PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 12 Review
The PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 round 12 saw the Illawarra Stingrays break into the top four for the first time this season.
Only four points separate as many teams with only six games to go of the season, making for an interesting sprint to the finish.
Blacktown Spartans 1-1 North Shore Mariners
In a direct battle for finals football at Blacktown Football Park, the Blacktown Spartans and North Shore Mariners couldn’t be separated, having to settle for a 1-1 draw.
After Teigen Allen debuted last week for the Spartans, it was Trudy Camilleri that would be showed off this week.
Even though they had their two new stars in, the Spartans were missing a long list of players, much like their opponents on the other side of the pitch.
It seemed the Mariners were content to soak up the early pressure and allow the Spartans to hold the ball, hoping to break quickly and catch the home side off guard.
In the 15th minute the home side had the lead. Persistence by Elizabeth O’Reilly saw her take the ball down to the left by-line and cross into the middle where Tara Pender was eagerly waiting to side foot the ball home. It was a well deserved lead for the Spartans as they dominated the match up till this point.
The Mariners had chances through Hannah Bromley and Nikola Orgill but they were easily dealt with by Sarah Easthope.
After some pressure from the Mariners it was Bromley who had an opportunity from a set piece. Bromley hit her shot with force while Easthope in goals first parried then regathered the ball to keep the Spartans in front.
O’Reilly almost had herself on the scoresheet 25 minutes in. Again she showed quick feet down the left, cutting in and blasting a shot from the edge of the area to goal. Her effort seemed to be going wide before it came back, hit the post and went wide.
Bromley again was at the centre of a Mariners attack in the 31st minute, this time hitting the bar with a header from the corner.
Camilleri was busy in midfield for the Spartans in the first half, eager to get onto the ball.
The second half was a much slower affair with both sets of teams really fighting to take the ascendency.
In the 68th minute, a dangerous ball into the box found the tall Bromley who’s looping head went just over the bar.
Pender and O’Reilly did well for the Spartans, being a constant threat to the Mariners defence.
In the 86th minute the away side had an equaliser. A ball to the left found an unmarked Sarah Grist who only had Easthope to beat. Grist made no mistake with the finish, burying the ball in the bottom left corner.
In the 90th minute the Mariners thought they had the winner. Siahn Bozanic drove the ball toward the far post but Easthope made a fantastic save to keep her side in the match and secure a point.
North West Sydney Koalas 0-0 Manly United
The North West Sydney Koalas took on Manly United as they looked to keep in touch with the finals places.
Having had a tough mid-week game where they went down, United backed up well keeping a clean sheet and registering a point. The girls from Manly will be somewhat disappointed in only picking up one point from their two games.
For the Koalas, the point won’t help them much on their fight for a finals place as they missed their chance to catch up.
Illawarra Stingrays 5-2 Football NSW Institute
At JJ Kelly Park we tipped goals between the Illawarra Stingrays and Football NSW Institute and that’s exactly what we got.
In an entertaining first half, the Institute moved into the break ahead 2-1 thanks to goals from Georgia Plessas and Panayiota Petratos.
Typical for the Stingrays of recent weeks though, they exploded in the second half. Four unanswered goals saw them storm to a 5-2 victory and inside the top four for the first time this season.
A brace from captain Michelle Carney and goals to Jordan Baker, Lucy Nolan and Daila-Tais Borg saw the ‘Rays’ on their way.
Emerging Jets 2-2 Sydney University
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility saw the Emerging Jets welcome Sydney University.
The Jets were desperate for three points in order to keep pace with the finals places as the season comes closer to the end.
The first half ended with the scores locked at 0-0. The second half exploded with goals though but neither side could find a winner with the scores finishing 2-2.
Jemma House and Ashlee Brodigan found the back of the net for the home side while Natasha Prior and Carla Trimboli scored for Heather Garriock’s Uni side.
Central Coast 2-3 Macarthur Rams
It was top verse bottom at Pluim Park as the Macarthur Rams travelled north to take on Central Coast.
It was supposed to be a comfortable afternoon for the league leading Rams but it was anything but that for them.
Norm Boardman’s girls snuck through in the end against a spirited Coast side, winning 3-2.
Gemma Simon and Natalie Waddell scored for the home side while Chrystal Duggan and Elisha Williams were the Rams scorers.
*NOTE: The Macarthur Rams round 7 clash v Manly United saw the Rams inadvertently field an ineligible player, thus seeing them forfeit that match. Scores and tables have been updated.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
