Women?s Premier League Round 9 Review
Your scribe made the trip to the Harrie Dening Centre to catch the match between Sutherland Shire and Blacktown Spartans.
This was by no means a top of the table clash but both sides were keen for points; Sutherland to maintain their momentum up the competition table, Blacktown to chalk up that first win of their inaugural Premier League campaign.
Blacktown were beset by injury problems; even Coach Neil Ross was on crutches! The opening minutes were fairly even as both sides looked to push forward. The first real chance of the game came when Sutherland?s Claire Arnold burst down the left but she pushed her angled opportunity wide of the Blacktown goal.
Sutherland looked good breaking from defence but Blacktown were able to deflect the danger. When Blacktown did press forward they weren?t able to get themselves into position to mount real pressure.
The game was developing into something of an arm wrestle as the two teams attempted to grab the ascendancy. Sutherland won a corner in the 19th minute. The ball zeroed in on Tessa Feggans who got good purchase on her header but Blacktown keeper Tani Roskelly was quickly onto the ball. Blacktown were then awarded a free kick about 25 metres from the Sutherland goal. Bronwyn Jarvis?s free kick was on target but held low down by Sutherland keeper Renee Krstanovska after an initial fumble.
Bronwyn Jarvis then released a fine ball which saw Alix Roberts burst down the flank. Her cross was intercepted but not cleared with the ball eventually coming back to Roberts whose shot was taken in the goal mouth by a leaping Krstanovska.
Sutherland had the next scoring opportunity when a clearance by the Blacktown defence fell to the feet of Daila Borg who hit a sizzling shot which was well held by keeper Rosekelly.
Doris Osman was playing strongly in the midfield for Blacktown but was unable to find a way through Sutherland?s well marshalled defence.
In the 37th minute Dalia Borg had another opportunity after some good short passing from Sutherland. Borg?s shot was marginally wide of goal.
In the 40th minute Sutherland were awarded a free kick to the left of the Spartans 18 yard box. The kick was a good one; high into the goal mouth where keeper Tani Rosekelly tried to punch the ball away. Her effort was ineffective with Sutherland winning the ball in front of goal before a pass found Claire Arnold who calmly put away the opening goal for Sutherland.
To Blacktown?s credit they almost replied immediately with Alix Roberts making a nice run before shooting over the cross bar.
The half time whistle blew with Sutherland holding a 1-0 advantage.
The first few minutes of the second half saw Sutherland pressing the Blacktown defence. Whilst the build up was solid the finishing wasn?t quite there with the ball flying wide of target. Blacktown keeper Tani Rosekelly was also showing safe hands in goal as Blacktown resisted strongly.
In the 52nd minute Daila Borg made a strong run down theright flank. Her centre went to the front post where a glancing header looked goal bound before a diving save by Rosekelly. The Blacktown keeper was called upon moments later when a dipping shot from distance required a palming save which was then cleared by a defender.
Blacktown were under pressure but responded with some gritty football which saw Alix Roberts shoot straight to Sutherland keeper Krstanovska.
At the 57 minute mark Blacktown replaced Tiahna Jackson with Kaitlin Haims.
Claire Arnold fought hard for the ball before breaking away from the Blacktown defence. As she ran to the edge of the box Arnold let go a powerful shot Rosekelly palmed into the air and caught. Doris Osman followed with a fine run for Blacktown before putting the ball across the face of goal. Unfortunately for Blacktown no-one was able to put themselves on the ball to grasp the opportunity.
In the 68th minute Blacktown won a ball wide on the right of midfield. Lauren Bruce put a wonderful ball into the Sutherland goalmouth where Kaitlin Haims hit a quality header that looked destined for goal. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced clear and Sutherland broke away. Claire Arnold raced clear with the ball being met by keeper Rosekelly as she advanced on goal. Arnold crossed to the centre where Maggie Elhusseini burst through a group of defenders to put away Sutherland?s second goal.
Sutherland almost scored again with a cheeky attempt to catch Rosekelly off her line. In the 73rd minute Bronwyn Jarvis was replaced in the Blacktown line up by Amanda Kearns. Moments later Maggie Elhusseini picked up a yellow card to go with her goal. Elhusseini was then subbed for Sarah Yatim.
Sutherland advanced on goal again with Rosie Bacon bringing a diving save from Rosekelly. The loose ball fell back to Sutherland who denied again by Rosekelly but the third attempt couldn?t be stopped with Sarah Yatim scoring with one of her first touches. Sutherland now appeared to have put themselves out of danger, establishing a 3-0 lead.
Blacktown didn?t give up. Kristen Ainsworth made a determined run, eventually winning a corner. The corner was cleared to Blacktown?s Zineta De Beer who let go a thunderbolt which deflected off a Sutherland defender, back to De Beer who then shot over the bar.
Both teams then made multiple replacements with Liana Danaskos and Yvonne Ilioglou coming on for Rosei Bacon and Claire Arnold. Blacktown replaced Kristen Ainsworth with Megan Bertenshaw.
The game was now starting to wind to a conclusion with Sutherland having territorial advantage but not producing any shots on target.
The final whistle rang out with Sutherland running out deserved 3-0 winners.
Blacktown Spartans Coach Neil Ross was disappointed for his girls after the game. Ross said that Sutherland?s second goal typified his team?s luck this season; almost scoring only to see the opposition run the length of the field to score themselves. Ross lamented his team?s run of injuries stating that they?d basically ?run out of troops?. The Blacktown Coach expressed confidence that his side would capture a few scalps in the second round of the competition.
Sutherland Shire Coach Michael Michael said that this game had failed to reach any great heights. Michael didn?t feel that it was one of Sutherland?s best displays and that his players? minds may still have been on their upset win last week over NWS Koalas. He said that his team were always in control of the game but never decisively so. Michael remains happy with his side?s progress in 2011.
This wasn?t an outstanding game of football but both sides fought hard. Sutherland were the better side on the day but Blacktown gave a good account of themselves.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 3 (C.Arnold 40m, M.ElHusseini 68m, S.Yatim 70m)
BLACKTOWN SARTANS 0
In Bathurst Sydney University braved the chilly conditions to take on the Western NSW Panthers.
There wasn?t a lot in the game with Caitlin Jarvie?s goal 6 minutes before half time being the difference.
Former Macarthur Rams first grade keeper Michelle Grigg celebrated her first game in University colours with a clean sheet.
The Panthers were game but Sydney University left Bathurst with what they came for; three competition points.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 0
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1 (C.Jarvie 39m)
Up on the Central Coast the locals threw open the gates of Pluim Park to welcome visitors NWS Koalas.
The Koalas were keen to get back into winning form after consecutive losses. Central Coast FC were equally keen to continue their recent run of good form.
The first half looked like being scoreless until, five minutes before the break, Koalas stalwart Anna McLean was in the right place to grab the first goal of the match. The Koalas held this lead into half time and, eight minutes after oranges, McLean was in the thick of the action again to stretch the visitors lead to 2-0.
Things looked dire for Central Coast and they didn?t get any better when, in the 60th minute Georgina Stylianou added NWS Koalas third goal. There was no way back for Central Coast FC from there with NWS Koalas running out convincing winners.
The Koalas maintain fourth place on the ladder with the win whilst Central Coast FC sit ninth.
CENTRAL COAST FC 0
NWS KOALAS 3 (A.McLean 40m/53m, G.Stylianou 60m)
At J.J.Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays looked to continue their unbeaten run when they met Manly United FC.
This proved to be an entertaining clash with the Manly team rising above their recent form to prove more than competitive. However, when you put a foot wrong against the Premiers they make you pay and so it was that Manly?s challenge unravelled.
In the 16th minute Kim Bonilla, who is proving to be the best American import since Budweiser beer, added to her season goal tally with a clinical finish. At the 27 minute mark Manly were on the receiving end again when Talitha Kramer got her name on the scoresheet to extend the Illawarra lead to 2-0.
The Stingrays kept this advantage into half time. The home side resisted any attempts by Manly to mount a comeback, eventually sealing the win with a 76th minute strike by goal scoring machine Michelle Heyman.
Manly put in a credible performance but were simply beaten by a better side on the day. The Stingrays have too much firepower and it will take a very good side having a perfect day to take the title from the reigning Premiers.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 3 (K.Bonilla 16m, T.Kramer 27m, M.Heyman 76m)
MANLY UNITED FC 0
South Nowra?s Ison Park saw Southern Branch up against Inter Lions in a match where both teams were looking for their first win of 2011.
Inter Lions went on the attack right from the kick off, with all players keen to be involved in the play. Heidi Makrillos laid the ball off to Stephanie De Francesco in the 2nd minute with De Francesco?s shot going wide. Kristi Pavlicevic?s then played a through ball to De Francesco who combined with Jess Martinez to create a chance for Nadia Hamson whose attempt at goal was shut down by the Southern defence. There were lots of positive signs for Inter in these early exchanges.
In the 14th minute Inter were rewarded for their enterprising football when a pass from Kristi Pavlicevic to Heidi Makrillos saw the young Inter star shoot for goal. The shot was palmed away by the Southern Branch keeper only to be slotted into the back of the net at the far post by Jess Martinez.
Brooke Starrett and Alex Smith were combining well down the right wing, with Brooke making some outstanding runs. Youngster Jess Martinez on the left flank was involved in everything, making a fine run down the wing in the 18th minute before crossing to Steph De Francesco to score Inter?s second goal.
When Southern Branch counter-attacked Inter captain Temika Wearing showed her class, shutting down the Southern player as she burst towards goal. The Lions mid field worked hard, being instrumental in some fine team play. Steph De Francesco?s 2nd goal was a result of Brooke Starrett?s pass to Ivana Bojanovic, who pushed it through to Jess Martinez. Martinez in turn laid the ball off to Makrillos who set up De Francesco up for her strike on goal. Makrillos looked set to open her own tally when the Inter defence combined to get the ball to her, but her goal was disallowed as she was called offside.
Southern then counter attacked and in the 39th minute Caylie Wise came up with the home team?s opening goal. Steph De Francesco then took her tally for the day to three when she slotted away a left footer in the 42nd minute.
The 2nd half saw Inter continue to attack. From the kick off Heidi Makrillos?s shot was saved by the Southern keeper. Coach Joe Baldacci then did some experimenting with playing positions which seemed to affect the flow of Inter?s game. The visitors continued to attack with some long range efforts that the Southern keeper was made to work hard to deal with.
When Heidi Makrillos was brought down in the Southern Branch box in the 61st minute, Inter extended their lead to 5 ? 1 with Makrillos converting the penalty.
Despite numerous attempts, Inter failed to find the back of the net again. They didn?t need to; the Lions had their first win of the season.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 1 (C.Wise 39m)
INTER LIONS 5 (S.De Francesco 18m/27m/42m, H.Makrillos 61m, J.Martinez 14m)
(Thank you to the Inter Lions club for providing this match report)
At Lynwood Park the Macarthur Rams were doing battle with arch rivals the Marconi Stallions.
The Stallions were sitting second on the competition table whilst the Rams, bolstered by recent additions to their squad, were making a charge towards the top four.
This game had everything; goals, controversy and what on paper looked an upset result.
Marconi lost two players during the match; Jo Saliba being marched before half time after a second yellow and Sophie Svinos joining her team mate for an early shower midway through the second half. Obviously these two events did nothing to help Marconi?s cause.
The Rams opened the scoring in the 7th minute through the trusty boot of new girl Renee Rollason. By the 19th minute the home side were two up when ?Deadly? Stephanie Haim seized upon an opportunity.
Down 2-0 at half time and facing a second 45 minutes with only ten players Marconi Coach Rob Pearce must have been wondering what he could pull from his bag of tricks.
Marconi tried to regroup after the break but, when Leesa Thompson scored for the Rams in the 62nd minute and Sophie Svinos made her exit, the game was all over.
The Rams added two extra stings to the Stallions tails in the closing minutes with Stephanie Haim completing her brace in the 85th minute followed by the ever reliable Linda Dudek scoring in the 87th minute.
It?s hard to read too much into this result. The Rams were back to the clinical side of old, taking their opportunities whilst taking no prisoners. Marconi never really got the chance to match motors with Macarthur after the send offs left them without half of their defensive line. Methinks the second round match could be worth going to see.
The bigger problem for Coach Rob Pearce and his Marconi side is that they now face the defending champions Illawarra Stingrays next weekend without two of their most reliable defenders. Not good timing at all!
The Rams also face a big test, coming up against Sydney University.
MACARTHUR RAMS 5 (R.Rollason 7m, S.Haim 19m/85m, L.Thomson 62m, L.Dudek 87m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 0
Next weekend offers us two blockbuster games with competition leaders the Illawarra Stingrays meeting third placed Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium whilst second placed Sydney University play the surging fifth placed Macarthur Rams at Hensley Athletic Field. Any true fan of women?s football will be heading for either of these venues next Sunday to watch some very classy players in action.
Congratulations to our Westfield Matildas on their two victories against New Zealand this week at Blue Tongue Stadium. Great to see young debutant Caitlin Foord score in Thursday night?s game whilst last season Women?s Premier League Golden Boot winner, Catherine Cannuli, was amongst the scorers in Sunday?s game.
Well done girls. Good luck in Germany!
-By Ross Anderson
