Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 11 Review

The Inter Lions v Sutherland Sharks and Sydney University v Manly United FC games fell victim to these conditions with the pitches at Concord Oval and Garside Park considered unplayable.  
Despite the swathe wet weather cut through our list of football fixtures Lynwood Park recovered from its drenching to enable the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League clash between Macarthur Rams and Marconi Stallions to go ahead.
The youthful Marconi outfit were looking to put the lie to their performance against Inter Lions last Sunday where they took a 6-1 pummelling. The Rams were out to consolidate third place on the competition ladder and prove that they were still viable title aspirants. Oh, and there was a touch of the revenge factor for Macarthur after what they saw as an unlucky loss to Marconi in their round one encounter.
Macarthur went forward from the kick off with a nice ball from Lauren Ralston putting Linda Dudek into space. Dudek won a corner for the home side but Sigrid Manty?s execution of same caused Marconi few problems.  Marconi moved the ball quickly in the early stages but a few loose passes stifled their attempts to create pressure.
The Rams were the team actually finding field position in the opening ten minutes yet they hadn?t been able to create a genuine shot on goal. Marconi weren?t able to fashion a chance either as both sides tried to take to gather some momentum. The Stallions strength certainly appeared to be their ability to break from defence where the speed of their game was shown to its best advantage.
In the 16^th minute Laura Donnelly served up a superb pass to release Sigrid Manty. The Macarthur flanker controlled the ball well before dribbling around Marconi keeper Courtney Halpin to slot away the opening goal.
Marconi attacked quickly from the resumption with striker Emma Stanbury looking very dangerous before she was stopped by a classic last ditch tackle by Claire Walsh.
The game had a period where play revolved around the middle third of the park. Macarthur were the team making the most forays forward with Laura Donnelly, Sigrid Manty and Linda Dudek prominent in all the Rams attacking ventures. A Rams corner was perfectly placed by Dudek but Donnelly?s final stab at goal was deflected clear.
Marconi displayed some mettle though with Liz O?Reilly putting Emma Stanbury clear. Stanbury?s cross found Helen Petinos but the diminutive Marconi attacker?s shot flew straight to Rams keeper Grigg. Stanbury was then put into the open by Jess Coates. The Marconi striker looked certain to score but Michelle Grigg was equal to the challenge, bringing off a fine save to maintain her side?s advantage.
The Rams weren?t idle at the other end of the park either with Renee Cartwright drifting to the edge of the box before firing a looping shot which keeper Halpin leapt to tip into the cross bar. Both keepers were obviously at the top of their game today.
Emma Stanbury was causing the Macarthur defence plenty of anxious moments. At this point some fine defensive moments from Claire Walsh and Lauren Ralston were all that had stood between the lanky Marconi striker and a possible brace of goals. Some fine play from Liz O?Reilly and Jess Coates   showed the danger that The Stallions could create if given any freedom by the Macarthur defence.
The half time whistle blew with Macarthur holding a 1-0 lead.
From the second half kick off Macarthur charged forward with Sigrid Manty breaking down the right flank. Her cross found Stephanie Haim at the back post but her volleyed shot flew into the side netting.  Marconi returned serve with Liz O?Reilly and Emma Stanbury almost creating a chance only to be denied by some desperate Macarthur defence.
Marconi attempted to turn up the pressure themselves with a resulting distance shot from Filiz Urkanci went over goal. More good play from The Stallions saw Emma Stanbury control and turn beautifully in front of goal, leaving her one on one with keeper Grigg. Inexplicably Stanbury shot wide of goal. The 58^th minute saw Marconi rewarded though with Helen Petinos being found open to slot away a classy goal.
At 1-1 it looked game on but Sigrid Manty repeated her break from the kick off to burst down the flank. Once again she found Stephanie Haim at the back post. This time Haim made no mistake, restoring The Rams lead within 60 seconds! Macarthur were now up 2-1
Macarthur now appeared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, with chances to Haim and Dudek coming in quick succession. Unfortunately for Macarthur neither found the mark. The home side seemed to have taken some umbrage to Marconi?s earlier equaliser and now sort to put the visitor?s to the sword.
Marconi worked to consolidate but Macarthur was the team in ascendancy. A corner won by Stephanie Haim caused more anxious moments for the Marconi defence but keeper Halpin closed things down for The Stallions.  After some fancy footwork Stephanie Haim produced a great pass for Leesa Thomson whose cross almost brought a goal for Claire Walsh ghosting in at the far post. Successive corners were wasted by Macarthur before Marconi?s break from defence was halted by an injury suffered by Liz O?Reilly from a crunching Elisha Williams tackle.
A Marconi long ball then saw Emma Stanbury burst into the clear. As she looked likely to race towards goal she was felled by Elisha Williams. The tackle brought a red card from the referee as Williams was deemed to be the last line of defence. The resulting free kick brought more goalkeeping heroics from Rams custodian Michelle Grigg.
Marconi Coach Rob Pearce then made his first substitution with Doris Osman replacing Sam Proctor. Just prior Emma Stanbury had earned herself a yellow card for dissent after disagreeing with a refereeing decision.  Things had become fairly feisty out in the middle as both sides fought hard to grab the points. Another good save by Michelle Grigg brought a Marconi corner but the statuesque Rams keeper rose above the pack to secure the incoming missile.
Marconi then broke from defence with Jess Coates making a slashing run down the left side of the field. However, Coates couldn?t take advantage of all her good work, shooting well wide of target. Linda Dudek was replaced soon after by Sheridan Kuiper.
Marconi fought hard to find that all important equaliser but Macarthur defended strongly. The home side?s final substitution saw Nicole Winley make way for Madison Strutt.
A final tackle from Lauren Ralston to close down a Marconi attacking raid was enough to see Macarthur home with final score being a 2-1 win to The Rams.
Rams Captain Renee Cartwright commented that, whilst this was not her sides best performance Macarthur had show grit and determination to come away with the competition points. ?Marconi is a young, talented team who never give up? said Cartwright.  ?I thought our defence stood really strong today, especially after Elisha was red carded. Despite having to rearrange the line up the girls did well? said Cartwright.
Marconi Captain Kyrra Rawnsley was obviously disappointed to lose another close one. ?We need to learn to consolidate after scoring? said Rawnsley.  ?I felt that we dominated but we didn?t take our chances. It?s frustrating when we waste opportunities.?
Macarthur probably deserved to win on the day. Marconi is a side for the future but at the moment they are a little too enthusiastic for their own good. They look like the need an old ?hard head? or two who can steady the ship and rein the girls in when the pace of the game needs to be more controlled. Macarthur though are in the title hunt now and will only get better.
MACARTHUR RAMS    2 (S.Manty 16m, S.Haim 59m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 1 (H.Petinos 58m)
At J.J.Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays took on Western NSW Panthers.
Things were tight early but in the 13^th minute Kira Churchland grabbed the lead for the visitors with a well taken goal. The Panthers joy was short lived though with Stingrays stalwart Michelle Carney equalising just one minute later.
Carney pounced again in the 38^th minute to give her side a 2-1 lead at the break.
After half time The Stingrays seemed to lift the tempo. Trudy Camilleri extended the home side?s lead to 3-1 in the 59^th minute. Carney completed her hat trick eight minutes later before Sam Muscat finished Illawarra?s scoring spree with their fifth goal in the 71^st minute.
Gabrielle Lane saved some face for The Panthers with the final goal of the game in the 83^rd minute.
Illawarra showed all their championship qualities once again. Who else but Michelle Carney would lead The Stingrays in their goal scoring routine; Carney is in so many ways the heart and soul of this unbeaten team.
The Panthers tried hard but, unfortunately, they can?t quite match it with the top two or three sides in the league. Their finals chances aren?t yet buried though so beware the wounded Panther in the remaining rounds of the competition.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS       5 (M.Carney 14m/38m/67m, T.Camilleri 59m, S,Muscat 71m)
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 2 (K.Churchland 13m, G.Lane 83m)
In South Nowra Southern Branch played host to the NWS Koalas.
The first 14 minutes of the game were scoreless but within two minutes Southern Branch?s hopes appeared to be dashed. Firstly, in the 15^th minute, Anna McLean scored a trademark goal followed in the 17^th minute by another Koalas strike by Clare Tyson.
Adrijana Cirjak added a third Koalas goal in the 33^rd minute before Mclean completed her brace in the 40^th minute to leave NWS with a 4-0 half time lead.
A second half resurgence from Southern Branch failed to eventuate. Borg scored for Koalas four minutes after the resumption before Evelyn Chronis scored a double with goals in the 75^th and 87^th minutes. The final whistle saved Southern Branch any further embarrassment but the 7-0 scoreline didn?t look pretty.
The Koalas were happy to snare another three valuable competition points. Southern Branch?s dismal season continues. The light at the end of the tunnel, at this stage at least, is appearing to be a mirage. Hopefully Southern?s luck will take a turn for the better sooner rather than later.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
NWS KOALAS             7 (A.McLean 15m/40m, C.Tyson 17m, A.Cirjak 33m, D.Borg 49m, E.Chronis 75m/87m)
There are plenty of catch up games now clogging up the works in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. The next few weeks will see some teams with very busy schedules. Depth will be tested and coaches will have their fingers crossed that injuries don?t make things even more complicated.
The top three continue to set a blistering pace though. Illawarra Stingrays and Manly United FC still appear the teams to beat but there?s plenty of water to pass under the bridge before the finals. Maybe there?s a surprise or two still awaiting us as Round 2 continues.
See you next week.
-By Ross Anderson