Women’s State League Round 15 Review
There were some dazzling goals and a few big wins in the Womens State League for Sydney Olympic, Southern Branch and Bankstown City, while Western NSW Mariners, APIA Leichhardt and UNSW all did enough to take home all three points.
Match of the Round.
St George Saints 0-4 Southern Branch. St George Stadium, 3pm.
On a sunny afternoon in Sydney’s south, Southern Branch performed a snatch and grab away victory over St George Saints. Two goals on either side of half time was enough to see the visitors take home all three points in style.
After a slow start to the match, Southern Branch sprang to life ten minutes in, as winger Maddison Cornell broke through the Saints defence, only to be foiled by a tremendous triple save from goalkeeper Rani Hayman.
Not long after, a surging run up the centre of the park from Southern Branch’s classy centre back Chantelle Nohokau earned the visitors a free kick on the edge of the box. As Nohokau dusted herself off, Caylie Wise stepped up to take the free kick, curling her shot just over the crossbar from 25 yards.
With Southern Branch dominating most of the possession, St George looked to exploit their opponents high defensive line, pinging through balls from deep for Georgia Koinis and Melissa Toumbelekis to chase. While it caused a few nervy moments for Southern Branch, the strikers simply couldn’t find the back of the net whenever they found space, largely thanks to good recoveries from Emma Dowse.
The first goal came after twenty minutes, although it came through an unlikely situation. As Caylie Wise lofted a cross into the box, St George midfielder Jessica Carosi jumped up and stopped the ball with her arm. The referee was left with no choice other than to point to the spot, and Wise duly stepped up to bury the penalty.
With Caylie Wise and Tallara Shaw dominating the midfield for Southern Branch, and Dannielle Wise and Maddison Cornell combining well down the left flank, St George struggled to create many chances of their own. Less than ten minutes after the goal, a nice piece of play from Shaw opened space for Maddison Cornell, but the speedy number eleven skied her shot.
Just before half time, playmaker Caylie Wise again found herself with space in the midfield. However, instead of lining up a shot for herself, she unselfishly passed the ball square to Nohokau, who thumped the ball home from forty yards out. The two leapt into each others arms with delight at the magnificent strike, and Southern Branch were two ahead at the interval.
St George came out with more intent in the second half, with Alana Humphries, Lauren Gardner and Samantha Scarlato all getting more touches on the ball. However, they still were unable to create many meaningful chances, and the brief change in momentum was lost.
On 65 minutes, a speculative long ball by Beth Christensen was fumbled by centre back Taylor Moore, and Madeline Costanzo pounced, collecting the ball in her stride and tucking it away calmly beneath the keeper to put the visitors three ahead.
Angela Graham was then brought off the bench for Southern Branch with immediate impact, her speed and directness proving a handful for the home side. With just ten minutes left on the clock, Danielle Wise made yet another run down the left, crossing to Graham, whose shot could only be parried into the path of Amy Louise-Clayton, who tapped in from close range. It was a fine way to finish the match, and Southern Branch will no doubt have a happy trip home.
Elsewhere in the Competition.
Western NSW Mariners 1-0 Parramatta Lady Hawks. Proctor Park, 3pm.
One goal from Katie Pakai Kelly was enough for the Mariners to see off Parramatta Ladyhawks. The Ladyhawks would have liked to steal an away win, but the trip to Bathurst is never easy, with the Mariners always strong at their home ground.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2-1 Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Popondetta Park, 3pm.
After going a goal down within the first minute from Ashleigh Jones, you could have forgiven APIA for going into their shell. However, some fine goalkeeping from Courtney Halpin kept the Tigers in the match, before two goals from Constance Kikitis and Willow Shorrocks earned them a well-deserved come from behind victory. APIA young guns Marrisa Saverino and Jade Manna looked right at home, despite backing up from the under 16s.
UNSW Lions 2-0 Southern Districts Emeralds. David Phillips Complex, 3pm.
Two first half goals were enough for UNSW to see off the visiting Southern Districts Emeralds. While the Emeralds regroup for their next match against Gladesville, UNSW will be eyeing off the top four if they can put together a good run of form over the next few weeks.
Gladesville Ravens 1-4 Bankstown City Lions. Peel Park, 3pm.
Bankstown were too good for Gladesville, who put on a terrific second half performance. While goal-machine Samantha Muscat was kept quiet by Briony Mattocks, Amy Dahdah still managed a double, while Georgina Stylianou and Liana Babic were also on the scoresheet. Babic’s screamer in the first half illustrated the Bansktown number 21’s precocious talent.
Sydney Olympic FC 6-0 Nepean FC. Peter Moore Fields, 3pm.
After a disappointing loss last week at Parramatta, Olympic bounced back in the best way possible, putting six unanswered goals past Nepean. There were goals to centre back Kate Mitrevski, Lisa Mitchell and Kate Halaska, while the star of the show was Danielle Calvi who bagged a hat-trick. They’ll want to keep that kind of form for their midweek catch up game against APIA, before a blockbuster against Bankstown next Sunday.
Reserves
There were big wins for both Southern Branch and Sydney Olympic on the road the the reserves, while Bankstown, UNSW and Mt Druitt both earned all three points.
-By Joe Gorman
