Round 3 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
Another round with goals a plenty, averaging over four across the four games played in the PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Women’s.
Sydney University and Manly United had their fixture postponed.
Football NSW Institute 3-4 North Shore Mariners
At Valentine Sports Park, it was a real match of the round, with a seven goal thriller going the way of the North Shore Mariners over the Football NSW Institute, 4-3 in the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Women’s competition.
It was the Mariners that didn’t wait long to open the scoring, finding the back of the net in only the seventh minute.
Some high press by the Mariners and some neat first time football saw Tiffany Paterson move into the box and slam the ball home low and hard for the lead.
Both teams were looking to play good, possession based football but neither could create a more serious opportunity.
That was until the 34th minute when the Mariners extended their lead.
Rani Cavarretta linked up with Paterson at halfway and dribbled in all the way to the edge of the area, cutting to her left and sending the ball in the top right corner, giving Jada Mathyssen-Whyman no chance despite getting a hand to the ball.
Tyler Sparks then had to score in the 42nd minute.
Running onto a fantastic ball by Princess Ibini-Isei she first won her challenge with Mariners keeper Herd but then muddled up her finish, as Natasha Prior did extremely well to block the ball on the line.
Ellie Carpenter then showed what all the talk is about, going on a mazing run down the right likning with Sparks who crossed into the box.
The Mariners struggled to deal with the ball into the box as Panayiota Petratos found her feet well to blast the ball home, one minute out from the break.
With the second half underway, the away side probably felt they should have had a penalty in the 57th minute.
Paterson teed up Chloe Logarzo who it seemed was taken out by Mathyssen-Whyman.
The loose ball fell to the feet of Paterson who was blocked by Carpenter as she cleared the ball to safety.
In the 60th minute the home side was level.
Again Carpenter was at her best, delivering an inch perfect ball from the right to the head of Eliza Ammendolia who did well to control her header into the back of the net.
The Institute then completely turned the score around, taking the lead only five minutes later.
Great work by Ammendolia down the left saw her play in Ibini-Isei who saw Sparks’ run, this time burying her opportunity for a fantastic team goal.
The Mariners were back in the game though with three minutes remaining as the referee called an indirect free kick in the box for a high foot.
Paterson stepped up and powered the ball into the back of the net from just out side the 6-yard-box to equalise for the Mariners.
It was then heartbreak for the young home side as they conceded a penalty in the 91st minute which resulted in a red card for Amy Sayer, giving Paterson an opportunity to seal all three points and her hat-trick.
She delivered, squeezing the ball into the back of the net, despite Mathyssen-Whyman getting a strong hand to the ball.
The red and whites went home with all three points in what was a fantastic game of football.
Macarthur Rams 2-1 Marconi Stallions
At Lynwood Park it was a battle between two of the competition’s powerhouses as the Macarthur Rams entertained the Marconi Stallions.
The recent addition of Matilda’s keeper Casey Dumont to the Stallions line-up would’ve been a welcoming sign for Stephen Neligan’s team.
But it was the experienced and ever-reliable captain Renee Rollason that put the home side in front in the first half as the Rams held the lead moving into the break.
The second half saw Leena Khamis, who’s early season goal scoring form has been fantastic, double the Rams’ lead.
The gritty Stallions wouldn’t lie down so easy and off season recruit Heidi Makrillos cut the deficit to 2-1.
Despite pushing hard, the away side wasn’t able to find an equaliser as the Rams registered another tight victory.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-2 Blacktown Spartans
It was always going to be an intriguing match at JJ Kelly Park as the Illawarra Stingrays hosted the Blacktown Spartans.
It was a fast paced 15-minute period inside the beginning of the first half that saw all four goals scored.
Matilda Michelle Heyman opened the scoring for the Stingrays in the 11th minute before Logarn Garard responded only four minutes later.
Heyman again notched the home side in front as she grabbed her brace, scoring in the 17th minute. Not even 10 minutes later and Tara Pender ended the freak 15-minute period, equalising for the Spartans to make it 2-2.
Neither side could grab the decisive winner in what was left of the match, having to settle for a point apiece.
Emerging Jets 1-2 North West Sydney Koalas
The North West Sydney Koalas travelled to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to take on the Emerging Jets.
Tara Andrews put the travelling team in front in the first half as they took a one goal lead into half time.
Hannah Beard picked up a goal also for the Koalas, cancelling out the Jets’ goal to give the away team a valuable 2-1 win.
The result pushed the Koalas into fifth place on the ladder while the Jets continue to search for their first points of 2016.
-By Nikola Pozder
