Women’s Premier League Round 7 Review

It also saw some unexpected results, with Gladesville bringing the on the move Macarthur Rams to a halt too with a draw. Inter Lions suffered a defeat from Sutherland, and if this round proves one thing, table position won?t guarantee expected results one way or another.
NWS Koala Vs Illawarra Stingrays
It was a brilliant afternoon for soccer, unlike the week before, the Sun was shining and the chilled fingers of winter were no were to be felt. There was an enthusiasm to the crowd and anyone could tell this was a game both sides had looked forward too, not having locked horns in the competition since last year?s grand finale.
At the kick off NWS Koalas showed their intentions and began to press right from the outset, the game was only two minutes old when a great cross from Rachel Perrins eluded the defense and found Daila Borg, whose first time volley was hit over the bar.
Koala?s continued as the game began, controlling the play through the experience of the Ellyse Perry and combing well in mid field to set up attacks on the Stingrays? goal.  The Stingrays worked hard to gain possession and Zoeie Redman cut through the Koala?s defense to see her cross palmed away by Koala?s goal keeper Lizzie Durack, only to see the ball bounce into a dangerous position, but none of the Stingrays were following up to put away the rebound.
Koalas again came into the attack in the 14^th minute through Ellyse Perry, who beat two defenders with good skill, but her delicately placed chip soared just over the crossbar.
Stingrays hit back through Kimberly Bonilla, who was in position to receive a long throw, but her shot was deflected for a corner. The stingrays again had another chance from a free kick at 25 metres out and the shot by Kimberly Bonilla cannoned into the Koalas wall and was gathering by Lizzie Durack.
The NWS Koalas played long ball into the Stingrays defensive third and Emma Stanbury was fouled and the free kick from out wide was worked well by Ellyse Perry and Rachel Perrins whose shot was deflected for a corner, and from the following play the ball was headed home, by close range from Anna Mclean, putting NWS Koalas in front 1-0.
Koalas kept up the pressure and Emma Stewart, who ran onto a through ball on the right side of the Stingrays penalty box, drove the ball firmly across goal, but Emma Stansbury arrived a fraction late and the chance went begging.
Koalas were playing balls into behind the Stingrays? defence and sent away Katarina Kraft, who beat the advancing Stingrays goal keeper to the ball, but her touch was too heavy and the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Koalas again had good chances down the right, but Katrina Kraft was too slow in getting the ball across and the advantage was lost. Stingrays were finding it hard to find their way into the game, but when they did, on quick counters chances fell to Michelle Carney, Kimberly Bonilla and Erica Halloway, but could not take their opportunities.
In the 40^th minute, a poor clearance from, D.Poulos the Illawarra Stingrays goal keeper, fell to Emma Stewart and with an empty goal beckoning ballooned her shot well over the vacant goal.
Just before half time, Emma Stewart had a clear run to goal, but was too slow to take advantage as the defence closed her down and again another good chance was wasted.
The NWS Koalas were looking to go into half time one goal up, but it was not to be, as right on half time a long ball from the Illawarra midfield was badly misjudged by the Koalas defence and allowing Michelle Carney to round the goal keeper and place into the empty net to level the scores at 1-1.
Half time NWS Koalas 1 ? Illawarra Stingrays 1
The second half began with both sides trying to gain ascendency but the NWS Koalas came closest with the shot by Emma Stewart which deflected for a corner. Koalas again were pressing to regain the lead when a well-placed cross from the left by Anna Mclean managed to elude everybody in the Illawarra goal mouth. The ball was won back outside the penalty area by the Koalas and a ball that split the defence found Emma Stewart once again in front of goal, but her reaction was too slow allowing the goal keeper to block, keeping the Stingrays in the match.
As the match continued it seemed that whichever team had possession of the ball would attack the other and when possession was lost each side was under pressure to hold on as the game spiralled from end to end.
Chances fell to players on both sides, but neither could take advantage to put their team into the lead.
In the 57^th minute, the Illawarra Stingrays had the best of chances through Michelle Carney, who turned her defender inside out ten metres from goal, but her shot was deflected for a corner. The best chance in this period for the NWS Koalas fell to Daila Borg who ran onto a pin point cross from Ellyse Perry, with only the goal keeper to beat could only meekly deliver the ball into the goal keeper?s arms.
In the 61^st minute the Stingrays went ahead with a well-earned goal, with great inter passing between Erica Halloway, Michelle Carney and Kimberly Bonilla with a final pass to Zoeie Redman who found the back of the net with a rising shot from ten metres to put the Stingrays in front for the first time in the match.
They should have gone further ahead when a good ball was played to Caitlin Cooper, but was too slow to take the opportunity and put the game out of NWS Koalas? reach.
The Koalas answered the challenge and fought back and missed their great chance to draw level, when a through ball with the defence beaten was run on to by Emma Stanbury, who found herself with only the goal keeper to beat but was not up to the challenge and the keeper, D.Poulos parried her shot.
Just minutes after, Anna Mclean had a great opportunity from eight metres out and shot across the goal to the far post, but the ever present goal keeper D.Poulos was on hand for another great save.
The Koala?s continued to push hard and had a variety of chances to equalise, but could not deliver the final blow, as the Stingrays defence held firm, until the 85^th minute a 40 metre free kick by Rachel Perrins was misjudged by D.Poulos in the Stingray goal and it sailed over her outstretched arms and the equaliser for the Koalas had arrived.
In the closing minutes, Illawarra Stingrays had to the chance to take the lead, when a free kick by Kimberly Bonilla was headed wide of goal.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were probably satisfied with a point a piece, although both coaches would probably feel that their team had enough chances to take all three points.
NWS Koalas coach Gerry Gomez was pleased with his team?s performance on the field today, saying ?I think we played really well, I think we should have finished Illawarra in the first half, we missed a couple of one on ones.?
?We created enough chances to score for three games, it?s something we need to work on and having four new players upfront this year, it is something that we are working on and hopefully it will all come together in the next few games, we are happy with a draw the girls worked hard and never gave up.?
Lui Belisto, in the absence of Coach Steve Marsh commented on the Stingrays game, ?First half, not happy at all to be honest. We had a bit of a chat at half time, we basically went out there and picked things up, we had better structure in the second half, so it was good. At 2-1 I thought we had them, but soccer is a funny game and it ended up 2-2.?
?The girls dug in well today, we h ad a lot injuries and a lot of girls stepping up from the reserve grade, so at the end of the day happy with the result?
NWS Koalas 2 (A McLean 24m R Perrins 84m) Illawarra Stingrays 2 (M Carney 45m Z Redman 62m),
At ELS Hall Park
3pm Sunday 6^th of May
NWS Koalas 1. D.Durack 5. A.McLean 8. D.Borg 12. K.Kraft 16. E.Stanbury (27. J.Booty 85?) 2. B.Simmons 10. E.Stewart 7. R.Jones 3. C.Dimarco 36. E.Perry
Subs: 20. C.Nader 34. J.De Sooza 28. A.Jagelman 15. B.Koster
Coach: Gerry Gomez
Illawarra Stingrays 1. D.Poulos 3. K.Clay (4. S.Fenech 64?) 12. K.Clarke 16. M.Cox 8. E.Halloway 15. C.Cooper 5. J.Cooper 6. Z.Redman 10. M.Carney 11. K.Bonilla 14. J.Marsh
Subs: 2. C.Constable 13. C.Belsito 17. J.Baker
Coach: Steve Marsh (Absent)
Yellow Card(s): 8. J.Cooper 86?

Manly United FC 2 (T Powell 31/50m) Sydney University 0,
Manly United has once again proven their place in the top five of the table, defeating another of the competitions top contenders, Sydney University 2-0. Tiarn Powell proved to be the player of the day for Manly, with a goal in each half and the uncontested master of the net for the day.
Sutherland Sharks 3 (C Arnold 17m S Joannidis 51m E Grey 55m) Inter Lions 1 (M Kalogeropoulos 90m),
Sutherland have completely turned the form guide around after conceding 8 goals against Macarthur in the last round bounced back to defeat the potentially high scoring Inter Lions who only saved face with a consolation goal in the 90^th minute. Sutherland opened the match early with Claire Arnold putting one away in the 17^th minute. The game was deadlocked until the 51^st minute, which was Stefani Jonnidis put away their second, which was quickly followed by Elizabeth Grey in the 55^th minute to put them well in the lead. Maria Kaladopolous put away a consolation goal for Inter just as the whistle blew. Sutherland has now moved away from the last two positions on the table and with a game in hand could challenge their rivals for a higher position.
Gladesville Ravens 2 (F Agar 41/48m) Macarthur Rams 2 (K Ledbrook 30m R Cartwright 82m)
Gladesville Ravens belied their bottom position on the table with a hard fought two all draw against the high flying, high scoring Macarthur Rams. After falling behind in the 30^th minute with Kylie Ledbrook putting one away for Macarthur, Gladesville hit back with two good goals from Agar only to concede in the last eighty minutes of the match, with Renee Cartwright equalizing, enabling Macarthur Rams to salvage a point
Marconi Stallions 4 (R Tomkins 6m T Polias 31m T Camilleri 65m H Petinos 85m) Blacktown Spartans 1 (L O?Niell 33m),
Marconi Stallions dominated the field against Blacktown this weekend. Right from the first whistle the pushed their offense and Tomkins put the first goal of the game away in the 6^th minute. Polias put the second away for Marconi, in the 33^rd minute it looked like Blacktown might have been back in the game, as Linda O?Niell put one away. It was a hard thought second half, but Marconi came out on top, with Camilleri putting away a third in the 65^th minute and Pentinos ending it slotted away the fourth and final goal in the 85^th minute.
Central Coast Mariners 0 Northbridge FC 0
Its two points in two weeks now for Northbridge, who managed to draw with the Central Coast Mariners on their home turf. The second point now sees Northbridge tied equal last and while not moving up the ladder, Central Coasts one point has protected their position and still sit in 7^th as they did last round.

RESCHEDULED GAMES:
 ROUND 4
 Inter Lions 0 NSWIS 7
Rescheduled from the 4^th round was Inter Lions game against the so far undefeated NSWIS. Once again proving their domination of every team they come across, the NSWIS team obliterated Inter Lions in a 7-0 Victory.
ROUND 6:
NSWIS 4 Marconi Stallions 2
NSWIS?s round six match saw them come up against the Marconi Stallions. NSWIS came out on top, but not unscathed as Marconi managed to put two away against the unstoppable juggernaut.
RESERVE GRADE:
Central Coast Mariners have climbed all the way to third place in the seventh round, but still trails five points behind Marconi and Illawarra who are both tied at 18 points. With a loss against Manly United, Sydney University has fallen out of the top 5, and Macarthur Rams win against Gladesville has allowed them to sit just behind Manly, now sitting in the 5^th spot on the ladder.
Manly United FC 2 Sydney University 1,
 NWS Koalas 0 Illawarra Stingrays 2,
Sutherland Sharks 6 Inter Lions 3,
Gladesville Ravens 0 Macarthur Rams 1,
 Marconi Stallions 3 Blacktown Spartans 0,
 Central Coast Mariners 8 Northbridge FC 0.
-By Tyler Corry