Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 14 Review
The Marconi Stallions made the trek to Bathurst on the weekend for their meeting with the Western NSW Panthers.
The details provided from this game were, unfortunately, incomplete. However, I can inform you that the match was a close one in which the Western NSW Panthers kept alive their finals hopes with a solid 3-2 win over the visitors.
The match was highlighted by a stunning hat trick by Sammie Woods of Western NSW Sammie is a Young Matilda and a player in the W League so she brings a wealth of class and experience to The Panthers line up. Marconi replied to The Panthers scoreline with goals of their own from their dynamic strike duo of Emma Stanbury and Helen Petinos but were unable to match the home side?s consistency on the day.
This was another near miss for the young Stallions but, added to last week?s success over NWS Koalas, The Panthers have made it obvious that they still consider themselves a chance for the finals in their debut season in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 3 (S.Woods 35m/44m/52m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 2 (E.Stanbury, H.Petinos)
At Concord Oval the obvious match of the round took place between Inter Lions and Macarthur Rams. This looked like being a tough match between two evenly matched sides. However, the match was pretty much dead and buried by half time.
Inter Lions came out of the blocks strongly and grabbed the lead inside the first two minutes through a goal by Brooke Starratt. The home side doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Caitlan Jarvie scored.
Macarthur were under the pump and struggling to stay afloat in the match with things only getting worse when Inter Captain Catherine Cannuli weighed in with a brace, including a sensational free kick, which left The Lions 4-0 leaders at half time.
After the break The Rams did what they could to salvage some pride but their game wasn?t going to plan. They did manage to keep Inter Lions scoreless for the second stanza before adding a consolation goal of their own from striker Stephanie Haim.
This was one of Inter Lions better performances of 2010. Some similar efforts in the coming weeks will see them emerge as serious title aspirants. The Rams title claims would have been dented by this result in a match where they battled to stay in touch. Coach Matt Turvey has a challenge ahead to resurrect his side?s confidence as they head to the finals.
INTER LIONS 4 (B.Starratt 2m, C.Jarvie 18m, C.Cannuli 31m/38m)
MACARTHUR RAMS 1 (S.Haim 87m)
At Cromer Park Southern Branch came crashing back to reality after their recent run of success, going down 6-0 to a rampant Many United FC side.
Manly were up 2-0 inside ten minutes with goals to Liz Morison (5m) and Tiarn Powell (8m).Southern Branch did their best to turn the tide but when Morison scored her second goal in the 22nd minute the writing was on the wall for the visitors.
After a goal to Gemma O?Toole in the 30th minute the Manly side went to oranges with a 4-0 break. Southern Branch didn?t give up in the second half but there was only ever going to be one result after the first half scoring spree by Manly.
Tiarn Powell (52m) and Pelay Ingles (67m) added to the home side?s advantage in the second half to cement Manly?s hold on second place in the competition.
Southern Branch were outplayed on the day but, given their heroics of the last few weeks, I?m sure they?d be satisfied with what the back end of the season is giving them. Manly are finals bound with a slight hope of still being premiers though it?s more likely they?ll take second place and do battle with Illawarra Stingrays in the major semi final.
MANLY UNITED FC 6 (E.Morison 5m/22m, T.Powell 8m/52m, G.O?Toole 30m, P.Ingles 67m)
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
ELS Hall Park provided the venue for an exciting encounter between NWS Koalas and Sydney University.
The visiting University side grabbed the lead in the 14th minute through a goal by who else but their talisman striker Katie Trebilcock. That advantage was cancelled out within 5 minutes though when Katrina Kraft scored.
The sides remained locked at 1-1 going into the half time break and came out eager to strike the decisive blow in the second half.
Opportunities came and went for both teams until Olivia Kennedy was on hand to give Sydney University the lead with her 68th minute strike. If the University girls thought they?d sealed the game they were to be sadly mistaken as the gritty Koalas side bounced back three minutes later with a goal by Dimarco to tie the match up again at 2-2.
Despite the best efforts of the two combatants to find a winner in the closing minutes it wasn?t to be with a share of the points being a just reward for the sides? endeavors.
Another competition point doesn?t go astray for either side with University now lurking in sixth place with hopes of finishing as high as fifth. That would be a good return for a side that started the season so poorly. The Koalas have also shown more positive signs in recent weeks after a slow start but planning for 2011 looks the best outcome for the two teams as this season winds to a close.
NWS KOALAS 2 (K.Kraft 19m, C.Dimarco 71m)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2 (K.Trebilcock 14m, O.Kennedy 68m)
Harrie Dening Centre hosted the clash between the Sutherland Sharks and Illawarra Stingrays.
Top of the table v bottom of the table doesn?t always make for a very level playing field. Illawarra have taken all before them this season and have amazing depth through their top two squads. Sutherland have struggled throughout the season and look destined to be left holding the wooden spoon.
Illawarra looked dominant and it was little surprise when they opened the scoring. Some fine work through midfield saw Talitha Kramer break down the left hand side of the field before firing in a pinpoint cross which found the head of an advancing Kristen Lee to score. A very ?pretty? goal which showed exactly what Illawarra are capable of.
Six minutes later Ash Connor burst into the box before calmly executing a one on one with the Sutherland keeper to give The Stingrays a 2-0 lead. Samantha Muscat, making the most of her return to the top grade in recent weeks, copied Connor?s effort in the 43rd minute to leave the Illawarra side with a 3-0 half time lead.
Sutherland started the second half well but in the 59th minute Zoe Redman of Illawarra made a searching run, cutting in from the left to bury her shot past the Sutherland custodian to extend her side?s lead to 4-0. Illawarra played some good football thereafter but were unable to add to their tally. Sutherland battled away but caused their more vaunted opponents few headaches.
Illawarra now have a couple of weeks to think about their next match, a blockbuster with second placed Manly United FC at J.J.Kelly Park. That should be a match worth going a long way to see.
Sutherland Sharks have four matches in which to offload the dreaded wooden spoon but are giving few hints as to how they might achieve that.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 0
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 4 (K.Lee 11m, A.Connor 17m, S.Muscat 43m, Z.Redman 59m)
The Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League now goes into a one week hiatus allowing the girls of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League to take centre stage. Round 15, on the 11th July, has some big matches on offer; matches that may well decide a few issues as far as the makeup of the finals is concerned. I?m glad I?ve got two weeks to prepare myself for the excitement!
See you at the ground in a fortnight.
Ross Anderson
