Women’s State League – Round 17 Review

Despite a lack of goals, there was plenty of good football in the Womens State League. With competition favourites Western NSW Mariners and Bankstown City dropping points in a 1-1 draw, Southern Districts, UNSW and Sydney Olympic all chose a good week to win, bringing the top six closer together as the finals series approaches. 
Match of the Round
UNSW Lions 2-0 Southern Branch. David Phillips Complex, 3pm.
On a sunny afternoon in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, UNSW were too strong for a depleted Southern Branch. Two goals in the first twenty five minutes from UNSW was enough for the home side to complete a comfortable victory.
Starting with Laura Clapperton, Ayse Adalis and Claire Stephan up front, UNSW began strongly thanks to plenty of quick ball movement between the midfield and strikers. With Southern Branch playing a high defensive line, Ayse Adalis broke through on goal twice in the first five minutes, however the dangerous striker was unable to finish on both occasions. 
While Southern Branch were on the back foot early on, they looked dangerous through their strikers Angela Graham and Madeline Costanzo, who worked tirelessly up front. On 11 minutes, a sweeping move down the left saw Danielle Wise and Kiara Rayner create space for Costanzo, but with the keeper to beat she could only pull her shot into the side netting.
Just five minutes later, Adalis again found space in the penalty box, heading just over the crossbar from a pinpoint Laura Clapperton cross. It mattered little, however, as Shani Lauf put the home side ahead moments later. After a scramble at the top of the box, the ball came out to Lauf, who was lurking twenty five yards out from goal. Instead of trying to belt the leather off it, Lauf simply guided the ball home with the inside of her left boot, the ball sailing up and over the keepers head and into the net.
It was a classy finish from one of the classiest midfielders in the competition, and UNSW had the goal they deserved. On 23 minutes, they went two up, as Clapperton found space down the left flank, releasing Adalis on goal. With plenty of work still to do, Adalis made it look easy, rounding her defender and poking it underneath the keeper to round out an excellent move.
With UNSW firmly in control of the match, Southern Branch began to resort to long balls, looking for target woman Angela Graham up front. Tall, strong and excellent with her back to goal, Graham is always a handful for defenders, however she was well marked by UNSW centre backs Xanthe Dumbrell and Dierdre Barham. The pair kept things tidy at the back, and kept UNSW in possession of the ball with their determination to play out along the ground.
While Southern Branch showed some individual skill, two games in two days was always going to take its toll, and the home side were better organised and set out a well balanced lineup. The midfield three of Helen Orr, Emma Searle and the irrepressible Shani Lauf kept things ticking over in the centre for UNSW, while the movement of Clapperton, Adalis and Stephan caused significant problems for the Southern Branch defenders.
This was illustrated just before half time, as Shani Lauf and Ayse Adalis combined well in the centre of the park, before pinging the ball out to Claire Stephan on the left, whose shot cannoned off the near post.
In the second half it was more of the same from UNSW, who continued to create chances through Laura Clapperton, Claire Stephan and Ayse Adalis, as well as from the lively substitute Monica Kavanagh. The last time these two sides met in Round 6, UNSW lost a three goal half-time lead, the match finishing in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
This time, the home side made no mistake, keeping things tight in defence to defend their early lead. While Southern Branch weren’t helped by injuries to Ashleigh Clayton and Chantelle Nohokau, conceding two goals early on was always going to make life difficult.
Elsewhere in the Competition
At Lambert Park, Parramatta Ladyhawks did enough to walk away with a point, as they played out a tough scoreless draw with APIA Leichhardt, while in Bathurst, Bankstown and Western NSW Mariners played out a lively 1-1 draw. After Megan Embleton put the home side ahead, Bankstown came back into the contest, and the ever-reliable Samantha Muscat pulled the scores level.
In a fierce contest at Moorebank, Mt Druitt lost 2-1 to Southern Districts Emeralds. Going into the sheds 1-1 at half time, Mt Druitt finished the game with ten players, the home side Southern Districts coming out on top thanks to two goals from Kristy Rohrer.
Meanwhile, St George brushed past Nepean 3-1 at home, while it was a similar scoreline in Gladesville, as Sydney Olympic mounted a heroic comeback to win 3-2 away from home against Gladesville Ravens. After Noelle Loyzaga put the Ravens ahead, a second half equaliser from Sylvia Elters was complemented by a late winner from Danielle Calvi, who again showed by she is one of the danger women of the Womens State League. 
Reserves
In the reserves, there were comfortable away wins for Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Parramatta Ladyhawks, while Western NSW Mariners and Bankstown City played out a draw in Bathurst. St George, UNSW and Gladesville Ravens edged out Nepean, Southern Branch and Sydney Olympic respectively.