Women’s State League Round 1 Review
The Football NSW Women’s State League got off to a blistering start, with all but one game featuring the winning team scoring four goals.
MATCH OF THE WEEK
Gladesville Ravens v Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC
An overcast, bitterly cold Sunday afternoon saw a young Gladesville Ravens outfit take on the travelling Mt. Druitt Town Rangers at Peel Park, with both sides looking to get their season off to the best possible start.
The home team began eagerly, pressing high and trying to force an early mistake from the Rangers. A sharp through ball from Noelle Loyzaga found her sister Celeste, whose shot was palmed away well by Emma Davies in the Rangers’ goal.
However, despite early pressure from the Ravens, it was the visitors who took the early lead. Lisa Fressard was played through superbly and, keeping her composure, slotted home calmly despite a finger-tip from the Ravens’ goalkeeper.
The Ravens were forced to take the initiative in search of an equaliser, peppering the Rangers’ goal with numerous shots over the following ten minutes. Just after the twentieth minute, Celeste Loyzaga broke down the wing and sent through a spectacular cross to the back post, where Eleanor Jones seemed certain to score, but her shot flew too high.
Despite this pressure, it was Mt. Druitt who were able to better convert their chances. A second goal for Emma Davies came in the twenty eighth minute after a cleverly worked set piece. Taryn Rockall lined up the free kick as if to shoot but instead played a through ball to an unmarked Davies, who made no mistake in scoring.
Once again, the Ravens pushed forward, hoping to get a goal back before half time. A beautiful through ball from Daniella Fiero again found Eleanor Jones, but Jones’ powerful shot hit the upright.
Jones couldn’t be kept quiet for much longer, however, scoring a spectacular goal from distance in the thirty fifth minute to pull one back for the Ravens. The pacey winger burst down the right wing and smashed a powerful shot towards the back post, which a backpedaling Davies couldn’t save.
Gladesville continued to make their own luck, earning a penalty just five minutes later after centre back Paige Vansaarloos was taken down in the Rangers goal box. Having already scored a goal, Eleanor Jones confidently stepped up to the spot and converted coolly.
At half-time, Gladesville had completed a valiant comeback to level things at two goals apiece.
The second half began a lot more cagey than the first, with neither team able to break through each other’s defences. Ashleigh Smith for the Ravens and Taryn Rockall for Mt. Druitt were particular stand-outs in this period of play, leading their teams superbly.
The stalemate was finally broken in the sixty ninth minute, in the form of a Mt. Druitt own goal. Half-time substitute Natalie Cesarone sped down the right wing and swung in a powerful cross into the Rangers’ box. Centre back Emma Sloan stuck a leg out in defence, but the ball ballooned backwards over her own goalkeeper. Heart-break for the Rangers, and Sloan.
In the seventy fifth minute, Noelle Loyzaga was on the receiving end of a strong sliding tackle from Ashleigh Jones, and after spending a few minutes receiving treatment on the field, was forced to come off after an impressive shift in the centre of midfield.
The Ravens were able to put the game away in the eighty first minute, sealing a remarkable comeback. It was a devastatingly swift counter-attack, after Lauren Scaramuzza made a superb save for the Ravens before launching it forward quickly to Natalie Cesarone. Cesarone played a through ball down the line to the Eleanor Jones who hit the touchline before crossing to the back post, where substitute Amanda Holmes finished.
Gladesville will be delighted with their mental fortitude, having gone down by two goals very early on. After three points to start off the season, they are looking well set up for a successful season. The Rangers will be disappointed with the result, but were fairly evenly matched with Gladesville throughout the ninety minutes, and will look to build on their performance with three points next week.
Match Stats
Gladesville Ravens 4 (Eleanor Jones 35’ / 40’, Ashleigh Holmes 81’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 2 (Lissa Fressard 7’ / 28’, OG Emma Sloan 69’)
Sunday, 12th of April, 2015
Peel Park, Gladesville
Referee: Mr Andreas Lyndon
Assistant Referees: Mr Arnol Verma and Mr Alexander Lyndon
Gladesville Ravens : 16. Isabella Breukelaar, 8. Kate Butler-Howell (25. Kate Morris), 10. Daniella Cesarone, 19. Alesha Gaunt (9. Natalie Cesarone), 15. Pragya Goswami, 20. Eleanor Jones, 17. Celeste Loyzaga (23. Amanda Holmes), 18. Noelle Loyzaga (3. Rebecca Kundrat), 1. Lauren Scaramuzza, 29. Ashleigh Smith, 5. Paige Vansaarloos.
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Heather Madgwick
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC : 41. Emma Davies, 19. Tiana Guaci (3. Melanie Murray), 8. Emma Sloan, 6. Taryn Rockall, 7. Lynne Wegrzyn, 16. Natasha Vaccari, 23. Jessica Stricek, 12. Steffanie Trovato, 18. Ashleigh Jones (10. Brooke Conroy), 14. Brianna Trigg, 9. Lisa Fressard (5. Kristy Hope).
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Lee Jenkins, 28. Jessica Cough.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Round 1 Summaries
Parramatta FC – Southern Districts Emeralds: 4-3
Parramatta FC got their Women’s State League debut off to a thrilling start, defeating the Southern District Emeralds four goals to three.
The Emeralds fought hard and found goals through Jo-Ann Saliba, Grace Tangira and Alyssa Malovic, but were unable to resist a ruthless Parramatta attack, in what was a high-octane affair.
Western NSW Mariners FC – Bankstown City FC: 2-1
The Mariners have started their season strongly, as part of their bid to quickly re-earn promotion in to the PS4 National Premier League NSW Women’s 2.
Jess Salamoni was the hero for Western NSW in their first home game of the year, scoring twice to beat a resilient Bankstown City outfit.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers – St George FC: 0-4
The only game of the round where the home team did not win, St. George came away with a resounding victory and all three points from their visit to Lambert Park.
Captain Lauren Gardner led the way with a brace, while Rachelle Wang and Georgia Koinis also added to the tally. The Tigers will be hugely disappointed with their start to the season, as they seek to put last year’s poor results behind them.
– by Daniel Palmer, Women’s State League Reporter
