PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 8 Review
With Marconi Stallions already boasting an unassailable lead at the top of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 ladder, the fight for a top four place becomes the most important talking point in Round 8.
In FNSW’s game of the week, two in form sides – Nepean FC and Sutherland Shire – faced each other hoping to extend their winning streaks.
In a game where they were second best, an 88th minute Alix Waddell goal has help Nepean FC snap Sutherland Shire’s three game winning streak, winning 1-0. After struggling in the opening three games of the season, Nepean themselves have now won three games in a row, rising to fourth place on the ladder, although on this occasion they can count themselves lucky.
Nepean’s goalkeeper Narmin Malas was one of her side’s standouts – blocking Sutherland at every attempt. The first of many key interventions for Malas came in the fifth minute as diminutive attacker Rochelle Borromeo raced in behind after a Verity Quartermain through ball. As Borromeo looked to hit her shot across the goal with her left foot, Malas was able to stretch out a leg to toe the ball away as she raced off her line.
Just 20 minutes later and Malas again played a crucial role in keeping Nepean level with Sutherland. From a corner, centre back Annelotte Birdsall was able to connect with Quartermain’s delivery, heading the ball into a Nepean player before the ball fell to Sutherland attacker Shannon Peters inside the six yard box. Free just metres from goal, Malas bravely dived at the feet of Peters, smothering the ball before the attacker could poke her shot over the line.
And Malas was again at it three minutes later as he raced to the edge of the box to slide out and prevent left winger Kate Dale in a one-v-one situation.
It looked as the breakthrough was coming for Sutherland and, in the 31st minute, they felt aggrieved as they again entered the final third. From nothing, Borromeo raced in behind, tearing through Nepean’s back four before she was cynically pulled back by last defender Hollie Wilson on the edge of the box. Quizzically, the referee refrained from showing a card of any colour but when Quartermain blasted the dead ball over the bar, the teams went into half time level.
The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first as Malas again denied Sutherland in the 49th minute. As Sutherland played through midfield, right winger Peters received possession in space, cutting inside and playing a killer pass in behind to Borromeo. In on goal, a poor first touch was pounced on by the Nepean goalkeeper who was quick off her line.
Borromeo looked to redeem herself, jinking past a defender after receiving a throw in inside the box, but her shot from close range was smashed over the bar.
Sutherland continued to turn the screws but they were unable to break Malas’ goal, with Dale’s mishit cross hitting the bar the closest they came to wrong-footing the goalkeeper.
There was only one side that looked like scoring but with one of their only chances of the game, Nepean were ruthless in front of goal. After Peters gave away a foul on half way, Nepean played a ball into the box in search of a late winner. The ball fell to the smallest player on the pitch – striker Rachel Cavanagh – but after Nepean were initially denied by goalkeeper Brianna Griffin, Waddell slotted the follow up in from close range.
The crucial goal, against the run of play, shocked Sutherland who were unable to find an equaliser. With two games still in hand on their opponents, incredibly, Nepean are now just one point behind Sutherland in second place.
Northern Tigers vs Inter Lions at Charlie Bean Sportsground
After struggling defensively for the opening five games of the season, Northern Tigers have kept their first clean sheet of the season, keeping Inter Lions goalless in a 2-0 win. Molly Woods and Eilidh Mackay scored the goals for Tigers who go level on points with second placed Sutherland with a game in hand.
UNSW Lions vs Sydney Olympic at David Phillips Field
Sydney Olympic will be hoping they could face UNSW Lions every week, defeating them 6-0 for the second time this season. With the first 6-0 scoreline coming in Round 1, a long winless streak followed for Olympic before they were again able to replicate their form against last placed UNSW.
Southern Branch vs Marconi Stallions at South Nowra Football Complex
Marconi continued their 100 per cent season record against Southern Branch, winning 2-1 away in Nowra. The first game between these two sides was forfeited by Southern Branch and despite going close, a Rhianna Brown goal wasn’t enough to prevent Marconi from taking home maximum points.
Waddell’s late winner was icing on the cake for Nepean FC who had earlier defeated Sutherland Shire 5-2 in Reserve Grade. Elsewhere, Marconi Stallions matched Nepean’s scoreline, defeating last placed Southern Branch 5-2. That win increased Marconi’s lead at the top of the ladder, with second placed Inter Lions losing 2-0 to Northern Tigers while UNSW Lions and Sydney Olympic played out a 0-0 draw.
–By Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter
