Women’s Premier League Round 5 Review
You won?t find many nil all draws, as this round sees some high scoring matches.
It was a foreboding week for the league, with torrential rain which looked to see a washed out week end, but it was not meant to be, as the sun cleared away and every game was good to go and as the clouds rolled away in every game the goals rolled in.
Macarthur Rams Vs. Central Coast Mariners
While the rain had managed to stay away for most of the weekend allowing games to go on uninterrupted, it reared its ugly head just as the first grade game of at Lynwood park was about to kick off. Neither team was bothered though, as a stoic aura of concentration could be felt by all those in attendance, both teams knew this would not be an easy game, the Rams fielding their team of experienced and ?battle hardened? players and the Central Coast Mariners Academy, a young inexperienced team looking to prove themselves.
At the commencement of the game, Central Coast tried to take the imitative early, with Kristyn Pearce sending a raking ball down the left to Tamara Myers, but her cross was cleared away by Claire Walsh and almost immediately possession again fell to Kristyn Pearce and then her long ball sent away again down the left to Lily Bardsley who forced a corner, but the chance went unanswered.
Macarthur hit back strongly with a through ball from Kylie Ledbrook who found Renee Cartwright, who shot meekly straight at the goal keeper. Macarthur were then putting pressure on the Central Coast defense and from a throw in the ball was received by Renee Rollason, who turned her defender not once, but twice and drove a ball across the goals into the far right hand corner, leaving the Central Coast Goal Keeper stranded.
Mcarthur continued to probe the central coast defense and were playing long balls in behind with purpose that the Central Coast defense had trouble handling, pressure mounted from these balls and Macarthur found themselves in good position out wide, but the cross went straight to the Rachel Potts.
Macarthur attacked again, and once again a cross from Kylie Ledbrook was not cleared properly forcing Rachel Potts into a sharp save at her near post.
Macarthur were taking control of the game and a long switch ball from Kylie Ledbrook was misjudged by the Central Coast defense and Renee Cartwright beat the hesitant defense and Goal Keeper to the ball but her lob was just wide of the right hand upright.
Central Coast hit back in the 27th minute when Briony Holcombe placed a well-timed pass into the path of Joanna Thornley, whose shot was only partly blocked by the advancing goal keeper and the ball continued on into the net, to level the scores at 1-1.
Macarthur immediately hit back, attacking down the left hand side, with a very good cut back cross by Stephanie Haimwhich was deflected for a corner, which was cleared by the Central Coast defense that held firm.
Central Coast had the opportunity thirty minutes into the game to go the lead, with a good break again from Lily Bardsley on the counter whose cross was headed wide of the goal by Briony Holcombe.
Macarthur kept attacking but could not find the net for the second goal to take them into the lead, but in the 40th minute, when Renee Rollason found herself one on one with her defender, turned and directed an unstoppable shot into the top far left hand corner of the net, leaving the Central Coast custodian stranded.
From there, Mariners were desperately hoping for the half time whistle, as they were only just hanging on and Macarthur should have gone further ahead when a curling free kick by Kylie Ledbrook hit the cross bar and was cleared, leaving the Mariners 2-1 down at half time.
The second half began, as the first half ended with Macarthur taking charge right from the kick off and again pressure was mounted on the central coast goal, resulting with a cross from Brooke Starrett, which found Renee Rollason, whose lopping header dropped just over the cross bar with the Goal Keeper beaten.
Again Macarthur were unlucky, when a pinpoint ball from Brooke Starrett was met by Danielle Brogan whose shot cannoned into the cross bar as she had remained up field from a previous attack.
By the 60th minute, the tempo of the game had slowed considerably and Macarthur although still controlling the game could not administer the third goal to put them comfortably in front. As the game wore on, a break against the run of play by Kelly Spencer of fifty metres down the right hand side, delivered a ball into the path of Lily Bardsley whose meekly struck shot went straight into the hands of the Macarthur Keeper.
Again Macarthur showed their dominance in the match when a long range shot, by Laura Donnelly was fumbled by the Central Coast Goal Keeper and her blushes were spared as the ball she dropped fell behind, but only went for a corner. From that corner, Macarthur should have gone ahead again, when a header from two metres out, hit the cross bar and the ball was finally cleared.
With 15 minutes to go, Macarthur was starting to tire, and Central Coast striving hard to come back into the game. In the 80th minute, after good lead up play, the finish was wasted by Briony Holcombe who shot wide from six metres, with the goal at her beckon.
In the 84th minute, Macarthur finally put the game to rest, with a great first time finish, by Renee Rollason, after good lead up work and a final pass from Elisha Williams to guarantee the three points for the Macarthur Rams.
Macarthur Rams for all their possession and dominance in the game, made hard work of obtaining the three points, if they had taken all the chances that were on offer the score line would have been higher.
?We managed to get the three points; it?s what we came to do? Macarthur coach Matt Turvey said on his team?s win, but reflected that resulted could have been quite different, ?Probably could have been in a better position at the end of the first half, considering, but a goal keeping error for the one we conceded was frustrating and I think we were getting a little frustrated in the top third and not finishing the chances.?
Central Coast Mariners Academy coach, Steve Roche was happy with his team?s performance despite the loss, ?Always harder to go against more experienced players, they have got 5-6 W-League players, couple of players just came back from Matilda?s camp, so it is always going be like that, but at the end of the day I think we did quite well.?
?It?s still a thing, with self-belief, there are some good players there and they are getting better and better and better and it?s going to take time for them to get to the level where they?re going to back their ability. It is going to take a little time, as they are a young team.? He said.
Macarthur Rams VS Manly United FC
Sunday 22th of April
At Lynwood Park
Macarthur Rams: 1. K. Anthoniz 2. L.Donnelly 3. C.Walsh 5. K.Cook 8. R.Cartwright 10. L.Ledbrook 11. B.Starrett (7. E.Williams 51?) 12.T.Wearing 14. S.Haim 21 (4. J.Crane 79?) . D.Brogan 22.R.Rollason
Subs not used: 6. H.Todd 9. A. Baker 16. L.Kohlet
Coach: Matt Turvey
Yellow Card(s): 21.D.Brogan 72?
Central Coast Mariners: 2. R.Potts 3. E.Markwick 4. K.Pearce 5. L.Metcalf 7.J.Thornley 8. R.Wynne 10. B.Holcombe 11. L.Bardsley 15. O.Keane 16. R.Oavis 23. T.Myers (6. S.Bozanic 64?)
Subs not used: 1. S.Butler 13. A.Morris 19. R. Johnson 25. K.Spencer
Coach: Steve Roche
Yellow Card(s): 15. O.Keane 70?
Manly United FC 6 (E Wheatley 1m G O?Toole 8m A Kent 25m J Wharepouri 65/75m) Inter Lions 0
With a Decimating win over the Inter Lions, Manly now finds itself in the top five. It was only the opening minute when they first struck, as Ellen Wheatly put on in the net moments after the whistle was blown. Leaving little room for respite, it was in the 8th minute that Gemma O?Toole found her own way into the net. In the 25th minute, Alex Kent scored the last goal of the first half, and Manly were sitting in the lead. It was not until late into the second half that the goals saw action again, as Jessie Wharepouri put two into the back of the net within 10 minutes, leaving Manly the victors.
Marconi Stallions 1 (S Muscat 54m) Illawarra Stingrays 3 (Z Redman 7m C Cooper 83/90m)
Marconi was up against the ?team to beat? this round and found themselves on Illawarra?s home turf after the venue of the game was shifted. Illawarra set the tempo, by scoring early in the 7th minute, as Redman put one away. However, Marconi fought back and after half time equalized with a goal by Muscat in the 54th minute. Marconi were in the match until very close to the end but the stringrays superiority overcame with a brace to Cooper in 83rd and 90th minute, sealing the three points for the Stingrays to remain at the top of the table.
Gladesville Ravens 3 (F Agar 41/44/52m) Blacktown Spartans 4 (M Hansen Kofoed 48/50/77/85m)
The Ravens looking for their first victory of the year, with Fatma Agar proving to be the scoring power house for them, putting two away in the 41st and 44th minute, surrendered a two goal led lead to the Spartans, only to hit the front after Spartans had hit back after half time. It took a superb hat trick to Spartans W-League player Monnique Kofoed to bring the three points? home for the away team with a hard fought victory.
Sutherland Sharks 0 NWS Koalas 5 (B Simmons 22/86m E Stewart 26m Own goal 51m J Seman 86m)
NWS Koalas proved their last round loss against Manly was uncharacteristic and bounced back with a resounding 5-0 victory over the hapless Sutherland Sharks at Harrie Dening Centre. Britt Simmons drew first blood in the 22nd minute and was quickly followed by Emma Stewart in the 26th. It was not until the 51st minute until another goal was scored, and it was an own goal that saw the Koalas move further into the lead, Britt Simmons and Jessica Seaman secured their victory in the final minutes with a goal from each ending the game.
Sydney University 5 (O Kennedy 14/53 J Kingsley 57/84m C Ikonomou 80m) Northbridge FC 4 (C Sullivan 18m C Mcalpine 71m R Lewis 59/65m)
It is in their fifth round that Northbridge scored the first goal of the season and it seemed to have the power to boost morale as Northbridge made Sydney University work for their win. Sydney University opened the game with its first goal in the 14th minute by Kennedy, Northbridge quickly repaid in kind in the 18th minute as Clare Sullivan put Northbridge?s first goal for the season in the net. The game was hard fought, and in the 53rd minute Kennedy put one away for University and then again in the 57th Kingsley slotted in another, but again Northbridge quickly replied in kind and Rachel Lewis hit home in the 59th minute and then followed it up in the 65th minute with another goal. Clarie Mcalpine put another away for Northbridge in the 71st minute and it looked like the game was theirs. Sydney University honed in for the last 10minutes and Kingsley and Ikonomou put one away each, ending the game in Sydney University?s favor.
RESERVE GRADE:
Marconi Stallions has taken the top of the table with their win against Illawarra who are now trailing behind in second place. Manly United are now sitting in third spot after their win against Inter Lions who have fallen to 4th. The NWS Koalas have climbed into the top five, sitting just below Inter, but Sydney University is poised just below them with tied points.
Manly United FC 2 Inter Lions 0,
Marconi Stallions 4 Illawarra Stingrays 0,
Macarthur Rams 3 Central Coast Mariners 1,
Gladesville Ravens 0 Blacktown Spartans 2,
Sutherland Sharks 0 NWS Koalas 2,
Sydney University 4 Northbridge FC 0.
-By Tyler Corry
