Round 7 Review: NSW Womens State League

It was a weekend of plenty of goals in the WSL with 28 balls hitting the back of the net across the six games. 
It was action galore at St George Stadium with a 9 goal thriller split 6-3 in favour of the visitors whilst Mt Druitt Town Rangers surprised a number of people with a four goal thumping over the Ravens. Sydney Olympic remain the only undefeated side in the competition after a win in Bathurst.
 

Match of the Round: Southern Districts Emeralds 2-1 Southern Branch.

With the buzz of remote control cars in the background, and the occasional rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘Buffalo Soldier’ over the loudspeakers, Southern Districts Emeralds came back from a goal down to defeat Southern Branch at their home ground, Ernie Smith Reserve. 
Suspended playmaker Kristy Rohrer was forced to watch on from the sidelines following her last weeks red card. However in her absence the young brigade at Southern Districts stepped up to show that they are a force to be reckoned with, even without Rohrer’s goals.
The match started in cagey fashion, with both teams struggling to find a way through the defensive lines. Sheree Bryan did her best Filippo Inzaghi impersonation, sitting high on the shoulder of the Southern Branch defenders. While her presence stretched Branch’s defence, it also led to her being caught offside on several occasions.
Indeed, it was Bryant and the Emeralds’ pocket-rocket number eleven, Lousie Howard, who threatened the most for the home side early on. With Howard dropping off the shoulder of Bryant, the two combined well to cause a few headaches for the Southern Branch defence.
However, marshaled superbly by Tallara Shaw, Southern Branch remained comfortable at the back, and were able to play some good football, passing the ball out from defence at all times. Pacy wingers Danielle Wise and Maddison Cornell both looked dangerous down the left flank for the visitors, while Mel Leedham was composed in the midfield.
On thirty minutes, Angela Graham broke free through the centre of the park, and deftly lofted a bouncing ball over the advancing keeper’s head. Unfortunately for Graham, her chip ended up bouncing back off the crossbar, and the chance went begging.
It mattered little, however, as Graham again burst through the centre a few minutes later, this time making no mistake with her shot from six yards out. For the Emeralds’ centre backs Vanessa Ciabati and Nestass Richa, it was a rare lapse in concentration in an otherwise composed performance.
A goal down, the home side increased the urgency in their play, with Natasha Potelli and Lana Ferreira working tirelessly down the flank and Amy Bowyer taking liberties in the centre of the park. Just before half time, Bowyer tested the Southern Branch goalkeeper with a powerful shot from distance, but Josie Strong was up to the task. 
With an away win in their sights, Branch came out firing in the second half, with Beth Christenson working well through the middle with Ashleigh Clayton. Christenson’s composure on the ball was impressive, as was her range of passing through the midfield.
However, Southern Districts are no easy task at home, and midway through the second half Sheree Bryant got the goal she deserved, heading home at the near post from Abir Awad’s corner kick. At that moment, the game turned in favour of the home side as they rode the momentum to the finish.
Moments after the equalizer, Bryant almost scored again, but a great one-on-one save from Josie Strong kept the scores level. Not long after, a marauding run and long range shot from Southern Branch’s Madeline Costanzo tested the home side’s goalkeeper.
But it was the home side that would have the last laugh, as Bryant was brought down in the box with only a few minutes remaining on the clock. As Bryant limped away, 16-year-old midfield sensation Kaytlin Craig calmly took the responsibility, smashing the ball straight down the centre from the penalty spot. Craig’s first goal of the season could not have come at a better time, and was illustrative of a maturity and talent that belies her tender age.
It was a morale boosting win for Southern Districts, while Southern Branch were left to rue missed opportunities on the long drive home.
Elsewhere in the Competition
APIA Leichhardt 5-1 Nepean FC. Lambert Park, 3pm.
After a late comback in the midweek catch up game against Gladesville, APIA were full of confidence at home against Nepean. They got off to a flying start, bagging two goals in the first fifteen minutes, before taking a 4-1 half time lead. Another goal in the second half left coach Tarek Madani in good spirits, with Chynna Mogun joining regular performers Willow Shorrocks and Constance Kikitis on the score sheet. For Nepean, there was a consolation goal for Kaitlin Harms.
St George Saints 3-6 Bankstown City. St. George Stadium, 3pm.
Bankstown were too strong for Saints in a high-scoring match at St. George Stadium in Sydney’s south. The visitors were helped considerably by the always classy Samantha Muscat, who bagged a hat trick. Amy Dahdah, Mel Parlato and Tania Baban also got in on the action, with a goal each. Saints will have to regroup quickly, as they have a difficult challenge next week against top of the table Sydney Olympic.
Western NSW Mariners 2-3 Sydney Olympic. Proctor Park, 3pm.
There was little doubt that this one would be a classic match, with both sides enjoying great form in the first six rounds of the season. They didn’t disappoint, with a five goal thriller in Bathurst. It was visitors Olympic though, that walked away with all three points, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.
UNSW Lions 1-0 Parramatta Ladyhawks. David Smith Complex, 3pm.
In one of the matches of the round, UNSW were too good for the visiting Ladyhawks. Both sides have looked dangerous all season, but a huge defensive effort by Uni was complemented by a goal from Shani Lauf. It is rare to keep a clean sheet against the Ladyhawks, but with the ever-reliable Amanda Seskin in goals for UNSW, the visitors just couldn’t break through.
Gladesville Ravens 0-4 Mt. Druitt Town Rangers. Peel Park, 3pm.
The midweek catch-up game against APIA might’ve hurt the Ravens chances, although you can take nothing away from Mt. Druitt, who were clinical in their four goal victory away from home. Rhiannon Gobourg and Brooke Conroy scored a goal each, while nippy striker Nubia Lopez bagged a double.
 
Reserve Grade
In the reserves, there were close wins for Parramatta Ladyhawks, Mt Druitt and Southern Branch, while APIA Leichhardt and St George both had convincing wins at home.
 
– By Joe Gorman