Women?s Premier League Round 13 Review

With two games washed out and the match of the day moved to an alternate ground disruption was again the name of the game but the players soldiered on against the elements.
The Gladesville Ravens v Inter Lions and Marconi Stallions v Manly United FC matches were those washed out on the day.
The Rams v Stingrays match was moved from Lynwood Park to J.J.Kelly Park. The two teams were greeted by a cold, powerful gale that had your scribe wishing he?d worn his thermal underwear. The game itself promised to be one that would raise the body temperature as these two talented sides went into battle.
The opening minutes saw both teams start cautiously with Illawarra holding the territorial advantage. However, Macarthur?s first real raid of consequence saw Renee Rollason hold the ball up beautifully before knocking it back to Kylie Ledbrook. Ledbrook steadied at the edge of the box, pulled the trigger and gave The Rams the lead after eight minutes play.
Rams grew in confidence from this success. They started to dominate the play with some creative attacking football. Both Renee Cartwright and Renee Rollason were on the end of some nice passing football but neither was able to find the back of the net. In the 15^th minute Ledbrook saw her second scoring opportunity materialise only to shoot wide of goal.
The Stingrays were really struggling to find any traction; since the goal had been scored Macarthur had harassed the Illawarra goalmouth with a succession of attacks. In the 23^rd minute Rams were awarded a free kick some 25 metres from the Illawarra goal. Renee Rollason?s powerful strike looked destined for glory before a finger tip save from Stingrays keeper Dimi Poulos knocked the ball against the crossbar. Unfortunately for Poulos and Illawarra the ball rebounded to the feet of Kylie Ledbrook who made no mistake, drilling the ball into the back of the net. The visitors were now out to a 2-0 lead.
Carney, Cooper and Miller tried hard to rally the troops for Illawarra but their offense lacked any potency. Heading towards half time Rams looked in complete control with Stingrays fans wondering how their side was going to find their way back into the match. Illawarra did respond with a short period inside the Macarthur half but, apart from a solid shot on goal by Miller, the home side failed to test the Rams keeper.
In the 43^rd minute an inch perfect ball from Laura Donnelly found the head of Stephanie Haim in front of the Illawarra goal. Haim?s effort looked in but was brilliantly saved by Stingrays Dimi Poulos who popped the ball over the crossbar.
The half time whistle blew with Macarthur maintaining their 2-0 advantage. Stingrays needed to find some inspiration from their team discussion in the break.
After half time Macarthur were the first to apply pressure. They manufactured a good opportunity for Renee Cartwright only to see her shot fly over the crossbar. Stingrays keeper Poulos failed to stop the ball cleanly on two occasions but Macarthur were unable to take advantage.
In the 52^nd minute Laura Donnelly again crossed the ball sweetly into the face of the Illawarra goal. After two players contested the ball in the air the bounce came through to Stephanie Haim on the left hand edge of the penalty box. Haim had time to take a touch, line up her shot and neatly tuck away Macarthur?s third goal.
After this goal the match tended to see saw for about ten minutes. Whether it was a matter of Illawarra?s pride kicking in or Macarthur taking their foot off the pedal the game evened out.
However, in the 64^th minute a subtle touch on the edge of the penalty area by Kylie Ledbrook released Renee Cartwright at goal. Her finish was sublime, leaving Macarthur with a 4-0 lead. Within two minutes Macarthur were further in front with Renee Rollason making it 5-0 to the visiting side.
Illawarra?s defence was at sixes and sevens trying to close down the movement of the Rams attack. Tamika Wearing entered the fray as a substitute for Rams enforcer Danielle Brogan.
In the 77^th minute Rams broke forward from defence with Brooke Starrett making a strong run before combining with Stephanie Haim and Renee Cartwright to prise open the Illawarra defence. Cartwright looked certain to score but was denied by a deft defensive touch by the Stingrays.
Both teams then took the opportunity to bring on substitutes; Macarthur replacing Renee Cartwright with Jenna Crane whilst Illawarra swapped Pearce for Redman.
The 85^th minute saw Illawarra?s best attack of the game with Michelle Carney racing into a one on one situation with Rams keeper Burke. The Macarthur custodian was up to the task though; smothering Carney?s shot to maintain the clean sheet.
The full time whistle came as something of a blessing for the home side. Macarthur?s 5-0 win was the worst defeat I?ve seen inflicted on a Stingrays side in my time as the women?s football reporter.
Macarthur Rams did play very well. Coach Matt Turvey was pleased with his team?s performance. However, Illawarra didn?t seem to click into gear at any stage today. It was a rather listless effort which Rams took full advantage of. Surely the Premiers will be looking to bounce back hard after their results of the last two weeks.
MACARTHUR RAMS 5 (K.Ledbrook 8/23m, S.Haim 52m, R.Cartwright 64m, R.Rollason 66m)
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 0
Over at Henley Athletic Field Central Coast Mariners Academy were hoping to repeat their solid form from last Sunday?s draw against Illawarra Stingrays when they met Sydney University.
This match had been transferred from Pluim Park due to the state of the pitch.
Central Coast put in another credible effort but were unable to come away with any points from this one. Sydney University, with a goal in each half from striker extraordinaire Jenna Kingsley, maintained their top three position with a hard fought win.
The results of the last two weeks are certainly a positive for the Mariners girls. They have really given a competitive display of their abilities.
Sydney University continue to have the look of title contenders. Next week they encounter a real test of their mettle when they come up against Macarthur Rams.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS ACADEMY 0
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2 (J.Kingsley 20/81m)
Blacktown Spartans excited their home crowd with a spectacular start against Sutherland Shire.
A goal from Lauren Mahoney in the 2^nd minute saw Blacktown on their way before Linda O?Neill (11m) and Kathryn Mladineo (15m) added extras to give The Spartans a 3-0 lead.
A start like this may have been enough to kill the self belief in any side but, to Sutherland?s credit, they did not throw in the towel. By the 26^th minute they had snatched one goal back through Siobhan Dibley. On the brink of half time they came right back into the match with a second goal to Liana Danaskas.
Blacktown fought back after the break and, as time ticked away, they looked likely to hold on to all three points. However, in the 82 minute of play Kristina Glisic scored an equaliser for Sutherland; a goal that defined a dramatic comeback.
Blacktown would be shattered to have had this match in their grip for so long yet not been able to close it out. Sutherland will be buoyed, and relieved, to have emerged from a deep abyss to save face.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 3 (L.Mahoney 2m, L.O?Neill 11m, K.Mladineo 15m)
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 3 (S.Dibley 26m, L.Danaskos 44m, K.Glisic 82m)
At ELS Hall Park the NWS Koalas v Northbridge FC First Grade match was the only game scheduled for the day.
Katarina Kraft got things off to a great start for the home side with a goal in the 21^st minute. Rhian Davies restored the equilibrium with a well taken strike two minutes later before Matilda star Ellyse Perry put The Koalas back in front within two minutes. One minute later Anna Mclean made it 3-1 for The Koalas; four goals scored in five minutes!
Things went quiet for the rest of the half, which must have been a relief for the much stressed scoreboard attendant. Going into the break 3-1 down the Northbridge girls knew that they faced a long road back.
To their credit Northbridge kept NWS at bay until the 76^th minute when Daila Borg scored before Emma Stanbury rounded out the scoring with her goal in the 82^nd minute.
Northbridge tried hard but this was simply a matter of NWS Koalas being a little too good.
NWS KOALAS 5 (K.Kraft 21m, E.Perry 25m, A.McLean 26m, D.Borg 76m, E.Stanbury 82m)
NORTHBRIDGE FC 1 (R.Davies 23m)
It was great to see four matches played with plenty of goals keeping the fans on their feet. There certainly are a few catch up games to come in the next couple of weeks but the competition is rising towards an exciting climax.
Next weekend sees a number of vital matches although some of our leading sides will be missing players to the Matildas squad which meets New Zealand at WIN Stadium on Sunday. The Illawarra Stingrays v Gladesville Ravens Women?s Premier League match will be the curtain raiser for that international fixture; a great thrill for all players involved.
Let?s hope for a sun drenched week with a good drying wind that insures good surfaces for our games next Sunday.
See you all at the game.
-By Ross Anderson