Women’s State League Round 14 Review

Round 14 of the Women’s State League was high-scoring and action packed, headlined by the Gladesville Ravens brushing aside Parramatta FC in dramatic style.

Meanwhile, in the Match of the Week, St. George and Bankstown cancelled each other out despite high quality football from both sides.

MATCH OF THE WEEK – St. George FC vs. Bankstown City FC: 1-1

St. George Football Stadium seemed at risk of freezing over on Sunday night, hosting an important clash between St. George FC and Bankstown City FC. While spectators shivered under multiple layers of clothing, the on field play was high paced and entertaining.

With St. George in third place and Bankstown City ahead of them only on goal difference in second, this fixture presented huge opportunities for both clubs.

Although the first twenty minutes was end to end, with direct football from both sides, neither was able to forge a significant scoring opportunity thanks to goalkeepers being sharp off their lines, as well as some astute defending.

The first major opportunity for St. George came in the twenty third minute, where Jessica Carosi found herself one on one with Bankstown goalkeeper Lana Ferreira, albeit with a tight angle to aim for. Her shot was saved well from close range.

Bankstown came close to opening proceedings on the half hour mark, after St. George keeper Selen Santoro fumbled the ball after collecting it from the feet of Samantha Muscat. Muscat retrieved the ball and swivelled to shoot, but performed a rather graceful air-swing instead. Nevertheless, the ball eventually fell at the feet of Jessica Abrahim, whose shot was cleared off the line by the St. George defence.

In the thirty eighth minute, Rachelle Wang played through Georgia Koinis, with only one defender to beat. Koinis weaved her way in and out before unleashing a powerful shot at goal, which was saved well by Ferreira.

Just a minute later, Koinis returned the favour, playing through Rachelle Wang with a smart ball down the centre of the pitch, splitting Bankstown’s two centre halves. Wang charged into the box and fired a shot, but it was again saved by Ferreira.

Just before half time, Bankstown took the lead, capitalising on St. George’s missed opportunities. St. George goalkeeper Selen Santoro charged out of her box to clear a loose through ball from Bankstown, but in attempting to kick the ball, also swung into the air, as seemed the flavour of the hour. This allowed Bankstown’s Lyndsay Kohlet to drift on to the ball, not believing her luck, and she finished into the open net with great composure.

The half time talk must have been rousing, as St. George came out for the second period determined to get themselves back into the game, and did so with incredible efficacy. Although an early chance from point blank was fired over by Carosi, Georgia Koinis found the equaliser in the forty ninth minute with a sharp finish across the goal, demonstrating blistering pace to beat her defender.

Remarkably, this would prove the last significant play of the game, with neither side able to find the back of the net despite high quality attacking football. Nevertheless, play remained end to end with pace up front from Georgia Koinis and Rachelle Wang for St. George, as well as Tania Baban and Melissah Parlato for Bankstown challenging their respective defences.

Wang had a huge opportunity to steal a late winner for St. George in the eighty seventh minute, finding some space to shoot just outside of the box, but firing high and wide.

The game ended with both teams deservedly sharing the points, playing well but unable to unlock each other’s defences more than once.

Match Stats

St. George FC                                                              1 (Georgia Koinis 49’)

Bankstown City FC                                           1 (Lyndsay Kohlet 40’)

Sunday, 12th of July, 2015

St. George Soccer Stadium, Banksia

St. George FC: 21. Natalie Bakrdanikoska, 8. Jessica Carosi, 27. Kate Emanuel, 2. Susanne Gallagher, 3. Lauren Gardner, 9. Georgia Koinis, 33. Tijana Ljubisavljevic, 29. Kylie Manias (7. Samantha Scarlato 78’), 26. Ashley Miller, 1. Selen Santoro, 35. Rachelle Wang.

Substitutes Not Used: 31. Amelia Carnovale, 14. Nairara Carvalho-Vanzuita, 50. Peta Koinis, 12. Bronte Young.

Yellow Cards: N/A

Red Cards: N/A

Bankstown City FC: 8. Jessica Abrahim, 17. Tania Baban, 4. Liana Babic (38. Genevieve Russo 20’), 3. Rosie Bacon, 1. Lana Ferreira, 2. Lyndsay Kohlet, 39. Kristen Mcmahon (12. Rachel Cassar 89’), 21. Samantha Muscat, 7. Melissah Parlato, 13. Marie Sim-Sing, 6. Vickas Allegra.

Substitutes Not Used: 9. Jami-Lee Mussett, 26. Jessica Burgess

Yellow Cards: N/A

Red Cards: N/A

Round 14 Summaries

Parramatta FC vs. Gladesville Ravens: 0-7

Sometimes football reminds you that it’s played on grass, and not paper; certainly this was the case this weekend as the Gladesville Ravens tore apart Parramatta FC at Melita Stadium. 

Parramatta entered the round determined to push for a position in the top four, while the Ravens seemed out of sorts in penultimate place. Gladesville have been in freefall over the past month, and before this Sunday had lost their past five games in a row. At home in Melita Stadium, the stage seemed set for a comfortable Parramatta victory.

Evidently, this was not the case, as a reinvigorated Gladesville made a significant statement headlined by a hattrick from Noelle Loyzaga. While they remain second from last, they have set the stage for a late surge into the top six.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers vs. Mt. Druitt Town Rangers FC: 3-3

Both APIA Leichhardt and Mt. Druitt entered this Round 14 fixture aware that the winner would be established comfortably in the top four. The resulting draw leaves Mt. Druitt in fourth place, with the Tigers a point behind them in fifth.

Both teams fought hard for the three points, and produced an exciting game of football where neither side was able to ultimately oust the other. Mt. Druitt Town were led by the unstoppable Lisa Fressard who claimed a superb hat trick, while APIA Leichhardt found the back of the net thanks to strikes from Filiz Urkanci, Olivia Cicco and Lucy Gilfedder.

Western NSW Mariners FC vs. Southern Districts SFA: WASHED OUT

-by Daniel Palmer, Women’s State League Reporter