PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 19 Review

Round 19 saw the top two sides strengthen their position at the top of the league, as Marconi and Southern Branch both recorded victories over Sydney Olympic and Northern Tigers respectively. Nepean stumbled on the road to the finals after their draw with UNSW, and in the match of the round Inter Lions and Sutherland battled out a tough 0-0 draw.
Inter Lions SC v Sutherland Shire FA, 3pm Sunday 2^nd August at Concord Oval
Inter Lions hosted Sutherland in a match that could give either team a real boost as they seek to assure themselves finals football this season.
Both sides struggled early to gain a meaningful grip on the match, and while Sutherland had the best of the possession for the opening 15, much of it was possession for possession’s sake as they were unable to carve out any genuine opportunities.
Sutherland striker Rochelle Borromeo continually looked the most dangerous player on the field. In the 16^th minute she was played in behind the defence, but her intelligent cutback was fired straight at Lions ‘keeper Natasha Pentecost by Verity Quartermain. Borromeo would set up a number of good chances that the shire side couldn’t capitalise on as the match wore on.
Sutherland captain Kellie Mutch tried her luck form long range on several occasion in the first half, the highlight being a 35 yarder that cleared the crossbar by millimetres.
Sutherland were able to take control of the game after around 25 minutes, and the pressure they applied on the Inter midfield was beginning to show.
Inter don’t need to dominate a game to hurt you though, and captain Maria Kalegeropoulos showed why in the 26^th minute when she lashed a shot from the edge of the box which struck the post with some help from Sutherland goalie Brianna Griffin, who injured herself in the process.
After Griffin received some treatment, the resulting corner should have put Inter 1-0 up. The ball took a slight deflection at the near post and went straight to the head of Alisha Dudman, but from point blank range she couldn’t direct her header on target and the chance was wasted.
The half petered out in the end with the score remaining 0-0.
The second half saw Sutherland start strongly, with the previously anonymous Toni Vukasin finally able to find space in which to start attacks for the away side. Her short passing game and decision making is crucial to the way Sutherland move the ball, and they looked a much better team now that the ball was at her feet.
After a flowing move from the back Vukasin slipped the ball through for Borromeo, but once again her cut back was wasted. The ball fell to the feet of Brittany Spink whose first touch was too heavy, allowing Pentecost to smother the ball and kill the attack.
After 50 minutes Griffin made an excellent save to keep out a Dudman volley from 12 yards out.
Both teams began to push extremely hard for the breakthrough, and plenty of niggly challenges started to creep into the game. Vukasin was poleaxed a few yards from the referee with no punishment, and Kalegeropoulos was receiving plenty of close attention from the Sutherland midfield as well – specifically some accidental studs to the back.
The match became scrappier as both teams tired. Sutherland perhaps had their best chance for the match quelled in the 80^th minute when, sensing danger, Kalegeropoulos pulled down Borromeo by the ankles when the Sutherland striker had nothing but one defender in front her. Somehow, the Inter captain escaped without a yellow card for a foul so professional it deserved a year’s wages.
Sutherland would have the final chance of the match in stoppage time. A Sutherland corner was floated the edge of the 6 yard box and Annelotte Birdsall climbed highest but could only send her header flying over the crossbar.
As the whistle went for full time, both sides looked disappointed with the 0-0 scoreline. The draw is more welcome for Sutherland as it strengthens their grip on a finals place; while Inter will need a couple of wins form their last three games if they are any hope of finishing the season with silverware.
UNSW Lions v Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday 2^nd August at David Phillips Field
Nepean defeated UNSW Lions 2-1.
Sydney Olympic FC v Marconi Stallions FC, 3pm Sunday 2^nd August at Peter Moore Park
Marconi achieved some form of retribution by defeating Sydney Olympic 2-1. The Stallions just continue on their way, amassing a huge points total and underscoring their total dominance of the league this season. The win takes them 17 points clear at the top the ladder. Olympic will again be disappointed, while a 2-1 loss to Marconi is far from an embarrassment, they need to show some form over the next two weeks or they risk dropping out the top 4 for the first time in several months. This is the wrong point in the season in which to show so much inconsistency, and a big performance next week is required.
Southern Branch FC v Northern Tigers FC, 3pm Sunday 2^nd August at the South Nowra Football Complex
Southern Branch made it 9 wins from their last 10 matches after they swept aside Northern Tigers 5-1 on the south coast. Thanks to that outstanding run, they are now all but guaranteed to meet Marconi in the first week of the finals, setting up an epic encounter. The Nowra side will be doing everything in their power to keep this momentum going over the remaining few weeks of the season. Northern Tigers now need to win their 2 remaining fixtures if they are any realistic hope of continuing their season beyond August 16^th. They’ll be disappointed with that, as on their day they have the ability to mix it with anyone in the division.
Reserve Grade:
Inter Lions defeated Sutherland Shire 4-2, Nepean overcame UNSW 1-0 away from home, Marconi and Sydney Olympic played out a 0-0 draw, and in Nowra Southern Branch recorded only their second win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Northern Tigers.
by Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter