NSW Women?s Premier League Round 1 Review

Forty one goals were scored in the six matches with a number of lopsided results as championship contenders flexed their muscles. Newcomers Blacktown Spartans and Central Coast FC found the going tough whilst defending champions, Illawarra Stingrays, opened the season with the familiar taste of victory. Day one dawned very warm and sunny; testing conditions for all players.
I ventured out to Marconi Stadium where last season?s Women?s Super League Grand Final winners, Central Coast FC, faced the Marconi Stallions. The Stallions fielded a new look side; a number of their promising young players were now joined by some experienced campaigners in what looked a formidable combination.
The early skirmishes of the match were fairly even but Marconi gradually started to set the pace, creating the first chance of the match when Jessica Coates fired a ball across the Central Coast goalmouth where Evelyn Chronis blasted over the crossbar. In the eighth minute Jessica Coates made another nice run before supplying Helen Petinos with a chance to shoot at goal. The Central Coast keeper failed to hold the shot, leaving Evelyn Chronis the opportunity to tap away the opening goal.  The Stallions were on their way as they grabbed the early lead.
Marconi now began to dominate with some expansive football. The Stallions continued to push forward. Renee Tomkins ran through midfield before sending a nice pass for Evelyn Chronis to break down the right flank. Chronis?s centre to Samantha Muscat was somehow saved by Central Coast keeper Samantha Butler. A similar break saw Muscat once again break into a goal scoring position only to see her shot blast high over goal.
Marconi played very positive football as their midfield controlled the game. However, their finishing left something to be desired.
In the 18^th minute Marconi won a corner which Helen Petinos zeroed into the goal mouth. Trudy Camilleri was on hand to volley the ball into the right corner of the goal. Marconi had taken a 2-0 lead with the promise of more to come. More strong attacking play followed leading to an Evelyn Chronis?s shot being stopped by a defender.
Disaster then struck for Marconi when Lindsay Glohe gave away a spot kick after bringing down a Central Coast player just inside the penalty area. Central Coast?s Siahn Bozanic stepped up to convert in style cutting Marconi?s lead to 2-1.
This setback proved only a momentary speed hump in Marconi?s progress. At the 28 minute mark Jessica Coates put on a superb ball to put Helen Petinos in the open. Petinos?s shot hit the cross bar before bouncing back to the feet of Evelyn Chronis. The former Koalas star placed her shot nicely to take her second goal. Marconi had now extended their lead to 3-1. Marconi were in the ascendancy; dominating possession and making a tired defence chase the ball. Another scoring opportunity came for Renee Tomkins but the tall midfielder headed tamely to the keeper. Four minutes from the break confusion in the Central Coast defence saw the goalkeeper dispossessed of the ball by Samantha Muscat who managed to turn and slot the ball into the net off the post.  Marconi now led 4-1.
In the minutes prior to the break Jessica Coates, who in my opinion had been the player of the match up to this point, switched to the right of midfield where she made yet another break. Coates passed to Helen Petinos, positioned in front of goal. Petinos failed to take advantage of the service though, firing over the crossbar. Lindsay Glohe then burst down the left hand side of the field. Her centre to Petinos saw the young striker cramped for room by the defence and unable to create a meaningful shot.
Trudy Camilleri then made a fine run to the line, releasing Petinos with a classy through ball. This time Petinos was denied by a good save form Central Coast keeper Samantha Butler. A long ball from Glohe followed, which saw Petinos flying down the sideline. Her shot hit the crossbar, rebounding to Jessica Coates whose header was brilliantly saved by keeper Butler.
The Stallions maintained their 4-1 advantage into half time. The break couldn?t have come quickly enough for Central Coast who were looking out on their feet after a testing first half.
The second half commenced with Central Coast needing to lift considerably to avoid a crushing first up defeat. Within three minutes of the restart Marconi had created two half chances; both involving the outstanding Jessica Coates. But it was to be Samantha Muscat who, in the 49^th minute, found the back of the net with a scything run into the box before placing the ball neatly to the right of the keeper. Marconi had moved to a 5-1 lead with the scoreline looking as if it could become an embarrassment for the visitors.
Marconi remained on the attack with Helen Petinos once again shooting over the bar. Petinos had had no luck with her radar up to this point; being denied a bag of goals through errant shooting. Her time would come however.
The Marconi girls now appeared to be taking it in turns to shoot for goal. Coach Rob Pearce decide to share the fun around, replacing Evelyn Chronis and Samantha Muscat with Joanne Saliba and Filiz Urkanci. Renee Tomkins now moved forward into an attacking role. Urkanci had her first opportunity within moments of taking the field but her solidly hit shot was well held by the keeper.
A fine ball by Jodie Bain left Jessica Coates flying down the line with her cross being met on the volley by Filiz Urkanci. Her shot glanced off to the side, being cleared by the defence. But The Stallions weren?t to be denied with some good follow up play being rewarded with a Renee Tomkins strike which left the score 6 -1 to Marconi at the 61^st minute mark.
Trudy Camilleri was playing puppet master in midfield, creating a plethora of chances for her supports.
The match had become a series of shooting drills for Marconi with Central Coast unable to stem the attacking tide. On the few occasions that Central Coast FC did move forward the Stallions defence look very self assured, countering anything that their opponents had to offer. Marconi exploited every weakness they could find in the stuttering Central Coast FC backline.
Central Coast finally decided to look to the bench in an effort to gain some respite. Dashwood and Hudson joined the fray, replacing Johnson and Ball.
In the 74^th minute Central Coast won a free kick which was cleared from just outside the box by the Marconi defence. Renee Tomkins raced forward before passing on to Helen Petinos who charged into the box before beating the keeper with a good strike. The scoreline was now 7-1 to Marconi with double figures looking a formality.
Tomkins turned provider again for Petinos five minutes later, turning her defender, laying the ball through for the youthful striker who slammed in goal number eight for Marconi. Rob Pearce then replaced Jessica Coates with Kate McPherson. Coates had been provided a sizzling performance for her side and earned a warm round of applause from the Marconi faithful.
The Stallions continued to raid away: Petinos shooting wide and Tomkins hitting the post. In the 85^th minute Camilleri and Petinos combined to snare Petinos her hat trick. Marconi were now out to a 9-1 lead.
Tomkins then provided a superb ball for Feliz Urkanci whose classy finish saw Marconi break into double figures. Marie Svinos followed up with a great through ball which left us with the familiar sight of Helen Petinos advancing on goal. The Marconi striker?s earlier misses were long forgotten as she put away her fourth goal of the afternoon to leave Marconi with an 11-1 lead in the shadows of full time.
Mercifully for a well beaten Central Coast side, the referee blew the final whistle moments later to leave Marconi 11-1 winners.  
Marconi Captain Jodie Bain was very pleased with her side?s performance under difficult conditions. Bain said that The Stallions trip to the Melissa Barbieri Challenge in Melbourne had set the side up well for the season opener; building strong team morale as well as valuable match practice. The Captain gave special mention to the strength of Renee Tomkins and Trudy Camilleri in the middle of the park.
The Central Coast side were understandably downcast after the match. Team Manager Chris Tatum said that the team would continue to think positive. ?The next game is another game? said Tatum. ?The girls will do their best every week.?
Marconi were much too good on the day. Their off season signings performed brilliantly, as did their young stars like Coates, Petinos, Svinos and Urkanci. This looks like a serious football team.
Central Coast FC will endure a tough season on this display but I?m sure that they?ll work hard to turn things around in the coming weeks.
Marconi Stallions 11 (H.Petinos 74/79/85/87m, S.Muscat 41/49m, E.Chronis 8/28m, T.Camilleri 18m, R.Tomkins 61m, F.Urkanci 86m)
Central Coast FC 1 (S.Bozanic 21m)
In Bathurst the Football NSW Women?s Premier League?s defending Premiers, Illawarra Stingrays, were given a solid test by the Western NSW Panthers.
Tenealle Hay opened the scoring for the visitors in the 31^st minute. USA import Kim Bonilla, whose clearance to play came through in the nick of time, scored a brace with goals in the 46^th and 53^rd minutes to complete a 3-0 scoreline for Illawarra.
The Stingrays still have one or two injury concerns and, with a number of new faces coming into the squad, are still working their way into the season. They won?t give up their title without one hell of a fight.
The Panthers gave an encouraging performance which should give them plenty to build on as the season progresses.
Western NSW Panthers  0
Illawarra Stingrays 3 (T.Hay 31m, K.Bonilla 46/53m)
The NSW Koalas started 2011 in style with a convincing 5-0 win over last season?s Football NSW Women?s Super League Premiers, Blacktown Spartans.
The Koalas had opened up a 2-0 lead by half time with goals to Seaman (31m) and Damas (37m). Any hope of a Spartans revival in the second half were dashed by Anna Mclean?s 66^th minute strike before Seaman (89m) and Brown (90m) added late goals to blow out the scoreline.
Blacktown tried hard but The Koalas had all the answers on the day.
Blacktown Spartans 0
NWS Koalas 5 (J.Seaman 31/89m, N.Damas 37m, A.McLean 66m, M.Brown 90m)
In Nowra Manly United FC got their season off and running with a sparkling 9-0 win over Southern Branch.
After a Neville goal in only the 2^nd minute, Manly built a 3-0 lead by half time with additional strikes from Kent and Morison. After the break Southern had no answer to the Manly juggernaut as the visitors crunched home another six goals in a dominant performance.
On this display manly will once again challenge for the finals but Southern Branch will hope the scoreline doesn?t reflect what?s going to happen to their 2011 season.
Southern Branch 0
Manly United FC 9 (A.Kent 9/40m, E.Morison 44/66m, S.Roger 49/85m, L.Neville 2m, T.Baker 80m, P.Ingles 87m)
At Hensley Athletic Field another scoreboard attendant suffered meltdown as the Sydney university side went on a goal scoring rampage against a hapless Sutherland Shire.
Things were quite on the goal scoring front until Mahoney?s 32nd minute strike but 2010 Platinum Medal Winner Olivia Kennedy extended the lead four minutes later. Within touching distance of half time Wilson put away University?s third goal to leave them 3-0 leaders at the break.
After Clifford?s opening goal of the second half in the 56^th minute the home side added goals from Mahoney (61m), Wilson (77m/87m), and Mclean (79m). Sutherland had no answer to the onslaught in an effort that will send Coach Michael Michael back to the drawing board.
Sydney University are everyone?s tip as the big movers in this season?s competition. A result like this only reinforces that train of though.
Sydney University 8 (E. Wilson 41/77/87m, L.Mahoney 32/61m, O.Kennedy 36m, A.Clifford 56m, L.McLean 79m)
Sutherland Shire 0
At Lynwood Park two of last season?s semi finalists, Inter Lions and Macarthur Rams, were faced with a hot afternoon, better suited to surfing rather than football. Inter Lions started brightly but were stifled by a tendency to sneak offside. The visitors rued these wasted opportunities when Macarthur Rams opened the scoring with a great goal by youngster Maddison Strutt in the 11^th minute.
Inter looked like equalizing soon after when Danielle Calvi flew past defenders only to put her shot over the crossbar. Two brilliant saves by Inter keeper Amanda Horafios denied Rams the opportunity to extend their lead. These saves proved timely when, in the 31^st minute, Heidi Makrillos slammed the ball in the back of the net for Inter Lions to equalise.
With 5 minutes left in the 1^st half, Makrillos was again was in the mix putting a beautiful ball across for Nadia Hamson. The ball appeared to be caught over the goal line by the Rams keeper. After a discussion between the referee and her assistant a goal was awarded leaving Inter leading 2-1 at the break.
Both sides came out hard in the 2^nd half, with both keepers being forced to come up with some great saves to deny the opposition. Inter continued to have difficulty staying on side, having a goal disallowed after an offside call.
Macarthur always have a ?never say die? attitude and the home side got the opportunity to equalize in the 61^st minute when a foul saw The Rams awarded a penalty. Claire Walsh slotted the spot kick away to make the score 2-2. Both teams battled hard in the remaining time but neither could find the winner with the final score being 2-2.
The result was probably a fair reflection of a game which both sides deserved to take something from.
Macarthur Rams 2(M.Strutt 11m, C.Walsh 61m)
Inter Lions 2 (H.Makrillos 31m, N.Hamson 40m)
So, if goals are what football is all about fans had plenty to please them from the weekend?s round of football.  The number of blowout results will be worrying sign for many and is a trend all will be hoping are a first round mirage. However, it?s obvious that there are a few teams in the competition are going to struggle to maintain their competitiveness as the season progresses. Nonetheless, there appear to be some new challengers to the perennial finalists and that can only be a good prospect.
I look forward to seeing you all at the game next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson