hummel F-League Series 2 Review: Melbourne hit by Women’s Futsal fever
Four sides are still in the running for the inaugural Hummel F-League Women’s title following a dramatic weekend of action at YMCA Derrimut (July 6-7) that left the competition at fever pitch.
Parramatta Blues took advantage of a double Boomerangs slip to declare top ranking on 25 points, three ahead of the Territorians with Melbourne Heart (19) and Sydney Scorpions (18) lurking just behind them.
Now to whet your lips…
Scorpions (who boast the league’s best defence with 11 goals leaked in 10 games) play top-three Blues, Boomerangs and Heart in a climactic home turf romp. Top-two sides Boomerangs tackle Parramatta in the final round and, even most interestingly, Heart take on teams below them in their final four matches… anyone can still claim the crown as the 2013 Hummel Women’s F-League concludes at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Friday-Saturday, August 16-17.
Strikers certainly came top the fore in Melbourne as a third of the competition’s goals (68 of 190) were scored in the last three rounds at YMCA Derrimut to raise the game average to 4.75.
The scoring was spread throughout the teams so not surprisingly the Golden Boot race is a thriller. Jodie Bain (Parramatta) and Nikola Orgill (Boomerangs) lead the way with nine goals each, just one ahead of Ashleigh Palombi (Boomerangs) and Renee Tomkins (Parramatta).
They’re closely followed by Parramatta’s Caitlyn Jarvie (7), Boomerangs’ Brittany Palombi, Heart’s Enza Barilla and Scorpions duo Doris Osman and Jo Anne Saliba have six each, Heart’s Stephanie Tanti is on five, while Hayley Buckingham (Boomerangs), Tess Olsen (Dural), Georgina Stylianou, Brooke Cowie (Parramatta), Charlotte Boyes, Monique Kofoed (South Brisbane) and Megan Embleton (Sutherland) have all scored four goals to still be in the mix.
Round 6
Melbourne Heart 3 (Stephanie Tanti 11/49, Seyma Erenli 31) Vic Vipers 1 (Michelle Duffy 37)
Sydney Scorpions 9 (Jo Anne Saliba 16/24/46/47, Sarah Roger 32, Zoeie Redman 34, Xanthe Dumbrell 35/42, Doris Osman 45) Sutherland Shire 1 (Elisha Williams 8)
Parramatta Blues 2 (Jodie Bain 43, Renee Tomkins 44) South Brisbane 1 (Caroline Drummond 23)
Boomerangs 2 (Rebecca Watts 13, Hayley Buckingham 47) Dural Warriors 1 (Sheridan Kuiper 26)
Round 7
Vic Vipers 2 (Letizia Sammut 13, Katrina Smith 19) Sutherland Shire 2 (Vipers own goal 21, Willow Shorrocks 49)
South Brisbane 2 (Caroline Drummond 9, Monique Kofoed 45) Sydney Scorpions 0
Melbourne Heart 3 (Kristin Stensholt 10, Leisl Woods 15, Elaina Vatcky 42) Boomerangs 1 (Ashleigh Palombi 6)
Parramatta Blues 5 (Jodie Bain 3/12/24, Caitlin Jarvie 41, Renee Tomkins 44) Dural Warriors 2 (Tess Olsen 27, Demelza Howard 33)
Round 8
Vic Vipers 1 (Sarah Richardson 27) Sydney Scorpions 5 (Doris Osman 2/30/36, Jo Anne Saliba 49, Rhianna Pollicina 50)
Boomerangs 7 (Madelyn Whittall 16, Nikola Orgill 32/43/49, Hayley Buckingham 35, Brittany Palombi 40, Ashleigh Palombi 49) Sutherland Shire 2 (Amelia Pacillo 34, Megan Embleton 37)
Dural Warriors 3 (Sheridan Kuiper 24, Tess Olsen 29, Kahlee Doyle 48) South Brisbane 1 (Monique Kofoed 8)
Melbourne Heart 3 (Stephanie Tanti 21, Enza Barilla 36, Seyma Erenli 47) Parramatta Blues 3 (Jodie Bain 3/33, Brooke Cowie 46)
Round 9
Boomerangs 3 (Hayley Buckingham 30, Nikola Orgill 32, Brittany Palombi 47) South Brisbane 2 (Georgina Bridges 17, Monique Kofoed 39)
Parramatta Blues 4 (Caitlin Jarvie 7, Jodie Bain 32, Lauren Diduszko 32, Renee Tomkins 41) Vic Vipers 0
Melbourne Heart 4 (Stephanie Tanti 20/45, Enza Barilla 28, Daniela Gudelj 34) Sutherland Shire 1 (Raegan Deeley 30)
Sydney Scorpions 3 (Claire Walsh 9/22, Doris Osman 12) Dural Warriors 3 (Sheridan Kuiper 11, Rachel Perrins 37, Kahlee Doyle 49)
Round 10
Parramatta Blues 5 (Fabiana Perfilio 4/29, Caitlin Jarvie 7/8/32) Boomerangs 1 (Nikola Orgill 35)
South Brisbane 5 (Nichole Laws 16/40, Charlotte Boyes 21, Monique Kofoed 43, Joanne Burgess 45) Sutherland Shire 2 (Megan Embleton 17/47)
Sydney Scorpions 3 (Ceyda Cambaz 7, Doris Osman 28, Jo Anne Saliba 33) Melbourne Heart 0
Dural Warriors 5 (Kahlee Doyle 24, Kathryn Mladineo 28/42, Demelza Howard 32, Natalie Spirovski 47) Vic Vipers 2 (Morany Chek 3/48)
Round 6
Heart top Vipers
A convincing Melbourne Heart held off neighbours Vic Vipers 3-1 on a crisp Saturday morning at YMCA Derrimut to reignite the 2013 Women’s Hummel F-League.
Stephanie Tanti got the ball rolling with a well taken 11th-minute goal to give Heart a 1-0 halftime edge, team-mate Seyma Erenli doubling the advantage just after the restart.
Michelle Duffy pulled one back for the Vics to make it a nervy 2-1 with 15 minutes still to play, and Vipers pressed hard for an equaliser until Tanti’s last-minute sealer for Melbourne.
Scorpions sting Sutherland
A sizzling Sydney Scorpions scorched Sutherland Shire 9-1 at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday morning.
Scorpions were jolted into action by Elisha Williams’ opening strike for Shire after just eight minutes, Jo Anne Saliba scoring twice to hand Sydney a tight 2-1 halftime lead.
The goals flowed in the second half with Sarah Roger, Zoeie Redman, Xanthe Dumbrell and Doris Osman finding the back of the net before Saliba chimed in with a late double that gave her four for the match (the highest individual match tally this season).
Blues beat Brisbane
Parramatta Blues overcame South Brisbane in a classic arm-wrestle at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday morning, narrowly winning 2-1.
A tense opening was finally broken by Brisbane’s Caroline Drummond just a couple of minutes before halftime, the Queenslanders clinging to their 1-0 lead until Jodie Bain and Renee Tomkins scored within a minute of each other to edge Parramatta in front in the final few minutes.
Boomerangs down Dural
Boomerangs had to work extra hard for a tight 2-1 win over Dural Warriors that kept them top of the Women’s F-League at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday morning.
Rebecca Watts put Boomerangs in front on the quarter-hour only for Sheridan Kuiper to draw Dural level a minute into the second half to put the pressure straight back on the competition leaders.
Just when it looked like the spoils would be shared up stepped Hayley Buckingham with a late Boomerangs match-winner that broke Dural hearts, Warriors keeper Kim Doohan venting her team’s frustration with a last-minute dismissal.
Round 7
Vipers, Shire stalemate
Sutherland Shire came from two goals down to earn their first F-League point in a titanic 2-2 draw with Vic Vipers at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday afternoon.
The home side led 2-0 thanks to goals from Letizia Sammut and Katrina Smith before an unfortunate own goal breathed life into a win-less Sutherland side who trailed 2-1 at the break.
Shire piled on the pressure in the second term and only some heroic Vipers defence kept them at bay, fulltime looming with the Vics still just in front.
Staring at an eighth straight loss it took a moment of brilliance from Willow Shorrocks to fire in a last-gasp goal that leveled the game 2-2 and finally put Sutherland on the points table.
Brisbane jar Scorpions
A goal in each half lifted South Brisbane to an outstanding 2-0 victory over Sydney Scorpions at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday afternoon.
Brisbane’s Caroline Drummond opened the scoring on 10 minutes but the goal shook Scorpions into action and they threw everything at the northerners until key player Zoeie Redman’s 37th-minute red card shifted the balance of power back to South, Monique Kofoed putting the matter to rest with a 45th-minute match sealer.
Heart chip Boomerangs
Melbourne Heart turned the tables on competition leaders Boomerangs, coming from a goal behind to win 3-1 at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday afternoon.
Ashleigh Palombi punted Boomerangs in front after just six minutes only for Heart duo Kristin Stensholt and Leisl Woods to return fire with a double strike that put the home side 2-1 up at the break.
Both sides traded second-half blows but only Elaina Vatcky found the back of the net to give Heart a 3-1 edge at fulltime and consign Boomerangs to their first F-League loss.
Blues shake Warriors
Parramatta Blues held off a dogged Dural Warriors to win 5-2 at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday afternoon.
A Jodie Bain hat-trick lifted Parramatta to a three-goal halftime buffer but Dural came out firing after the break, Tess Olsen and Demelza Howard goals narrowing the deficit to 3-2 with 20 minutes still to play.
The Warriors tried everything to find a leveler but the last laugh went the Blues way when Caitlin Jarvie and Renee Tomkins strikes restored a Parramatta advantage they held to fulltime.
Round 8
Scorpions devour Vipers
A late spurt from Sydney Scorpions lifted them to a 5-1 victory over Vic Vipers at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday evening.
It was game-on when Sarah Richardson’s early second half goal cancelled Doris Osman’s Scorpions opener, but Osman responded with a brace that took Sydney to a 3-1 lead, late Rhianna Pollicina and Jo Anne Saliba goals sealing the deal for the visitors.
Boomerangs snuffle Sutherland
Boomerangs returned to the winners circle with a 7-2 second-half blitz over an improved Sutherland Shire at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday night.
Boomerangs held onto a slender 1-0 halftime lead behind Madelyn Whittall’s quarter-hour boot and had Nikola Orgill and Hayley Buckingham goals cancelled out by Amelia Pacillo and Megan Embleton Sutherland strikes to still lead 3-2 inside the final 10 minutes.
But the floodgates opened as Orgill completed her hat-trick and the Palombi sisters Brittany and Ashleigh chimed in to make the scoreline even more flattering.
Warriors pillage Brisbane
Dural Warriors were terrific in a 3-1 win over South Brisbane at YMCA Derrimut on Saturday night, ending a five-game losing streak against a testing Queensland outfit.
Monique Kofoed edged Brisbane in front early in the proceedings as Dural’s Sheridan Kuiper pounced just before halftime to level the scores once more.
Tess Olsen added another Warriors goal straight after the break and Kahlee Doyle rounded out a fine 3-1 victory with a goal in the dying moments.
Blues stick to Heart
Melbourne Heart and Parramatta Blues fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw at YMCA Derrimut early on Sunday morning, Heart coming from a goal down three times to share the points.
Parramatta were keen to overtake Boomerangs and Jodie Bain put them ahead after just three minutes, a 21st-minute Stephanie Tanti goal ensuring the sides retired at halftime locked at 1-1.
Bain fired Blues ahead a second time after the restart only for Enza Barilla to respond minutes later to restore parity, and when Brooke Cowie had her late goal cancelled out by a 47th-minute Seyma Erenli miracle it was clear Melbourne were determined to get something from the match.
Round 9
Boomerangs pip Brisbane
South Brisbane pushed Boomerangs all the way before eventually falling 3-2 in a great match at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday morning.
Georgina Bridges gave Brisbane a 1-0 halftime lead but Boomerangs impressed in the second half to take a 2-1 lead courtesy of Hayley Buckingham and Nikola Orgill strikes.
Monique Kofoed drew Brisbane level again inside the final 10 minutes and it looked like staying that way until Brittany Palombi’s late goal lifted Boomerangs to an inspirational victory.
Blues shut out Vipers
Parramatta Blues strode to a 4-0 win over Vic Vipers at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday morning to heap even more pressure on the table top cooker.
The first half was tight, Caitlin Jarvie’s seventh-minute prize separating the sides at the break, but second-half goals to Jodie Bain, Lauren Diduszko and Renee Tomkins signed off on a comprehensive Parramatta victory.
Heart break Shire
Melbourne Heart slaved their way to a 4-1 win against a gallant Sutherland Shire at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday morning.
Only Stephanie Tanti’s goal divided the teams at halftime and though Enza Barilla doubled the lead immediately into the second half, Reagan Deely scored for Sutherland on the half-hour to show they weren’t going anywhere.
However, Daniela Gudelj and Tanti found a way through again to get the result and place Melbourne in a favourable ladder position.
Warrior level with Scorpions
Two late Dural Warriors goals earned them a 3-3 draw with Sydney Scorpions at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney’s Claire Walsh opening score was pegged back instantly by Dural’s Sheridan Kuiper, Doris Osman returning Scorpions to the lead seconds later and Walsh extending the advantage to 3-1 by the interval.
The second half was just as dramatic as Rachel Perrins pulled Dural closer with 13 minutes to go and it was left to Warriors team-mate Kahlee Doyle to pull the rabbit out of the hat as Dural conjured up a 49th-minute equaliser.
Round 10
Blues break Boomerangs
The much-anticipated top-of-the-table showdown proved emphatic as Parramatta Blues wrenched the Women’s F-League lead from Boomerangs in a convincing 5-1 victory at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday afternoon.
Boomerangs showed their nerves as a Caitlin Jarvie double and Fabiana Perfilio goals pushed Parramatta 3-0 in front after just eight minutes, the Blues duo scoring another goal each straight after the restart to make it an unassailable 5-0 lead and consign Nikola Orgil’s late hit to a consolation (albeit one that draws her level with Parramatta ace Jodie Bain at the top of the goalscorers chart with nine goals each).
The huge result elevated the Blues to top of the F-League pops, three points ahead of Boomerangs with four Sydney games to play – including a final round all-in ante against their ACT rivals.
South shave Shire
South Brisbane ended an encouraging Victorian escapade with a spirited 5-2 victory against Sutherland Shire at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday afternoon.
Nichole Laws put the Queenslanders in front on 15-minutes only for Megan Embleton to keep Sutherland close a minute later.
Charlotte Boyes restored Brisbane’s lead before halftime and Laws, Monique Kofoed 43 and Jo Burgess goals made it a compelling 5-1 before Embleton’s second in the dying moments gave the difference between the sides a bit more respect.
Scorpions stop Heart
A spluttering Sydney Scorpions dished out a 3-0 loss to Melbourne Heart at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday afternoon but both sides remain perched like ninjas in the title-contention darkness.
Ceyda Cambaz scored early and second-half goals to Doris Osman and Jo Anne Saliba made sure of a result that put Scorpions in fourth place, seven points behind leaders Parramatta – their next opponents in the Sydney round.
Warriors tame Vipers
Dural Warriors overcame an early setback to wipe Vic Vipers 5-2 at YMCA Derrimut on Sunday evening and move alongside South Brisbane into equal-fifth.
Vipers’ Morany Chek scored the first and last goals as goals to the Warriors troop Kahlee Doyle, Kathryn Mladineo (twice), Demelza Howard and Natalie Spirovski ensured Dural would return to the Sydney leg as winners.
-By Dan De Nardi
