PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Finals Series – Week 1 Review
Week one of the 2015 Finals Series in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 saw results go as according to form, although not quite in the way it was expected.
In the Minor Semi Final Sutherland Shire showed why they finished third on the ladder as they were too strong for Sydney Olympic. And in the Major Semi Final, Marconi ran out comfortable winners over a valiant Southern Branch side, who live on face Sutherland next weekend.
Minor Semi Final
Sutherland Shire FA v Sydney Olympic FC, 3.45pm Saturday 22nd August at Valentine Sports Park NO.1
Sutherland Shire has powered their way through to a preliminary final with Southern Branch after a clinical 3-0 victory over Sydney Olympic. The strike force of Rochelle Borremeo and Verity Quartermain were unable to be contained by the Olympic defence, scoring 2 of Sutherland’s goals. Occasional goal scorer Annelotte Birdsall also got her name on the score sheet for the side from the shire.
This weekend at least it’s been shown that the table doesn’t lie, as Sutherland just pipped Olympic for 3rd spot over the course of 21 rounds, and deserve their shot at further glory. They now move onto a preliminary final and will be confident that their style of play will see them through
Olympic will be disappointed, not just because of the result, but of the way their season fell away in the second half. They were the clear second favourites behind Marconi for much of the season before they dropped a few too many points in the second half of the campaign. They have a lot to build upon though, and will again be amongst the top sides next season.
Major Semi Final
Marconi Stallions FC v Southern Branch FC, 3.45pm Sunday 23rd August at Valentine Sports Park NO.1
Right from the off Marconi were holding possession expertly, and Southern Branch were struggling to get a hold of the ball in midfield and to pass the ball around and create any meaningful attacks.
To Southern Branch’s credit, some of this possession domination looked a tactical decision on their part, as they were set up with a compact midfield three with their two wingers (Samara Wehmeyer and Wrylka Colburn) sitting very high up the pitch and looking to launch counter attacks in behind the advanced Marconi full backs.
Their tactic to sit deep and absorb pressure was virtually undone after 10 minutes however, when Marconi chased onto a long pass and into the Southern Branch area. As the striker slowed down to collect the ball she was clattered into by Ainslie Lyon, who got nowhere near the ball. Caitlin Jarvie calmly stepped unto and sweetly struck her penalty in the corner to make it 1-0 to the premiers.
Marconi created the first great opportunity of the game after some intricate build up play on the edge of the box between Jarvie and Chloe Logarzo, but neither could find the killer ball to set up a finish.
This was one of many, many excellent moments for Marconi in the first half. They couldn’t quite create any clear chances, but there were at least 4 occasions where the final ball missed its mark by inches. If any of these passes had stuck the game could have well and truly been over before the half time whistle.
In a team full of quality players Jarvie and Logarzo are the main outlets for Marconi in a creative sense, as they are both so good at drifting into pockets of space in the final third. Jarvie was also dropping deep to pick the ball up in the centre of the park before driving at the heart of the Southern Branch defence. This was proving particularly effective as well with the amount of movement the Marconi forwards are offering her.
Amanda Carney at times resorted to the holding midfielder’s dark art to stop Logarzo, but it was out of sheer desperation to slow down the Marconi assault, rather than from any place of malice.
Southern Branch’s counter attacking plan should have paid off in the 38th minute when Wehmeyer was played in on the right hand side. Her eventual cross evaded the sole Marconi defender and went straight to the feet of Colburn, but in contrast to her confident half down the left flank she only poked at the ball and it was easily stopped by Marconi goalkeeper Renee Krstanovska, in what was the only save of note she had to make all half.
The second half got away to a much slower start to the first, with both teams failing to assert control over the match in the early stages.
That match changed though in the 52nd minute when Marconi were awarded a second penalty. Hannah Voloder was felled in her attempt to reach a cross at the back post and there was no hesitation from the referee in awarding the penalty. Jarvie stepped up once again and this time she rifled the ball into the roof of the net, giving Marconi a well-deserved 2-0 lead.
They would wrap up the match a few minutes later when Alesha Clifford rose highest to head home a free kick. The ball was dinked across the box and she met the ball with ease, and she had the greasy conditions to thank as the ball squeezed through the hands of Jessica Beahan in the Southern Branch goal to make it 3-0.
Marconi’s intensity dropped from this point. They seemed very content with the comfortable lead they had accrued and they didn’t overly stretch themselves in the search for more goals.
Southern Branch did have their moments though as they persisted with their counter attacking tactics from earlier in the match. Colburn in particular was having a lot of joy down the left wing, and found herself in dangerous positions several times during the second half. Her all action, all pace style posed problems for Marconi, although she was lucky to receive only a yellow for a late challenge on Krstanovska when she lunged in for a loose ball.
Marconi can be thankful they have Renee Tomkins at the back directing traffic. She reads the game superbly and was always there to clean up the second ball and to calmly start another Marconi attack.
Marconi had several chances to rub salt into Southern Branch wounds in the final 15 minutes but once again the passes just wouldn’t stick as well as they would have liked.
The full time whistle blew and Marconi had run out comfortable 3-0 winners on the day, but they will be a little worried that they were unable to score from open play. They’ll need to rectify that if they are to assure themselves of a grand final victory in two weeks. Southern Branch played well today when they were allowed too, and they are set up well should they progress to the grand final themselves.
Southern Branch now takes on Sutherland next week for the right to face Marconi in the grand final.
Reserve Grade
In the minor semi-final a Yasmin Mehmed goal was enough for Sydney Olympic to end the season of UNSW to the tune of 1-0, while in the major semi-final the Inter Lions pulled off a stunning upset by defeating premiers Marconi 4-1 – the highlight of the game being a goal from halfway from Inter defender Danyelle Pringle.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter
