Women?s Super League Round 4 Review

All up, the ball found the back of the net 26 times across the five games – an average of more than five per game. After four rounds the table is starting to look a little familiar, with arguably the four strongest sides in the competition occupying the top four places.
Feature Match of the Week
Sydney Olympic FC vs Eastern UNSW Lions
Eastern UNSW Lions have notched up their third straight win in a scrappy contest with Sydney Olympic at a rain-soaked Blick Oval.
In a match that never really lived up to expectations both sides looked uncomfortable on the soggy surface. Chances were at a premium for the majority of the game with UNSW proving more clinical in front of goal as they eventually put the game to rest.
A lively start to the contest culminated in an 8th minute goal to the Lions, with Rebecca Browning finishing beautifully with a glancing header on the run. A minute later the Lions rattled the woodwork and Olympic were on the back foot.
The game, however, slowly became bogged down in midfield, with neither side able to put together a prolonged period of possession or pressure.  As the rain increased, the chances dried up and both sides would have enjoyed the break from the conditions that half-time offered.
The second period saw the Lions gradually assert some dominance, despite some dangerous opportunities for Olympic early on.  Kate Halaska forced a few good saves from Lions keeper Amanda Watson, but on the whole it was UNSW who took control of the game.
As Olympic tired, the away side found some rhythm, making good use of the extra space with some nice one touch movements around the edge of the area.
One such buildup, masterminded by the impressive Browning, finally rewarded the Lions for a sustained period of pressure. UNSW cut right through the heart of the Olympic defence in the 70th minute with a series of first time passes that allowed Rachelle Godman to slot home the second goal and with it, the three points.
A few frustrated late challenges summed up Olympic’s day. The ball never seemed to bounce right for them, while they never looked as assured in attack or defence as the table-topping Lions.
Olympic coach Enzo Calabria was disappointed his side didn’t convert the opportunities they did create.
“In patches we got into the game but we just couldn’t consolidate on it. 
:They outplayed us in certain places on the field and we tried to match it.  It was one of those days where the girls weren’t firing at all.”
“I think we can go on from this and learn from it but we just looked a little bit flat.”
Match Stats:
Sydney Olympic 0
Eastern UNSW Lions 2 (Browning ‘8, Godman ’70)
Sydney Olympic: 13. Adriana DALERIS, 5. Kate HALASKA, 12. Madison SUGIANTARA, 15. Elif EKTAS, 1. N EVELYN, 10. Effie RODOPOULOS, 4. Kylie MANIAS, 2. Olivia GAMMONE, 11. Tracey IBANEZ, 16. Prue PEARSON, 17. Kalista TSOUPIS
Eastern UNSW Lions: 1. Amanda WATSON, 43. J GORDIE, 35. Leyla BEIGLARI, 9. Sylvia ELTERS, 3. Alice KRIESLER, 4. Elizabeth BEDFORD, 38. Kate JENKINS, 36. Ashley RABIE, 15. Shani LAUF, 42. Rebecca BROWNING, 7. Rachelle GODMAN
at Blick Oval
Northbridge have shrugged of their early season woes with a commanding 5-1 win over St George. With both sides going into the contest in search of their first three points it was always going to be a hotly contested affair.
St George once again got themselves on the scoresheet but are still without a point as Northbridge put a further five past them. Henningsen got herself a brace as the young side from the north ran riot.
St George’s horror start continues as they are now rooted to the bottom of the table, although may consider themselves unlucky not to have gotten more from their first three games. Here though, it was Northbridge’s day – a morale boosting win for a squad still very much finding it’s feet at senior level.
St George FC 1 (Gallagher)
Northbridge FC 5 (Waters, Robinson, Lewis, Henningsen x2)
at St George Stadium
Joint-leaders Gladesville Ravens were pushed all the way by a plucky Nepean FC side as they continued their winning form with a 3-2 away win at Cook Park.
Gladesville have a perfect three wins from three starts and along with Eastern UNSW Lions and APIA Leichardt have announced themselves title contenders.
Meanwhile Nepean will go into their next game against APIA confident that they can push the big sides all the way.  Indeed they are the first team this year to score against the miserly Ravens defence.
Nepean FC 2 (McCormack, Maxwell)
Gladesville Ravens 3 (Hardie, Crosbie, Agar)
Out at Springwood, APIA scored seven goals for the second week running in another dominant performance. Springwood never looked likely after APIA’s seven goals without reply in round three, although they did bag a goal and at one stage the score stood at 2-1.
Goals in the second and third minutes set the tone for the one-sided affair, while rampant striker Aysha Adalis made it two hattricks from two starts in season 2011.
APIA look a cut above the rest this year and Springwood will not be too upset with this result, considering Tigers coach Tarek Madani labelled this performance much-improved from their week three showing. APIA will have to back up on Tuesday night in a tough game against Eastern UNSW Lions, while they have Gladesville in two weeks.
Springwood United 1 (Doyle)
APIA Leichardt Tigers 7 (Adalis (3), Pringle, Petschy, Hickey)
at Summerhayes Park
Lady Hawks have made it a clean sweep of wins for away teams in round four in a high-scoring encounter with Northern Tigers at Mills Park.
The Tigers were coming off the back of a seven goal mauling at Leichardt while Lady Hawks were also coming to terms with their first loss of the season to UNSW.
Both sides had their shooting boots on but it was the more experienced Lady Hawks side who edged this one out.  Coach Edd Terry will be very happy to be picking up full points in these kinds of fixtures – points that could see them sneak into the finals come round 18.
Northern Tigers 2 (Balicki, Dal Pozzo)
Parramatta Lady Hawks 3 (Own Goal, Kunz (2))
at Mills Park
-By Ryan Cropp