PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 17 Review
Macarthur Rams have secured the 2015 Premiership for the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 with a game in hand, crowned Premiers for the second time in as many years.
It’s now down to two for the final spot in the 2015 Championship Series with the Blacktown Spartans in box seat to book their place in the top four.
Sydney University 1-2 Manly United
A fantastic game of football took place at Wilson Park as a second half come back saw manly United upstage Sydney University 2-1
Natasha Prior opened the scoring for Uni before Ellen Wheatley equalised in the second half and Kristie Crawford found the winner for the away side.
It was a furious start from the home side and inside the opening two minutes, Alyssa Harris already had work to do. The in-form Stephanie Ambrose’s cross come shot almost caught the United keeper off guard but she was alert to punch the ball out for a corner.
Uni’s high press continued as they looked to catch out the travelling side who was struggling to get out of their half.
The home sides outlet was Ambrose and again she did well down the left to play in a dangerous ball for Elizabeth Grey. The Uni captain’s scuffed shot wasn’t dealt with well by Harris as she somehow recovered to keep the ball from crossing the line.
On 15 minutes Manly had their first real foray forward through Lousie Neville. Dribbling into the box, under pressure from Heather Garriock, Neville pulled her shot just wide of Trudy Burke’s goal.
Too many misplaced passes from both sides meant that neither could keep a hold of possession and create a more meaningful attack.
The home side had the lead in the 28th minute though due to a lapse in the United defence. A short corner to the unmarked Garriock saw her whip in a delightful in-swinging ball for 40 who couldn’t miss from a couple yards out with a header.
United looked to get straight back into the contest and three minutes later, a first time shot from Neville on the edge of the area was well saved by Trudy Burke.
Some neat work on the edge of the area by Carla Trimboli saw her create some space but she blasted her shot high over the bar.
The beginning of the second half was much the same to the start of the first with Uni pushing high, in seaerch of their second goal.
Due to the high press, Manly was restricted in playing their free-flowing football that we’re used to.
It could’ve been 2-0 in the 51st minute when Uni stole the ball on the edge of the area. Trimboli layed the ball off for Ambrose whose chip beat Harris but not the bar.
Harris was called into action again less than a minute later as a corner to the far post was met on the volley by Melissa Caceres but the United keeper made a fantastic save to keep her side in the match.
United finally got some possession and placed Uni under some sustained pressure. In this period a few half chances were created as they begun to pepper the home sides defensive line.
The away side had a good chance on 59 minutes as Emma Stanbury was brought down on the edge of the area. Tiffany Patterson stepped up to the set piece but her shot was never going to trouble Burke, flying high over the bar.
In the 65th minute the away side had a reward for teir persistence as the pressure told. A wonderful ball to the back post from Neville was somehow bundled in by Ellen Wheatley as United had their equaliser.
United’s new found confidence saw Emma Stanbury burst through the Uni’s static defence only for Burke to save well from her volley.
Mackenzie Little thought she had given United the lead with 16 minutes to go, hitting a low shot across goal, only for Burke once again to get down and make a great save.
In the 82nd minute the away side should’ve had the lead. Stanbury hit a fantastic volley that came off the left hand upright before Little’s attempt was blocked in the last second.
It was end-to-end and on the counter, Garriock found Georgia Keen who beat her defender on the left and hit a wicked shot that went inches wide of the goal.
Remy Siemsen broke through with three minutes remaining and went one on one with Burke before Victoria Guzman made a last ditch challenge. The referee was quick to blow his whistle and award the penalty as well as giving Guzman her marching orders.
Substitute Kristie Crawford stepped up the spot with all her experience, sending Burke the wrong way and burying the ball in the top corner in what proved to be the winner.
Central Coast 0-6 North West Sydney Koalas
It was a battle between two sides who wouldn’t to score as many points as possible in the run as Central Coast hosted the North West Sydney Koalas at Pluim Park.
It was one-way traffic though as the Koalas hammered six past the hapless Coast for a 6-0 victory.
Amy Dahdah scored a brace while Emma Stewart, Caitlin Campbell, Giorgia Butt and Helen Petinos all added to the score line.
The Coast had to do it with 10 on the pitch though as Adriana Jones went for an early shower, receiving a red card.
Emerging Jets 2-5 Illawarra Stingrays
It was a massive gave in terms of finals football at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Centre as the Emerging Jets took on the Illawarra Stingrays.
At the final whistle it was curtains on finals hopes for the young Jets side as the Stingrays, led by Michelle Carney, came away with an important 5-2 win.
It means the Stingrays will need to win next week and pray for other results to see if they’ll squeeze into the top four while the Jets will be happy with their season and look forward to next year.
North Shore Mariners 3-1 Macarthur Rams
At Northbridge Oval the North Shore Mariners hosted the newly crowned Premiers Macarthur Rams.
The Mariners could only win and hope that other results went their way. They held their end of the bargain and registered a 3-1 victory. The Spartans won though and effectively ended the Mariners hopes of sneaking into the finals.
Bronte Bates, Ariella Cabezas and Siahn Bozanic all got on the scoresheet for the home side while Kate Hensman got the only goal for the Rams.
The Mariners fell off the pace toward the latter part of the season and therefore missed their chance to move into the four. The Rams celebrate their second successive Premiership and look to go one better this year and win the Championship.
Football NSW Institute 0-3 Blacktown Spartans
At Valentine Sports Park the Football NSW Institute hosted finals hopefuls Blacktown Spartans.
It was the ‘Super Spartans’ that did the job and continued their furious end to the season, coming away with a 3-0 win.
The win puts them just inside the top four and with their fate in their own hands ahead of the final round of the season.
by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
