Arrive alive Women?s Super League Round 15 Review

It was a beautiful day for football in the battle of the Tigers at Lambert Park. The earlier matches on the day had been approached with plenty of fervour and things weren?t expected to be any different in first grade. The game started briskly with both sides moving the ball around stylishly.
The Northern variety of Tiger was pushing forward in a menacing manner, testing the APIA defence at every opportunity. Unfortunately for Northern they appeared to lack the finesse in front of goal to take advantage of their chances.
APIA went forward with a strong run from Alicia Cavanagh which eventually won the home side a corner. The ball came in low and hard with Cavanagh almost flicking it on for a goal before the Northern keeper intervened.
APIA started to play some enterprising football. The shot on goal eventually came after a fine run by Natalia Spirovski. She crossed to Kylie Meehan whose on target shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Northern keeper Rebecca Woodroof. The follow up corner saw a ball laid back to Frances Dimino of APIA on the edge of the box. She hit a solid shot straight to the keeper.
APIA were now creating the best chances with Alicia Cavanagh bringing down a high ball in the box only to shoot wide of goal. APIA was dominating the attacking exchanges and it was looking a matter of how soon that first goal may come.  Northern were keeping them honest though with a shot from Ally Meek sailing just over the bar after some good lead up work.
Northern repeated the dose soon after with Gabi Dal Pozzo releasing Ally Meek down the right flank. Meek cut back in towards goal, hitting a solid shot which was finger tipped clear by APIA keeper Karrinda Moodley.
Northern put together a good movement involving Meek and Dal Pozzo which saw the visitors charging on goal. Dal Pozzo?s cross caused some panic in the APIA box with the defence unable to clear the ball. It eventually fell to the feet of Georgie Eastoe who hammered the ball past the despairing dive of the APIA keeper to open the scoring.
Soon after, Northern won a free kick to the right of the APIA box. The pinpoint place kick came off an APIA defender to the feet of Georgie Eastoe who put the Northern girls 2-0 in front. APIA attempted to rally but couldn?t quite find the back of the net. Northern were playing with confidence.
The APIA girls counter attacked from a Northern raid, with Natalie Spirovski being sent into the clear before calmly slotting the ball past the Northern keeper. The half time whistle blew soon after leaving the half time score at 2-1 in favour of Northern Tigers.
The second half commenced with APIA stepping up a gear. They looked very threatening and Northern were forced to hold on grimly. APIA?s Kylie Meehan raced into clear but her shot at goal was wide of target. The goal just prior to half time seemed to have sprung APIA into action. The locals were rewarded for their enthusiasm when Kylie Meehan followed through on a handy cross to push the ball past the keeper for the equaliser.
Good play by Northern saw Rachel Lewis and Gabi Dal Pozzo combine well but Dal Pozzo was unable to get any power into her shot. APIA then moved the ball to the other end of the park; providing successive shots at goal, both of which flew high and wide.
APIA was certainly on top now. Northern?s best chance seemed likely to come on the break but the APIA defence appeared well marshalled after their shaky start. 
Northern managed to push forward with a goal mouth scramble of players almost turning into an opportunity. However the APIA defence was able to regroup and clear the danger.  Northern was starting to get a more even share of play but the APIA side had so many aces up their sleeve one wondered if the Northern girls could keep with the pace.
Northern?s best opportunity in this period came via a free kick on the left edge of the APIA box but Rachel Lewis?s free kick posed little threat to the APIA keeper. Replacement Britt Austin then made a fine run; her shot forcing a diving save from the APIA keeper.
A great solo burst by Natalie Spirovski saw her advance on the Northern goal but her shot skimmed across the face of goal. This was matched by a good effort by Ally Meek of Northern who also shot across the face of goal. Which team was going to grab their chance first?
APIA then won a free kick from a hand ball close to the Northern penalty area. Alicia Cavanagh stepped up to take the place kick but pushed the chance wide. Northern breathed a sigh of relief.
The final whistle blew with the two Tigers locked at 2-2; probably a fitting result for the effort put in by both teams.
Northern Tigers Captain, Rehanna Nathwani, was full of praise for her side?s performance.  She described her girls? efforts as ?awesome? and, whilst lamenting that the team couldn?t leave Lambert Park with all three points, was sure that everyone would be happy with what they?d put into the game. Rehanna also mentioned that it was good to see Georgia Eastoe amongst the goals.
APIA Captain Kylie Meehan thought that the game was a good, hard fought battle. ?It was an excellent comeback from our girls in the second half. Coming back from two goals down is always a big ask. The girls showed a lot of heart considering that we were backing up from a game on Thursday night? said Meehan.
This was an entertaining match. There was plenty of passion from both sides; on the field, on the benches and in the crowd! Both teams looked down and out at various stages but showed plenty of commitment to fight their way back into the contest. A draw, in the end, was probably a fitting result.
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS 2 (N.Spirovski, K.Meehan)
NORTHERN TIGERS             2 (G.Eastoe 2)
At Pluim Park two of the top four went into battle when the visiting Gladesville Ravens took on Central Coast Lightning.
Gladesville opened the scoring in the 14^th minute through a handy goal from Alyssa Hardie. The Ravens held this lead into half time in a spirited encounter.
After the break both teams worked hard but it was Central Coast Lightning who were rewarded with a goal from Potts before a penalty in the 70^th minute from Shorter proved to be the winner.
This was a tough, hard contest in which The Ravens came off second best both physically and on the scoreboard. They?ll battle to field their usual starting line up for their mid week catch up game against APIA. Central Coast Lightning, backing up form their own Thursday night catch up game against APIA, showed plenty of ticker to come through with a win.
The result certainly leaves second place on the ladder up for grabs with Ravens, APIA and Central Coast all in with a chance.
CENTRAL COAST LIGHTNING 2 (R.Potts 64m, E.Shorter 70m)
GLADESVILLE RAVENS          1 (A.Hardie 14m)
At David Phillips Field Eastern UNSW Lions played host to Lady Hawks.
Eastern UNSW were backing up from a midweek game against St George FC; a game where they came away 3-0 winners. Lady Hawks were attempting to stay in touch with the top four as they prayed for a miracle that might see them sneak into the finals.
I have little detail about the match other than Katherine Potts snatched the winner for Lady Hawks as they came away 1-0 victors. This is another close one that escaped the clutches of the Eastern UNSW side.
EASTERN UNSW LIONS 0
LADY HAWKS                 1 (K.Potts)
At St George Stadium Blacktown Spartans were the visitors as St George FC hoped for some improvement on their midweek loss to Eastern UNSW Lions.
Blacktown struck early though with form player Lauren Vosota pouncing on an opportunity in the fourth minute. In the 29^th minute Blacktown Captain Bronwyn Jarvis doubled the competition leader?s advantage; one they held into the half time break.
Seven minutes after the resumption Lauren Vosota completed her brace to effectively put the match to bed. Bronwyn Jarvis nabbed her second in the 68^th minute.
To St George FC?s credit they managed a consolation goal in the 81^st minute to Jessica Carosi.
Blacktown remains undefeated and, whilst others stumble, they continue to go from strength to strength.
ST GEORGE FC                  1 (J.Carosi 81m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS   4 (L.Vosota 4m/52m, B.Jarvis 29m/68m)
Yesterday was certainly a great day to be watching football and the girls of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League certainly gave spectators plenty of excitement. The finals draw ever nearer and this competition is still up for grabs. Blacktown are deserving of favouritism but the likes of Gladesville, APIA and Central Coast will all think that they are in with a chance of taking the title of champions by season?s end.
See you at a ground next weekend.
– Ross Anderson