Round 21 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Friday’s catch up fixture between Olympic and Inter had huge implications for the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016 premiership race, with the winner having the chance to claim top spot come the end of Round 21.
So to set the stage for the final round, we’ll cover this fixture before moving on.
Round 17:
Sydney Olympic FC vs Inter Lions SC, 7.45pm Friday August 19th Valentine Park
Inter kept their premiership hopes alive on Friday night with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sydney Olympic. The game lacked a bit of the intensity that we’ve come to expect from these two teams, but that’s understandable considering they had to think of Sunday’s important fixtures as well.
The all-important goals came from Jasmine Diavatiotis and midfielder Zoe Zaczek, giving Inter much needed leeway for their clash against Sutherland.
The loss meant that Olympic’s chances of a first place finish were over, but a win on Sunday could still have been enough for them to clinch second spot if results fell their way.
Round 21:
The final round of the regular season is done and dusted for the Playstation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016, with the premiership not secured until the final kick of the season.
The Inter Lions have claimed the premiership thanks to a hard fought draw with title rivals Sutherland Shire. It’s gone down to the wire, but Inter deserve the plaudits for the way they found a way to win consistently throughout the year. And in a competition this close – the top four finished on 39, 38, 38, and 38 points respectively – it’s an outstanding achievement.
The Northern Tigers also deserve praise for snatching 2nd spot in the final round thanks to their 3-1 win over Central Coast, and while Olympic couldn’t quite claim top spot, they still put in a professional performance to overcome Bankstown 2-1 at Jensen Park. Elsewhere, Southern Branch finished the season a high note by defeating Nepean 1-0.
Match of the round:
Inter Lions SC vs Sutherland Shire FA, 3pm Sunday August 21st at Fraser Park
It was a patient start to the first half from both sides with Sutherland settling into their possession game, while Inter were comfortable to stay compact in midfield.
Raegan Deeley perhaps should have opened the scoring after she chased down an errant Inter header from halfway. She found herself in space, but couldn’t quite escape from Kirilee Cook who eventually pressured the Sutherland striker out of the chance.
The closest either side would come in the first half was from a mishit cross from Sutherland fullback Genevieve Nisbet. From near the sideline she struck her cross first time, but didn’t get the curve she was after and the ball arrowed toward the top corner. It drew a calm save from Natasha Pentecost in the end, and it may have been too much for some ‘keepers in this league.
Inter thought they’d opened the scoring in the 30th minute through Rhonda Succar. Maria Kalogeropoulos slid through a super reverse ball for the winger who beat Biacna Alchi to the ball and lifted it over her, however the lineman’s flag was up early and Inter were denied the lead.
Jessica Ellis then should have scored for the away side after she chased down a long range free kick. She got goal side of her defender, and with only Pentecost to beat from 8 yards she flicked the ball with the outside of her right boot straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. Moments later Ellis was almost on the end of the exact same move, but this time the defence did enough to prevent the shot.
Sutherland’s continued insistence to play their way – possession above all else, slow build up, tight structure – was counting against them. Inter made it abundantly clear last week that the quick ball in behind their defence was a huge weakness, but Sutherland weren’t able to exploit it due to their occasionally laboured movement. The few occasions that they did quickly feed the runs from strikers and deep running midfielders they found themselves with great chances to take the lead, but they didn’t use the tactic anywhere near enough.
Inter finished the half the stronger with a couple of half chances that they couldn’t quite make the most of, and they pounced on some sloppy work by Sutherland at the back, with Rhonda Succar intercepting a poor pass from Alchi, but her goal bound shot was blocked by Mutch when she sensed the danger coming.
Inter clearly stepped up their intensity right from the opening whistle of the second half. They were rushing Sutherland a lot more, and the game became much more of a contest in midfield. This played right into Inter’s hands, as with Sutherland unable to settle on the ball it became increasingly difficult for them to create openings in the final third.
The one occasion that they were able to play through the pressure saw Quartermain slide the ball through for Ellis, who used her pace to get herself in a great position to take the lead only for her shot to once again fly right into the arms of Pentecost. A little more composure and Sutherland could have been home and dry by 60 minutes.
Inter made them pay for their profligacy in the 66th minute. Cook’s free kick was deflected onto the crossbar, with the rebound falling right onto the head of Inter skipper Kalogeropoulos, and with Alchi scrambling back across her goal the Inter playmaker guided her header back across the ‘keeper and under the crossbar. Inter now had one hand on the premiership, and Sutherland had it all to do in the final quarter of the game.
Inter began to sit back a little more now, comfortable with their lead and confident that they could repel Sutherland’s attacks while launching occasional raids of their own. Erica Toscano had an excellent game at right full back for the hosts, repeatedly overlapping down the right and using her pace to get to the byline to whip in dangerous crosses, but alas for Inter they rarely had the numbers in the box to get on the end of them.
Things remained tight until the 84th minute when Sutherland received a lifeline. Toni Vukasin cleaned up a loose ball from a Sutherland corner, and as she cut back onto her left foot she tempted the Inter defender into a challenge just inside the box, as clipped, and the referee had no hesitation.
Deely took responsibility, and emphatically buried the penalty to the right of Pentecost, and the race was alive again for the final 5 minutes.
Immediately Inter almost restored their advantage through another Cook free kick. From slightly further out on this occasion she shot for goal, and Alchi came running off her line to punch clear, nearly misjudging the flight of the ball and just tipping it over the crossbar.
Sutherland would push in the final minutes, but it wasn’t to be for them today as Inter held them at bay to claim the title of premiers for season 2016. They did it the hard way in the end, but they’ve stepped up repeatedly in big games this year and deservedly finish a point ahead of their rivals.
Northern Tigers FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC, 2.05pm Sunday August 21st at Mills Park
The Tigers did all they could do this afternoon as they triumphed over the Mariners by the tune of 3 goals to 1. Ella Gibson finished with a goal, with Josie Wilson grabbing a brace to seal things for the home side. They needed too many results to fall their way to claim the premiership this weekend, but the win has ensured that they have the double chance next weekend in the finals series where they’ll face Inter for a place in the grand final.
Madelyn Ryan gave the Mariners some hope with a rare goal for the away side, but they were always up against it when you consider the form the Tigers have shown over the past few months. It’s a real shame that Central Coast couldn’t get that win they’ve been so desperate for this year, but it will come as a bit of a relief that the season is over for them now. They can reassess where they’re at and come back in 2017 a stronger side.
Bankstown City FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 3pm Sunday August 21st at Jensen Park
Olympic have bounced back from Friday’s disappointment with a 2-1 win over local rivals Bankstown at Jensen Park. 2nd spot was still a carrot for them to chase, but with inter and Sutherland drawing, and the Tigers winning, Olympic stay in 4th place and will have a knockout fixture against Sutherland next weekend.
It’s been a strong last two weeks from Bankstown, and while they’ll be disappointed to not get one over Olympic on this occasion they can finish the season knowing better things are to come if they can keep this group together for another 12 months. Samantha Muscat got her customary goal and looks to have settled into this level well, and things can only improve next season.
Nepean FC vs Southern Branch FC, 3pm Sunday August 21st at Cook Park
Nepean have gone down 1-0 to Southern Branch in their final game of the year out at Cook Park. The home side have so much potential to work with, but an inability to put teams away sees them finish in 5th position – a massive 11 points behind Olympic. It’s not an insurmountable gap for 2017, but they’ll need to tempt over a quality attacking players to give things a shake next year.
Sarah Hickling once again found the back for the net for Southern before half time in what is a great end to the season for them, but like the sides below them they’ll rue the amount of goals they conceded this season. They’ve jagged the odd result here and there, but consistency is the key for top sides and it deserted them in 2016. Another that can go further next year with some improvements across the team.
Reserve Grade:
Nepean FC defeated Southern Branch 2-0, Sutherland overcame Inter 1-0, and at Jensen Park Bankstown were 2-0 victor’s over Sydney Olympic. 2016’s premiers the Northern Tigers had the bye in the final round.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
