Women?s Premier League Round 15 Review
I?ve always enjoyed reporting from picturesque Peel Park; nestled away amongst the homes near Gladesville. The home team, Gladesville Ravens, were up against the competition?s hottest team Sydney University in what promised to be a challenging afternoon for the locals.
The opening minutes of the game saw both teams settling well. Sydney University were controlling the ball nicely; maintaining possession and promoting lots of movement. However, Ravens were not intimidated, playing some good football of their own, though somewhat more direct than their opponents.
In the ninth minute a loose pass from The Ravens saw the University girls swing into attack with goal scoring ace Jenna Kingsley not wasting her opportunity to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Carlie Ikonomou and Hannah Kimber were setting a solid platform for University through the midfield with Sam Spackman providing good width on the right flank.
Ravens keeper Charlene Borg saved further blushes for her side a few minutes later with a brave save at the feet of Olivia Kennedy.
The Ravens had their first opportunity of the match when they won a corner in the 15th minute. Fatma Agar?s high floating kick zeroed into the University goalmouth only to be taken by a leaping University keeper Ilana Krigstein.
Sydney University were dominating possession which was providing them with ample opportunity to increase their lead but the quality of their finishing was letting them down. Ravens were fighting hard, trying to play an expansive game in attack with Fatma Agar orchestrating from their midfield.
In the 30th minute Fatma Agar was fouled with the referee?s awarding of a free kick bringing some dissent from University?s Hannah Kimber. This saw the referee produce the first yellow card of the day but the free kick itself brought no joy for Ravens. Possession was turned over with the ball forward from Sydney University being allowed to bounce by a hesitant Ravens defence. There was no such hesitation from Jenna Kingsley who burst onto the ball, raced into the box and tucked away goal number two in sublime fashion. After 33 minutes of play it was 2-0 to Sydney University.
The game was now centred in the Gladesville half. Sydney University built their attack well as Gladesville scrambled to hold them at bay.
In the 37th minute a great ball by Olivia Kennedy prised open the Ravens defence for Jenna Kingsley to complete her hat trick. Sydney University were in complete control.
In the 41st minute University won a free kick after Sam Spackman was brought down on the edge of the box. Hannah Kimber?s kick sailed across the front of goal without finding a University head.
Coming into half time Sydney University were awarded a free kick after the referee appeared to invoke the ?six second rule? on the Gladesville keeper. You don?t see that very often! The resulting indirect free kick was blasted over the bar by Carlie Ikonomou before the referee blew the whistle for half time.
The score at the break was 3-0 in favour of Sydney University.
With the resumption after half time Ravens made their first substitution for the match with Alison Crosbie being replaced by Aleshea Bird.
Moments into the half Jenna Kingsley made another solid run, centring the ball towards Olivia Kennedy who was thwarted by a diving Charlene Borg palming it from Kennedy?s path.
Soon after Ravens received a free kick within range for their dead ball specialist Agar but her attempt left a family of red breasted Robins homeless after hitting the top branch of the tree behind the University goal.
Gladesville had started the second stanza in a very competitive mode. They were contesting the ball enthusiastically and putting pressure to the University defence. The University girls were equal to the task though with Emma Schiller marshalling her troops well.
Sydney University then used their bench for the first time, replacing Carlie Ikonomou with Maree Patikas.
Three minutes later University went to the bench again, giving Sam Spackman and early mark as Erin Wilson entered the game. Paul Wade was then left with little choice but to follow suit when Annika Clayton was injured, being replaced by Georgena Attalah.
The bench was the most action packed part of the field at this stage with University then replacing Hannah Kimber with Alesha Clifford. Gladesville swapped keepers with Borg making way for Lauren Scarramuzza. Somewhere amongst all of the comings and goings Fatma Agar also went to the bench, replaced by Jess Dominello.
Sydney University almost added to their tally when pressure in the box by Kennedy and Kingsley lead to an own goal from Gladesville but the goal was disallowed after University were called off side.
It didn?t take long for University to get that one back though. In the 62nd minute they pushed forward before Olivia Kennedy took a ball on the edge of the box and fired a superb shot over the head of the Gladesville keeper to extend the Sydney University lead to 4-0.
Ravens weren?t lacking effort but the gulf in class was beginning to tell. In the 78th minute their defence failed to deal close down the space available to Jenna Kingsley once more, allowing the University striker to turn, advance on goal and fire off a telling shot across the keeper for Sydney University?s fifth goal. Kingsley now had four and nearly added another when Scarramuzza fumbled a shot, relieved to see Kingsley fire over the crossbar.
As the game wound its way towards a finale Sydney University were the team looking the most likely to get the scoreboard attendant busy. Ravens continued to throw themselves at everything they were lacking the flair required to breach the University defence.
An 88th minute Sydney University corner, after a scrambled save by Gladesville, saw the ball fly to the edge of the 18 yard box where Olivia Kennedy won the ball, controlled it?s bounce, transferred to the right foot and went bang. Goal number six was in the back of the net. The Kingsley/Kennedy show was as deadly as ever.
Within moments the full time whistle blew with Sydney University running out 6-0 winners.
Gladesville put up a credible performance. Former Socceroo Captain Paul Wade, back in the coaching driver?s seat at Ravens, was happy to see his team attempt to play football. Gladesville lack players with the X factor of their opponents but should be happy with their effort today.
Sydney University are a classy outfit. They have a solid midfield, well organised defence and two strikers who are at the peak of their powers. Does that describe a possible premiership winning side to you? It sure does to me!
GLADESVILLE RAVENS 0
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 6 (J.Kingsley 9/30/37/78m, O.Kennedy 62/88m)
At Cromer Park a 16th minute goal by Manly?s Ellen Wheatley was enough to see the home side take all three points against NWS Koalas.
This was a close, hard fought match between two sides who are both capable of playing finals football. The Koalas did everything they could to claw the goal back but Manly?s defensive resolve held to give them an important victory.
MANLY UNITED FC 1 (E.Wheatley 16m)
NWS KOALAS 0
At Harrie Dening Centre Sutherland Shire took the lead over Central Coast Mariners Academy in the 39th minute after a goal by Siobhan Dibley.
The home side held this lead into half time, starting the second stanza with high hopes of a morale boosting win.
However, Central Coast have been showing plenty of heart in recent weeks and obviously were in no mood to surrender. Joanna Thornley found the equaliser for Central Coast in the 52nd minute before Miranda Walker became the hero with her 82nd minute winner.
So close for Sutherland but you have to admire Central Coast?s gutsy fightback. The last four weeks have cast them in a very positive light.
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 1 (S.Dibley 39m)
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS ACADEMY 2 (J.Thornley 52m, M.Walker 82m)
Macarthur Rams proved too strong for Blacktown Spartans at Lynwood Park, coming away 5-0 winners.
The Rams were up 3-0 by half time with goals from Renee Cartwright (21m), Steph Haim (27m) and Danielle Brogan (41m). Blacktown dug in after the break, forcing Macarthur to wait until the 70th minute for their fourth goal which was scored by Steph Haim. Kylie Ledbrook completed the scoring for the day in the 75th minute as Macarthur ran out convincing winners.
The Rams continue on their charge towards the finals whilst Blacktown look forward to next Sunday and a clash with Gladesville Ravens.
MACARTHUR RAMS 5 (R.Cartwright 21m, S.Haim 27/70m, D.Brogan 41m, K.Ledbrook 75m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 0
Illawarra Stingrays hosted Northbridge FC at J.J.Kelly Park in a match that proved somewhat more difficult for the Premier League champions than most would have expected.
Northbridge looked to have kept Illawarra scoreless for the first 45 minutes only to concede in the final seconds of the half when Stingrays Karen Clarke found the back of the net.
Northbridge?s woes were added to just four minutes after half time when Blake Miller doubled the home side?s lead. Michelle Carney made it 3-0 in the 76th minute before Miller completed a brace with her 88th minute strike.
Northbridge showed plenty of spirit to stretch their much vaunted opponents. Illawarra were too good eventually but they took a long time to assert their superiority on the scoreboard.
This was a game that raised plenty of questions; mostly about the ability of The Stingrays to continue their string of title successes.
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 4 (K.Clarke 44m, B.Miller 49/88m, M.Carney 76m)
NORTHBRIDGE FC 0
Finally, the Marconi Stallions v Inter Lions game at Marconi Stadium promised to be one with plenty of goal mouth action. It certainly didn?t disappoint with ten goals being scored.
Inter Lions opened the scoring in the 6th minute through Kristy Rohrer. Sam Muscat brought The Stallions level in the 14th minute before Helen Petinos put the home side in front five minutes later.
Evelyn Chronis made it 3-1 to Marconi in the 27th minute before Petinos scored again two minutes later to leave The Stallions with a 4-1 lead. A minute later it was 5-1 as Chronis scored again. This remained the score going into the sheds for the break.
Two minutes after half time Maria Kalogeropoulos gave Inter Lions a glimmer of hope with a goal that made the score 5-2. At this stage the Marconi players? thoughts must have gone back to the first round match where Inter had reeled in a 5-1 Marconi lead to win 7-5; was history about to repeat itself?
The short answer was, no. Inter tried hard but it was Marconi who scored the only other goal of the half with Helen Petinos completing her hat trick in the 60th minute.
The Stallions would have taken some satisfaction from the 6-2 final scoreline. Inter did the best they could under the circumstances. Fielding a very youthful side with plenty of ?names? missing from the team list they struggled to match an enthusiastic Marconi team. This was a nice rebound by Marconi after last week?s disappointing loss to NWS Koalas.
MARCONI STALLIONS 6 (S.Muscat 14m, H.Petinos 19/29/60m, E.Chronis 27/30m)
INTER LIONS 2 (K.Rohrer 6m, M.Kalogeropoulos 47m)
An exciting afternoon of football where the majority of results went the way of the favoured teams. However, most games were keenly contested as results went down to the wire. The competition heavyweights continued to display their dominance with Sydney University and Macarthur Rams, in particular, pushing the title credentials.
There are some great matches to come in the next few weeks. The cream is really rising to the top in the Football NSW Women?s Premier League.
See you at a ground next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
