Round 3 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
The competition table is starting to shake out in the NPL 2 NSW Women’s with four more action packed contests highlighted by our Match of the Round between Sydney Olympic FC vs Nepean FC.
Match of the Round: Sydney Olympic 1 defeated by Nepean FC 2
A pair of strikes in the first half was enough for Nepean FC to hold off Sydney Olympic FC this afternoon at a sunny Peter Moore Field.
It was the home side that started the faster as Madeline Costanzo and Rochelle Borromeo combined for the latter to place a weak shot at Nepean FC custodian Danielle Bartels.
Nepean FC found the opener in the tenth minute though, as from a free-kick Bianca Galayini was left alone in the box and slammed it home for 1-nil.
The goal gave the visitors some spark as Stephanie Haaring strode forward but she curved her effort wide of the posts.
For Sydney Olympic FC, in a down first half their best chances came from Costanzo and Borromeo. Once again the forwards combined but as Borromeo tried to lunge home, Bartels swept onto the ball.
Borromeo shrugged off several defenders in the 28th minute as she tried to place a shot but it was well handled once again by the Nepean custodian.
Nepean FC despite being on the backfoot for a lot of the first half, had a second on the half hour mark. It was from another set piece, as Alex Waddell was on hand to finish from a scramble for 2-0.
The visitors held onto their two-goal advantage thanks to some brave keeping from Bartels. Borromeo swept a shot on target before Lily Chen couldn’t prod home the rebound thanks to a goal-line clearance.
Just before the break it was Chloe Avgoustou in goal for Sydney Olympic that was called into action from a stinging strike from Galayini that she had to tip over.
Following a pep talk at the break from John Boulous, Sydney Olympic started the second half on the front foot. Chen could’ve clawed a goal back in the 55th minute but put her header wide.
They went closer again in the 60th minute when Kalista Tsoupis struck the post with a grass cutting effort as they surged forward.
Haaring had a pair of chances to put the game to bed straight after but couldn’t put either of them on target to challenge Avgoustou.
Substitute Danielle Calvi almost provided an immediate impact as she rolled a defender before charging into the box but it was straight at Bartels.
Olympic got a further boost in the 75th minute when Jessica Elliott was sent off for a second yellow. Calvi flicked a header wide only minutes after.
For her endeavour Calvi got herself a late consolation goal and Olympic on the scoreboard, with a crisp strike to make it 2-1.
Afterwards the Nepean FC coach was happy to take a big three points home.
"When you come up against good teams like Olympic, you need to shut their channels down and not let them play through us which we did well.,"
We held on well even with ten players late on and it was a massive three points for us." He said.
For Sydney Olympic coach George Beltsos, it was a disappointing result.
"I thought we were a little unlucky, conceded twice from silly free-kicks in a game which was an arm wrestle. We created chances but good luck to Nepean." Said Beltsos.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 1 (Calvi ’87)
Nepean FC 2 (Galayini ’10 and Waddell ’30)
Sydney Olympic: 1 Chloe AVGOUSTOU, 2. Eloise TAYLOR, 5. Kalista TSOUPIS, 6. Kate HALASKA, 7. Lily CHEN (BROWNING ’65), 8. Naomi NGUYEN, 9. Madeline COSTANZO, 10. Rochelle BORROMEO, 16. Amanda AMBERG (ORR ’45), 19. Vanessa PATRULOVSKI (CALVI ’45) and 23. Kate MCPHERSON
Subs not used: 21. Taylah ALHO and 28. Hannah Lea KHOURY
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Nepean FC: 1 Danielle BARTELS, 2. Emma JACKSON, 4. Jessica ELLIOT, 6. Monique BALLARD (WHEELER ’92), 7. Stephanie HAARING (LAWRIE ’69), 10. Bianca GALAYINI (PELLE ’65), 11. Madeline STEDMAN, 12. Alex WADDELL, 13. Desiree VASSALLO, 18. Tori AXISA (CONNELL ’61) and 25. Aisling DAVIDSON
Subs not used: 20. Narmin MALAS
Yellow cards: Elliot
Red cards: Elliot
Bankstown City Lions 4 defeated Marconi Stallions 1
A second half glut of goals helped Bankstown City Lions to a 4-1 victory over Marconi Stallions this afternoon at Jensen Park.
It was a superb free-kick from Joanna Martino that was her third goal of the season which gave the Lions a 1-nil half-time lead.
In the second half, it was all Bankstown City. Allegra Vickas, Maniso Michael and Sunny Lucien fired into the net to round out the scoring.
For Marconi Stallions – on a trying afternoon, Ceyda Cambaz got herself on the scoresheet for some consolation.
Gladesville Ravens 0 drew with Southern Branch FC 0
Both sides picked up their first points of the season, as Southern Branch were able to hold off the home side tonight.
Gladesville Ravens retained the side that were unlucky against Inter Lions last week but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Southern Branch FC will be pleased to get off the duck egg and hope to use it as a springboard for the rest of the season.
Central Coast Mariners 1 defeated by Sutherland Shire FA 3
Sutherland Shire FA remained one of two unbeaten teams in NPL 2 NSW Women’s with a dominant 3-1 victory at Pluim Park.
The team from the Shire were on top in the whole contest and it was highlighted by a brace from Jordan Baker.
Danielle Wise added the third goal to complete the scoring for the visitors while Candice Phelan got a late strike for the Mariners.
The Shire ladies are head the NPL 2 NSW Women’s ladder with Nepean FC on six points which gives them a good platform to start the season.
-By Justin Davies, NPL 2 NSW Women’s reporter
