PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 2 Review

The Marconi Stallions kicked off their new season by travelling to Penrith to take on Nepean FC in what was the Match of the Round for the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 competition.
Southern Branch also kicked off their season by hosting the in-form Sydney Olympic, Northern Tigers faced Sutherland Shire and UNSW Lions looked to turn around their poor start against Inter Lions.
Match of the Round – Marconi Stallions vs Nepean FC
In a game where the two new sides of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 competition faced off against each other, Marconi Stallions outclassed Nepean FC at Cook Park, easing to a 5-2 triumph. While the gulf in class was clear, it was Marconi’s complacency mixed with Nepean’s hard work and positive attitude which kept the score somewhat respectable.
It was evident from the first whistle just how hard Nepean would have to work, as Marconi monopolised possession of the ball in the opening stages. But it was possession without any output for Marconi who lethargically moved the ball around the pitch as Nepean sat back on the edge of their own box.
In sitting back so far, Nepean left Nicola Bonaventura isolated up front and an early counter attacking opportunity was snuffed out by the Marconi backline. Against the lone striker, Marconi soon asserted their territorial dominance, with both fullbacks able to push high up the park and midfielders Chloe Logarzo and Caitlin Jarvie getting forward at will.
But after 15 minutes of monotonous dominance without a shot on goal, an injury to Bonaventura allowed Marconi to heed instructions and come out with a higher intensity, taking the lead soon after.
Marconi striker Joanne Burgess had had joy when dropping in between the lines and did so again to receive from midfield before Logarzo burst in behind into the left side of the box. A neat turn helped Logarzo evade her marker before she coolly slotted the ball into the far corner with Marconi’s first shot of the game.
Logarzo came close again in the 25th minute, breaking into the box to receive from right fullback MS2 and knocking the ball past the recovering central defender and shooting from a tight angle. With the goalkeeper beaten, only a last ditch clearance off the line prevented a second Marconi goal as they stepped up the tempo.
Nepean struggled to deal with Logarzo’s runs in behind and the one-time Matilda came close again when she ran in behind but it was Burgess who instigated the play by dropping off in between the lines to turn and pass in behind Nepean’s out-of-sorts defensive line. Through on goal, Logarzo passed up an opportunity to shoot, cutting back onto her left, feinting to shoot before leaving her defender for dead as she quickly transferred the ball back to her right only to see her goal ward shot blocked.
It was showboating stuff for Marconi, who somehow managed to miss two free headers in the six-yard box, and they extended their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Jarvie broke in behind to receive Burgess’ pass before toe-poking the ball beyond Nepean’s out-rushing goalkeeper.
Jarvie was involved again eight minutes later when slotted home a penalty she had won – standing up two defenders before being clattered from the side. The 3-0 score line at half time could have been more if not for poor finishing and laid-back reactions when goal-scoring opportunities were created.
But it was also quizzical refereeing which prevented the score-line blowing out even more when, in the 55th minute, Logarzo burst through 1-on-1 only to be scythed down by Nepean’s goalkeeper. What should have been a penalty and a red card was waved play on but few complaints came in what felt like a Marconi exhibition.
Five minutes later, Logarzo added her second and her team’s fourth, heading home at the front post from a counter attack. Another breakaway led to a fifth in the 62nd minute, when Burgess played in Logarzo in behind on the left channel. Cutting in on her right and shaping to shoot on the edge of the box, Logarzo instead inventively back-heeled the ball to Jarvie as she wrapped around. Jarvie’s curled finish into the top corner was the pick of the goals from Marconi.
The gulf in class was so great and Marconi revelled in the spaces as Nepean tired. But with so much space and with little resistance, complacency set in as Marconi almost inexcusably conceded twice late on.
With just 10 minutes to go, Nepean played a free kick up to the shortest player on the park, Rachel Cavanagh, before winning the second ball in midfield. Midfielder Alix Waddell then burst in behind to run onto the ball over the top before looping her volley over goalkeeper Renee Krstanovka.
Nepean’s second goal, two minutes from time, epitomised their efforts, when Cavanagh chased down a back passing, forcing a turnover before Lauren Connell ran through 1-on-1 to make it 5-2.

Around The Grounds
Elsewhere, Sydney Olympic could not carry on from their 6-0 win against UNSW Lions in Round 1, drawing 1-1 with Southern Branch. Southern Branch, who forfeited their first round game against Marconi, picked up their first point of the new season.
Equal with Olympic on four points is Northern Tigers, who sealed their first win of the season by defeating Sutherland Shire FA 3-2. Tigers won just three games last season but will be pleased with their unbeaten start to the season. In the final game of the round, Erica Toscano and Megan Bertenshaw scored for Inter Lions in a 2-1 win over UNSW Lions.

Reserve Grade Results
Just as their first grade team won, Marconi Stallions’ reserve team defeated Nepean FC, winning 3-1. Elsewhere, goals for Rhonda Succar and Sarah Mandile helped Inter Lions to a 2-0 win over UNSW Lions, Sutherland Shire and Northern Tigers played out a 2-2 draw and Sydney Olympic defeated Southern Branch 3-1.
by Kate Cohen