Women?s Premier League Round 13 Review
For the second week in a row Pluim Park was closed causing the Central Coast FC versus Sydney University match to be called off. ELS Hall Park was also unfit for playing leaving the NWS Koalas and Manly United FC girls with a Sunday off.
The match everyone had been waiting for was at Lynwood Park where Macarthur Rams met the competition leaders, the Illawarra Stingrays.
Arguably the two best squads in the league shaped up in what could well have been a Grand Final preview. The pitch was generally in good shape, despite the rain, though the section around the centre circle saw a number of players slipping in the day?s earlier matches.
The first shot of the game came in only the second minute when Stephanie Haim laid a ball back for Renee Rollason to strike, only to see the ball fly well wide of the target. The opening few minutes were all Macarthur. They knocked the ball around stylishly but weren?t quite able to complete their promising play with a goal. Illawarra?s defence was looking a little shaky as The Rams were all about attack.
In the 8th minute Macarthur were awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box only to see Kylie Ledbrook fire across the face of goal.
The territorial advantage was certainly with Macarthur but Illawarra still looked dangerous on their few forays forward. Michelle Heyman burst away, eventually winning a corner which was then tipped away from goal by an acrobatic Monique Jackson.
Macarthur played with plenty of width, stretching the Illawarra defence at every opportunity. An exquisite ball by Lauren Ralston appeared to have put Stephanie Haim away only for the Macarthur striker to be recalled for offside.
There were no beg pardons out on the field with both sides willing to put their bodies on the line.
In the 18th minute Illawarra attacked but were forced to shoot from long range. Kim Bonilla?s strike failed to cause Macarthur keeper Jackson any heart palpitations.
In the 21st minute some good passing from Macarthur saw them threaten the Illawarra line but Stephanie Haim was unable to take advantage of Kylie Ledbrook?s final pass.
Soon after Renee Rollason combined with Teegan Courtney whose centre to goal was hit by a powerful Stephanie Haim volley which flew to the right of goal.
The home side were controlling the middle of the park, not allowing Illawarra any sort of platform on which to base their attack. Too often Illawarra were forced to come long from defence with The Rams defence holding their ground well.
For all this Macarthur dominance Illawarra almost stole the lead in the 27th minute when an attempted headed clearance by Danielle Brogan saw Illawarra?s Michelle Heyman pounce on the ball. Heyman?s shot was brilliantly held low down by Monique Jackson, saving her defence some blushes.
The two sides traded attacks but neither could find a path to goal. Macarthur created another half chance in the 35th minute but Stephanie Haim?s shot from the left of the box flew over the cross bar.
Again Macarthur went forward in the 39th minute with neat combination from Rollason, Ledbrook and Courtney leading to a Rollason shot but the strike lacked venom.
Macarthur?s attacking flair had been unable to breach the brick wall that is the Illawarra Stingray?s defence. Nearly, but not quite; with the half time whistle seeing the scoreboard read 0-0.
The worrying thought for the home side was, after having dominated the first half they had nothing to show for it. Would The Stingrays make them pay for their missed opportunities?
The second half commenced under dark skies with a shower crossing the ground.
Illawarra came very close to breaking the deadlock; once after Ash Connor was gifted the ball on the edge of the box by a defensive error. Her shot was charged down but, soon after, a goal mouth melee saw the ball cleared off the Macarthur goal line by defender Lauren Ralston.
The opening five minutes of the half saw Illawarra in a much more assertive mood, besieging the Macarthur penalty box as they sought a way to goal.
The rather miserable conditions caused the floodlights to be brought into use. The spark was in Illawarra?s game at this stage with Macarthur needing to regain their composure. A chance came for Linda Dudek as a cross found her unmarked in front of goal but she was unable to control the ball with the chance going begging.
In the 56th minute Macarthur were awarded a free kick some thirty metres from goal. Stephanie Haim?s kick bounced awkwardly but was taken by Illawarra keeper Dimi Poulos.
At the opposite end of the park Illawarra found Ash Connor at the edge of the penalty box, directly in front of goal. Connor swung to shoot only for the usually deadly striker to take an air swing.
The Stingrays charged at goal again when a Rams defender slipped leaving Michelle Heyman on her way to goal. Her sizzling shot was knocked down by Rams keeper Jackson who then had the ball knocked from her grasp in a body clash with The Stingray?s Kim Bonilla.
A disturbance erupted in front of goal, leading to Bonilla being red carded by the referee. The Stingrays were now going to have to try and maintain their unbeaten record one player short. It had been all Illawarra in the second half but would this setback stifle their resolve?
Macarthur?s attacks had become much less frequent but Linda Dudek had the next chance at goal; firing over the cross bar. The Stingrays then moved into the Macarthur goal with Michelle Heyman?s glancing header almost catching out Rams keeper Monique Jackson.
Macarthur mounted a stylish attack with a deft Kylie Ledbrook back heel releasing Teegan Courtney on the left. Courtney?s cross to the goal mouth saw Renee Rollason just a toe touch away from opening the scoring.
Some hesitant defence then saw Courtney presented with a one on one situation with Stingray?s keeper Poulos but the Sydney FC star was equal to the task, making a courageous save.
The game had opened right up with both teams racing forward at every opportunity. A Michelle Carney run was halted in the penalty area by a fine Lauren Ralston tackle. The resulting corner was almost punched back into goal by Jackson but Macarthur eventually escaped.
In the 74th minute an interchange of passes from the Rams midfield saw Stephanie Haim chip a ball over the top of the defence. Linda Dudek burst through onto the ball, chipping over an advancing Demi Poulos to give Macarthur Rams a 1-0 lead.
If you like your games played with plenty of passion this was certainly the game for you. The support from the stands plus the fire on the field made this a match to enjoy.
The Illawarra side yelled for a penalty when Michelle Carney was brought down in the Macarthur penalty area but the referee ignored their pleas as Macarthur cleared the ball.
Illawarra were desperately searching for an equaliser. Despite the loss of Bonilla they still had plenty of attacking ammunition with which to snare a goal or two.
Kylie Ledbrook then threaded a pass to Stephanie Haim who jinked, turned and released a shot that brought a finger tip save from a diving Demi Poulos.
As the game edged towards full time play hovered around the midfield area. The Stingrays pushed forward through substitute Kristen Lee, winning themselves successive corners; the second seeing a Caitlin Cooper volley skim the cross bar.
Leila Brahmah went on as a late replacement for Linda Dudek. As The Stingrays went forward once more the referee blew the final whistle to bring and end to this exciting match. Macarthur Rams had run out winners 1-0.
The opposing camps saw the result a little differently. Macarthur Rams Coach Matt Turvey thought that his team had controlled much of the first half and done enough overall to deserve the three points.
The talk from the Illawarra dressing room was more about the decision to dismiss Kim Bonilla and not award a penalty to Michelle Carney in the second half. Coach Brett Wallin thought that his side had deserved at least a share of the result.
From a personal point of view I enjoyed the game immensely. Firstly, the football was, at times, right from the top drawer. The tackles were hard as both teams made it obvious they had no intention to go home losers. The crowd were right into the game, adding to the atmosphere of an exciting match between two classy sides.
What does amuse me every weekend when I?m at a game of football, whether it?s the park, A League, W League, State League or Women?s Premier League is how differently the two sets of supporters can see individual incidents! The Stingrays may well have had good cause to feel aggrieved with some decisions but, from an impartial point of view, I thought Macarthur were ever so slightly the better side on the day.
If these two sides meet in the season ending Grand Final we?ll all be in for quite a treat.
MACARTHUR RAMS 1 (L.Dudek 74m)
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 0
After matches at Ison Park were called off earlier in the day Southern Branch Coach Shane Duffy got to work with his trusty wheelbarrow, shovel and bag of sand to ensure the Marconi Stallions versus Southern Branch game went ahead.
If Marconi had travelled down the Expressway expecting an easy afternoon they were to receive a big wakeup call from a determined Southern Branch side.
In a tough first half Southern Branch gave it all they had, frustrating their highly regarded visitors. The nil all half time score was a testament to the home side?s effort but were they going to be able to go on with the job?
It took Marconi a long time to grab the lead but grab it they did in the 70th minute when Helen Petinos found the back of the net. Southern Branch didn?t give up but The Stallions sealed their win three minutes out from full time when Trudy Camilleri made it 2-0.
This was yet another good effort from Southern Branch. Marconi may not have been seen at their best but, once again, they came away with the points. That?s really all they have to do as the win keeps them in the firing line for the finals.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
MARCONI STALLIONS 2 (H.Petinos 70m, T.Camilleri 87m)
In Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers bounced back into the winners? list with a hard fought 2-1 win over Sutherland Shire.
Unfortunately no details of this match were supplied; including scorers or time of goals. I apologise to both teams and their supporters for not being able to supply more coverage.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 2
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 0
Finally, at Francis Park, Inter Lions continued on their winning way with a solid 2-0 win over a gallant Blacktown Spartans side.
The Lions, who are rumoured to be on the verge of announcing some big signings this week, opened the scoring through Heidi Makrillos in the 14th minute. Makrillos double the Inter lead in the 28th minute with her second goal, giving the visitors a lead they held into the half time break.
Whilst neither side troubled the scoreboard attendant after the resumption it was Inter who looked the more dangerous. The Lions had several opportunities but were unable to capitalise. Nonetheless, you can be sure that Coach Joe Baldacci was happy to pop another three points in his pocket as his side edge their way up the ladder.
Life doesn?t get any easier for The Spartans. They meet Inter again during the week in a catch up game before hosting Manly United FC next Sunday afternoon.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 0
INTER LIONS 2 (H.Makrillos 14m/28m)
Despite the washed out matches the weekend didn?t disappoint with the Macarthur Rams v Illawarra Stingrays match living up to all the hype. The results were close and competitive elsewhere, giving us promise of some more exciting football this coming weekend; weather permitting!
See you at a ground next Sunday.
-By Ross Anderson
