PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 18 Review
It was quite the final day of football in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition.
In the end, it will be the Macarthur Rams, Blacktown Spartans, Sydney University and Manly United in the Championship series.
Macarthur Rams 4-2 Sydney University
Macarthur Rams cemented top spot with a 4-2 victory over Sydney University at Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams had earlier secured top spot on the ladder but Norm Boardman still decided to play a full strength side. The only notable change being in goal with Jada Mathyssen-Whyman away with Young Matilda’s duty.
Georgia Yeoman-Dale looked to spark something early for the home side with the first shot of the game but it went wide of Trudy Burke’s goal.
The Rams continued to pepper the Uni goal but some scrambling defence saw the scoreboard stay untouched. Yeoman-Dale again had an opportunity but her shot was well blocked before the rebound fell to Elizabeth Ralston who couldn’t muster enough power to beat Burke.
Renee Rollason was calling on her troops to step higher and not allow Uni time on the ball, which lead to the away side struggling to keep possession.
In the 13th minute Uni had the best opportunity of the game. Heather Garriock moved up the park to deliver a fantastic ball in the box for Stephanie Ambrose. Ambrose dropped the ball for Mel Caceres who struck it on the volley, going inches wide.
A minute later and a warning sign from Leena Khamis and the Rams. A typical cut dribble left Natasha Prior bamboozled before she let fly with powerful shot, only for Burke to beat the ball away.
On the quarter hour mark the home side was in front. Poor defending from Uni saw an unmarked Kate Hensman on the right have all the time in the world to square the ball up for Khamis who couldn’t miss from a yard out.
It seemed that the experience of the Rams was too much for the young Uni side as they continued to get on top of them.
Hayley Crawford then almost scored the spectacular on 23 minutes. Running onto a loose ball, Crawford let fly from 30 metres out, giving Burke no chance only to have the ball smack against the bar. Khamis was quickest to react to the rebound and should’ve put her chance away but she scuffed her shot.
Georgia Keen then had two chances in quick succession for the travelling side but neither really troubled McAlister.
Just as Uni began to gain momentum it was 2-0 to the Rams. A swift counter saw Yeoman-Dale pop up with the ball and play through Hensman who only had Bourke to beat. The Uni keeper couldn’t do much and despite getting a hand to the powerful shot, the ball trickled over the line.
An unfortunate head injury saw Prior replaced just before the break by Elizabeth Grey.
It was Grey that would cut the deficit for the away side in the 45th minut. Georgia Keen played a through ball for Elizabeth Grey, who won the foot race against her defender and calmly slotted the ball beyond McAlister.
The second half brought with it new confidence for Uni as they had early chances through Evelyn Chronis and Grey.
Keen was creating major problems for the Rams defence and when she broke through early in the second half it seemed she was on one on one with McAlister. Crawford came together with Keen with both falling to the ground as referee Kelly Jones waved play on.
Not long after and Uni had the equaliser their dominance deserved in the 54th minute. Grey was at the centre of it again, taking a touch after receiving a fantastic ball from Liana Danaskos and shooting from the edge of the area. Her shot flicked the underside of the bar on its way in to the jubilation of her team mates.
Only two minutes later and the home side would retake the lead. A long ball from Crawford picked out Khamis who flicked the ball on to Hensman who was left with the easiest of finishes into an open goal as Burke was left in no man’s land.
Keen continued to threaten the Rams but with no end product down the left wing.
Caceres was next to try her luck after a short corner but her shot didn’t test McAlister, going just over the bar.
From a Hensman corner in the 78th minute, the Rams stretched their lead back to two. Burke didn’t deal with the corner well at all, punching the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-2 for the home side.
In the final minute Uni had a hance to cut the lead once again after Chronis played a delightful ball into the box, only for McAlister to make a great save from Keen.
Manly United 1-2 Blacktown Spartans
At Cromer Park, Manly United were guaranteed finals football while their opponents still needed points to confirm their spot.
The away side wouldn’t die wondering and stormed out in the first half, going into the break two goals to the good thanks to strikes from Morgan Roberts and Linda O’Neill.
Manly came back strong in the second and cut the deficit to one through Ellen Wheatley.
That was all the home team could do though as they dropped down to fourth place while the Spartans moved into a fantastic second place with the opportunity to qualify direct for the grand final.
Illawarra Stingrays 9-1 Central Coast
The Illawarra Stingrays knew they had to win by an eight-goal margin against Central Coast at JJ Kelly Park and hope that the Spartans didn’t pick up a victory.
Moving into half time 5-1 up, the Stingrays still needed four goals despite knowing that the Spartans were up by two at the break.
They held their end of the bargain and finished up 9-1 winners. Unfortunately for the ‘Rays’, the Spartans held on to take all three points at Manly leaving them with no finals for the second straight year.
Similarly to last year, the Stingrays have been unlucky, missing out by the barest of margins.
In the win, Sophie Hancock scored four, Michelle Carney scored a hat-trick while Katelyn Leadbeatter and Nikita Woods each scored one.
North West Sydney Koalas 2-1 North Shore Mariners
In a match with nothing to play for, the North West Sydney Koalas took on the North Shore Mariners.
It was the home side that took a 2-0 lead into break as they looked to finish the season with a win.
Siahn Bozanic pulled one back for the Mariners but it wasn’t enough as the Koalas took all three points.
Football NSW Institute 3-5 Emerging Jets
There was a lot of quality on show at Valentine Sports Park as the Football NSW Institute took on the Emerging Jets.
Those who were at the game were treated to a real goal fest with eight goals scored in the match.
The Jets took a 4-2 lead into the break and held their advantage until full time, running away with a 5-3 victory.
Kally Lewis and Ashlee Brodigan each scored two for the Jets while Elizabeth Copus-Brown got the other.
For the home side, Panayiota Petratos, Christina Mcgrath and Hannah Bacon all found the net.
It was quite a successful first year for the Jets in the top tier competition, rounding up the season in seventh place on the ladder.
by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
