Round 8 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
We have a new leader in the PlayStation4 NPL NSW Women’s competition after round nine of competition.
The battle for finals places is ever closer with a new real contender joining the mix as well as Manly throwing themselves back into the fight.
Blacktown Spartans 0-3 Marconi Stallions
A clinical performance from the Marconi Stallions gave them all three points on their travels to Blacktown Football Park as they defeated the Blacktown Spartans 3-0.
Heidi Makrillos, Helen Petinos and a special goal from Jodie Bain saw the Stallions move their way up the ladder.
Both sides looked to keep the ball early on with the Spartans defence holding quite a high line, catching out the away side a couple times in the opening minutes.
In the eighth minute, Tara Pender showed how dangerous she is, dribbling in from the left and attempting to curl the ball into the far post.
Her effort seemed destined for the back of the net, beating Renee Krstanovska but going inches wide of the post.
Shortly after the Spartans threatened again, Alix Roberts cross to the far post but an all-alone Patricia Charalambous could get her volley on target.
In the 14th minute the home side should’ve hit the lead.
Krstanovska did well to come out of her box and thwart Pender but her clearance was rushed.
After a small scramble, the ball broke through for Roberts who attempted to lob the retreating Stallions keeper, only for the ball to go just over.
The Stallions then had their own chances, mostly shots from distance that didn’t force Sarah Easthope into a serious save.
It was the home side who had a great chance again on 20 minutes, Amy Dah Dah moving into the box only for her shot to be palmed away by Krstanovska before the Stallions scrambled the ball away.
Almost immediately after that, the Stallions should’ve punished the Spartans’ miss.
Jo Burgess broke through the Spartans defence and looked set to place the ball beyond Easthope before a fantastic block sent the ball over for a corner.
Dah Dah was causing problems against her former club but wasted an opportunity when she shot wide instead of cutting the ball back to a teammate.
Pender was in again with a great chance on the half hour mark but Alesha Clifford recovered well to make a fantastic sliding challenge.
Jodie Bain then combined nicely with Heidi Makrillos on the edge of the area but her placed shot went well over for the Stallions.
The Stallions combinations were proving more and more dangerous as they opened the scoring, minutes before the break.
Makrillos got onto the end of a nice passing move, giving Easthope no chance, burying the ball into the back of the net and sending the Stallions into the sheds a goal to the good.
The Stallions started the brighter in the second half but it was the home side who could’ve equalised.
Again Pender was the architect, taking on her defender down the line before crossing across goal.
The Stallions recovered well and were somehow able to clear their lines.
After almost 10 minutes in the second half, Burgess burst through the middle again, latching onto a Makrillos ball but she rushed her shot and sent the ball well wide of the goal.
The away side was looking comfortable in the second half, growing in confidence as the match wore on as well as an impressive short passing game.
Ashlie Crofts should’ve doubled the Stallions lead in the 68th minute.
Latching onto a corner, her header came back off the bar.
That wasn’t the end of the drama as the Spartans couldn’t clear their lines with the ball falling to Bain who volleyed way over.
Only a few minutes later and Bain this time made her effort count as she doubled the Stallions’ advantage.
Receiving the ball about 30 metres out, the veteran midfielder unleashed a superb strike, finding the top corner and the back of the net.
Pender almost cut had the home side back in the match but her shot went inches wide.
Stallions put the game beyond doubt with just under 15 to go.
Makrillos turned provider for Helen Petinos who rifled her shot into the back of the net to finally break her duck in 2016.
It was a fine finish from Petinos giving Easthope no chance of saving.
Illawarra Stingrays 0-1 Sydney University
It was a top of the table clash at JJ Kelly Park as the Illawarra Stingrays hosted Sydney University.
Rachel Soutar was the match winner in this one though, scoring in the first half to allow Uni to go back to the top of the league.
As promised it was always going to be a tough contest between these two but Heather Garriock will go home the happier of the two coaches.
Football NSW Institute 3-6 NWS Koalas
At Valentine Sports Park on Sunday it was the Football NSW Institute taking on the North West Sydney Koalas.
The first half was high scoring and entertaining as the travelling team went into the break 3-2 to the good.
The goals didn’t dry up there though as the Koalas added another three to make it 6-3 at full time and push them into second place.
It must be added that Princess Ibini-Isei has continued her fine form so far this season, scoring a hat trick for the losing side.
North Shore Mariners 1-2 Manly United
At Northbridge Oval it was the North Sydney derby as the North Shore Mariners took on Manly United.
United needed all three points in this one to keep them in contention for finals football and went into the break a goal to the good.
The Mariners wouldn’t lie down though and came out firing in the second period.
It wasn’t enough though as United went home with the win, coming away with a tight 2-1 victory.
Coach Spencer Prior won’t be happy with his sides form as the mariners have now lost three games in a row.
Macarthur Rams 3-1 Emerging Jets
At Lynwood Park, the Emerging Jets made the trip down to take on the Macarthur Rams.
The Rams were still missing some of their key players for this clash but were keen to bounce back from last week’s defeat and move back up the ladder.
They managed to score an impressive 3-1 victory in this one which put themselves into fourth place on the table, only four points off first place.
-By Nikola Pozder
