NSW Women?s Premier League Round 3 Review
Fans of all clubs were eager to see how their teams would fare this week after some decidedly lopsided results in Round 1 of the competition.
A number of sides showed their determination by turning around their form to supply some surprise results.
The Match of the Day was at Concord Oval where the 2010 Grand Finalists, Illawarra Stingrays and Inter Lions, renewed their growing rivalry.
The Inter Lions side had a distinctly different look about it to that 2010 Grand Final Day at Balls Paddock whilst The Stingrays, despite the loss of some players in the off season, looked as dangerous as ever. The match kicked off under cloudy skies which bought some early light showers that had the supporters, and the respective benches, scurrying for cover.
One of Illawarra?s favourite daughters, Michelle Heyman, was back in Stingrays colours after a series of successful seasons in the W League. Her presence took only three minutes to have an effect when she followed through a long ball to harass Inter keeper Amanda Horafios, keep the ball alive and bring the defence into error. The ball eventually fell to the feet of Ash Connor, playing her first match back from injury, who calmly tapped away her first goal of the season.
Within two minutes The Lions were in strife again with Michelle Carney finishing off some good lead up work with a solid finish. Five minutes gone and the Stingrays had already established a 2-0 lead.
Inter had been under pressure from the kick off so it was some relief when they won a free kick some 30 metres from the Illawarra goal. Heidi Makrillos stepped up to take the place kick but, whilst her shot had power, the direction was astray. The home side had lost their structure under fire from the talented Illawarra squad and the situation was looking dire as the Stingrays pushed forward.
Inter eventually started to settle into the game, though still struggling to keep the Stingrays under control. Most of the play was heading towards the home team?s goal as Connor, Heyman, Carney, Kramer and Bonilla exerted plenty of pressure. When Inter did push forward they were turning possession over before they could gather any attacking momentum.
In the 18th minute Inter won a free kick on the edge of the box but the opportunity was wasted when Heidi Makrillos?s kick sailed between the rugby posts rather than into the back of the net.
Illawarra?s Talitha Kramer continued to make inroads down the right flank, exposing the Inter defence. Kramer won her side a corner which saw a powerful shot from Bonilla cleared but then knocked back to the feet of Heyman who powered the ball over the bar.
Makrillos was trying to inspire her Inter team mates but she couldn?t be everywhere. Natasha LoGuidice?s best work was being done in defence rather than attack as Inter battled to stay in the game. Inter keeper Amanda Horafios was earning her money as the Stingrays defence came at her in waves.
Inter finally started to build some territorial inroads with a shot from Makrillos winning them a corner. However, despite a good quality ball into the goal mouth, the Lions could make nothing of this chance.
In the 32nd minute another Stingrays attack saw Inter struggling to clear the ball. A call of ?hand ball? went up as an Inter defender had the ball rebound onto her arm but this was hardly a deliberate act and play was allowed to proceed.
Some fine combination between the Illawarra strikers, Heyman and Connor, cut open the Inter defence but Connor?s stab at goal flew over the bar. Inter pushed the play back up field with former Koala Dani Calvi, into the game as an early replacement Kyrra Rawnsley, making herself a menace to the defence. Inter managed to force Stingray?s keeper Dimi Poulos into a finger tip save. The resulting corner was cleared by the defence, defusing any chance of an early Inter revival.
Inter were tending to play a narrow corridor whilst sections of the home crowd implored them to spread the ball. Every time Inter started to look the slightest bit comfortable Illawarra swung into attack but the homes side were able to hold the half time scoreline to 2-0 as the sides headed for the sheds.
The Stingrays came out of the blocks quickly after the break with Michelle Heyman almost racing straight through from the kick off. The Inter girls took a couple of minutes to get back into stride after the interval but, when they did, they worked hard to go forward. Illawarra were controlling the middle of the park through Carney and Hay, making it tough for Inter to create any continuity.
Michelle Heyman had a dangerous look about her, making another 50 metre dash before being dispossessed with the Inter goal seemingly at her mercy. A long ball into the box by Anne Mayo found the head of Heyman in the 55th minute but, with the keeper beaten, the defence managed to clear the ball as it appeared headed for goal.
Calvi and Makrillos then combined for Inter, freeing the latter in front of goal but her shot blasted over the target. This passage of play did show though what Inter were capable of if given the room.
Heyman then pushed a pass forward to release Ash Connor who turned Temika Wearing before letting loose with a sizzling shot which hit the cross bar, bouncing to the feet of Michelle Carney. Carney looked certain to score but goalkeeping heroics from Amanda Horafios saved the day for Inter as the ball trickled over the touch line for a goal kick. Inter then ran the ball to the opposite end of the park with Dani Calvi almost losing her defender but being unable to shoot before being felled. Sideline calls for a penalty went unheeded; rightly so from where your reporter was sitting.
Inter had managed to even up the game somewhat though the best scoring opportunities were still falling to the visitors. The home team had grown in confidence but were unable to grab something from the chances that did come their way.
Illawarra won a free kick in the 66th minute. Kim Bonilla fired in a magnificent ball to the back post where Michelle Carney leaped to meet the ball. Her header beat the keeper, bounced off a defender and trickled back into goal. Illawarra had stretched their lead to 3-0.
Soon after Dani Calvi harassed defender Caitlin Danyi to win the ball in the box. Calvi turned back inside, shedding defenders on her way. She was brought to the ground with the referee immediately awarding Inter Lions a penalty. The spot kick, taken by Heidi Makrillos, was brilliantly saved by keeper Dimi Poulos but the referee signalled for the kick to be retaken after an Illawarra player encroached in the area. Makrillos didn?t waste her second attempt, bringing the score back to 3-1 in favour of Illawarra.
Inter came forward again from the kick off, looking dangerous on the fringes with Calvi again causing the defence headaches. Her chance went begging though with Illawarra then turning defence into attack before winning another free kick some 35 metres from goal. Bonilla again stepped up to take the kick, forcing a fine finger tip save from keeper Horafios.
Play had certainly opened up with both sides willing to chance their arm. Beatrice Sim Sing had now replaced Nadia Hamson for Inter whilst Laura Donnelly and Kirsten Lee entered the fray for Illawarra, replacing Ash Connor and Caitlin Danyi.
The Stingrays then broke into attack with a long ball finding Michelle Heyman who turned inside her defender to place the ball neatly past the keeper, extending Illawarra?s lead to 4-1. Stephanie De Francesco then replaced Alex Smith for Inter.
The Lions were battling away, playing some good football at various stages, but the class of their opposition was a telling factor. Illawarra just had too many big guns all over the park; Inter were unable to close them all down. Stingrays Coach Brett Wallin then took the opportunity to sub Anne Mayo and Kim Bonilla with Courtney Danyi and Taylor Watt.
As time wound towards the final whistle Heidi Makrillos let loose from outside the box but her shot sailed just over the cross bar. Hay and Heyman then combined at the other end of the park but Heyman?s resulting shot was well saved by Horafios. The final whistle blew soon after with Illawarra Stingrays running out convincing 4-1 winners.
Inter Lions Captain Temika Wearing couldn?t hide her disappointment. She lamented that her side had lost its shape under pressure in the opening exchanges. Wearing acknowledged what a star studded squad Illawarra had at their disposal and said that any side in the competition will need to work hard to keep the Stingrays in check.
Illawarra Stingrays Captain Michelle Carney was pleased with the fact that her side had taken three points but felt that the team were capable of a better performance. However, Carney was pleased at the return of her old goal scoring partner Michelle Heyman; stating confidence that the Premiers will get better as the season progresses.
After being down 2-0 in the first five minutes Inter Lions did show plenty of character to prevent the scoreline from blowing out to embarrassing proportions. With a combination of good luck and good play they kept themselves competitive. Illawarra were, on the day, much too good; possibly being guilty of taking their foot off the pedal after their explosive start. Illawarra will be the side to beat in 2011 but Inter are not yet out of the reckoning, especially if they can entice Sydney FC star Catherine Cannuli back to Concord later in the season.
INTER LION 1 (H.Makrillos 76m)
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 4 (M.Carney 6m/66m, A.Connor 4m, M.Heyman 81m)
At Cromer Park Manly United FC started strongly against visitors, the Blacktown Spartans, opening up a two goal lead within 13 minutes after strikes by Sarah Roger (11m) and Louise Neville (13m). Blacktown dug deep though, not conceding again prior to half time.
In the second half Blacktown hung on until the 61st minute when Alex Kent scored to extend Manly?s lead to 3-0. Sarah Roger then completed her second brace in two games with an 89th minute goal which left the final score at 4-0 in favour of the home side.
Manly continue on their winning way though they were pushed at various stages. Blacktown put in a gutsy effort but the class rise to the Football NSW Women?s Premier League is proving testing for the Spartans at this stage.
MANLY UNITED FC 4 (S.Roger 11m/89m, L.Neville 13m, A.Kent 61m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 0
In Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers were favoured to send Central Coast home without any points, especially after Central Coast?s first round smashing at the hand of Marconi Stallions. However, Central Coast Coach Kath Hore had obviously worked hard to put the lie to that result, coaxing a lift in performance from her girls as they went to battle with the Panthers.
Siahn Bozanic stunned the locals in the 6th minute when she found the back of the net to give Central Coast the lead. Try as the Western NSW girls might they were unable to reel in this early setback, going into half time 1-0 behind.
The second half saw both teams battling for dominance but, in the 74th minute Central Coast?s Ashleigh Morris brought smiles to the faces of her team?s travelling supporters when she scored to take the visitors out to a 2-0 lead.
Siahn Bozanic put the icing on the cake in the 85th minute when she put away her second goal, leaving the Central Coast girls 3-0 winners!
What a gutsy effort from the Central Coast girls! To turn around the first round disappointment in such style is an effort they should all be proud of.
Western NSW Panthers had to be disappointed with their effort. After a strong showing against Illawarra Stingrays in the opening round they would have expected a better result. Two losses from two games is not the start they?d have been hoping for in 2011.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 0
CENTRAL COAST FC 3 (S.Bozanic 6m/85m, A. Morris 74m)
In South Nowra Sydney University met Southern Branch. These two teams had results at either end of the spectrum in Round 1 with Southern Branch hoping for a significant improvement whilst Sydney University were keen to continue to press their claims for honours in 2011.
Southern Branch struggled for players through their two senior grades with many players having to back up in first grade. This was a far from ideal situation for the local who paid the penalty as Sydney University put them to the sword.
Sydney University had built an 8-0 lead by half time with goals to Kate Trebilcock (2m), Olivia Kennedy (6m/8m), Heidi Van Weeren (13m), Jenna Kingsley (22m/27m) and Loren Mahoney (36m/41m). If Southern Branch?s morale hadn?t been shattered but this first half onslaught things didn?t get much easier after the break. Within two minutes of the resumption Aleisha Clifford made it 9-0 for the visitors before Trebilcock (62m), Clifford once more (68m), and Kennedy (75m) rounded out the scoring. University finished the day having now run up 20 goals in two games without conceding. This is obviously an impressive start for the team no matter what the opposition. However, tougher tests lie ahead.
There?s little comfort for Southern Branch who, once again, look headed for a long and painful season
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 12 (O.Kennedy 6m/8m/75m, K.Trebilcock 2m/62m, J.Kingsley (22m/27m), A.Clifford 47m/68m, L.Mahoney 36m/41m, H.Van Weeren 13m)
The Macarthur Rams were up against Sutherland Shire at Lynwood Park with the home team hot favourites to score their first win of 2011. However, someone forgot to supply Sutherland with a copy of the script!
Macarthur were sat well and truly on the seat of their pants early with goals for Sutherland by Aldridge (5m) and Arnold (11m) giving the visiting side a great start.
The Rams hit back in the 22nd minute when Renee Cartwright scored but continued to trail 2-1 at the half time break. The two sides settled down for a stirring tussle after the interval with Sutherland looking for the clincher whilst the Rams looked for an equaliser.
In the 60th minute Elisha Williams struck to bring the locals level but neither side could find a winner in the final half hour. Full time saw the teams locked together at 2-2.
Macarthur have had their chances in both their opening games but have had to settle for a share of the points on each occasion. After their drubbing at the hands of Sydney University in Round 1 Sutherland were somewhat downcast but they bounced back with plenty of spirit in this match. Similar efforts in the coming weeks may see Sutherland rack up a few wins in 2011.
MACARTHUR RAMS 2 (R.Cartwright 22m, E.Williams 60m)
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 2 (A.Aldridge 5m, C.Arnold 11m)
The NWS Koalas ventured out to Marconi Stadium with a spring in their step after their Round 1 defeat of Blacktown Spartans. However, most pundits favoured the Stallions after their impressive performance in putting eleven goals past Central Coast FC in their opening game.
Gerry Gomez and his girls approached the game with confidence; if only because they were buoyed by the fact that, once again, your reporter had tipped against them. The Koalas have promised me free sausage sandwiches at any of their homes games providing I tip the opposition every week. A tempting incentive indeed!
And, so it was that the Koalas weathered the early storm from Marconi before grabbing the lead in the 36th minute through a goal by Micaela Damas. This set the home side back on their heels but more was to come with Georgina Stylianou adding a second for NWS a minute before half time.
Marconi Coach Rob Pearce had a bit of work to do in the sheds in an effort to revive his team?s fortunes. After the break Marconi did create opportunities to fight their way back into the match but it was the Koalas who were to score next with Damas completing a brace with a 65th minute strike.
At 3-0 up the Koalas were looking confident but Marconi provided some late pressure through a 78th goal to Renee Tomkins followed by an own goal provided by NWS Koalas. In the end though, it was a day for those big, bad hungry Koalas, running out 3-2 winners.
This may prove a timely wake up call for Marconi. Whilst they were missing striker Helen Petinos from this match they still had plenty of talent to call on but were shown up by an enthusiastic Koalas side. So it?s two from two for NWS Koalas but a tough encounter with another of the unbeaten sides, Sydney University, looms next Sunday.
A great weekend of football with a number of high quality matches. There?s some more fine match ups coming up next weekend so be ready for plenty of goals and excitement as the Football NSW Women?s Premier League hots up!
See you at the ground next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
