Round 5 Review: NSW Womens Premier League
Macarthur Rams and the NWS Koalas will steal the headlines this weekend after their impressive wins whilst Marconi fought hard for the 90 minutes to get a win over the Stingrays.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Northern Tigers 1 – 1 Blacktown Spartans FC
Despite playing with fewer than the pre-requisite number of referees, the conditions at Mills Park on Sunday afternoon were perfect. The sun was shining across the field without a cloud in sight, there was a slight breeze sweeping from goal to goal and the pitch was in relatively good knick. Tiger-town was looking Tiger-rific (if you excuse the lame attempt at a pun).
Northern Tigers took the kick off and held the ball for the opening 24 seconds providing seven completed passes before Blacktown Spartans’ Kristi Pavlicevic picked up a poor pass and fired in a long range effort towards goal which was easily saved by Tigers’ keeper Jess Golledge.
Focused on a having a high possession rate, the Spartans looked hungrier than their opposition on the ball, constantly looking for that perfect through ball or creating space for a shot on goal. The Tigers on the other hand looked content to sit back and try to contain the pressure and hope for a counter-attacking burst of energy from Grace ‘ninja’ Ha.
Time after time it was Reagan Mitchell who seemed to be causing the most amount of mischief for the Spartans with her ghosting runs late into the box and her ability to hold up the play on the right flank. The Tigers’ left back, Emma Losurdo playing nothing short of a player of the match performance for her consistent efforts in denying the Spartans goal scoring opportunities repeatedly.
With five minutes to play, Northern Tigers seemed to be gifted a lifeline in the form of a penalty. Tarni Black on the receiving end of a bad challenge from a Spartans defender. Uncharacteristically, Gab Dal Pozzo sent the spot kick over the bar to keep the scores locked at 0-0 at the break.
The Spartans walked into the sheds knowing they had the better of the opportunities and were controlling the majority of play but lacked that killer instinct in front of goal that they desperately needed.
The second half brought more of the same for both teams with Spartans winning the physical and tactical battle on the field whilst the Tigers brought on an under-done and not fully fit Ellana Balicki in an attempt to get a goal from somewhere.
63 minutes into the game and Northern Tigers found themselves another glorious chance for a goal and again it was in the form of a penalty. Spartans’ Leila Braimah-Mahamah got her name noted in the referee’s book whilst Ellana Balicki stepped up and smashed the ball into the back of the net to finally break the stalemate.
The defensive partnership of Ella Gibson and Emma Losurdo was very strong for the Tigers who put their bodies on the line a number of times to deny the Spartans even the slightest of chances to have a shot on goal.
15 minutes from full time and Blacktown Spartans had a strong shout for a penalty with Reagan Mitchell being brought down inside the box. The referee waving play on but the Spartans’ bench and their travelling fans didn’t agree with the call. The Tigers looked to have played their get-out-of-jail free card on that occasion.
In the 91st minute though, the Spartans finally got the goal they had been pushing for all game. A scrappy piece of play in the Northern Tigers box left Shanaye Kuntze one-on-one with the keeper. The Spartans attacker calmly putting the ball in the back of the net before celebrating with her teammates.
The points shared at Mills Park in what was a fair 1-1 draw. The only downside at the end of the game was the injury to Tigers’ midfielder Tahnee Blenman who was taken to hospital with a suspected knee injury.
Both Northern Tigers and Blacktown Spartans will be on the road for Round 6 of the competition with the Tigers coming up against the mighty Sydney University SFC at Sydney University Oval kicking off at 3pm. The Spartans face the tough task of going to JJ Kelly Park to take on the Illawarra Stingrays.
Central Coast Mariners Academy 0 – 10 NWS Koalas
The Koalas from the starting whistle to the 90th minute were in control of the ball and played some beautiful passages of play, which left a smile on the face of head coach Gerry Gomez. This result sees the Koalas take control of top spot on the Womens Premier League ladder with a goal difference of +16.
The Mariners will be looking for a better performance in Round 6 of the competition when they travel to Northbridge Oval whilst over at ELS Hall Park the Koalas welcome Macarthur Rams in what is sure to be a massive fixture.
Manly United 1 – 2 Inter Lions
It was a game of two halves as Manly United took the lead in the first half through Liz Morison only to have her goals cancelled out by Inter Lions’ dynamic duo Catherine Cannuli and Paige Hayward. The win keeping Inter in the top five of the ladder whilst Manly United succumbed to their third loss of the season, something Manly United coach Grant Lee is left scratching his head to understand after his side have been playing some strong football in recent weeks.
The real test for Inter Lions will be in Round 6 of the competition when they welcome the illustrious Marconi Stallions to Concord Oval. Manly United will be hoping for a morale boosting win over Sutherland Shire Football Assoc when they welcome the girls in blue to Cromer Park.
Marconi Stallions 1 – 0 Illawarra Stingrays
A result that may have shocked a number of supporters, Marconi Stallions looked to be a level above their opposition with Nicola Bolger and Helen Petinos dominating from start to fill. The lone goal coming from Linda O’Neill who was on hand to tap in a goal from close range after the Stingrays keeper couldn’t hold contain a long range shot.
That goal is just the third goal, which has slipped through a very strong Stingrays defence all season. The girls in pink will be hoping to bounce back quickly when they play host to Blacktown Spartans FC at JJ Kelly Park in Round 6 of the Womens Premier League competition.
Sutherland Shire Football Assoc 0 – 11 Macarthur Rams
From start to finish, Macarthur Rams were hungrier on and off the ball and were in complete control over the play at Seymour Shaw Stadium. Kylie Ledbrook claimed the high 5s after scoring five goals against Sutherland whilst Elizabeth Ralston, Elisha Williams, Laura Donnelly, Claire Walsh and Renee Rollason all got their names on the scoresheet.
Things don’t get any easier for Sutherland Shire Football Assoc who will travel to Cromer Park in Round 6 of the competition to take on Manly United. A point away from home at this point of the season might be exactly what the team needs to jump start their 2013 campaign.
Sydney University 3 – 1 Northbridge FC
Sydney University were too strong at home when they welcomed Northbridge FC to Wilson Park. Goals from Liana Danaskos, Erin Wilson and Maree Patikas were the difference as Sydney University moved up to second place on the ladder.
Northbridge will be upset that they couldn’t get more shots on target with the line goal coming from Leah Giuffre in the second half. Missing a number of players through niggling injuries might be one excuse for their performance but the side will have to clean up their act before they play host to Central Coast Mariners Academy on Sunday 5th May at Northbridge Oval.
RESERVE GRADE
Playing out an entertaining 5-1 win, Blacktown Spartans outmuscled and outclassed Northern Tigers at Mills Park on Sunday afternoon. With goals from Georgia Vlangos, Tiegan Whitney, Eric Hill, Jeorgia Lotoaniu and Lauren Gaul, the Spartans showed glimmers of fantastic footballing skill as they sat in cruise control for the majority of the second half. The Tigers’ lone goal coming from Emma Dias.
Elsewhere in the competition, Manly United completely dominated their travelling opposition Inter Lions as they played out a 7-0 win in front of a home support at Cromer Park. Marconi Stallions got the better of the Illawarra Stingrays claiming a 1-0 win and all three points.
Sutherland Shire Football Assoc were on the receiving end of 7-1 demolition thanks to Macarthur Rams whilst Sydney University sent Northbridge FC home empty handed as Sydney University played out a 4-2 win. NWS Koalas had a bye.
-By Pete Nowakowski
