PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 7 Review

Round seven of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition didn’t disappoint in the goals department as per usual, with 21 goals scored over five games.

It’s a three-way tie at the top of the table with even goal difference struggling to separate them.
Manly United 1-1 Macarthur Rams
The match of the round saw a late rescheduling from Lynwood Park to Cromer Park as second placed Manly United hosted the first placed Macarthur Rams in what promised to be a exciting game.
The two couldn’t be separated at the final whistle as both had to settle for a 1-1 draw, joined at the top of the table with the North Shore Mariners now after round seven.
Manly were perhaps stronger throughout the match but couldn’t capitalise on their slight dominance.
It was Macarthur who took the lead though mid-way through the first half. A teasing Kate Hensman corner saw Georgia Yeoman-Dale flick a header toward the near post and into the back of the net.
United reacted just before the break with a beautiful team goal. The Rams were robbed of possession in the middle of the park and then the home side turned it on. In typical United free-slowing football, Kristie Crawford finished the move with a sweet finish just inside the box, giving Jada Mathyssen-Whyman no chance in the Rams goal.
The restart gave us a real midfield battle with both sides trying to grab the ascendency on the match.
United thought they had completely overturned the result mid-way through the second half. Substitute Louise Neville broke through the Rams defence, rounded Mathyssen-Whyman and shot toward goal. Rams defender Lauren Ralston didn’t give up though and got back just in time to clear the ball off the line to keep the scores level.
Kate Hensman then had the Rams best chance of the second half as she went in one on one with the Manly keeper. Hensman’s effort beat the keeper but went wide of the post.
Neither team could pinch the victory as the referee blew full time on an entertaining battle.
Emerging Jets 2-1 North West Sydney Koalas
The North West Sydney Koalas travelled North to take on the Emerging Jets on Sunday afternoon.
It was always going to be a tight affair between the two at Lake Macquarie and the sides moved into the break all square at 1-1. The Jets scored a second half goal to pen in win number three of the season and move themselves into sixth place.
The Koalas will look to get out of their rut as soon as possible and start recording some victories. Round one seems so long ago now for the girls in yellow.
Blacktown Spartans 5-3 Illawarra Stingrays
Blacktown Football Park played host to the Blacktown Spartans and Illawarra Stingrays.
It seems wherever Grahame Shaw’s Stingrays play, you’ll be in for an entertaining match full of goals. Such was the case on Sunday in an eight-goal thriller.
The Spartans took a commanding 3-1 lead into the break and looked odds on to score their third straight win. A spirited Stingrays outfit made them fight for it though, with the home side coming away with a 5-3 victory.
Tara Pender and Linda O’Neill both scored braces for the girls in orange with captain Alix Roberts getting the other goal.
The Stingrays are still winless this season but it is obvious that scoring isn’t an issue, with the problems at the other end of the pitch for them.
Sydney University SFC 2-1 Football NSW Institute
It was a mid-table clash at Wilson Park as Sydney University hosted the Football NSW Institute.
The sides went into the break scoreless with no side able to break the deadlock. The second half was also a tight affair with the home side coming away victors by the odd goal, winning 2-1.
The home teams goal scorers were Olivia Price and Stephanie Ambrose while Princess Ibini-Isei marked her return to the Institute team with a goal.
North Shore Mariners 4-1 Central Coast
The North Shore Mariners welcomed bottom placed Central Coast to Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon.
After going a couple matches without a win, the Mariners insured they’d get back on track as they defeated the Coast 4-1. The win pushed them into a share of top spot with three other teams as they fight it out for the Premiership.
The unfortunate Central Coast again failed to register a point but they won’t stop fighting and will look to get their heads up immediately.
*Due to unforeseen circumstances, this week’s Match of the Round was not filmed – we will back with the Match of the Round highlights next week.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter