Women’s Premier League Round 22 Review
In the penultimate round 22 of the NSW Women’s Premier League, we have our five finalists and a change at the bottom of the table.
We will need to wait to find out who the premiers are until after this weeks midweek game between the Marconi Stallions and Sydney University.
Rescheduled Round 10 fixture
Marconi Stallions 0-2 Sydney University
The Marconi Stallions welcomed Sydney University to Marconi Stadium on Thursday night in a rescheduled round 10 fixture. Both squads needed victory, Marconi to come a step closer to securing the minor premiership and University to continue their tight fight for that final finals position.
With both sides scheduled round 21 clash being called off, the girls came into this one fresh after a weekend off. Marconi’s squad was depleted missing a number of key players.
Credit to University though, they came out knowing that only victory will keep them in touch with the other teams fighting for fifth spot. They’ve been playing quality football of late and they came into this one in solid form against one of the strongest sides of the competition.
In a surprise score line, Meegan Shepherds first half brace was enough for University to come away from Marconi stadium with a 2-0 victory.
The win means University sit in 7th ahead of the penultimate round with a game in hand and one point behind 5th and 6th meaning that their destiny lies in their own hands.
Marconi now must win their final two games to win the league title and any dropped points will mean they will lose the minor premiership to the Illawarra Stingrays.
Match of the round
Marconi Stallions 7–0 Central Coast Mariners Academy
On a warm Sunday afternoon, the Marconi Stallions backed up after their mid week loss to host the Central Coast Mariners Academy at Marconi Stadium in the early kick off of 1pm.
After a slight delay following an unfortunate injury in the under 16’s, the Stallions came out firing. A few early shots from distance ended up over the bar or in and around the box from crosses.
Trudy Camilleri opened the scoring for Marconi inside the first 10 minutes as she received the ball on the edge of the area, opened her body and placed the ball with her left foot into the bottom left corner.
A beautiful ball in for Camilleri saw her in one on one with the keeper but the Mariners keeper made herself big and pulled off a wonderful save to keep the scores at 1-0.
Marconi kept pampering the Mariners goal, Teigan Allen almost coming through after a chipped ball over the top by Linda O’neill.
A great one two by Camilleri and Nicola Bolger saw Camilleri break through the Mariners defence. Her ball across the 6-yard box was met by Helen Petinos but the keeper moved well to keep the effort out.
Helen Petinos then received the ball on the edge of the area, majestically turned her defender and blasted a ball toward the top corner. Mariners keeper Ashley Sweetnam was up to the task again getting her hand to the powerful shot and palming it over the bar.
Jayme Fressard was then played in over the top for the Mariners and she used her speed to beat her defender. Her shot from the edge of the area was rushed and went wide of the target. A warning for the Stallions who had all of the play leading up to this chance.
Allen then almost got onto the end of a cross from the left to double the lead but her effort went over.
She didn’t need to wait long for her second as she won the ball from the resulting goal kick, dribbled in and placed the ball passed the out stretched keeper into the bottom right corner for 2-0.
Only a couple minutes later and it was 3-0. Petinos received the ball down the left and whipped in a wonderful low cross allowing Allen to score her second in a matter of minutes.
Petinos almost got her self on the score sheet but she took to long as her half volley was saved again by Sweetnam.
Just before the end of the first half Marconi made it 4-0. Allen this time turned provider, crossing in a sharp low ball. Camilleri ran onto the ball and finished nicely with a cute finish.
Inside the first minute and it was 5-0 for Marconi. Kennedy moved through the middle and shot but her weak shot was spilled by Sweetnam and Bolger got her first of the afternoon.
Petinos was then played in but her powerful shot rebounded off the post. Unfortunately Petinos was having no luck in front of goal as her second effort in a matter of minutes was well saved.
Petinos was in the thick of it again, skilfully dribbling passed a few defenders and toe pocking the ball across the face of goal, unfortunately no one was there to put it in the back of the net.
Camilleri went searching for her hat-trick but her shot after some great build up play went just wide of the left hand post.
Teigen Allen was proving to be a real handful down the right side as she whipped in another dangerous cross. Petinos got to the ball but a last second block by Bridget Booker saw the ball sail over the bar.
Petinos seemed to be where all the chances were and she had another opportunity but Sweetnam seemed to get the better of her on this day as again she made another amazing save.
Layla Leccas almost got on the score sheet for the Mariners with 10 to go after a great turn but her shot was well saved by the Stallions reserve keeper Kate Hintun playing up from the under 16’s.
With four minutes to go, Linda O’neill pulled one out of the top draw as her powerful effort from 35 metres out hit the top corner giving Sweetman absolutely no chance.
Jo Martinez then made it 7-0 as her right foot thunderbolt finished in the back of the net only 30 seconds after the sixth goal.
That was all we had time for as Marconi easily overcame the Mariners 7-0. The Mariners will now have a long summer break and start preparing themselves for next season. As for Marconi, if they come up trumps mid week against Sydney University they will be minor premiers.
Illawarra Stingrays 5-0 Northbridge FC
The Illawarra Stingrays hosted Northbridge FC at Balls Paddock on Sunday afternoon kicking off at 3pm.
Both teams needed victory as they were each fighting for their respective positions, Illawarra for the minor premiership and Northbridge for fifth place on the table.
The Stingrays lost when the two squads met in round 11 as Northbridge came out 2-1 winners.
This time the Stingrays payed Northbridge back with interest as they put five past them in a demoralising 5-0 victory. Michelle Carney, the motor in the Stingrays machine scored a hat-trick, while Talitha Kramer and Caitlin Cooper scored one each in the convincing victory.
The loss see’s Northbridge’s finals hopes end and they’ll look to prepare for next season. They scored a few memorable victories in a solid season.
For the Stingrays, their run continues, the minor premiership is theirs if the Marconi Stallions slip up in their catch up game on Wednesday night against Sydney University otherwise they will finish in second place.
Blacktown Spartans 1-4 Sydney University SFC
At Blacktown football Park on a warm Sunday afternoon the Blacktown Spartans welcomed Sydney University at 3pm.
The Spartans had nothing but pride to play for and comfortably sat in 9th position on the league table. As for University, their shock mid week victory against the Marconi Stallions away from home put their finals chances in their own hands. Victories against the Spartans and in the mid week game against Marconi will ensure they finish in the five.
Earlier in the season, the Spartans held University to a 1-1 draw at Wilson Park.
This time, the on fire University would not be stopped, taking a 2-1 half time lead and finishing the game 4-1 winners. Meegan Shepherd made it five goals in two games as she backed up her brace from mid week scoring a hat-trick for University. Erin Wilson scored the other goal for University while Logan Garard scored Blacktown’s first half goal.
As results went their way, University has made the finals and snuck into that all important fifth position, regardless of their mid week game against Marconi.
Inter Lions 0-1 North West Sydney Koalas
At Concord Oval, the Inter Lions welcomed the North West Sydney Koala’s to their home ground on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions had nothing but pride to play for while the Koala’s knew that even with victory they might not finish in third place giving them a chance in the finals series.
Teresa Polias scored the only goal in this one as the Koala’s came away with a tight 1-0 victory. The win though was not enough for the Koala’s to finish in the top three. They will have to settle for fourth and an elimination final against Sydney University.
Northern Tigers 3-1 Sutherland Shire Football Association
In the battle of the bottom of the table, the Northern Tigers hosted Sutherland Shire Football association at Mills Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers were yet to record a win this season ahead of this fixture and were hoping to avoid the wooden spoon by defeating the 11th placed Sharks. The Sharks were also hoping to avoid the wooden spoon and a draw would’ve been enough.
When the two met earlier this season, Sutherland came away with a comprehensive 4-1 win.
The long overdue victory came for the Tigers as they defeated the Sharks 3-1 on the final day of the season. Grace Ha, Gemma Crowson and Emma De Francessco were the Tigers heroes while Faith Atkins scored the own goal for the Sharks. The Sharks task wasn’t made any easier as Annelotte Birdsall received a straight red card in a fiery fixture.
The result meant that the Tigers avoided the wooden spoon with their maiden victory of the season. Unfortunately, the wooden spoon must go to somebody and this season it was the Sharks. Both sides will look to improve next season and build on this years result.
Manly United 0-2 Macarthur Rams
At the Sydney Academy of Sport, Manly United welcomed the Macarthur Rams on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams had something to play for, Manly to try and sneak into fifth and the Rams trying to win a top three spot.
The Rams came out winners in this one with a 2-0 win over Manly. With Rollason and Lebrook leading the Rams line anything is possible in the finals series as they pose a real threat. This win meant that the Rams snuck into third spot.
Unfortunately, some teams miss out and Manly was one of them. A team that played good football will have to prepare themselves for next year and will hopefully have that ‘killer instinct’.
-By Nikola Pozder
(Photo by Pete Nowakowski)
