Womens State League Round 18 Review
In an eventful weekend of football in the Womens State League, UNSW Lions and Southern Districts Emeralds were upset by Parramatta Ladyhawks and Southern Branch respectively, Bankstown put five past St George, while a win to second placed Sydney Olympic closed the gap on league leaders Western NSW Mariners.
Match of the Round
Sydney Olympic 4-2 Western NSW Mariners. Peter Moore Fields, 3pm.
In Belmore, Sydney Olympic and Western NSW Mariners played out a bruising battle, with the home side scoring two second half goals to seal a courageous and all-important victory.
Sydney Olympic have struggled over the past few weeks with injuries, and with star strikers Kate Halaska and Lisa Mitchell both out indefinitely, a big burden has fallen on the shoulders of Danielle Calvi. And with Calvi carrying a flu into the match, things weren’t looking great for the home side.
However, if the young striker was feeling the effects of the extra pressure or the flu, she certainly didn’t show it, as she demanded to start instead of being brought on as an impact player. On eight minutes, coach George Beltsos’ faith was rewarded, as a clever reverse pass from Zahrah Shaddad put Calvi in space on the right hand side of the eighteen yard box. With plenty of work still to do, Calvi rounded her nearest defender on the byline, and instead of cutting it back, crashed her shot into the top of the net from an acute angle.
With the Mariners showing more promise early on, it was inspirational work from Danielle Calvi, and her timing was perfect.
However, just as Olympic started to settle into their lead, Western NSW pulled a goal back through Megan Embleton. A free-kick at the top of the box was driven low and hard by Rachel Mason, forcing Olympic goalkeeper Sarah Veli-Gold into an uncharacteristic fumble. With defenders scrambling to clear the ball, goal-sneak Embleton was perfectly placed to poke the ball into the net, bringing her team right back into the contest.
Five minutes after the restart, Sydney Olympic’s tenacious midfielder Kalista Tsoupis swung in a dangerous corner, which the Mariners managed to clear as far as Kate Mitrevski. Sizing up the goal from 25 yards, the centre back slammed the ball just underneath the crossbar, the net bulging with impact. Another one walking wounded, Mitrevski wheeled away, clearly pleased with her wonder-strike.
But while Olympic were in front on the scoreboard, the visitors were playing slightly better football, as the midfield three of Lydia Nancarrow, Teigan Cox and Meaghan Kempson kept the ball moving well through the centre of the park. Much of Western’s play ended up down the left flank, as Erin Holder kept Olympic right back Demi Caldwell on her toes.
However, the Mariners best chance from open play came down the right wing ten minutes before the interval. After a seamless one-two between Kempson and Embleton created room down the right wing, Morgan Sherman lofted the ball expertly over the advancing keeper. To the dismay of the traveling fans, the ball bounced off the upright twice instead of dropping in, before the danger was cleared.
Still, the Mariners quickly forgot about their hard luck as Zahrah Shaddad handled the ball in the box, leaving the ref with little choice but to point to the penalty spot. Amid the protests, centre back Megan McFarland stepped up to calmly slot the ball home, and bring the scores level going into halftime.
With the Mariners coming back from a goal down twice in the first half, it seemed as if they had all the momentum after the break. However, within just 10 minutes Shaddad made up for her earlier error, with a super strike from just outside of the box. The Western NSW Mariners defence can feel a little aggrieved as the linesman signalled for offside, but with the ref calling play on, Shaddad took her chance superbly.
Five minutes later, Shaddad turned from goal-scorer to goal-provider, putting Danielle Calvi through with a nicely weighted pass in behind the Mariners defensive line. With only the keeper to beat, Calvi coolly slotted the ball home, and Olympic had beaten the Mariners for the second time in as many efforts this season.
As the referee called full-time, the celebrations from the Sydney Olympic bench showed how important this game was for their season. If Olympic can beat APIA Leichhardt in their catch up game this Thursday, they’ll retain top spot.
Elsewhere in the Competition
In other news, Parramatta Ladyhawks defeated UNSW Lions 2-1 at their home ground, Melita Stadium. Jessica Elliot and Stephanie Lagudi were both on the scoresheet for the Ladyhawks, who will take plenty of confidence out of this important win over the defending champions.
In Nowra, Maddison Cornell’s second half strike was enough to edge out Southern Districts Emeralds, while at Jensen Park Bankstown City smashed the visiting St George Saints. With both sides under-strength, Bankstown powered to an early lead through Mel Parlato, who finished from an impossibly tight angle, before goals to usual suspects Samantha Muscat and Georgia Klapos and a delightful free kick from Georgia Stylianou rounded out the victory.
Gladesville Ravens visited Mt Druitt hoping to get back to winning ways, but despite putting three past the home side in the first half, the Ravens wasted the fruits of their attacking display, conceding four goals in the second half to lose 5-3. Elsewhere, cellar dwellers APIA Leichhardt and Nepean played out a nil all draw in Penrith.
Reserves
In the reserves, Sydney Olympic drew 1-1 with Western NSW Mariners, while Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Gladesville Ravens played out a scoreless draw at Popondetta Park. APIA Leichhardt beat Nepean 1-0, Southern Branch and UNSW beat Southern Districts Emeralds and Parramatta Ladyhawks respectively, while at Jensen Park Kirsty Gagan scored four for Bankstown in an entertaining 5-4 win over St George.
-By Joe Gorman