PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 14 Review
There were some real surprise results in round 14 of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition.
League leading Macarthur Rams suffered loss number two of the season but second placed Manly United couldn’t bridge the gap, also going down and making the battle for second place quite interesting.
Manly United 0-3 Football NSW Institute
Three first half goals to the Football NSW Institute were enough to see them past Manly United at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Ally Green, Princess Ibini-Isei and Georgia Plessas all scored goals for the Institute to keep their slim finals hopes alive with only four games left to play in the season.
The away side started the better, putting immediate pressure on the Manly players.
The telling pressure should’ve seen them hit the front on six minutes through lethal striker Demi Koulizakis. Ibini-Isei headed down a corner to her strike partner who on the turn volleyed a powerful shot over the bar.
Two minutes later and the home side had a good chance through Kristie Crawford. Jessica Sekulich broke into the box and played a square ball for the on rushing Crawford. Defensive pressure from Green saw the Manly striker miss her shot and the scores remain at 0-0.
Green had the away side in front on 15 minutes with a splendid strike. The Institute left back battled hard to win the ball, then used her skill to take the ball from the opposition player, take a touch and send a sublime shot toward goal. Her effort beat the keeper and hit the bar on its way in.
It was almost two in the 18th minute for the Institute, again with a chance through Koulizakis. The Institute number 9 thought she had scored, placing the ball passed Alyssa Harris but not beating the upright as the rebound fell to Ibini-Isei who blasted her shot over the bar.
Koulizakis then turned provider for Plessas whose shot was well saved by Harris. From the resulting corner, somehow the ball didn’t cross the line as United escaped another scare.
The consistent pressure from the away side was rewarded in the 32nd minute as Ibini-Isei added to the score line. Ruby Jackson stole the ball and threaded it through for Ibini-Isei who hit a powerful shot from the corner of the box, blasting it into the back of the net. Harris perhaps could’ve done better in the Manly goal.
In the final minute of the first half it was three. Plessas did it all her self, dribbling in from half way, doing the ‘Cruyff’ and placing the ball in the far corner of the goal from the edge of the area.
Manly had to get back into the game and had a chance through Emma Stanbury early on in the second half but her shot was easily held by the Institute keeper.
Institute seemed composed with their lead and Manly struggled to break through their defence, relying on taking shots from distance to cut the score line down.
Each side had half chances as the game went on but neither could add to the score line.
Emerging Jets 5-3 North Shore Mariners
At Lake Macquarie Regional Football Centre, the Emerging Jets hosted the North Shore Mariners.
It was quite the set back for the Mariners side in the fight for finals football as the Jets took a valuable 5-3 win in an eight goal thriller.
Scores were tight at half time with the Jets going into break 3-2 up, building on their lead in the second half to register all three points.
Mathematically the Jets can still make the four but for their first season in the states top tier, they’ve given a great account of themselves. The losses keeps the Mariners out of the top four with only four matches remaining.
North West Sydney Koalas 1-3 Sydney University SFC
At ELS Hall Park on Sunday afternoon, the North West Sydney Koalas were hoping for a miracle in their run in for a finals position, taking on Sydney University in a must win match.
It was a tight contest in the first half with neither side able to grab the ascendency, moving into the break locked at 1-1.
Commander-in-chief Heather Garriock led her troops in the second half, getting herself on the scoresheet for the first time since her return as Uni ran away with a big three points, winning 3-1. Georgia Keen and Olivia Price also added to the University scorers.
Caitlin Campbell found herself on the scorers list for the home side on the first half.
Finals hopes are effectively over for the Koalas now while Uni is pushing hard, moving into equal second place on the ladder.
Illawarra Stingrays 1-0 Macarthur Rams
It was the two form teams of the competition doing battle at JJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon as the Illawarra Stingrays welcomed the Macarthur Rams.
Goals were expected in this one so when both teams headed into the sheds locked at 0-0, there was some shock around the park.
The second half was also a tight affair but veteran and club captain Michelle Carney came to the Stingrays, scoring the lone goal and winner to seal a massive three points for her team.
Sitting one point behind second place, the Stingrays are right in the mix for a place in the finals. Despite the defeat, the Premiership is Norm Boardman’s teams to lose with four games to go.
Central Coast 1-4 Blacktown Spartans
The Blacktown Spartans travelled to Pluim Park knowing how important three points was to them in their match against the Central Coast.
With the teams going into the break at 0-0 it seemed as though the home side could spring a surprise result.
The second half was one way traffic as the Spartans put away four goals, two to Morgan Roberts and one each for Teigen Allen and Alix Roberts.
Coast top scorer Adriana Jones again found herself on the score sheet for her side as the final score finished at 4-1.
The Spartans sit four points out of the top four with as many games remaining.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
