PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 9 Review

There was a clash between top four sides as first placed Marconi Stallions hosted fourth placed Nepean FC and third placed Northern Tigers travelled to second placed Sutherland Shire.

Last placed UNSW Lions attempted to avoid another defeat against Inter Lions and, in FNSW’s game of the round, Sydney Olympic took on Southern Branch.
A 4-0 win over Southern Branch has helped to re-establish Sydney Olympic in the top four of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 competition. Olympic, having last week won only their second match of the season, took a 1-0 lead into halftime before taking full advantage of Southern Branch’s ill-discipline, scoring three times in the second half.
Within the opening two minutes, Olympic were able to get in behind Southern Branch’s defence when left winger Kristy Kunovski cut inside and played a long switch out to right winger Madelaine Costanzo, formerly of Southern Branch. Constanzo took her first touch out in front to bear on goal before shooting straight at the goalkeeper from just inside the box.
That would prove to be a frequent route to goal for Olympic, with frequent diagonal balls out towards the right channel catching out left back Ainslie Lyon. Just 15 minutes later and Olympic again found joy with an early pass in behind Lyon, this time with midfielder Kalista Tsoupis playing in striker Danielle Calvi who arced her run to stay onside. Calvi’s cross to the centre of the box found strike partner Ayse Adalis who could only shoot over the crossbar under pressure from recovering defender Danielle Williams.
But despite Olympic’s early chances created, Southern Branch looked dangerous going forward through pacey attackers Samara Wehmeyer and Amanda Carney. It was those two who nearly combined effectively in the 20^th minute when Carney received a throw in on the left and quickly turned and crossed to the back post, just beyond the outstretched leg of Wehmeyer. A corner, won soon after by Wehmeyer, then found Danielle Wise free in the box but the attacking midfielder could only scuff her snapshot well past the post.
With the game evenly poised leading into halftime, another ball in behind left back Lyon found Calvi in space but the attacker berated herself when the defender was able to recover and play the ball out for a throw in the 38^th minute. Quick thinking right back Ashley Rabie threw early into the feet of Calvi who spun her marker Lyon before crossing into the box for the midfield runner of Sophie Scott to finish into the bottom corner.
That goal would prove to be the difference heading into halftime and just three minutes into the second half, Olympic doubled their lead thanks to some misfortune and miscommunication at the back by goalkeeper Jessica Beahan and right back Sarah Hickling. When Adalis was played in in behind left back Lyon, the striker was able to use her body to protect the ball before crossing towards Kunovski at the back post. However, with the powerful cross too far in advance of the Olympic player goalkeeper Beahan came out to claim the ball only to see Hickling stick out a leg to deflect the ball into the open net.
It was this type of bad luck which compounded Southern Branch’s frustrating afternoon and tensions started to boil as they committed a series of niggly fouls.
Goalkeeper Beahan was soon the only player keeping her side in the match when, in the 57^th minute she parried Costanzo’s goalbound shot to safety after a Calvi through-ball. It was the umpteenth time Lyon had been caught out at left back and the defender, on a rare venture forward, soon lashed out two minutes later, catching Madeleine Mirkovic late and high after losing possession.
But the defender’s day would soon get worse moments later when, in the 62^nd minute, she barged through the back of Costanzo to give away a penalty which Calvi converted to seal the match for Olympic.
However, Southern Branch did not concede defeat and Wise, after moving up front, went close four times in eight minutes with three shots fizzing past the post and the fourth well struck but straight at goalkeeper Amanda Seskin.
Seskin would then intervene when Southern Branch found a lifeline via a penalty. After Wehmeyer was clipped by left back Victoria Panourakis in the box, captain Williams stepped up only to see her spot kick saved by Seskin. Just a minute later the Olympic goalkeeper got down low to cut out a Wehmeyer cross before kicking over half way in the lead up to Olympic’s fourth, scored by Costanzo.
The frustration, both at the scoreline and chances missed, proved too much for Wise who, after screaming obscenities at the referee saw her second yellow card (both for dissent) of the match with five minutes to go. Wise’s outburst came after a referee waved play on after the striker was pushed in the back when jumping for a high ball and in the remaining five minutes of the match a further two Southern Branch players went into the book for dissent.
Now six points off fourth spot and just two points ahead of UNSW Lions, Southern Branch’s season is entering a crucial stage as they look regroup from another loss – their fifth of the season. For Sydney Olympic, their 10 goals scored in two games has helped to elevate them to third spot, just two points behind second placed Sutherland Shire.

Inter Lions vs UNSW Lions at Concord Oval

After a four game winless run, Inter Lions returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over last placed UNSW Lions. The much needed win was not enough for Inter to return to the top four but has enabled them to move above Nepean FC and level with Northern Tigers on points. For UNSW, the seventh loss of the season means they could not take advantage of Southern Branch’s loss to move off the foot of the ladder.

Sutherland Shire vs Northern Tigers at Harrie Denning Centre

After falling to a late Nepean goal last week, Sutherland Shire returned to winning ways thanks to two goals from Rochelle Borromeo against Northern Tigers. Tigers, who were breathing down the neck of Sutherland in third place leading into the match, were unable to keep a second cleansheet of the season and fall to fourth spot with the loss.

Marconi Stallions vs Nepean FC at Marconi Stallions

Marconi continued their 100 per cent season record, comfortably defeating Nepean FC 5-1. Nepean were on a three game winning streak but were no match for Marconi, with Caitlin Jarvie (x2), Jodie Bain, Hannah Voloder and Alesha Clifford grabbing the goals.

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Gillian Bartlett and Yasmin Mehmed were the goalscorers for Sydney Olympic as the Belmore-based side ran out 2-0 winners over Southern Branch in Reserve Grade. Elsewhere, Marconi scrapped to a 1-0 win over Nepean FC, UNSW Lions defeated Inter Lions 2-1 and Northern Tigers reversed the first grade scoreline, winning 2-0 over Sutherland Shire.
–By Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter