Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 18 Review

The Sydney University v Sutherland Sharks game will now be played on a date to be advised.
Out at Lynwood Park, however, the match between the fourth placed Macarthur Rams and fifth placed Western NSW Panthers began in bright sunshine.
The Rams were missing Stephanie Haim, Laura Donnelly and Claire Wash whilst The Panthers were without Sammie Woods.
The first ten minutes of the match saw Macarthur have most of the play but it was The Panthers who scored first. An excellent cross by Megan Embleton was misread by the Rams keeper and Gillian Rosconi pounced to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.  This had come totally against the run of play.
The Rams continued to push forward but, despite creating a number of opportunities, the home side were struggling to find an equaliser. The game itself was moving along at a snail?s pace; neither side had anything to gain from the match and that seemed reflected in the level of play on the field. Linda Dudek drifted a free kick across goal towards the head of Renee Cartwright but Panthers Lisa Matthews was on hand to head the ball away from the goal mouth.
Moments later the Panthers goal mouth resembled a pin ball machine as Macarthur seemed certain to score on four occasions with the ball rebounding off defenders on the goal line. Eventually the Western NSW girls cleared the ball to maintain their lead. The Rams may have been asking themselves ?How did we miss??
Similar scenes followed soon after with Sigrid Manty appearing to have the goal at her mercy only for a diving save by Panthers keeper Sarah Hunt who palmed the ball clear.
In the 29^th minute some luck finally went Rams way when Leila Braimah broke through to calmly slot away the equaliser. Sigrid Manty then broke away for Macarthur, supplying a superb ball to Linda Dudek who unfortunately pushed the ball wide of goal.
At the 34^th minute Macarthur were awarded a penalty after Renee Cartwright was brought down in the box. The Macarthur Captain picked herself up, dusted herself down and popped the penalty into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to Rams.
The Panthers were now battling to stay in the game. A long range shot by Holly Hays was their first threat on the Macarthur goal since their initial strike.  Macarthur was dominating at this stage. The Panthers, with players backing up from Reserve Grade and Under 16?s, were looking somewhat leg weary.
At half time the scoreboard saw Macarthur Rams in front 2-1.
Macarthur opened the second half on the attack. After a sublime cross Rams Captain Renee Cartwright was presented with a perfect opportunity to tap away the opening goal of the half only to hit Panthers defender Holly Hays.
Linda Dudek then produced a quality ball to send Sigrid Manty racing towards goal only for Manty to shoot wide of target.  Soon after, Linda Dudek also made a smart run at goal only for her shot to be comfortably saved by Panthers keeper Hunt. Lauren Ralston then shimmied her way through the defence but shot into the side netting. This seemed to be becoming a pattern for Macarthur as they tried to put the coup de grace on the battling Panthers.
Territorially it was all Macarthur with the Panthers unable to make any inroads. The Rams continued to have shooting practice. I?m sure that Rams Coach Matt Turvey would have been frustrated by his team?s inability to find the back of the net. Linda Dudek made another break forward but her targeting radar was awry as the ball flew left of goal.
The Panthers second half effort was much more encouraging but The Rams were proving the better side by some margin. They created many more opportunities which, but for wayward shooting, may have embarrassed Western NSW.
The Rams added brought more groans from their enthusiastic supporters in the 78^th minute when Linda Dudek and Renee Cartwright combined before Sigrid Manty blasted over the top of an open goal. The Panthers were managing the occasional sojourn up field with one seeing defender Jane Hanrahan shooting wide of goal.
Finally, in the 85^th minute, a flicked ball put Linda Dudek in front of goal. This time the Macarthur striker didn?t waste the opportunity, taking her chance with a comfortable finish. Macarthur now seemed safe at 3-1.
The full time score saw Rams run out 3-1 winners.
Macarthur Captain Renee Cartwrright described the game as ?lacklustre?. Cartwright said ?I?m glad that we got that one out of our system before the finals next week. It was a very ordinary game.?
Panthers Captain Holly Hays was a little more circumspect. She felt that her team had been dominated in the first half but had been more competitive after the break. That said, Hays described Macarthur as ?too classy? for her team on the day. Hays went on to say that The Panthers were pleased with their season; feeling that a couple of vital results that went against them probably cost the side a semi final spot.
With all due respect to both sides this wasn?t one of the season?s more exciting spectacles. Both teams seemed to struggle for enthusiasm, leading to some disjointed play. The Rams will need to click up a number of gears when they meet Inter Lions next weekend in the Minor Semi Final.
MACARTHUR RAMS             3 (L.Braimah 30m, R.Cartwright 35m, L.Dudek 86m)
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 1 (G.Rosconi 10m)
In other matches, at South Nowra the Illawarra Stingrays confirmed their second successive title with a 2-0 win over a gritty Southern Branch side.
The local team?s task was made much more difficult with the loss of strikers Laura Robertson and Katie French on the morning of the match.
With goals from Jessica Cooper (17m) and Caitlyn Danyi (31m) The Stingrays appeared to have the match and the championship in the title by half time. It says a lot for the new found enthusiasm of the young Southern Branch side that they kept the premiers scoreless in the second half but The Stingrays were much too good on the day.
Illawarra Coach Brett Wallin and his girls are to be congratulated on another stellar season. Now, can they add a second successive Grand Final to their list of achievements in 2010?
Southern Branch has struggled for much of the season but, in the last six weeks of the competition, they showed the type of form which justified their spot in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. What season 2011 will offer is anyone?s guess.
SOUTHERN BRANCH        0
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 2 (J.Cooper 17m, C.Danyi 31m)
At Concord Oval Inter Lions met the NWS Koalas.
The main motives in this match may well have been revenge and pride. With some ex Koalas numbered amongst the Inter first grade squad, plus the shock first round hammering that The Koalas had put on The Lions guaranteed everyone would be paying attention for the full ninety minutes.
The first half was a hard fought affair with Inter Lions looking much more creative but being able to convert their chances. Then, with half time only moments away, The Koalas struck when Jade Booty put a loose ball into the back of the net from a corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Another upset looked on the cards but Inter rallied after the break. In the 55^th minute Renee Tomkins equalised for The Lions before substitute Dani Calvi scored in the 68^th minute to put the locals in the lead for the first time in the match.
In the 70^th minute Inter?s Catherine Cannuli went on one of those dazzling runs that she?s renowned for to score her 20^th goal of the season. Katrina Kraft replied for Koalas in the 80^th minute but it was Inter?s day and they took the three competition points.
Inter Lions now move on to the first week of semi finals next Saturday with a clash against Macarthur Rams. NWS Koalas bow out for 2010 but will be looking to bounce back in next season.
INTER LIONS   3 (R.Tomkins 55m, D.Calvi 68m, C.Cannuli 70m)
NWS KOALAS 2 (J.Booty 44m, K.Kraft 80m)
Over at Cromer Park a morning ground inspection was required before the two senior grades could proceed. Manly United FC was keen to win well with a view to both the Club Championship result and the outside possibility of tipping Illawarra Stingrays out of the Premiers position.
The good ship Manly was rocked by an early Marconi salvo though when Helen Petinos scored for The Stallions in the 6^th minute.
Tiarn Powell replied for the home side two minutes later. The 1-1 scoreline remained up until half time with neither side able to take advantage of other scoring opportunities.
Immediately after the break Manly took the lead when Liz Morison scored. Laura Neville gave the Manly side some breathing space twelve minutes later when she scored before Manly Captain Gill Foster completed the scoring in the 67^th minute with her customary classy finish.
The Stallions tried hard but with players missing through injury and other football commitments they couldn?t match the Manly side. Manly?s focus now turns to the finals series next weekend when they meet Illawarra Stingrays in the Major Semi Final.
Marconi Stallions pack away the shinpads and boots for another season. Coach Rob Pearce will be hoping to keep his talented young squad together in 2011.
MANLY UNITED FC      4 (T.Powell8m, E.Morison 49m, L.Neville 61m, G.Foster 67m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 1 (H.Petinos 6m)
So the preliminaries are now over. Next weekend sees the start of the finals series with two great matches made up off four very talented teams. The Stingrays must be favourites to go back to back but they can?t afford to underestimate any of the other sides left in the race. The very consistent Manly United side, the enigmatic Inter Lions and the proud Macarthur Rams will all think they are in with a chance of tasting glory.
-By Ross Anderson