Round 15 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
It was a pivotal weekend of results in the PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s competition as the top four moves closer to being cemented.
League leaders Sydney Olympic FC took on Central Coast Mariners in our Match of the Round.
Match of the Round: Central Coast Mariners 0 defeated by Sydney Olympic FC 4
Sydney Olympic FC has made it a perfect ten games unbeaten as they swept aside Central Coast Mariners 4-nil this afternoon at Pluim Park.
The result puts Olympic FC in the driver’s seat for the premiership as a result next weekend hands them the silverware.
It was a ruthless performance in the second half as Madelaine Costanzo’s first half goal was joined by strikes from substitute Danielle Calvi and Courtney Holmwood with an own goal from the Mariners rounded out the scoring.
For the Mariners the result dented their chances at playing finals football after an encouraging second half to the season put them into sixth position.
Although Olympic FC didn’t have all their own way in the first half – the pressing from the front by the Mariners particularly from Gabrielle Blanch and Oriana Keane forced them into a few mistakes.
Holmwood fired the first meaningful effort of the contest as the forward found herself in the box but her powerful shot was recovered by Mariners goalkeeper Jess Schultz at the second attempt.
Keane responded well for the home side as she sprung down the right wing before she tapped a center to Jessica Terry who couldn’t control her shot.
It would be Olympic FC that opened the scoring in the 29th minute – as Holmwood found space and spied Schultz off her line so the forward chipped an effort over her head for the 1-nil scoreline.
She could’ve had a second moments later as Schultz missed an incoming cross but Holmwood couldn’t keep her shot under control.
Candice Phelan tried to respond before half-time for the Mariners as she broke into the box and fired an effort that Olympic FC keeper Grace Watson-Carr had to sprawl to her left to keep it at 1-nil.
Sydney Olympic FC had found their feet in the contest now, as Holmwood went close once again in the 52nd minute but denied once again by Schultz.
Winger Teome Matamua got into the act in the 54th minute when she cut onto her left foot, curled an effort that Schultz repelled as Olympic FC poured forward.
Down the other end Jade McAtamney had the best chance for the Mariners in the second half as she rifled in an effort that needed intervention from Watson-Carr.
Those chances were rare though, as Olympic FC dominated possession. Kalista Tsoupis scooped an effort over the bar from some nice lead up work from Madelaine Costanzo and Danielle Calvi.
Matamua one-upped her earlier as she rattled the crossbar with a fierce volley that fell right to the feet of substitute Calvi who headed home for a 2-nil lead.
The visitors were firing on all cylinders now and promptly added a third three minutes later. Top scorer Costanzo refused to lose possession as she bounded into the box and finished her 13th goal of the season for 3-nil.
They added a fourth just before the end as Holmwood’s header created some chaos in the box as a Mariner prodded the ball into their own net.
Afterwards Olympic FC coach George Beltsos was proud of the effort
“The girls have done really well – over a long time – we’ve won quite a few games in a row and I’m proud of them. Now we have Gladesville next week to secure the premiership.” said Beltsos.
“[Danielle] Calvi wasn’t meant to play but I put her on to give us more edge up front and it worked in the second half.” Finished the Olympic FC coach.
Mariners coach Mark Yule credited a very good Olympic FC side that put the Mariners to the sword.
“Yeah we made some errors, competed well but didn’t create enough going forward. When we did make errors they punished us like a quality side does.” Said Yule.
“The girls tried really hard which is all I can ask for, now we move onto the rest of the season with a nice run in to give ourselves a chance. ” he finished.
Match Stats
Sunday 23rd July 2017
Pluim Park
Referee: M. Riedy
Assistant Referees: P Farnhill & G. Roberts
Central Coast Mariners 0
Sydney Olympic FC 4 (Costanzo ’29, Calvi ’69, Holmwood ’72 & OG ’87)
Central Coast Mariners: 1. SCHULTZ Jess, 2. TERRY Jessica(BRYANT ’52), 4. DAVIS Georgia, 5. WADDELL Letisha, 6. MCATAMNEY Jade, 7. BLANCH Gabrielle, 8. KEANE Oriana, 9. PHELAN Candice(CARMALY ’77), 12. OLIVEIRA Katie, 14. SHORTER Elizabeth and 16. DUFFY Kate
Subs not used: 3. COUCH Molly, 15. KROEMER Jade-Anne and 20. BRADBURY Maddison
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney Olympic FC: 2. TAYLOR Eloise, 3. MATAMUA Teome, 4. BARHAM Dierdre, 5. TSOUPIS Kalista, 6. HALASKA Kate, 7. CHEN Lily(CALVI ’45), 8. COSTANZO Madelaine, 12. HOLMWOOD Courtney, 27. BARTLETT Gillian, 28. KHOURY Hannah Lea and 60. WATSON-CARR Grace
Subs not used: 13. MEHMET Yasmine, 14. BROWNING Rebecca, 15. ORR Helen and 16. AMBERG Amanda
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards:
Sutherland Shire FA 0 defeated by Nepean FC 1
In one of the more shocking results of the season – Nepean FC has possibly derailed the title chances of Sutherland Shire FA with a comfortable 1-nil victory at Harrie Denning Centre today.
Nepean FC has picked up some big scalps thus far in NPL 2 NSW Women’s but no one has lowered the Shire ladies colours at home this season until this afternoon.
Brittany Galayini scored the only goal in the contest as the visitors took the fight to the second placed side and Alan Tasses ladies have possibly secured their place in the final four with a five point gap to Marconi Stallions.
Gladesville Ravens 0 drew with Marconi Stallions 0
Neither team could find the back of the net as the Stallions drew blanks in their chance to keep their finals hopes alive.
Marconi Stallions came into the afternoon with more to play for but the resolute Gladesville Ravens defense marshalled well by goalkeeper Kasia Glennie kept them at bay.
It is another point picked up for the Ravens on their efforts to avoid the wooden spoon as they lay two points behind Inter Lions despite Jose De Costa’s ladies improved form over the last month.
Inter Lions vs Southern Branch FC – postponed
Bankstown City Lions had the bye
-By Justin Davies, PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s reporter
