Round 13 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 13 of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016 went mostly to script as the top sides generally found ways to get the job done and cement their positions in the top 4.
Sutherland were too strong for Central Coast, Inter comfortably dealt with Bankstown, and the Tigers got the job done against Southern Branch.
The match of the round saw between Nepean and Sydney Olympic was the one match to not go the favourites way, thanks to some excellent football and a heavy dose of controversy in the finals minutes as the sides played out a 1-1 draw.
Match of the round:
Nepean FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 3pm Sunday June 26th at Cook Park
Olympic came flying out of the blocks in the early stages, with the new strike partnership of Danielle Calvi and former Inter Lions forward Freya Hickey already looking very dangerous
Making her debut for Olympic, Hickey added a new dimension to Olympic’s attacks. Nepean’s defence couldn’t just mark Calvi out of the game to keep Olympic quiet, and both players found ample space in the first half to set up attacking moves, with both taking turns to burst in behind the last defender.
Hickey had the first chance of the match with thanks to Kate Halaska. Halaska was played in behind on the right wing, and her low cross fell to the feet of Hickey who smashed her volley over the bar from close range.
Nepean slowly found a way to build in the match as they broke down Olympic attacks and began to get the ball under control. They found a bit of joy down the flanks and from long range as Jessica Elliot and then Kaitlin Harms tried their luck. Harms in particular drew an excellent low save from Olympic ‘keeper and captain, Amanda Seskin.
Olympic nearly found a way through on multiple occasions, but the linesman’s flag denied them each time. Calvi was just mistiming her runs, and frustrated, she flicked the ball into the goal after one too many flags and received a yellow.
There was a brief worry for Nepean’s Paige Wilson after she was crunched in midfield by Kylie Stabb – another midseason recruit from Inter – but Wilson was up quickly and ready to carry on.
0-0 going into half time in a rather tight contest, with Olympic just shading things a touch.
The second period started off much tighter than the first, with both sides finding it difficult to really find any significant space.
The first decent chance came on 63 minutes after Nepean were controversially awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The Nepean player looked to have initiated the contact with an Olympic defender and brought her down, but it was decided it was the other way around – Olympic didn’t agree at all.
Elliot went low and hard around the wall, drawing a superb save from Seskin which she parried away. Unluckily it fell straight to the boot of Wilson, who controlled and then shot from point blank range, but she was somehow denied as Seskin sprawled across to smother the effort and keep things locked up.
Nepean ‘keeper Danielle Bartels decided to get in on the action with some great work of her own soon after. Hickey picked up a loose ball in the box after a bit of a scramble, and Bartels flew at her feet to block the shot, somehow holding onto the ball in the process and denying Hickey yet again.
For a game with plenty of good football on display, it seemed a shame that the first goal came from some shambolic defending from the home side. Vassallo shepherded a fairly harmless through ball towards her goalkepper, calling for her to come and claim. Bartels remained rooted to the spot though, and by the time she reacted Halaska had bolted through to get a toe onto the ball and put it into the empty net. Bartels was collected in the challenge but there was nothing untoward, and the goal stood. Heartbreaking for Nepean with 15 minutes to go, as they’d found another gear in the minutes prior.
The real controversy came after 85 minutes however. Vassallo was pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and her first contribution was to hit a wayward cross that would claim a share of the points for the home side.
The ball skewed off the outside of her boot, and looped high towards goal – one of those horribly awkward ones for a ‘keeper to deal with. Amazingly, Seskin leaped high diagonally and caught the ball clean, contorting herself to keep it from crossing the line. She landed with the ball on the line, and pushed it forward ever so slightly to make sure it wasn’t over. A Nepean player fouled her trying to put the ball in, and the referee halted play to consult with his linesman.
There were no serious appeals from Nepean claiming it was a goal, and everyone seemed convinced that Seskin has saved the points for her team. Somehow though, the linesman seemed adamant that the whole of the ball crossed the line, gesturing that Seskin promoted the ball ahead of the line after she landed, and the referee awarded the goal.
Seskin and the rest of Olympic are both baffled and furious in equal measure, and despite their protestations the goal stood to make the scores level. A horrible moment for the skipper as she’d properly kept Olympic in the match with her skill between the sticks.
Neither side could find a breakthrough afterwards despite pushing hard for the winner. Nepean substitute Adele Granata had a great chance to win it, but she couldn’t lash home her volley from 8 yards.
It was a tough end to the match as well for Nepean, as Rachel Cavanagh had to be helped from the field after what looked like a serious blow to her knee in the final minutes.
So after 90 minutes we finished with a rather controversial 1-1 draw at Cook Park. Nepean were lucky to get away with a point here, even though they played very well. Olympic will be filthy they didn’t get the three points, but if they keep playing this way the results will sort themselves out over the final weeks of the season.
Sutherland Shire FA vs Central Coast Mariners FC, 3pm Sunday June 26th at Harrie Denning Centre
It was always going to be a difficult task for Central Coast to back up against Sutherland, and so it proved as the home side ran out classy 2-0 winners. The Mariners would be encouraged by the performance over the two days though, but still that first win of the year eludes them.
Sutherland got the win they’ve been searching for in the last couple of weeks thanks to goals either side of halftime from Raegan Deeley and Jessica Ellis. The win means they remain 2 points behind Inter, so now they need to click back into top gear if they are to reclaim their position at the top for the remainder of the season.
Bankstown City FC vs Inter Lions SC, 3pm Sunday June 26th at Jensen Park
Inter flexed their muscles yet again with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Bankstown. Inter have been super impressive all season, and they’ve consistently showed they deserve to be at the top of the ladder. All the action took place in the first half, as the Lions took the game by the scruff of the neck and didn’t let it slip at all in the second.
Bankstown has shown some really positive signs this season, but they just can’t show the consistency needed to be a force in this league. The quality is there in the team, it’s just a matter of showing it week in week out. They again had Samantha Muscat to thank for their solitary goal here, but this result now sees them four points off of 5th position.
Northern Tigers FC vs Southern Branch FC, 3pm Sunday June 26th at Mills Park
Southern couldn’t quite back up their good result from Saturday against the Mariners as they went down to the Northern Tigers 1-0 at Mills Park.
After a slow start to the season the Tigers are proving to be a real handful, and are looking the best side among those chasing that 4th position in the finals. They’re another team with the weapons to really hurt sides in the last months of the season, and another couple of wins would put them odds on to claim 4th spot, or push for higher honours.
Southern just haven’t been able to match last season’s efforts, and may have to be content to making life difficult for everyone else over the remainder of the year. The effort is always there from Southern, it just seems the results haven’t been forthcoming in 2016.
Reserve Grade:
Nepean were held 0-0 at home by Sydney Olympic. Goals from Jessica Burgess, Maddi Finch, and a brace from Sarah Mason-Tryble saw Bankstown rout Inter 4-0. While at Mills Park, first half goals from Bianca Wong and Jordyn Toms-Wedge saw the Northern Tigers defeat Southern Branch 2-0. Sutherland had the bye.
Another catch up match this weekend, so we’ll sort that out before the Round 13 review.
Round 10:
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Southern Branch FC, 2.45pm Saturday June 25th at Pluim Park NO.3
A first half brace from Amy-Louise Clayton was enough for Southern Branch to get over the line against Central Coast. A much needed win for the away side in this one as points have been rather hard to come by for Southern Branch in recent weeks.
The Mariners fought back well in the second half, with Jessica Terry pegging a goal back to give the home side some hope, but the task would prove too much as Southern Branch held on for the win. A tight contest, but just not enough yet again for Central Coast – when their first win does cone this season no one will be able to say that hadn’t earned it.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
