NPL NSW Womens 1 Round 10 Review

The NPL NSW Womens 1 Round 10 competition threw up some interesting results.
Three of the top four teams lost. Top of the table Macarthur Rams extended their lead at the top to twelve points after disposing of Manly United, while Sydney University and the North West Sydney Koalas also lost.
The FNSW Institute continued it’s good form and surge up the ladder, defeating the Stingrays on Saturday. Meanwhile Northbridge, Marconi Stallions and the Illawarra Stingrays all registered important wins.

Macarthur Rams 7–0 Manly United
An excellent team performance by the Macarthur Rams saw them comfortably overcome Manly United in an unusual match at Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon.
Due to an injury in reserve grade and no lights at Lynwood Park, the match was cut short to 35 minute halves.
In what was supposed to be a close fought battle between 1st and 2nd, there was only one team in the match as the Rams came away emphatic 7-0 winners, continuing their undefeated start to the season.
As the match kicked off, the rain began to fall, only get heavier throughout the contest.
The Rams had their first real chance in the fourth minute. Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Elisha Williams connected down the right flank, catching the Manly left back out. Yeoman-Dale then shot toward goal but the Manly keeper made a smart save.
Shortly after Alyssa Harris was called into action again, this time Nicola Bolger tried her luck but Harris did well to palm the ball out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Hayley Crawford rose highest in the box but her headed attempt smashed against the post.
In the ninth minute, Williams really should’ve given the Rams the lead. She latched on to a delightful low ball played into the box but couldn’t get enough purchase on the shot to put the ball passed the busy Harris.
But on the quarter hour, Harris was finally beaten. Renee Rollason latched onto a poorly cleared ball and drilled it into the back of the net to give the Rams a well deserved lead.
It seemed as though the United players had no answer to the quick passing of Macarthur.
In the 22nd minute it was 2-0. Rollason and Bolger connected well on the edge of the area but Harris reacted well to thwart the danger. The rebound fell to Bolger though who unselfishly squared the ball up for Rollason, making it harder to miss than score and extend the home sides lead.
In the 31st minute, United should’ve halved the deficit. Excellent football saw space open up for Ellen Wheatley but her shot hit the cross bar. The rebound came back to the away side as Tiarn Powell tried to place the ball in the far corner. The Rams keeper got down extremely well to get a strong hand to the ball as the danger was cleared.
Just before the stroke of half time, Williams made it 3-0.  Rollason this time turned provider as she played through Williams. Williams took a shot from a tight angle as keeper Harris misjudged the flight of the ball, seeing it hit the back of the net.
It only took three minutes after the restart for the Rams to extend their lead to 4-0. Amy Harrison played a superb through ball for Leena Khamis who expertly placed the ball passed the on rushing keeper into the goal.
Harrison then turned into goal scorer in the 41st minute. She expertly turned her marker, opened up her body to curl the ball into the far corner of the goal for a comprehensive 5-0 lead.
Harrison was then brought down in the box in the 52nd minute, giving Rollason an opportunity to score her hat-trick from the spot. She delivered, pushing the Rams further out with a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later and it was 7-0. Another well worked team goal as Gema Simon made her way into the box to slam the ball passed the hapless Harris.

Illawarra Stingrays 1-2 FNSW Institute
At JJ Kelly Park on Saturday afternoon, the Illawarra Stingrays entertained the young FNSW Institute side.
The Institute team has been on the rise recently, scoring back-to-back victories as they look to move closer to a finals spot.
They made it three wins on the bounce as they defeated the Stingrays 2-1. They took a 2-0 lead into the break courtesy of Rhianna Pollicina and Chloe O’Brian. Despite great fight from the Stingrays and a goal from Jordan Baker to half the deficit, the Stingrays couldn’t find an equaliser.
This victory places the Institute just outside the finals spots now while the Stingrays will need to lift in the coming weeks to improve their ladder position.

Blacktown Spartans 1-2 Marconi Stallions
At Blacktown Football Park on Sunday afternoon, the Blacktown Spartans welcomed the Marconi Stallions.
The Stallions took the lead in the first half and despite the Spartans working hard in the second half, the Stallions went on with it and came away with an important 2-1 win.
Goal scorers for the Stallions were Candace Sciberras and Helen Petinos while for the Spartans Shanaye Kuntze found the back of the net.

Illawarra Stingrays 3-1 North West Sydney Koalas
At JJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon, the North West Sydney Koalas made the long trip south to verse the Illawarra Stingrays.
The Koalas took a first half lead courtesy of Kristy Rohrer and looked the goods going into half time. A second half turn around changed that though as the Stingrays came out firing thanks to a brace from Michele Carney and a goal to Jordan Baker.
It was an important win for the Stingrays as they registered their first win after four straight losses.

Sydney University SFC 2-3 Northbridge FC
The beautiful Wilson Park saw the clash between Sydney University and Northbridge FC take place.
Sydney University went into the break with a healthy 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Olivia Kennedy and Erin Wilson.
The ‘Bridge’ wouldn’t fall down though and they rose to come away with a hard fought 3-2 victory. The goals came from Siahn Bozanic, Dominique Carruthers and an own goal.
– Nikola Pozdar