Women?s Premier League Round 14 Review
Despite the attraction of the Matildas v New Zealand match at WIN Stadium your intrepid reporter ventured to ELS Hall Park where the NWS Koalas played host to the Marconi Stallions. This match saw one team already in finals contention whilst the other was trying to gather some momentum. In the past Koalas v Stallions clashes have offered plenty of excitement; what was this chapter of their rivalry going to bring?
The opening minutes of the game saw steady football as both sides sought to play themselves into the game. The Koalas were content to build from the back with The Stallions giving them room to do so.
The first real shot of the game came in the 6th minute when a loose pass from Trudy Camilleri was intercepted by NWS Koalas. After the home side surged forward the ball was crossed to Emma Stanbury who shot wide of goal.
The Koalas launched another attack from a throw in when Emma Stewart laid on a nice pass for Katarina Kraft to break clear her attempted cross won her side a corner. A clearance off the line saw Marconi survive, but only just!
Marconi created an opportunity of their own moments later when Evelyn Chronis and Ceyda Cambaz combined before a lay back to Candace Sciberras was blasted over the crossbar.
The Stallions were having a period of territorial dominance but they?d been unable to find their range in and around the 18 yard box. A Marconi free kick was headed clear by The Koalas defence before an advancing Feliz Urkanci sent her shot into the arms of Koalas keeper Liz Durack.
Marconi continued to press but were disposed of the ball on the edge of The Koalas penalty area by Rachel Doyle. Doyle raced up field with the Marconi defence backing off. Doyle combined well with Katarina Kraft before a superb ball saw Daila Borg charging towards goal. Her shot was the perfect ending to a classy Koalas attack; 1-0 Koalas after 23 minutes.
The Koalas seemed to be at their best on the counter attack, again breaking forward after closing down a Marconi attack. Emma Stanbury was the player shooting at goal but she was disappointed with her poor attempt.
Marconi were proving damaging down NWS?s left side through the speedy Evelyn Chronis. The former Koala tested the defence more than once; winning her side a free kick which also brought Koalas defender Anna McLean a yellow card. The free kick failed to threaten The Koalas though as they comfortably maintained their advantage on the scoreboard.
In the 32nd minute the Marconi defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball in their own half. The Koalas grabbed possession through Katarina Kraft who created room for Emma Stewart. Stewart looked as if she was about to be fouled but turned her defender, got the ball on her right foot and slammed home goal number two for the home side. Kraft and Stewart were causing plenty of headaches for the Marconi defence; headaches that were looking likely to continue for the full 90 minutes.
Marconi were making every attempt to find their way back into the match. Urkanci put Petinos away down the flank but The Koalas defence were easily able to deal with her cross towards goal.
In front of their own goal Marconi looked decidedly uncomfortable under any high ball.
Marconi moved forward from defence with Helen Petinos hitting a speculator from 25 metres. The ball bounced awkwardly for Koalas keeper Durack but she managed to regather the ball before danger threatened.
In the 43rd minute The Koalas again threatened the Marconi goal with Emma Stanbury making a nice run on the right. Her cross to the back post found Emma Stewart whose own ball back across goal brought an error from Marconi keeper Karrinda Moodley. Katarina Kraft was on hand to bury the opportunity to give The Koalas a 3-0 lead in the shadows of half time.
Moments later the referee blew the whistle to signal the break with The Koalas seemingly in full control.
The second half commenced with Marconi requiring a significant turnaround to enable them to get back into the match.
Marconi did start in a positive manner but were unable to take any advantage. The final pass was often wasted with The Koalas quick to recover.
Rachel Jones scored herself a yellow card in the 7th minute of the half when she failed to retire ten metres from a free kick and had the ball kicked into her shins. Rachel looked very innocent in doing so!
After their bright start to the half Marconi now found themselves hemmed inside their own half by an enthusiastic Koalas outfit. On the brief forays forward the speed of Evelyn Chronis still looked their best attacking outlet but Marconi were far from lethal. NWS?s Emma Stewart on the other hand was giving the Marconi defence the jitters every time she touched the ball.
The Koalas thought they had scored goal four from a corner but the referee signified a foul on the Marconi keeper which gave the visitors a much needed let off.
Borg and Seaman worked well from a Koalas corner before Seaman?s solid hit towards goal was taken by the leaping Moodley in the Marconi goal.
Samantha Muscat had a glimpse of goal in the 68th minute mark for Marconi only to see her shot fly straight to Koalas keeper Durack.
Rachel Perrins replied with a strong run for The Koalas, passing to the ever present Doyle who slipped the ball to Stewart who shot wide of goal. The Koalas looked composed at either end of the park with Marconi clinging on by their fingertips.
The Stallions frustration had now settled in with shots coming from distance as the visiting side were unable to break down the Koalas defence. Emma Stanbury was on the end of a great through ball for The Koalas but her shot at goal cradled itself in the arms of Stallions keeper Moodley. The Marconi custodian followed this up with a diving save from point blank range which denied The Koalas an extension to their lead. The effort left Moodley injured, however, and she was replaced by reserve keeper Bianca Alchi.
At the 76th minute mark Koalas Coach Gerry Gomez gave Emma Stanbury an early mark, replacing her with Jade Booty. After Booty heralded her entrance with a nice run Marconi went to the opposite end of the field where Evelyn Chronis shot straight to the keeper.
The coaches both made further use of their bench with Sam Muscat being subbed by Marconi with Alexandra Bellantoni coming into the game whilst Daila Borg got a rest when replaced by Jessica De Souza. The Koalas also swapped keepers whilst Marconi brought Christina Ferreyra on for Trudy Camilleri.
In the end no amount of subs were going to make any difference to the result of this game with Marconi unable to breach the NWS Koalas defence. When the final whistle blew The Koalas had run out convincing 3-0 winners.
Marconi carried a significant injury toll into the match but still fielded a side with plenty of talent. The Koalas put them away in tradesmanlike style in a victory that will give the home side plenty of confidence heading into their big clash with Manly United FC next weekend. Marconi?s loss may have ended their slim finals hopes. There?ll be some tough weeks ahead for The Stallions.
NWS KOALAS 3 (D.Borg 23m, E.Stewart 32m, K.Kraft 43m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 0
The big occasion seemed to spark some life into the premiers sagging title hopes when the Illawarra Stingrays put three goals past Gladesville Ravens in each half of their clash at WIN Stadium.
With the match being the curtain raiser for the Matildas v New Zealand international the Stingrays relished performing in front of a big home crowd to record a strong win.
Illawarra?s unofficial mayor Michelle Carney put The Ravens hopes to bed very quickly with a hat trick inside the first twenty two minutes. Carney made it an awesome foursome with another goal seven minutes into the second half before Erica Holloway (62m) and Karen Clarke (65m) finished off the goal rush to leave The Stingrays comfortable 6-0 winners.
The Ravens tried to match the champions but were simply outclassed on the day. The win keeps The Stingrays in the premiership hunt but they?ll need to continue to improve if they hope to hold off the looming challengers.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 6 (M.Carney 7/14/22/52m, E.Holloway 62m, K.Clarke 65m)
GLADESVILLE RAVENS 0
Inter Lions returned to the winner?s list with a 2-0 win over Northbridge FC at Concord Oval.
The Lions scored first with Heidi Makrillos scoring for the home side in the 16th minute. Jessica Martinez extended Inter?s lead with her goal in the 33rd minute leaving the locals with a 2-0 half time lead.
Northbridge FC did well to keep The Lions scoreless in the second stanza. Inter never looked likely to lose but they couldn?t quite finish Northbridge off in a manner they may have expected. Nonetheless, a win is a win and Diamond Joe Baldacci and his girls will be very happy to add another three points to their season?s haul. Can they find a few more wins before season?s end?
INTER LIONS 2 (H.Makrillos 16m, J.Martinez 33m)
NORTHBRIDGE FC 0
Central Coast Mariners Academy were rewarded for their solid form over the last fortnight with a strong 3-1 win over Blacktown Spartans at Pluim Park.
The home side led 1-0 at half time after a 26th minute strike from Miranda Walker. Walker?s second goal, in the 61st minute, broke the game open for The Mariners before Briony Holcombe made it 3-0 in the 77th minute.
Blacktown saved some face with Lauren Bruce?s goal in the 82nd minute but it was too little too late for the Spartans.
The 3-1 win will be a great boost for the Central Coast side. Draws and near misses are handy but nothing beats that winning feeling. Blacktown battled away but were unable to match The Mariners on the day.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS ACADEMY 3 (M.Walker 26/61m, B.Holcombe 77m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 1 (L.Bruce 82m)
Manly United FC scored a comfortable 6-0 win over Sutherland Shire at Cromer Park.
The Manly side were on the scoreboard in the 8th minute when Liz Morison found the back of the net. Tiarn Powell made it 2-0 in the 16th minute with the Manly side looking to be in complete control.
The locals put the match beyond their opponents with a three goal splurge in the five minutes before half time with Ellen Wheatley (40m), Tiarn Powell (44m) and Gemma O?Toole (45m) all rousing the scoreboard attendant from his seat.
With a 5-0 half time lead one may have expected Manly to go right on with it against a demoralised Sutherland side however it wasn?t to be. Anna Nakao added a sixth goal for Manly in the 75th minute but that was to be the sum total of goal scoring action in the final 45 minutes.
Manly?s performance was convincing against a side who have struggled throughout the 2012 season. Bigger games lie ahead for Manly but they give every indication that they are up to the challenge.
MANLY UNITED FC 6 (L.Morison 8m, T.Powell 16/44m, E.Wheatley 40m, G.O?Toole 45m, A.Nakao 75m)
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 0
Sydney University further pressed their claims for honours this season with a hard fought 2-0 win over a weakened Macarthur Rams side at Wentworth Park.
Macarthur went into the game without Matilda squad members Renee Rollason and Danielle Brogan. They suffered a further setback within two minutes of kick off when one half of the Sydney University goal scoring twins, Jenna Kingsley, fired her side into the lead.
Kingsley?s partner in crime, former Young Matilda Olivia Kennedy, put the University girls further in front in the 27th minute. Sydney University maintained this advantage into the half time break and, try as they might, Macarthur could not peg the home side back in the second half.
Given The Rams demolition of Illawarra Stingrays last weekend one may have thought that Macarthur had staked their claim for the title but this loss will put a dent in their hopes of finishing atop the ladder. Sydney University continue to impress; could it be the year of ?the students??
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2 (J.Kingsley 2m, O.Kennedy 27m)
MACARTHUR RAMS 0
We were certainly treated to some fine games of football this weekend. Plenty of goals, a surprise or two and some hard fought tussles further proved the competitive nature of the Football NSW Women?s Premier League. There?s a lot more thrills awaiting us in the coming weeks as we head towards the business end of the season.
See you at the ground next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
