m)
In Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers conceded an early goal to the visiting Sydney University side. The 4th minute strike by Querin gave University the lead for nine minutes until Kira Churchland equalised for The Panthers.
In the 27th minute Callaghan added a second for Western NSW , giving them a 2-1 lead going into the half time break. Within three minutes of the resumption The Panthers scored again through Megan Embelton.
Megan McFarland rounded out the scoring for the home side in the 73rd minute to give The Panthers a solid 4-1 win for their first success in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
The win gives Western NSW a two from three record; a promising start to their first season in the big time. Sydney University are still in search of their first competition points and face Inter Lions next weekend.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 4 (K.Churchland 13m, C. Callaghan 27m, M.Kembelton 48m, M.McFarland 73m)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1 (A.Querin 4m)
At Seymour Shaw Park the Sutherland Sharks hosted the Macarthur Rams
The Rams scored first through Braimah-Mahama. The Sharks then lost their keeper Bianca Alchi when she was left bloodied and dazed after taking the full brunt of a Rams shot in the face.
After the break, a Stephanie Haim brace in the 50th and 62nd minutes was followed by a Laura Donnelly goal in the 85th minute saw Macarthur run out comfortable winners.
Sutherland?s inability to score goals continues you to be a problem but obviously stemming the flow of goals in the other direction is an issue also. There are a few positive signs for the Shire girls but a long season still awaits them unless they can lift their standard.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 0
MACARTHUR RAMS 4 (L.Braimah-Mahama 18m, S.Haim 50m/62m, L.Donnelly 85m)
In the final match for review the Marconi Stallions travelled to Nowra to meet Southern Branch.
The fast improving Marconi youngsters dealt out a football lesson to the locals; hitting double figures in an easy 10-1 win.
By half time The Stallions had run to a 4-1 lead and, after the break, simply ran away with the match. A Helen Petinos hat trick, four goals from Stanbury and another hat trick to O?Reilly made up the Marconi haul; the club?s youth policy for the 2010 season is obviously reaping some dividends. There are some very promising players in this Stallions line up. This bunch of youngsters may yet have a say in the finals of the 2010 competition.
Southern Branch are certainly struggling at the moment. This defeat will bite hard. There could be some tough weeks ahead.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 1 (N.Constable 23m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 10 (H.Petinos 4m/42m/55m, E.Stanbury 9m/38m/76m/83m, E.O?Reilly 63m/72m/90m)
So, we were treated to a weekend with plenty of goals and loads of excitement. The Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League is certainly heating up. We still have two undefeated sides; Illawarra Stingrays and Manly United FC , but there are other sides who are also staking a claim. There?s a long way to go in 2010 but there?s plenty to look forward to.
See you next week!
-By Ross Anderson
