Women’s Premier League Round 4 Review
Sydney University jumped into the top five and Inter Lions now sit just behind Illawarra Stingrays, the top of the table is becoming quite congested with seven all vying for the lead and with the fixtures scheduled in the coming rounds we should start to get a better picture of how the top five will eventuate.
NWS Koalas Vs Manly United
It was the perfect autumn day at the picturesque ELS Hall Park, where NWS Koalas took the field against Manly United FC. Where the home team, was looking to consolidate their high position on the table, but in the second half as the day drew on the lights at the field were turned on, but Manly turned the lights out on the their opponent and Manly have now joined them as equal fifth on the table.
Manly kicked off and right from the start NWS Koalas immediately gained possession and attacked down the right and a searching cross by Daila Borg was met by Emma Stewart who beat the Manly Goal Keeper to the ball, only to see her ball scrambled off the goal line.
Again, NWS Koalas attacked with a probing through ball, but the Manly Keeper Alyssa Harris was off her line to blot out the danger. A poor clearance by Manly fell into the path of Emma Stewart and with the Manly Goal Keeper out of position, she tried to float the ball into the goal, but shot went directly into the hands of the grateful Manly keeper, Alyssa Harris.
Again a Manly back bass, was chased down my Emma Stewart forcing the goal keeper into a poor clearance, but the NWS Koalas could not take advantage of the moment. Manly started to come into the game, and into the 17th minute a defence splitting pass to Alex Kent whose cross into the NWS Koala penalty area was well read by Rachel Perrins to force a corner.
NWS Koalas were exploiting the Manly Defence who was playing square at the back with balls over the top which they failed to defend, but they were fortunate that the chances presented to NWS Koalas were not taken, through poor finishing or were thwarted by the Manly Goal Keeper.
After twenty minutes of play, Manly Countered a goal scored by Tiaran Powell was disallowed for an offside decision, much to the disappointment of the Manly Fans.
A poor pass back by Jessica Seaman, was almost intercepted by Tiarn Powell for Manly and from the ensuring play, she received the ball again twelve meters out and her shot struck the upright with the Goal Keeper well beaten.
Manly continued to press and had their opposition under pressure and were winning the ball in midfield to take the attack to the NWS Koalas. Against the run of play, in the 30th minute, a long free kick taken by Jessica Seaman, was misjudged by the Manly defence and Emma Stanbury ran onto the ball and as they had threated to do previously, this time she slammed the ball into the left hand corner of the net from fifteen meters out.
Following the goal, Manly was stung into action and put pressure on the NWS Koalas? goal and Tiarn Powell missed a virtual sitter from eight meters out.
In the 35th minute, Koalas tried to hit back from a break down the right and pinpoint cross by Katarina Kraft was put into the path of Daila Borg but her volley from six meters went straight into the hands of the Manly Keeper.
Just before half time both teams had chances, the first fell to Manly where Ellen Wheatley, who had only the goal keeper to beat, but took too long finish and the ball was cleared. Right on half time, the Manly defence was in trouble, with another long ball from Rachel Perrins to Emma Stanbury and her chance was also wasted.
As the teams left the field for half time, Manly probably felt hard done by as they had, had the better of the play, hitting the post twice and could not equalise because of poor finishing.
The second half began as the first, with Emma Stewart winning the ball in a strong tackle just after the kick off and sent away Katarina Kraft whose cross was blocked for a corner. Just a few minutes later, Katarina Kraft again ran onto a long ball from Emma Stewart whose ball into the danger zone was missed and again NWS Koalas missed a great chance to go to a two goal lead, which they would regret later.
In the 55th minute, a delightful combination of passes down the left between Jessie Wharepouri and Tiarn Powell whose delightful clip over the Koalas Goal Keeper which struck the underneath of the crossbar and dropped in to tie the scores at one a piece.
Immediately after the kick off, NWS Koalas went onto the attack and received and indirect free kick for high feet twelve yards out from goal, but they wasted the opportunity, which should have been retaken as Manly players were only three yards from the ball.
In the 60th minute, a miss timed back pass by Jessica Seaman was pounced upon by Jessie Wharepouri, whose shirt was pulled and the player was impeded, a free kick was given plus a yellow card in which the Koalas were lucky as Jessica Seaman was the last player and could have easily received a red.
The ensuing free kick was taken by Tiarn Powell, whose stinging shot again rattled the crossbar to rebound into play. In the next ten minutes Manly were dominating the game and twice found themselves in goal scoring positions, the first by Liz Morison with her first touch almost scoring but the Koalas Goal Keeper Cassie Nader was smartly off her line to block. Also, Tiarn Powell had a great chance, beating the goal keeper with her shot, but the ball was deflected away.
Manly then went to the lead after good lead up work, again by Tiarn Powell and Anna Nakao who found Sarah Roger whose direct shot was fumbled by Koalas Goal Keeper Cassie Nader allowing the ball to slip through her legs into the net gifting manly the lead with a soft goal. Manly continued on in the same vein with Liz Morison cracking another shot past the Koalas Goal Keeper, only to see another goal bound effort smash into the upright.
In the 85th minute, the NWS Koalas trying to get back into the game, had a cracking shot from Daila Borg, from twelve metres turned around the post with a strong diving save from the Manly Keeper Alyssa Harris.
Just on full time, Manly again won the ball in a dangerous area and a pin point cross from Liz Morrison, found Kristie Crawford who made a ten metre run into the area and headed the ball around the oncoming goal keeper, thus sealing a well-earned 3-1 victory for her side.
Manly United?s Coach, Grant Lee was pleased with the team?s performance and victory, ?? It was a really good team performance today, I thought everyone did their job, they all worked hard for each other, and they all supported each other very well.?
Owing to the absence of head coach Gerry Gomez NWS Koalas stand in Leigh Wardell commented ?We were not doing what we planned on doing, we were getting pressured all over the park, every the ball was there were two of them, but that means there was one of us free, but we could not find that free player,?
?It is a pretty hard goal to recover from, but, you just forget about it, it?s history and go on and keep trying to play. We were a little bit hesitant; we were not actually proactive as we should have been.?
NWS Koalas VS Manly United FC
Sunday 15th of April
At ELS Hall Park
NWS Koalas: 1. C.Nader 2. B.Simmons 3. C.Dimarco 4. J.Seaman 7. R. Jones 8. D.Borg 9. R.Perrins 10. E.Stewart 12. K.Kraft (27. J.Booty 68?) 16. E.Stanbury 35. B.Koster
Subs not used: 37 L.Carr 11. L.Neilson 19. N.Ransom 13. G.Stylianou
Coach: Leigh Wardell (Standing in for Gerry Gomez)
Yellow Card(s): 4. J.Seaman 60?
Manly United FC: 1. A.Harris 2. G.O?Toole 3. A.Wilson 5. E.Wheatley 6. A.Nakao 7. R.Parsons 9. L.Neveille 11. K.Crawford 12. A.Kent (10. L.Morison 65?)14. T.Leggett 16. J.Wharepouri (4. S.Roger) 17. T.Powell 18. K.Griffin 19. A.Cabezas
Subs: 20. A.Sweetnam 13. I.Walker
Coach: Grant Lee
Yellow Card(s): 12. A.Kent 54? 2. O?Toole 54?
Blacktown Spartans 0 Macarthur Rams 5 (R Cartwright 6/26m S Haim 65m E Williams 82/86m),
Macarthur Rams confirmed their top flight position on the table, with an excellent win over Spartans at Lynwood Park. The Rams took the lead early in the first half, with an early goal by Renee Cartwright catapulted on the road to victory. Despite strong opposition from the Spartans, in the last twenty minutes of the game Macarthur consolidated their victory in the last twenty minutes with goals from Stephanie Haim and Elisha Williams and continued their climb up the table.
Inter Lions 7 (H Makrillos 37/46/58m C Cannuli 69/74/83m Z Uzunlar 85m) Marconi Stallions 5 (T Polias 11/38m T Camilleri 15m S Muscat 18/25m),
Marconi came out of the blocks with all guns blazing to run to a 4-0 lead in the first 25minutes of what became an amazing match and an unbelievable comeback by Inter Lions to overrun Marconi in the final stages of what was an incredible match. Polias, Camilleri and Muscat put the hurt on quick, with each snagging a goal or two in the first 25 minutes. Inter struck back, with excellent show by both Heidi Makrilos and Catherine Cannuli , who each took home three goals as the game pressed on, Servet Uzunlar confirmed the win, putting away a goal in the closing minutes of the match. Comments before by Inter Lions coach to their commitment of attacking football has reaped the rewards in what was already stated as an incredible game.
Northbridge FC 0 Illawarra Stingrays 6 (A Mayo 10m K Bonilla 31m M Carney 48/69m C Danyi 60m J Marsh 78m),
Illawarra Stingrays continued on their winning form, completely overrunning the new comers to the league Northbridge, with a powerful display. Mayo opened the game with a quick goal in the opening 10minutes, Northbirdge held them off until just before half time where Bonilla put away another. Spurred on by this, Carney, Danyi and Marsh each found themselves at the goal in the second half, which lead them to a resounding victory. It was the debut game for Northbridge?s new player Thea Slatyer, who despite the loss, was an inspiration for the young side.
Central Coast Mariners 5 (T Myers 35m R Wynne 41m J Thornley 51/73m O Keane 71m) Sutherland Shire 0,
Central Coast Mariners confirmed their previous win over Blacktown Spartans was not a flash in the pan, with an enterprising and complete win over the luckless Sutherland Shire, which has anchored them in the bottom part of the table. Tamara Myers drew the first blood of the match, putting a goal away in the final 10minutes of the first half; this was quickly followed up by a goal from Rachel Wynne. Joanna Thornley, opened the first half with a goal and followed this up later in the last twenty minutes of the match, the second coming quickly after a goal from Oriana Keane.
Sydney University 4 (J Kingsley 55/64/89m O Kennedy 57m) Gladesville Ravens 0.
The students have continued their rapid climb up the table, proving their previous form was not a fluke, with an enterprising and convincing 4-0 victory over Gladesville Ravens, who are now anchored equal last on the table. While Gladesville put up a valiant fight in the first half, a goal in the 55th minute by Kingsley saw the floodgates open, with Kennedy quickly following it up, and then Kingsley finishing the game with another two, one goal right before full time.
Reserve Grade
Illawarra have dominated the round, continuing their undefeated run, with a staggering 10-0 victory over the hapless Northbridge, joining Marconi who are also undefeated at the top of the table.
NWS Koalas and Manly fought out a very tough 3 all draw, with Koalas scoring the equaliser in the 88th minute.
Blacktown Spartans 0 Macarthur Rams 1,
Inter Lions 0 Marconi Stallions 6,
NWS Koalas 3 Manly United FC 3,
Northbridge FC 0 Illawarra Stingrays 10,
Central Coast Mariners 1 Sutherland Shire 0,
Sydney University 0 Gladesville Ravens 0.
-By Tyler Corry
