Women’s Super League Round 2 Review
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 – 5 Southern Districts
Labelled as the match of the round, this clash proved to be one for the history books as a total of nine goals were scored split 5-4 in favour of the travelling side.
Before most spectators had found their seats Southern Districts found themselves in front through the captain Willow Shorrocks. With just over a minute on the clock, there could not be a better way for Districts to start the game against the 2011 Super League Champions.
For the APIA supporters, their moment of glory came just four minutes later when the pacey striker D. Calvi was not picked up by either of Districts centre backs giving her the time and space to line up an equaliser.
Two minutes later, APIA doubled their goal tally as D. Calvi was again left unmarked and was able to capitalise on some great passing. Her second goal of the game created an aura of something of a goal fest as both sides continued to push and push and push.
The crowd were left to wait ten minutes before they saw the next goal and it was the simplest of goals S.Bryant will ever score in a Southern Districts jersey. After a perfect cross from J. McLaughlin beat the keeper and just scrapped the crossbar, the enthusiastic striker pushed home the ball from two yards out.
By the half hour mark, the scores were locked at 2-2 with APIA clearly winning the physical battle, as they were stronger into challenges. Districts had that X-Factor and buzz about their game will always looked as though they could pull off a shock result at Lambert Park.
There was just one goal to be scored before the sides went into the break. APIA?s D. Calvi claimed her first hat trick of the season in the 32nd minute when Districts were caught out playing the offside trap and calmly slotted the ball home. APIA were clearly the happier of the two sides but the Districts? coaches still had a smile on their face knowing that they still had a chance to get the points in the second half.
Just after the restart, APIA?s keeper, M. Al-Zadjali was caught in a moment of madness when she collected the ball in a one on one challenge. The keeper claimed to hear the opposition?s striker say something on the way past and so threw the football at the striker. The referee deemed the act a yellow card offense and awarded a corner much to the dislike of Districts? bench who were shouting for a penalty. As the corner was sent into the box, Districts? S. Bryant jumped the highest and headed the ball into the back of the net to bring the scores level at 3-3.
Just as Districts seemed to be controlling the game, APIA instantly replied through who else but D. Calvi who scored her fourth of the game as the ball was sent over the away side?s back line, blasting the ball into the back of the net from just outside the box.
Districts? S. Bryant didn?t wait long before she was back in the thick of the action first with a header over the keeper thanks to a dead ball and then by taking on two defenders and curling the ball into the goal ensuring that all three points went to the away side.
Despite the game being an end-to-end affair, the only shadow on the game was APIA?s talisman F. Dimino?s season ending knee injury. With any luck her injury is not as bad as expected however it is an incident, which has become far too prominent in women?s football.
Nepean FC 2 – 2 Northern Tigers
In a fixture which was always going to provide goals, strong tackles and great atmosphere, Nepean were able to grab a point from title hopefuls Northern Tigers. With club captain Gab Dal Pozzo getting on the scoresheet, it might not have been the result the away side were after but was still a valiant performance.
UNSW Lions 3 – 1 St. George FC
A good day to be a UNSW Lions player as the club got maximum points against a St. George side who were missing a number of key players. With in form striker Ayse Adalis adding another two goals to her hunt for the 2012 Golden Boot Award. St. Georges? coach might not have been pleased with the result but was definitely impressed with the improvement make from last weekend?s game to today.
Southern Branch 1 – 1 Sydney Olympic
A point won by Olympic but for the girls from Southern Branch it was points dropped. With a goal in each half of the game, it was Branch who lacked the killer instinct to push for a second and winning goal before Olympic hit back in the 80th minute through K. Manias.
Western NSW Mariners 1 – 6 Parramatta Lady Hawks.
In front of their home crowd the Mariners were completely outclassed by the travelling side. Scoring just the one goal and an own goal, Mariners will spend their week off rebuilding and reshaping the squad ahead of their next game against Nepean FC. For Parramatta, their girls were given the chance to shine with five different scorers, the club proved why they are unstoppable all over the park and not just a one player team.
Reserve Grade
In the Reserve Grade, APIA were down at the break 2-1 against Southern Districts only to come out in the second half and dominate the play winning the match 6-2.
The girls from Northern Tigers were very happy with their performance as they beat Nepean FC 3-1 away from home. UNSW Lions achieved with 5-0 win over St. George at David Phillips Field with technical director Sally Paterson proud of her side?s current brand of football. Sydney Olympic fell to the hands of Southern Branch 2-0 whilst Parramatta ripped Mariner?s squad apart claiming a 4-1 win out in Bathurst.
-By Peter Nowakowski
