Round 11 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
Mother nature caused problems again across the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Three games still took place despite the torrential rain.
Macarthur Rams 0-0 Manly United
It was quite the battle at Lynwood Park in horrible conditions as both the Macarthur Rams and Manly United played out an enthralling 0-0 draw.
Manly was in fantastic form coming into this one and knew that victory could see them move into the top four for the first time this year.
The first opportunity of the game fell the way of the home side in the 11th minute.
Renee Rollason stepped up to a free kick 25 metres out and where everyone was expecting another of her first class strikes, she crossed the ball instead.
Leen Khamis found herself with a great opportunity but her first touch let down, allowing the Manly keeper to clear away.
With the heavy rain pelting down, both sides struggled to get a real hold on the ball.
It was the Rams with the best move of the match in the 27th minute that came with no end product.
Beautiful combination play between Rollason, Kahmis, Nicola Bolger and Lauren Ralston saw Khamis finish off the move with a shot from distance that didn’t test Nicole Simonsen.
Manly though, almost opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Remy Siemsen used her explosive speed to breakaway down the right before cutting back a perfect ball for Claudia Cholakian.
Cholakian’s powerful effort forced a great save from Shamiran Khamis, keeping the scores locked at 0-0.
10 minutes before the end of the first half it was Rollason again stepping up to a set piece.
This time shooting low and forcing Simonsen into a smart save.
The Rams had another opportunity three minutes before the break.
Chrystal Duggan forced Simonsen into a fine save after striking well from just outside the box.
It was a strong start to Manly in the second half with the quick opportuinities.
In the 50th minute Ally Green tested Khamis with a dangerous shot, only for the Rams shot topper to save.
A minute later and Khamis was called upon again, this time saving from a Siemsen header, somehow tapping the ball wide.
The Rams would have their own chance in the 57th minute through the experienced Khamis.
The Rams’ number nine did well to round Simonsen, only to shoot inches wide of the target.
As the rain became torrential, the game seemed to open up more.
In the 59th minute Sarah Yatim dribbled into the box, getting past her defender and shooting, only for Khamis to be up to the task again.
Yatim was creating all sorts of issues for the Rams defenders.
In 65th minute she broke into the box and shot toward the top corner but it was Khamis who’d come out the winner again, palming the ball out for a corner.
It would be Leena Khamis that would have the next opportunity, volleying well from the edge of the area with her shot just bouncing wide of the far post.
With three minutes to go, Rollason tried her luck from another set piece.
Her long-range effort was goal bound and dipping before Simonsen tapped the ball away to safety.
Kylie Ledbrook thought she stole the show in the 90th minute as her shot finally beat Simonsen, only to be denied by the post.
Immediately after that United broke away as Siemsen played a perfect ball through to Green who got past Khamis and tapped the ball home, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag and referee’s whistle.
North Shore Mariners 3-1 Emerging Jets
At Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon, the North Shore Mariners recorded a victory over the Emerging Jets.
Tiffany Paterson opened the scoring for the Mariners with a first half strike to send them into the break 1-0 up.
Ariella Cabezas scored again for the home side in the second half before Paterson scored her brace.
Georgia Minors picked up the lone goal for the young Jets.
The win put the Mariners back into the top four and they’ll look to hold their place as the sprint begins toward the finish line.
Blacktown Spartans 3-1 Football NSW Institute
It was an important game at Blacktown Football Park as the Blacktown Spartans took on the Football NSW Institute.
Points were imperative for the home side as they looked to stay close to the top four.
It was a tight first half though, as the teams went into the break looked at 1-1 with Patricia Charalambous getting on the scoresheet for the home side.
Two second half goals for Olivia Price meant that Paul Costantini’s side recorded an important 3-1 win that’s thrown them right back in the hunt for finals football.
