Football NSW Women?s Premier League Round 6 Review

However, there were a number of close matches which came right down to the wire as the battle for positions on the competition table intensified.
Due to the heavy rain early in the weekend Sunday?s match between NWS Koalas and Macarthur Rams was moved from ELS Hall Park to Lynwood Park. Your reporter headed down the M5 for what promised to be an entertaining afternoon of football.
Dull, overcast skies greeted the two teams as they took the field for this important clash between two of the league?s unbeaten sides.
The Koalas controlled the early exchanges, flashing a header across the face of the Rams goal and continually pushing forward into the Macarthur half. The Koalas had the Rams defence under pressure but the home team found a way to keep the visitors at bay.
Macarthur?s first opportunity came in the ninth minute when some good lead up work saw Tori Preddy fly through on the ball only to have the Koalas keeper close her down. Koalas took play to the other end of the field almost immediately where Maree Patikas?s shot was well saved by Macarthur keeper Jackson.
In the 12^th minute Macarthur?s chances suffered a body blow when experienced defender Claire Walsh suffered an injury and had to be replaced. Coupled with the Rams mounting injury toll in recent weeks this was not good news.
In the 18^th minute Koalas Carmel Dimarco took on the defence, finding a way to work past three closing defenders to turn, shoot and beat keeper Jackson to score the opening goal for NWS.
In the 22^nd minute the ball fell to Macarthur striker Stephanie Haim who bombed over the top of goal in Macarthur?s first shot at goal. In the 27^th minute mark Amy Ward had her shot deflected over the bar leading to a Macarthur corner. Steph Haim?s corner zeroed in on the goal mouth where it was fielded by Koalas keeper Liz Durack.
Territorially The Koalas were holding sway but they were unable to add to their lead. A brilliant Patikas corner looked destined for goal but Rams keeper Monique Jackson managed to do enough to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net. Rachel Jones and Micaela Damas combined well down the left flank for Koalas but Damas?s cross sailed across the line without threatening.
The Koalas transition was lightning fast, testing the Rams ability to regroup defensively. The Rams were hanging on though and, at 1-0, were still well in the game. Successive Koalas corners brought no joy but the pressure continued to build on The Rams.
McLean, Damas and Dimarco then played some nice team football to create an opportunity in the 39^th minute with Dimarco?s shot sailing wide of the post. Koalas had resorted to launching a lot of long bombs from their own half in an effort to turn the defence on its heels. One such ball found Micaela Damas bursting onto the ball with the goal seemingly at her mercy. However Macarthur defender Lauren Ralston persevered, resulting in her causing the Koalas striker to miss kick and waste the opportunity.
Soon after Damas had another chance with a header in front of goal but again missed the target.  
Half time saw The Koalas in the shed with a 1-0 lead.
From the kick off in the second half Macarthur played a ball behind the defence for an advancing Stephanie Haim. Haim couldn?t quite get to the ball prior to the Koalas keeper who dived at her feet to relieve the danger. Macarthur?s Teegan Courtney was injured soon after, being replaced by Lucy Chapman.
The Koalas quickly found their feet, attacking with pace down the right flank. The resulting corner was not cleared by the Macarthur defence, despite numerous opportunities. The ball was headed back into the box where it found Brooke Koster who buried the chance, giving NWS Koalas a 2-0 lead.
Almost from the restart The Koalas pushed forward. Carmel Dimarco received the ball some 25 metres from goal, letting go a powerful shot which left the Macarthur keeper stranded. In the blink of an eye the Koalas had raced to a 3-0 lead.
Macarthur were turning the ball over with monotonous regularity. One such loss of possession, near the half way mark, saw Maree Patikas race into the clear for Koalas. In a one on one situation with the keeper Patikas let go a feeble shot which nestled comfortably into the goalkeeper?s hands.
The visitors were dominating play with further goals looking to be in the offing. Micaela Damas ran onto a superb pass in the 63^rd minute to charge into the goal mouth but her shot was well held by Rams keeper Monique Jackson.
Macarthur?s own attacking threats were few and far between.  Jemma Crane chased through on a pass from Leila Braham but couldn?t reach the ball before the Koalas keeper.
The Koalas were creating plenty of chances but their finishing was poor.  Nonetheless they were in no danger with complete control of midfield and an untroubled defence.
Twenty five minutes into the half Macarthur Coach Matt Turvey substituted Leesa Thomson with Katherine Hawker.
Micaela Damas was having an unlucky day. In the 73^rd minute of play a goal seemed hers for the taking again after beating keeper Jackson but her shot flicked away off the post.
Lauren Johnson then replaced Leila Bramah in the Macarthur line up. Koalas Coach Gerry Gomez looked to his bench also, bringing on Chloe Locarzo and Georgina Stylianou for Katarina Kraft and Brooke Koster.
NWS were the only team looking likely to score a goal, coming forward at every opportunity. A rare Macarthur free kick within range was easily cleared by the Koalas defence with play immediately heading back up field.
Koalas then replaced Micaela Dimas and Maree Patikas with Maria Kalageropoulos and Michelle Brown.
A long run down the left by Anna McLean spelt big danger for Macarthur but the Koalas failed to make the home side pay with some indecisive play in front of goal. The game was slowly running towards the final whistle play hovering around the centre of the park.
The full time whistle rang out with the NWS Koalas convincing 3-0 winners over Macarthur Rams.
Koalas Coach Gerry Gomez was happy with his side?s display though hopeful of more consistency in front of goal. Gomez said that he has been pleased with the positive start to the season made by his girls and remains confident that they continue to acquit themselves well.
Macarthur Rams Coach Matt Turvey conceded that his side was outplayed on the day. He lamented the injuries woes his team is going through, including the likely loss of Captain Renee Cartwright for the rest of the season. The sight of Cartwright crossing the field to take up a vantage point in the stand whilst wearing a large leg brace was not a good one. Turvey remains hopeful that his side can stay in the race despite their problems.
The Koalas were much too good with a dominance not really reflected on the scoreboard. They look to be a side that will make a solid impression at the business end of the season. Macarthur were disappointing; a saving grace being the form of defender Lauren Ralston. The Rams will need a significant lift as they hit a tough stretch of games in the coming weeks.
MACARTHUR RAMS 0
NWS KOALAS 3 (C.Dimarco 18m/52m, B Koster 50m)
At Ison Park the Illawarra Stingrays took on Southern Branch in the South Coast Derby.
Unfortunately for the Southern Branch side they were handed a football lesson with the Premiers handing them a 12-0 hiding.
Match details supplied for this game are brief but suffice to say that all of Illawarra?s big guns got on the scoreboard as the visitors enjoyed a big day out at South Nowra.
I?m not sure if the Southern Branch team want any sympathy but they certainly have a bucket load from me. It?s a tough haul for them as they battle to compete despite various difficulties.
The Stingrays are an awesome machine once they get rolling. One hopes that the 12 goal haul appeased Coach Brett Wallin as he seeks to get his team playing to their full potential.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 12 (M.Heyman 2, T.Hay 2, J.Cooper 2, A.Connor 2, K.Bonilla 2, M.Carney, A.Mayo)
Concerns about conditions after heavy overnight rain in the Central Coast area failed to dampen the local enthusiasm as Central Coast FC met Sutherland Shire at Pluim Park.
Once again details from this match are brief, with the game becoming something of an arm wrestle as both sides looked to grab the points.
After a scoreless first half the two teams went looking for a second half winner to no avail. Central Coast put up a determined performance whilst Sutherland may have expected a more positive result given last week?s excellent win over Inter Lions. There?s a more positive aura around these two sides now than after day one of the competition. Let?s hope that things continue to move forward.
CENTRAL COAST FC 0
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 0
The Western NSW Panthers met Blacktown Spartans at Alec Lamberton Field.
After a tight opening quarter the locals snatched the lead through a Megan Embelton strike in the 28^th minute. This was the only goal of the first half with Western keen to stretch their advantage after half time.
Blacktown once again made a big effort but couldn?t find a way to bridge the gap. In the 82^nd minute their challenge seemed to be snuffed out when the in form Jenna Collingridge found the back of the net to extend the Panthers lead to 2-0.
Blacktown were not to be denied though with Doris Osman putting her side on the scoreboard just two minutes later to set up a grandstand finish. However, within three minutes Western?s goal wizard Gillian Rosconi had returned the match to status quo with a classy finish to leave the full time score at 3-1 in favour of the home side.
A good effort by the Panthers, who scored their second win of the 2011 season. Success still eludes the Spartans but no-one can decry their effort. Hopefully a win is just around the corner.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 3 (M.Embelton 28m, J.Collingridge 82m, G.Rosconi 87m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 1 (D.Osman 84m)
Manly United FC officials did a great job to have Cromer Park?s outside fields playable for the Manly United FC versus Sydney University clash.
The match promised much as two of the genuine 2011 finals contenders went into battle. Manly had their chances, but lacked conviction in front of goal. Some wasted opportunities came back to bite the locals when Sydney University?s Jenna Kingsley opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute.
Despite some good attacking football from both sides this was to be the only workload for the scoreboard attendant in the opening half, leaving it all to do for the Manly girls in the second stanza.
Neither combatant could add to the scoreline after the break with a combination of poor finishing and solid defence denying either side further glory. At the final whistle it was Sydney University taking home the points whilst Manly languished to their third defeat in a row.
MANLY UNITED FC 0
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1 (J.Kingsley 22m)
Another keenly contested affair was being played out at Marconi Stadium where the Marconi Stallions took on fierce rivals Inter Lions.
The Lions went into the match struggling for form and with a depleted squad due to injury. However, they took it up to the Marconi side in the opening exchanges, managing to grab the lead in the 19^th minute after a goal to recent Stallions defector Emma Stanbury.
Marconi lifted in an effort to overcome this early setback but were unable to find a way through an enthusiastic Lions defence. Inter went to the break with a 1-0 lead and hopes that this might be the breakthrough win that they?d been looking for.
Inter maintained their advantage as the second half unfolded but in the 66^th minute Marconi?s young striker Helen Petinos levelled the scores with a fine finish. The two teams went at each other hard as they looked for the winner but a draw seemed the most likely result as the full time whistle loomed.
However, there was still to be a twist in the tale with another of Marconi?s talented youngsters, Feliz Urkanci, on hand to steer in the 87^th minute game breaker for the home team. Scenes of joy for Marconi; looks of heartbreak for Inter Lions.
So Marconi snared another three points but they may have been deemed fortunate. Inter Lions put up a very credible effort; one that they may be able to build on in the coming weeks. The good news for the Stallions is that, despite not being seen at their best, they continue to come up with results as they track the league leaders. This was a good quality game between two solid football teams.
MARCONI STALLIONS 2 (H.Petinos 66m, F.Urkanci 87m)
INTER LIONS 1 (E.Stanbury 19m)
Next weekend being the Easter/Anzac weekend sees the Football NSW Women?s Premier League in hiatus. The competition resumes on the 1^st May with a couple of sizzling matches between the competition?s form teams; the Illawarra Stingrays meet NWS Koalas at J.J.Kelly Park whilst Sydney University play Marconi Stallions at Sydney University Oval.
I look forward to seeing you at a ground in a fortnight?s time. A Happy Easter to all Women?s Premier League fans. May the Easter Bunny fill your house with plenty of yummy eggs!
-By Ross Anderson