Round 7 Review: NSW Womens Premier League

With the sun starting to set across the stadium, the cardigans and blankets have started to make an appearance around the grounds but there is always plenty of action of the field to keep us warm.
The big result of the weekend was the nine-goal thriller between NWS Koalas and Sutherland Shire Football Association. Playing out a 3-3 draw at Wilson Park was Sydney University and the Illawarra Stingrays whilst our match of the round saw Womens Premier League journalist travel to Marconi Stadium.
 
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Marconi Stallions 3 – 1 Manly United
Marconi Stadium might be 41 years old this year but the ground came alive on Sunday afternoon when the Stallions welcomed Manly United to their home ground. 
“If we wait any longer my girls will have to warm up again!”. That was the call from the sidelines as the game kicked off twenty minutes past three with the sun starting to set.
Manly took the kick off and looked to be focusing on winning the midfield battle and playing the ball out from their defensive line quickly and positively without relying on a long-ball tactic. Anna Nakao being the core of the Manly United squad with her great first touch and willingness to contest for the football under any circumstances.
Just four minutes into the game and Tiarn Powell attempted an audacious shot on goal from outside the 18 yard box forcing the Marconi keeper to make a strong save to push the ball away for a corner. A sign of things to come from the Manly United squad who had travelled to Marconi not afraid of pushing forward and having a shot on goal.
9 minutes and 10 seconds. That is how long it took for the first goal to come in this fixture. Tiarn Powell chipping an onrushing Sham Khamis who was well of her line. The players on the field all seemed to stop for a moment watching the ball roll into the back of the net. This was the ideal start for Grant Lee’s girls.
Just one minute and 20 seconds later and there was an equaliser. The Marconi winger/forward Evelyn Chronis beat the offside trap to out pace her defender and walk the ball around the Manly goalkeeper and slot the ball home. You’re always most vulnerable when you’ve just scored and you can never take your eyes off Marconi.
It was the 20 year old striker Linda O’Neill though who was in the limelight for the majority of the game. Her ability to link up with Nicola Bolger and Evelyn Chonis has made the young Marconi striker one of the most watched players in the competition. There was not a single blade of grass, which Linda didn’t cover during the game either. Her constant want for the ball and pace continues to put a smile on the coaching staff of the Marconi Stallions.
29 minutes into the game and Marconi took the lead for the first time of the afternoon thanks to a goal from Nicola Bolger. After a less than convincing clearance of the ball, it was Bolger who pounced on the opportunity knocking the ball into the net to score her second goal of the season.
Heading into the break, it was obvious that the Stallions were the happier of the two sides. Grant Lee’s Manly United though knew that they still had a chance to get a result at Marconi Stadium if they continued to push.
Midway through the second half and the result was sealed. Nicola Bolger getting on the end of a through ball, effortlessly turning her run across the face of goal before playing in a low cross to the feet of Linda O’Neill who was on hand to knock the ball home.
Before full time, Manly United had a chance to bring the scores closer together through Liz Morison. The playmaker with a volley on the outside of her left foot which curled past the keeper and past the post. If the Manly player had used her laces, we could have seen a different scoreline.
As the referee blew for full time, Marconi Stallions let out a victory cheer. This was a game they needed to win especially the unpredictable Manly United. With Teigan Allen, Alanna Kennedy and new recruit Trudy Camilleri due to be back in the starting line up ahead of Round 8, Marconi are only going to get stronger and stronger.
Credit must go to Manly’s 18-year-old defender Tess Olsen who was introduced 30 minutes into the game as an injury replacement. Starting as a left back before moving into a central defensive position, Tess worked tirelessly in the back line blocking almost everything that Marconi threw in her direction.
Next weekend, the Marconi Stallions will play host to Sutherland Shire Football Association in a game, which they will be looking to get all three points and a clean sheet. Manly United will welcome the Blacktown Spartans to Cromer Park in an eagerly anticipated affair, which is sure to bring goals.
 
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 – 1 Northern Tigers
Heading into this game, neither side had felt the joyous feeling that is winning a game in 2013. Both the Mariners and the Tigers have been struggling this season but have always looked like they could sneak a win if the opportunity ever arose.
The lone goal for the Tigers came in the form of a classic Gab Dal Pozzo strike on goal whilst the Mariners were stronger in the final third of the pitch and deserved the result. This win could be the boost the Mariners needed to kick start their season who travel to JJ Kelly Park in Round 8 of the competition to take on the Stingrays. Next weekend sees the Tigers play host to Macarthur Rams at Parklands Oval.
 
Blacktown Spartans 0 – 3 Inter Lions
It is the taking of chances that wins games and Inter Lions proved to be more clinical in front of goal on Sunday afternoon. The match was played at a furious pace at Blacktown Football Park and at the break the travelling side was up by two goals.
The second half saw more of the same for both sides with the Lions scoring a third and final goal to secure the win. Catherine Cannuli again producing a fine performance notching up two goals whilst Paige Hayward was again on the scoresheet. The Spartans will spend the week working hard of their defence before the team head to Cromer Park to take on Manly United.
 
Sutherland Shire Football Association 0 – 9 NWS Koalas
It was a tough day in the office for Sutherland Shire Football who struggled to get going while the NWS Koalas ran away with the result. The nine goals in this fixture saw the Koalas’ goal difference stretch to +25 while for Sutherland, the only way to go from here is up.
Round 8 will see the Koalas travel to Northbridge Oval for what can only be described as a must-see spectacle. Sutherland will have to re-group and re-think their game plan when they take on Marconi in the Stallions territory.
 
Macarthur Rams 1 – 0 Northbridge FC
It took just 13 minutes for the Rams to open the scoring at Lynwood Park with the goal coming from Chrystal Duggan who is soon becoming a household name for her efforts. Both sides pushed hard in search for more goals but neither side could find the back of the net.
The Ram’s unbeaten run now stretches to seven games whilst Northbridge suffered their fourth loss of the season.
 
Sydney University SFC 3 – 3 Illawarra Stingrays
This was definitely a game of two very different halves. The first with both sides kept quiet thanks to some brilliant goalkeeping before the deadlock was broken. The second half saw five goals hit the back of the next as this six-goal thriller was split 3-3.
Goals for Sydney Uni were scored by Erin Wilson, Meegan Shepherd and Maree Patikas.
Goals for the Stingrays scored by Jordan Baker, Rhian Davis and Jessica Cooper.
 
RESERVE GRADE

Playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Marconi Stadium was the Big Blue Derby between the Marconi Stallions and Manly United. Samantha Huynh and Trudy Camilleri were the scorers for the home side whilst Lisa-Marie Meduri scored a goal in each half to help her side secure the result.
Elsewhere in the competition, Blacktown Spartans claimed a big 3-0 win over Inter Lions at Blacktown Football Park whilst Northbridge FC got the better of Macarthur Rams claiming maximum points after scoring just the one goal. Caitlin Aquilina stole the scoring a double for the NWS Koalas as the girls in yellow put five goals past Sutherland Shire Football Association.
Sydney University SFC’s Eilish Sheerin scored both the goals in her side’s 2-0 win over the Illawarra Stingrays while last up Northern Tigers had a bye.
 
-By Pete Nowakowski