PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 3 Review
The crazy weather that hit New South Wales over the weekend only affected one game in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition.
Round 3’s match of the round was just that in a pulsating six-goal thriller, while tight score lines were the story of the other three games.
Football NSW Institute 4-2 Illawarra Stingrays
On a cold afternoon at Valentine Sports Park in an absolute thriller, the Football NSW Institute came away with the spoils against the Illawarra Stingrays 4-2.
The ‘Rays’ will feel hard done by by the result as they let so many chances go begging in a match that saw four top draw goals.
It only took three minutes for the away side to open the scoring. Sophie Hancock robbed the Institute defence of possession near half way as she played in an early ball for Jordan Baker who had acres of space in front of her. The lethal finisher Baker had no problems with putting the ball into the back of the net as Sophie Digiandomenico could only get a hand to the ball as it bounced over the line.
In form Georgia Plessas had the first opportunity for the Institute in the eighth minute but Elyse Finlayson did well to save in the Stingrays goal.
In the 12th minute it was almost 2-0 for the Stingrays. This time Hancock broke through the Institute defence as she went in one on one with Digiandomenico. The Institute keeper was quick to react and thwart the danger.
Again the Stingrays pressed as Michelle Carney played the ball to Erica Halloway. The away sides winger dribbled past her defender and thundered a shot against the bar.
Against the run of play, the home side had their equaliser through Plessas on 21 minutes as the Institute attacker unleashed from outside the area, with her shot beating Finlayson.
Demi Koulizakis was creating all sorts of problems for the stingrays defence down the left wing and when she sent over a ball in the 27th minute it seemed as though Princess Ibini-Isei had given the Institute the lead. The unusually quiet Ibini-Isei couldn’t find the target with her header though as the ball flew wide.
From here, the game seemed to open up with both sides creating decent half chances with no end product.
An excellent move by Ibini-Isei through the middle of the pitch and a pass to Lorena Bugden almost saw the right back score but her week shot was easy pickings for Finlaysin.
Only Erica Halloway knows how the Stingrays didn’t take the lead in the 42nd minute. First Digiandomenico made a brilliant save from her and then the number 8 fluffed her lines from the six yard line, shooting wide.
The away side started the second half very much like the first, on top and in control as captain Carney looked to get further involved.
As the match went on though, the young Institute side started getting more into the game, forcing the Stingrays deeper.
The Institute should’ve taken the lead when Koulizakis took on her defender well down the left, her shot rebounded to Petratos who could only shoot over from a few metres out.
Halloway must’ve been thinking it wasn’t going to be her day when her flick header hit the bar for the second time in the match.
Ibini-Isei stamped her authority on the match with about 20 minutes to go as she dribbled the ball infield and sent an absolute beauty into the bottom right corner for an Institute lead.
Whatever Ibini-Isei could do, Halloway thought she could do better and the persistent winger found the top corner with a great strike to make for an interesting final 15 minutes with the scores locked at 2-2.
Not to be outdone by her team mate and opposition number, Koulizakis coolly sent a rifle into the top corner only two minutes later for the Institute to re-take the lead in what was proving to be a classic.
With less than 10 remaining, again the Stingrays were left thinking how didn’t we score!? First a cleared header off the line from a corner saw the rebound volleyed against the bar by Caitlin Cooper.
If you thought the goals couldn’t get better you were kidding yourself as substitute Lucy Mackie scored a screamer in stoppage time. Her quick feet gave her just enough time to beat her defender and get her shot away from the edge of the area that finished in the far top corner for a 4-2 Institute lead.
Sydney University 2-0 Emerging Jets
Sydney Olympic Park hosted the round three clash between Sydney University and the Emerging Jets.
A winless Uni were desperate to join the winners circle and they did just that, putting two past the young Jets side. Two first half goals to star striker Amy Harrison were enough for the home side to come away with all three points.
The Jets are one of three teams yet to register a point this season but persistency at playing their game will see the results slowly come into place.
Manly United 1-1 North West Sydney Koalas
At Cromer Park, Manly United took on the North West Sydney Koalas in what was a fiery match.
Manly continued their unbeaten start to the 2015 season as they registered a 1-1 draw. Tia Gavin again found herself on the score sheet for the home side while the ever dangerous Heidi Makrillos scored for the Koalas.
The point puts Manly in third place on the ladder while the Koalas move into fifth place.
North Shore Mariners 1-1 Blacktown Spartans
At Northbridge Oval, the Blacktown Spartans made the trip north to take on the North Shore Mariners.
The Mariners were yet to drop any points after the first two matches while the Spartans were still winless.
With the sides scoreless at the break, they could only manage a goal a piece as the match finshed 1-1. Nikola Orgill scored for the home side while Rachael Doyle scored for the girls in Orange.
Macarthur Rams v Central Coast W/O
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
