Round 13 Review – State League Women’s
It was another round of furious action as all eight teams warmed up a freezing Sydney weekend with tightly contested games that saw SD Raiders have their advantage cut to one.
Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 drew with St George FC 1
APIA Leichhardt Tigers dominated possession but couldn’t break down a stubborn St George side to collect maximum points on a cold night at Lambert Park.
The Saints were into their work early as they pressed the APIA back four to prevent an outlet to their dangerous strikeforce upfront.
It worked a treat as Marissa Nicopoulos profited from a loose pass to open the scoring. The striker cut down the right before she arrowed her effort into the left hand corner for a shock 1-nil lead.
At the urging of coach Matteo Maiorana – the Tigers started to get a foot in the contest as they started to push the Saints back into their own half.
The home side thought they had their equaliser in the 25th minute when a looped header was in the net. Unfortunately for them it was chalked off for a foul in the build up.
Following their goal St George FC continued to play on the counter and were dangerous on set pieces. Tijana Ljubisavljevic had a direct free-kick in the 35th minute which curled wide.
On the whole though – APIA held the ball and probed around the box with Dana Buttigieg and Christina Ferreyra had long range efforts which sailed wide as St George held on until the break.
The pattern continued as most of the contest was played in the St George half. Lucy Gilfeddder was close to bringing the contest level in the 59th minute when she burst through but was taken down on the edge of the box.
The resulting free-kick went high as frustrations grew like the mist over Lambert Park. Once again the Tigers thought it was 1-1 when Buttigieg cannoned an effort goalwards but despite the cheers from the crowd it hit the side netting.
APIA’s pressure would toil eventually when an errant pass from St George FC fell to the feet of Filiz Urkanci who proceeded to curl the effort into the net for one all.
Maiorana urged his side forward again, as the Tigers sensed three points on the offing. Ferreyra broke through but couldn’t beat Stephanie Lara.
Lara once again was heroic when she bravely blocked the path of the onrushing APIA defenders as St George FC held on for a point.
Afterwards Maiorana was disappointed that they didn’t get the win.
"It’s disappointing when you have the majority of the ball and are camped in the St George half you can’t get the result.
St George FC had one shot on target which resulted in the goal so we’re dsiappointed we couldn’t get the win for the big crowd tonight" added Maiorana.
Carlo Tini lamented a lapse in concentration in an otherwise stellar St George FC effort.
"We started off really well, got the goal and did the best we could holding APIA to 1-nil at the break but I couldn’t ask more of my girls.
"Getting a point was good as we collected seven points for the club championship today but we’re onto next week and University at the stadium" added Tini.
MATCH STATS
APIA Leichardt Tigers 1 (Urkanci ’75)
HALPIN Courtney, GLANVILLE-FYFE Stephanie, BUTTIGIEG Dana, SCARLATO Samantha, GILFEDDER Lucy, CLOUT Erin(KING ’71), FERREYRA Christina, URKANCI Filiz, BARBI Koo(POLIAS ’65), SIM-SING Marie and MUNRO Clare
Subs not used: SANTORO Selen, LIMNIOS Analise and CARMICHAEL Nicole
St George FC 1 (Nicopoulos ’19)
MANIAS Kylie, SMITH Carla, BENNETT Amy(SUTHERLAND ’69), CAROSI Jessica, NICOPOULOS Marissa, STANTON Vanessa, YOUNG Bronte, CHEN Lily(MILLER ’85), ROBINSON Beth, LARA Stephanie and LJUBISAVLJEVIC Tijana
Subs not used: KOINIS Peta and MANSOUR Renee
UNSW Lions 8 defeated Parramatta FC 0
UNSW Lions put together an impressive second half display to ensure victory against Parramatta FC at David Phillips Field.
Emily Fardell starred with a hat-trick in the absence of Georgia Goulding as the Lions hit Parramatta FC for six in the second half.
Rachelle Godman and Gracie Rowland added braces to stay third but only two points behind SD Raiders.
Afterwards Renato Jelen was pleased with the second half performance after a sluggish first half from the Lions team.
Western NSW Mariners 1 drew with SD Raiders 1
It was even stevens in the early kick-off of round 13 as the Mariners grabbed an important point off the leader’s SD Raiders.
Kya Godbier scored for the home side in a tight affair expected of the top two sides in State League Women’s.
Robust midfielder Dominique Caridad collected the tally for the visitors to give the Raiders something to take home.
Mariners coach Michael Godbier was happy with the chances created by his side as they carved open the stubborn Raiders several times and could’ve taken all three points.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 defeated by Gladesville Ravens 3
Gladesville emerged from a tough and torrid encounter with Mt Druitt to cement fifth place on a cold afternoon at Popondetta Park.
Once again Isabelle Hatton got herself on the scoresheet alongside Holly Gibbons and Isabella Breukelaar to make it a six point week for the Ravens.
Nubia Lopez was the goalscorer for the Town Rangers and was unlucky not to add another goal with the chances she created throughout the game.
Both coaches praised the manner which the game was played and Mt Druitt could feel a bit unlucky not to get something from the contest.
By Justin Davies, State League Women’s reporter
