Round 16 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
The top 4 is all but settled now at the conclusion of Round 16 of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016.
Potent frontlines have been the story of the top sides so far this year, and it looks like the 4 sides with by far and away the best attacks will contest the finals series now.
This week saw Sydney Olympic leave Gosford with the three points, Nepean and Bankstown did each other no favours as they shared the points at Jensen Park, while Sutherland found their teeth once more in a demolition of Southern Branch in the Shire.
In the match of the round ladder leaders Inter Lions travelled north to Mills Park in an effort to tame the Tigers. However it would be the home side that put on a commanding performance to claim the points and rubber stamp their title credentials for 2016.
Match of the round:
Northern Tigers FC vs Inter Lions SC, 3pm Sunday July 17th at Mills Park
The opening minutes of the match were a little scrappy as both sides couldn’t really get themselves into the game.
The Tigers had the better of this period though, as they were consistently releasing Josie Wilson down the right wing. Several times she was able to get in behind Inter full back Erica Toscano, but the defender was able to do enough to cut out the cross each time.
The first big moment of the match came for Inter, and predictably forward Sarah Mandile was in the middle of the action. She powered her way through the front third, latching onto a through ball and getting herself 1 v 1. However she took one touch too many which invited the challenge from the Tigers defence and the goalkeeper, and after a clash of bodies all three were prone on the ground with Inter demanding a penalty that would not be forthcoming.
The wasted chance would prove costly as the Tigers opened the scoring shortly afterwards. Tigers 10 Eilidh Mackay stood up a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before laying the ball off to number 9 Ellana Balicki who arrowed the ball into the top corner with her first touch. Pentecost could do nothing but watch as the ball almost kissed both posts on the way in; a stunning goal to take the lead in any game.
Inter caught the Tigers napping almost from the kick off as they hit back to make it 1-1 after 23 minutes. Mandile made a great run to get goal side of her defender, and with the Tigers defensive line jagged she had the headstart she needed to run onto a chipped ball from Zoe Zaczek. With Tigers goalkeeper Kate Anthonisz bearing down on her Mandile had the poise to flick the ball over the ‘keeper with her head and straight into the bottom corner.
The Tigers weren’t put off by the setback and continued to play their football. They were always looking to slip the ball in between the full back and the central defender for their wingers, who’d arc their runs to meet the ball at pace as they went towards goal. While the link up play between Mackay and Balicki was exceptional as well, with both looking to play short balls behind Inter’s defensive line on a consistent basis.
This ball movement stretched Inter across the park, and it became too much on 37 minutes when Mackay gave the Tigers the lead for the second time. Alycia Macqueen found herself in space on the right wing, before she slipped a simple ball through to a totally unmarked Mackay who was able to stroll in on goal before lifting the ball over Pentecost. It looked far too easy, but it was the product of their earlier good work.
Inter couldn’t get out from the back, and whenever they got the ball clear it came straight back at them. Half time came shortly after though, with the break helping to stem the tide.
The Tigers started off the second half just as they finished the first though, pressuring Inter and pinning them back in their half.
Balicki was doing an excellent job up front of holding the ball up. Her touches were always dangerous and she set up Macqueen with a great chance just after the restart. She played a well weighted ball through that Macqueen reached before composing herself, but her slide rule finish was pushed past the post by Pentecost.
The Tigers were well in control of the contest now, thanks in no small part to their two holding midfielders – Emma Watkins and Genevieve Love. Watkins in particular was everywhere, always sticking a boot in to win the ball and then immediately looking to launch counter attacks for the home side. They screened the back 4 expertly and were responsible for much of Northern’s best moments.
A contentious foul on 65 minutes gave the home side the chance to extend their lead. Watkins was clipped by Inter captain Maria Kalogeropoulos about 23 yards from goal – Inter were not impressed with the decision which led to a booking for the skipper and 2 bookings for dissent for Zazcek and Alisha Dudman – with Balicki stepping up for the free kick. Emphatically, she stroked the ball into the top corner to make it 3-1, curling the ball across Pentecost in goals and once again leaving the ‘keeper with no chance of saving it. The ball had a wonderful arc on it and it never looked like missing from the moment she hit it.
The Tigers could have had a couple more in the next 10 minutes but they couldn’t quite kill off the game, which gave Inter a little opening.
The league leaders began pushing numbers forward, but their only real chance came from a corner. The ball was half cleared by the Tigers, and it fell to the feet of defender Danielle Watson, who controlled and then volleyed for the bottom corner. Anthonisz dove low to her right and pushed the ball away at the last moment, before the Tigers were able to clear the ball to safety.
A bit of niggle crept into the game now, as Inter weren’t too pleased with how a few calls had gone against them during the match. Both sides were guilty of gamesmanship though, the highlight of which was an utterly daft yellow card to Northern’s Carly Ussher for time wasting after she ignored the ball next to her at a throw in, then kicked the ball she had been waiting for away, only to use the one that was next to her the whole time.
The game petered out thanks to a flurry of late substitutions, but it couldn’t take the gloss off of an excellent all round performance from the Tigers. 3-1 the final result and they send out the message that they are now a true contender for the premiership.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 2.05pm Sunday July 17th at Pluim Park NO.3
This was a dangerous game for Olympic given their occasional tendencies of playing to the opposition. But they’ve left Gosford with a comfortable 2-0 win that all but guarantees them a place in the finals series. 2 first half goals from Freya Hickey got them ahead in the game, and they held on to that lead in the second half, which will please Olympic to no end as they prepare for two games in four days against great rivals Inter.
Another loss for the Mariners in what has been a fairly wretched season. It seems they’ve been held at arm’s length by sides over the past month or so without being on the receiving end of too much punishment. The effort is surely there, but the lack of depth is just being exposed every week and it’s hard to see them finding that win. With the top 4 all but sorted they’ll need to target the lower placed sides who may be on the beach in the coming weeks.
Sutherland Shire FA vs Southern Branch FC, 3pm Sunday July 17th at Harrie Denning Centre
Sutherland well and truly have their mojo back after smashing Southern Branch 5-0 at Harrie Denning Centre. Verty Quartermain bagged a hat trick to lead the route, while Raegan Deeley and Rochelle Borromeo also got on the scoresheet for the home side. This should be an ominous warning to everyone that Sutherland can still find the back of the net, despite their sub-par performances in front of goal in recent weeks. A cutting edge up front is what’s been separating the best sides from the rest this year, so this performance will do the Shire side a world of good.
Southern now have a 10 point gap to make up over the final few weeks of the season, and it just doesn’t look like they’re capable of overhauling the margin. Playing mostly at home over the last few weeks will help them no end, but the task should be too much for them. Losing key players to suspension early in the season hindered their campaign slightly, but they haven’t been able to rediscover last season’s blistering form at any stage of 2016.
Bankstown City FC vs Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday July 17th at Jensen Park
A result neither side wanted in the end as Bankstown and Nepean played out a 1-1 draw at Jensen Park. Tania Baban got on the scoresheet once again for the home side as they failed to make the most of their home ground advantage against a team who have been stuttering over the past month or so. Other results from this weekend have realistically killed off any hope of Bankstown making the finals now. They’ll rue not making the most of games against the sides around them, as they’ve shown on multiple occasions this year that they can mix it with the top teams in this league.
Nepean hold onto 5th spot easily, but it’s now a 6 point gap between them and Sydney Olympic in 4th position. They’re in the same boat as Bankstown in that they just haven’t picked up enough points against the sides around them. They’ve pushed everyone in the league in virtually every match they’ve played this year, but three points always seems like a slightly more difficult proposition for the side from Western Sydney. They’ve got 5 games to turn things around and reel in a finals spot, but it looks beyond them at this stage.
Reserve Grade:
Carly Baker and Roisin Collier gave Sutherland a 2-0 win over Southern Branch. Nepean overcame Bankstown 4-0 thanks in part to Samantha McGowan and Erin Connell strikes, while the Tigers and Inter shared 8 goals between them as the Tigers ran away with a 6-2 victory. Jordyn-Toms Wedge and Ciara O’Sullivan got one each for Northern, while the star of the show was Hannah McNulty who finished with a haul of 4 goals.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
