Olympic through to Grand Final of NPL NSW Womens 2

Sydney Olympic will face Central Coast Mariners Academy in the Grand Final next week after the Premiers comfortably defeated Inter Lions in the only match of the week.
Central Coast Mariners Academy confirmed their spot in the Grand Final after comfortably defeating Inter Lions 3-0 in their Preliminary Final clash at Jensen Park. Tahlor Thackray scored a sublime brace and was the standout player of the match, with Kayla Alexander adding a third for the Mariners midway through the second half.
Thackray looked in the mood to score from the first whistle, blasting a left footed shot from all of 30 metres just centimetres over the bar in the third minute to give Inter Lions an early scare.
Dominating possession and territory throughout, Central Coast forced their opponents deep into their own half and looked dangerous when they switched the ball quickly out to the right wing. Alexander missed a glorious opportunity to put her side ahead in the 10th minute after skying a shot from close range over an open goal. The opportunity had arisen after Meaghan Mcelligott had held off multiple Inter defenders before weaving her way into the box and crossing to Alexander who couldn’t apply the finishing touches.
But within a minute of Alexander missing a golden opportunity, Central Coast again went close and the move again came down the right side of the pitch. The overlapping run from right back Natalie Waddell allowed Jessica Dominello to switch the play out to the right and Waddell cut the ball back to the penalty spot to Jayme Fressard whose well-directed shot was tipped around the post by goalkeeper Natalie Pentecost.
Despite their dominance, Central Coast needed to remain switched on at the back and were nearly brought undone by a simple long ball over the top of their high defensive line in the 27th minute which found Filiz Urkanci through 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. But her tame shot was comfortably saved by Ashley Sweetnam and Inter would be left rue their missed opportunity because Central Coast finally got the reward for their dominance less than a minute later.
Thackray, picking up the ball just outside the box, worked the ball onto her left foot and into the box before unleashing an unstoppable left foot drive into the far top corner of the goal.
Central Coast felt they should have had an opportunity to double their lead immediately after in the 30th minute but their shouts for a penalty, a handball against Cherie Flusk, were waved away by the referee.
Inter Lions were barely hanging onto their 1-0 deficit going into half time and struggled to create a meaningful opportunity on goal, relying on long balls over the top.
Even though they did hold out until half time, Inter Lions conceded a second within minutes of the restart to make an already difficult task, in beating Central Coast, nearly impossible. Thackray doubled her side’s and her individual tally for the match when she linked up with Fressard on the edge of the box, playing a one-two which put Thackray through on goal. A neatly dinked finish put the ball over the reach of the sliding Pentecost.
And in the 64th minute the game was put beyond doubt when Alexander added the third goal of the match. A long ball forward from left back Tegan Boden saw defender Georgia Klapos misjudge the flight of the ball, over committing and finding herself on the wrong side of the lightening quick Fressard. As soon as Fressard was in behind, there was no catching her and she darted into the box before drilling the ball across the face of goal for Alexander to tap the ball home, not making the same mistake as she had done earlier in the match.
Central Coast tried to add to the score line and Mcelligott came close after an individual mazy run from midfield, but her shot was deflected into the arms of Pentecost. Thackray had a late chance to seal a hat trick, with a direct free kick from 25 metres out but the ball went just over the bar.
Facing a Sydney Olympic side that defeated them 3-1 in the Major Semi Final, Central Coast will need to replicate their attacking display against Inter Lions and remain concentrated at the back if they are to win the Premiership-Championship double.

Reserve Grade
Inter Lions qualified for next week’s Reserve Grade Final, defeating UNSW Lions 3-0 in the Major Semi Final. In the Minor Semi Final (third versus fourth), Central Coast Mariners scraped through on penalties over Southern Branch after the match ended 0-0 after extra time.
– by Kate Cohen