Women’s Premier League Round 13 Review
In round 13 of the Women’s Premier League, only 3 games were played.
The heavens opened up over the weekend and it saw the wash out of 3 games. The eagerly anticipated top of the table clash between the Marconi Stallions and the North West Sydney Koalas was also washed out. This meant that the match of the round took us to the picturesque Blacktown Football Park.
MATCH OF THE ROUND – Blacktown Spartans 0-3 Macarthur Rams
With the clouds threatening to burst out with rain, the Macarthur Rams in 4th position got the action underway against the Blacktown Spartans in 9th position at Blacktown Football Park.
The Rams were looking to make amends for their last gasp defeat last week against table toppers Marconi. They would have to do without the influential Renee Rollason who was missing from the match day squad.
The Spartans on the other hand were looking to continue their purple patch of form and extended their unbeaten run in the league to four games. A win was essential for them as they continued their sim fight for finals football.
A light sprinkle welcomed the referee’s whistle for kick off as both teams struggled to get to grips with the difficult weather conditions. The opening stanza of the match saw a titanic battle in the middle of the park as neither side could take a stranglehold on the game.
The first shot in anger of the game came from the home side after 10 minutes. The Spartans Reagan Mitchell made just enough space for herself to get a shot away toward the Rams goal. Her decent effort flew wide of the right hand post.
This sprang the Rams into action and from the next attack they won a corner. From the resulting corner, Laura Donnelly rose highest to head the ball toward goal. Her loopy header was heading inside the right post but fortunately for the Spartans Mitchell was on the post to clear the ball away. The clearance fell to the Rams players as Elisha Williams struck the post from the six yard box. The rebound fell into the path of Megan Tomasich whose powerful effort just went wide.
With Rollason missing from the Rams midfield, Kylie Ledbrook seemed to tuck in slightly deeper to help out her midfield and connect the attack.
Around the quarter hour mark, the Spartans were almost in as Mitchell connected with Panagiota Petratos with a neat one two. Petratos looked as though she was clear through on goal but for some great defending from Tamika Wearing as she cleared the ball away ending the Spartans attack.
Williams was then played in down the right for the Rams and her skided effort almost caught the Spartans keeper off guard with a skidded shot. Sarah Easthope was quick to get down to her right and then regather the spilled shot.
It was then the Spartans chance to attack as Morgan Roberts was played in down the right wing. Roberts swung in a dangerous low ball toward Mitchell who powered a half volley toward goal. Her shot was blocked and a scramble ensued in the Rams penalty area. The Rams managed to clear the ball but only as far Leila Braimah-Mahamaah. Her stinging effort was well held by Rams keeper Jada Mathyssen-Whyman.
Minutes before the break, the deadlock was broken in some style. The Rams drew first blood through a marvellous Kylie Ledbrook strike. A great touch in from Tomasich saw Ledbrook receive the ball, look up and blast it into the top left corner of the goal from 25 yards out.
The Rams went into the half time break a goal to the good, courtesy of Ledbrook’s wonder goal.
As the girls emerged for the second half, the heavens sure did open up as a massive downpour hit Blacktown Football Park.
Two minutes in and it was 2-0. That deadly combination again between Tomasich and Lebrook opened up the Spartans defence. Tomasich played a ball toward Ledbrook that took a deflection and helped it on its way. Ledbrook took a touch on the edge of the area and blasted the ball toward the bottom right corner of Easthope’s goal, for her brace and Macarthur’s second.
Ledbrook then almost returned the favour for Tomasich as her flat cross found her at the far post. Tomasich connected perfectly on the volley as the ball beat Easthope but not the bar, slamming against the crossbar and going over.
The Spartans attempted to get going playing a simple short passing game but they struggled and lost to many balls in midfield, not connecting well with their attack.
Spartans first half substitute Breana Sampson almost got one back for the Spartans but her unbalanced effort from the edge of the area was easy pickings for Mathyssen-Whyman.
With 70 minutes on the clock, Ledbrook completed her hat-trick. She rounded off a superb performance with a sublime finish from a direct free kick 25 yards out. Her efforst flew over the wall, wrong footed the keeper and found the back of the net. A vintage performance from Ledbrook.
Ledbrook was in the thick of it again playing in a wonderful through ball for Williams who outmuscled her defender but sliced her shot wide of the right hand post.
Macarthur comfortable brought the game to a close as they’re now back on track for the tussle for the minor premiership.
The Spartans on the other hand move further away from playing finals football come September with this defeat.
Illawarra Stingrays 12-2 Sutherland Shire Football Association
At JJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon, with their rivals games washed out, the Illawarra Stingrays looked to hit the summit of the Women’s Premier League table with a victory over the Sutherland Shire Football Association.
They did just that, destroying the Sharks by 12-2 and moving into pole position with a game more than the Marconi Stallions. With this loss, Sutherland remains in 11th position on the competition ladder and will continue to play for pride and avoid that dreaded wooden spoon.
Michelle Carney did herself no harm in the fight for the golden boot scoring an outstanding 9 goals! Claire Arnold and Kristina Glisic grabbed Sutherland’s two goals.
Manly United FC 2-0 Northbridge FC
At Cromer Park, On Sunday afternoon at 3pm Manly United took on the inform and giant killing Northbridge FC. After two amazing results Northbridge was marching toward the top 5 and finals football. Manly on the other hand was unfortunate in the last few weeks and were looking for a result to put them back on track in their fight for finals football.
Manly came out on top at Cromer Park with a 2-0 victory. This victory puts Manly 5 points behind the top 5 spot. It is a setback for the high flying Northbridge who will look to bounce back as soon as possible in the battle for finals football in September.
The two goals for Manly were scored by Kristie Crawford and Jordan Evans for their 2-0 victory over Northbridge.
-By Nikola Pozder
