Round 2 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 2 saw Sutherland bounce back from their opening round defeat by overcoming Southern Branch, the Northern Tigers were again held to a 1-1 draw, this time against Inter, and the Mariners were put to the sword by a rampant Olympic in a 5-2 defeat.
The match of the round saw Bankstown host Nepean, but they were unable to overcome the slick movement of the visitors, as well as a couple of outstanding strikes, in a 4-1 defeat.
Match of the Round
Bankstown City FC vs Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday 10th of April at The Crest Athletic Centre
Bankstown began the game by playing the ball around nicely and shifting Nepean around the field, but it was the away side who would strike first through Adele Granata. Jessica Elliot crossed the ball flat and hard from a 45 degree angle, placing the ball in between the defensive line and the keeper. Granata chased the ball to the by-line before she steered her finish across the goalkeeper Lana Ferreira and into the bottom corner from a very tight angle. Wonderful controlled finish to give Nepean the lead in the 7th minute.
Bankstown would strike back immediately though. Skipper Samantha Muscat won a free kick 30 yards from goal. The free kick was lofted into the box where it was fumbled by Danielle Bartels in the Nepean goal. The rebound eventually fell to Muscat who tapped the ball home from 2 yards. Very soft goal to concede 2 minutes after you’ve taken the lead.
That wasn’t the end of the early action though, as Nepean would regain the lead a few minutes later. Elliot stepped up to a free kick that everyone figured would be a cross from near the corner of the 18 yard box, but she fooled everyone. Instead she confidently strode up and stroked the ball into the far corner. Looked a goal the moment it left her boot and left the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance. 2-1 to Nepean after 15 minutes.
Nepean would extend their lead in the 25th minute. A free kick from the goalkeeper was allowed to bounce, and Kaitlin Harms chased it down before lobbing the onrushing Ferreira in goals. It was proper route one football and it caught out the flat backline of Bankstown. That’s how the game stayed until half time.
The opening of the second half was a much more subdued affair, with both sides finding it difficult to string passes together. All in all, both teams were much more solid in midfield during this period, with the openness that characterised the first half nowhere to be found.
The first real moment of quality in the second stanza came in the 66th minute. Elliot again played a lovely through ball for Nepean, but Lauren Connell couldn’t quite muster the finish needed to beat the onrushing Ferreira in goal.
Bankstown were denied a lifeline soon after thanks to an unbelievable covering tackle from Nepean right back Christine Granero. Muscat had been played through on goal and as she was about to pull the trigger, Granero came sliding in from nowhere to take the ball off her boot, with a corner the only damage done from the attack.
Nepean began to take control of the game at this stage and created several chances to finish the game off. But the sealer would be a truly special strike from Elliot in the 80th minute. Bankstown cleared the ball from the back, and with seemingly nothing on, Elliot put her laces through the ball from nigh on the half way line. Even from that distance the ball had far too much power for Ferreira and the ball burst through her hands and into the top corner.
The match would end on a sour note for Bankstown with Yasemin Genc receiving a straight red card for violent conduct in stoppage time. She tangled with Alix Waddell in front of goal, and then after the altercation kicked out at her with excessive force. Bankstown were adamant Waddell was also at fault for the altercation, but there were no complaints for the sanction handed out by the referee.
All in all this was an excellent performance by Nepean. They’ve clearly grown as a side in the off season, and they should prove to be a massive handful for anyone that they come up against for the remainder of the season. Bankstown had their moments in the game but they’ll need to be a little more composed if they are to play their game successfully in 2016.
Northern Tigers FC vs Inter Lions SC, 3pm Sunday 10th of April at Mills Park
Northern Tigers and Inter played out a 1-1 draw this afternoon at Mills Park. A second consecutive draw for the home side is not the ideal start to the season, but there is something to be said for remaining undefeated early on in the campaign. It’s clear that the Tigers can stay with teams, they just need to take it to the next level to ensure maximum points.
Freya Hickey was on the score sheet again this week for Inter, in what is an encouraging start to the season for the Lions forward line. A win and a draw to start the campaign is more than a pass mark at the moment, and they’ll be looking to build on this in the next few weeks. 4 yellow cards in the match would be something they’d like to prevent from happening again though.
Southern Branch FC vs Sutherland Shire FA, 3pm Sunday 10th of April at South Nowra Football Complex
Sutherland travel down the south coast and will return home with the three points thanks to a 1-0 win. It was important that they bounced back from their defeat last weekend to Olympic, and they started well thanks to a goal from talisman Rochelle Borromeo, allowing them to take a lead that they never relinquished.
A disappointing result for Southern Branch, as this was an excellent opportunity to put some distance between them and one of their main rivals early in the season. Instead they are now level with a number of teams on 3 points.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 2pm Sunday 10th of April at Pluim Park NO.3
Central Coast were hammered 5-2 by Sydney Olympic at home. Very disappointing for the home side as they would have wanted to perform well in their first home match of the season, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.
Any time you go away from home and put 5 past the opposition, you’ve had a good day at the office. Olympic will be ecstatic with this and it shows again how potent they can be going forward. 2 goals conceded will be a slight annoyance, but you would never knock back 5-2 if you were offered it at the start of the match.
Reserve Grade:
Northern Tigers made light work of Inter in a 4-1 victory, with goals from Rodriguez, Ussher, O’Sullivan, and Thurlow overcoming Pajor’s solitary strike for the Lions. Sutherland were also on the right side of a 4-1 score line as they defeated Southern Branch, with goals from Farmer, Fsadni, and a double from Wyer were too much for Brown’s lone striker for Southern Branch. Nepean swept aside Bankstown 3-0 thanks to goals from Hill, Van Rijn, and Galayni. Sydney Olympic had the bye.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
