Round 8 Review – State League Women’s
Round 8 promised to be another highly competitive and interesting round as Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC travelled to face UNSW while SD Raiders FC hosted St George FC and APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC welcomed Western NSW Mariners FC to Lambert Park.
Match of the Round
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC vs Western NSW Mariners FC, 5pm Sunday 28th May, Lambert Park
This week’s match of the round took us out to Lambert Park as top of the table APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC welcomed visitors Western NSW Mariners FC.
APIA were looking too continue their unbeaten start to the year while the Mariners were looking to bounce back from a disappointing home loss against UNSW the previous round.
The early signs indicated it could be a long afternoon for the Mariners as APIA started in a confident mood and settled the quicker of the two teams.
The Mariners struggled to maintain possession as APIA created the first opening through Rebecca Watts whose shot forced Mariners keeper Darby Elms into a good low save.
The Mariners defence though scrambled and scrapped as APIA struggled to create any real goal scoring opportunities even though they dominated territory and possession. It was the Mariners in fact that had the next goal scoring opportunity as they rattled the crossbar from a free kick that APIA failed to clear.
This chance to the Mariners though seemed to spur APIA into life as barely a minute later Lucy Gilfedder was cleverly slid through as she finished expertly past Mariners keeper Elms into the corner. APIA continued to press for the second but the Mariners defended resolutely while also maintaining a threat on the break.
Christina Ferreyra who to this point had been quite for APIA found herself presented with a decent opportunity in the 34th minute as she intercepted a mistake by the Mariners defence but could only shoot straight at the Mariners keeper Elms. The Mariners were unlucky not to grab an equiliser before half-time as in the 38th minute APIA were forced to clear off their line as the Mariners were unable to scramble the ball home.
The second half started very much like the first as APIA continued to press for a second as APIA’s number 6 Lucy again bustled her way past a couple of Mariners defenders but could only shoot straight at Elms in goals.
The Mariners continued to pose a threat on the break as Kristy Collingridge cut inside and unleashed an effort in the 58th minute but saw her shot well held by the APIA goalkeeper. The high press from both teams meant goal scoring chances were at a premium as space continued to be difficult to find.
APIA though did eventually find a second as Maddie Latham was put through on goals and she cooley converted in the 63rd minute. In truth the Mariners struggled to create any more meaningful opportunities as APIA were unlucky not to extend their lead as Ferreyra again came close in the 73rd minute after connecting to a cut back only to see her shot just clear the cross bar.
In the end APIA proved to be a little to strong for a Mariners team which certainly provided a competitive test. APIA coach Matteo Maiorana admitted it was.
“Not a great performance, but the Mariners are always a tough team”.
Western Mariners coach Jason Payne was overall pleased with the effort of his team especially after the disappointing performance the previous weekend.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 2 ( Lucy Gilfedder 17’, Maddie Latham 63’)
Western NSW Mariners FC 0
Sunday May 28th, 2017
Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC: 16.Jennifer Bennett, 3.Dana Buttigieg(22. Nicole Carmichael 61’), 6.Carla Caninii, 5.Olivia Cicco (12.Madeline Latham 61’),9.Christina Ferreyra,6.Lucy Gilfedder,2.Stephanie Glanville-Fyfe,20.Gillian Raymond,4.Samantha Scarlato,11.Rachelle Wang (13. Marie Sim-Sing 61’),14. Rebecca Watts(34.Kim Cozens 82’)
Substitutes not used: 5. Courtney Halpin
Western NSW Mariners FC: 19. Jessica Carmen(21. Ahila Boehringer 79’), 8.Kristy Collingridge, 24.Sarah Colman, 6. Jasmin Courtenay, 10.Teegan Courtney, 1.Darby Elms, 5.Larissa Kilby(17. Cushla Rue 71’), 3.Poorsha Mcpillamy, 4.Annabel Meadley, 9.Tatum Roberts(2. Abbey Barcham 67’), 25.Kallie Sargent(7. Sarah Morris 33’)
UNSW 4 vs Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 4 (Stephanie Trovato x1, Yadioa x1, Brooke x1, Nubia x1), 3pm Sunday May 28th, David Phillips Complex
In what was a highly entertaining clash down at the David Phillips Complex UNSW and Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC could not be separated as the final score ended 4-4.
The contest was full of drama and goal moth action as UNSW found themselves 2-0 up early after benefiting from some defensive mistakes from Mt Druitt.
Mt Druitt though fought back to 2-2 before taking the lead 3-2 only to be pegged back once again before finding themselves 4-3 down.
The scoring though had not finished there as Mt Druitt found an equilser and were unlucky not to snatch victory after a late penalty appeal was waved away.
Mt Druitt coach Danny Abboud was pleased with his teams performance and resolve as they fought back from going down early and in the end were unlucky not to have taken all three points.
SD Raiders 1 (Stephanie Conkeros x1) vs St George 2 (Marrisa Nicopoulos x1, Amy Bennet x1), 3pm Sunday May 28th, Ernie Smith Reserve
In what could prove a crucial result come the end of the year St George FC defeated SD Raiders FC 2-1 as the Raiders indifferent form continued. The game could have been so different had the Raiders not missed a first half penalty as this proved to be crucial in the final result.
St George though deserved their piece of good fortune as they deserved to take three points from the contest.
St George coach Carlo Tini was extremely pleased with his team’s application and effort especially after the heavy defeat last round to APIA. SD Raiders coach Catherine Cannuli conceded her team is going through a rough patch but remains confident that her team can rediscover their winning touch.
-By Sebastian Kalos
