PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 10 Review

IT SEEMS only finals spots are up for grabs less than halfway through the season as Sydney Olympic travelled to Nepean FC, UNSW Lions hosted Northern Tigers and Southern Branch took on Inter Lions. In Match of the Round, second placed Sutherland Shire faced leaders Marconi Stallions, who were 13 points ahead.

Match of the Round
Marconi further extended their unbeaten record, defeating second placed Sutherland Shire to open up an unassailable 15 point lead at the top. Three Marconi goals in the first half, from Renee Tomkins, Alesha Clifford and a Sutherland own goal, proved to be too much for Sutherland to catch, despite Kellie Mutch pulling one back in the second half.
Sutherland began the game in committed fashion, trying to press high up the pitch to force their opponents into mistakes and the approach nearly paid off in the sixth minute when right fullback Genevieve Nisbet received possession in transition. Bombing forward, Nisbet was able to round her opponent and move into the box before her low cross was parried by Marconi goalkeeper Renee Krstanovska. Unable to follow up the shot, Sutherland again forced a turnover high up the pitch just three minutes later.
On this occasion, after winning the ball back, Nisbet passed inside to midfielder Toni Vukasin who split Marconi’s backline to find right winger Raegan Deeley before the dangerous cross was again cut out by Krstanovska.
Unable to take their two half chances, Sutherland soon learned quickly how deadly Marconi were when, in the 14th minute, Tomkins gave her side a lead from a corner. Again pressing high, Sutherland were turned around by a Marconi long ball and cleared the danger for a corner only to see Tomkins smash in the half-cleared delivery off the left post.
That was the catalyst for Marconi to dominate and despite Sutherland maintaining their committed start, the league leaders doubled their lead eight minutes later via a fortunate own goal. After midfielder Mutch threw her body in front of a Clifford shot on the edge of the box, the loose ball fell to a Marconi player who immediately shot. Attempting to block the effort, centre back Annelotte Birdsall could only see the shot loop off her head and over her goalkeeper into the net.
It was tough for Sutherland who had started the game well but just couldn’t match their superior and ruthless opponents. As heads dropped, so too did Sutherland’s pressure and Marconi began to slice through their opponents, finding spaces in midfield before revelling in the room behind Sutherland’s back line.
In the 30th minute, striker Caitlin Jarvie dropped back into midfield to receive from right back Kirilee Cook before flicking a first time pass over the top to right winger Ceyda Cambaz. Racing through on goal, Cambaz could only hit her shot into the side netting but just 60 seconds later and Marconi had sealed the match, with Clifford adding a third.
Another early long pass over the top paid dividends as Clifford ran in behind from midfield to receive a pass from left back Emily Kos and calmly slot the ball under Sutherland’s outrushing goalkeeper.
After regrouping at halftime, Sutherland pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when Mutch headed home Verity Quartermain’s free kick unopposed at the back post and they nearly scored a second in the 66th minute to make things interesting. However, when through on goal, right back Nisbet stumbled and lost her footing and Marconi was able to see out the match in a controlled fashion.

Nepean FC vs Sydney Olympic at Cook Park
A Danielle Calvi hat trick against Nepean FC has seen Sydney Olympic move above Sutherland Shire and into second spot. Runners up last season, Olympic had struggled to collect points after their 6-0 Round 1 win but a run of three straight wins has helped them move above the rest of the pack. For Nepean, that is now three straight losses as they try to finish in the top four.

Southern Branch vs Inter Lions at South Nowra Football Complex
Southern Branch picked up a vital second win of the season, defeating Inter Lions again to remain within a win of the top four. Despite going five games without a win, goals from Sarah Hickling and Paris Ford helped Southern to a 2-1 win. That keeps things interesting in the race for finals football, with just three points separating fourth and last at the halfway point of the season.

UNSW Lions vs Northern Tigers at David Phillips Field
UNSW Lions snapped their four game losing streak and moved off the bottom of the table, winning twice this week against Nepean FC and, on Sunday, against Northern Tigers. A Rebecca Browning double was enough for a 2-0 win over Nepean on Thursday night and Browning was again the scorer of the winning goal in the 1-0 win over Tigers. Those six points put UNSW just two points off Tigers in fourth spot.

Reserve Grade
Mirroring first grade, Marconi’s reserve grade team further extended their lead at the top, defeating Sutherland Shire 2-0. That win puts them 10 points ahead of second placed Northern Tigers who drew 1-1 with UNSW Lions. Elsewhere, Sydney Olympic defeated Nepean FC 1-0 and Southern Branch drew 0-0 with Inter Lions.

-by Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter