Round 15 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
There were some surprise results in the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Women’s competition on Sunday that have changed the complexion of the ladder.
Sydney University 0-0 North Shore Mariners
It was a tight match Sydney University Football Ground as the sides couldn’t be separated with the points shared in a 0-0 draw.
Heather Garriock’s team normally starts strong and this fixture was no different, immediately putting the pressure on the Mariners.
In the sixth minute, Uni should’ve hit the front.
A great ball through by Evelyn Chronis saw Georgia Yeoman-Dale break the offside trap with no Mariners in sight.
She probably had to much time and too many options as all she could do with her one on one opportunity was hit the ball straight into Erin Herd.
It was Yeoman-Dale at the centre of another Uni attack on the quarter hour mark.
A great run down the left by Georgia Plessas saw her deliver an inch perfect ball for the on running Yeoman-Dale who hit her shot inches wide of the goal.
Yeoman-Dale could’ve had a first half hat-trick had she been calmer in front of goal, spurring another chance only a minute later.
Doing well in the left corner, she broke through and moved into the box, shooting toward goal but with no real conviction as Herd held onto the ball with ease.
Plessas was next with an opportunity for Uni but her shot went well wide of Herd’s goal.
It wasn’t Yeoman-Dale’s day when again in the 28th minute she battled well in the box, only to send her shot wide of the goal.
Despite the home sides dominance, they couldn’t hit the front as the teams went into the break.
In the 61st minute Garriock would’ve been pulling her hair out.
Fantastic work by Yeoman-Dale saw her break into the box and hit her shot well, only for Herd to stick a leg out.
Steph Ambrose was first to the rebound but her header hit the bar and went over.
Liz Grey then went close but her shot was well blocked by some desperate Mariners defending.
With 15 minutes to go, Uni hit the cross bar for a second time.
Grey got onto the end of a cross, only for her looping header to hit the top of the bar and bounce over.
With seven minutes remaining, the home side were almost punished for all their misses.
Kate Hensman broke away and into the box, only for her shot to be palmed away by Trudy Burke.
The home side pushed hard for a winner but the Mariners held firm and battled hard to the final whistle.
Emerging Jets 3-2 Illawarra Stingrays
The Emerging Jets welcomed the Illawarra Stingrays to Lake Macquarie Football Facility.
The Stingrays, still in the fight for the Premiership, showed their capabilities in the first half, moving into the break two goals to the good.
But the young Stingrays side came out fired up in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to record a victory that they will remember for the whole season.
Defeating the second placed Rays was massive for the young side, added to that; they are now five points clear of the Football NSW Institute.
Manly United 4-2 Marconi Stallions
A massive game took place at Cromer Park between Manly United and the Marconi Stallions.
A late barrage from the home side meant they continued their undefeated run, while the Stallions have now lost back-to-back games.
It was a real battle in the first half, with the teams going into the break locked at 0-0.
On fire striker Remy Siemsen opened the scoring for the home side in the second period though, scoring shortly after the restart.
Siemsen then picked up her second 10 minutes later to have the home side in control.
The Stallions wouldn’t lie down though and hit back through Joey Burgess to half the deficit.
Louise Neville restored the two-goal buffer though with five to go before Siemsen completed her hat trick to confirm United’s win.
Burgess also got another late on for the travelling side to make the score 4-2.
North West Sydney Koalas 2-1 Blacktown Spartans
It was league leaders North West Sydney Koalas taking on the Blacktown Spartans at ELS Hall Park on a special day for the home side.
With the Premiership within touching distance now, the Koalas had to keep their calm and get the job done against the Spartans.
They started well, hitting the lead through Tara Andrews, who continued her fantastic scoring run, heading into the break 1-0 up.
The second half was also tight as the plucky Spartans wouldn’t give up so easy, forcing the game into a frenzied finish.
It was the Koalas who held firm though, winning 2-1 as Tara Andrews scored her second of the afternoon.
Patricia Charalambous was the scorer for the away side.
The win means that another three points could well mean that the trophy will be going to the Koalas, a massive achievement for this squad.
-By Nikola Pozder
