Round 16 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Sydney Olympic FC are the PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s premiers with two games to spare while the rest of the competition jostle for finals positions.
Match of the Round: Bankstown City Lions 2 drew with Sutherland Shire FA 2
Sutherland Shire FA left it late to snatch a point from the Bankstown City Lions as a Tania Baban brace was cancelled out by two strikes from the Shire’s Jordan Baker.
The third place Lions led the contest twice as Tania Baban scored two quality goals in each half but the fighting spirit from the Sutherland Shire FA side was evident as they never gave up and helped light up a cold Thursday night.
In the opening stages, the game plan was clear from the home side as with some troops back in the line-up they pressed the Shire side aggressively in the first half to great effect.
Some lovely lead up work from Vida Opoku-Agyemang and Joanna Martino to open up space for Baban but the striker put a tame effort at the keeper.
Most of the chances in the first half came to the home side as Maniso Micheal turned well just outside the box before she sprayed an effort which came from the set piece as the Lions pressured the Shire backline.
Bankstown City Lions went agonizingly close to the opener on the half hour mark from a well worked one touch movement that saw Madeline Morgan free in the box but she crashed an effort against the crossbar.
The pressure tolled two minutes later though, as Baban profited from a loose ball from the Sutherland Shire backline. She cut inside her defender before firing home for 1-nil Lions.
Brittany Christie who has been the go-to for the Shire girls in recent weeks had a golden chance for the visitors on 37 minutes but hammered it wide of the left post.
The Lions had their keeper Renee Krstanovska to thank for maintaining the lead as she denied the Shire FA side from a close-range header.
Baban was once again in the action after the break, the striker strode well into the box before she tried a shot at the near post which was well saved.
There was a much better intensity from the visitors coming out of half-time with their forwards getting much more involved in the contest.
It was the returning Jordan Baker that provided the equaliser. She was on the spot in the box to angle an effort into the net to make it 1-1 with 20 minutes to play.
Not wanting to be outshone, Baban responded almost immediately for the Lions. From a delightful throughball from Martino, she took the ball in stride before she chipped it in to restore the one-goal lead.
Sutherland Shire FA refused to give up on the contest – they pushed all the way until the final whistle as the game continued to be played at a real finals intensity.
Baker was the hero again for Shire FA as she found space down the right wing, galloped into the box before an expertly placed effort nestled into the net for a 2-2 draw.
Afterwards Bankstown City Lions coach Troy Spink was happy to take a point in a real tough contest.
“I thought it was a great contest. We had the better of the first half, they did the second on another day we could’ve taken all three.” Said Spink.
“I’m trying to nurse my players through the final few weeks and into the finals. Overall I am proud of our effort against the top sides. I’m proud of the culture we are building here at Bankstown and hope to fight well for promotion.” Finished Spink.
The Sutherland Shire FA coach though was disappointed to only salvage a draw tonight.
“We could’ve won that tonight. They had two shots on target. It was a draw that felt like a defeat really so we need to continue working. I am not happy currently.” He finished.
Match Stats
Thursday 27th July 2017
Jensen Park
Bankstown City Lions 2 (Baban ’33 & ’74)
Sutherland Shire FA 2 (Baker ’71 & 86)
Bankstown City Lions: 2. BABAN Tania, 4. BABIC Liana, 10. MICHEAL Maniso, 11. MARTINO Joanna, 12. MORGAN Madeline, 13. OPOKU-AGYEMANG Vida, 17. MURPHY Caitlin, 18. OSMAN Doris, 19. KRSTANOVSKA Renee, 21. MUSCAT Samantha(LEE ’26(PEPPER ’83)) and 30. IBBOTSON Charlotte
Subs not used: 20. SAADE Sihaem, 34. RUSSO Genevieve and 56. BRYDON Ashlee
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sutherland Shire FA: 2. NISBET Genevieve, 3. MUTCH Kellie, 4. BIRDSALL Annelotte, 6. VUKASIN Toni, 7. ELLIS Jessica, 10. BESZ Nicole(MAXWELL ’80), 11. DEELEY Raegan, 12. BAKER Jordan, 14. CHRISTIE Brittany, 21. GIDNEY Emma and 48. HENRY Grace(NELSON ’90)
Subs not used: 15. MANOS Georgia and 30. DENNIS Rebecca
Yellow cards:
Red cards: nil
Sydney Olympic FC 5 defeated Gladesville Ravens 0
Sydney Olympic FC locked up the minor premiership in typical dominant fashion with a five-star performance this afternoon at Peter Moore Field.
It was a particularly star performance from NPL 2 NSW Women’s top scorer Madelaine Costanzo who scored four goals to take her season tally to an impressive 18 through 16 rounds.
Courtney Holmwood rounded off the dominant performance finding the net herself as Olympic FC have secured the premiership with two rounds to spare.
Afterwards Olympic FC coach George Beltsos was “extremely proud of his side’s achievement, as it is a testimony to the hard work all year. Now we aim to finish the season strongly, headed into the finals series.”
Southern Branch FC 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners 2
It was a fruitful road trip for the Mariners as they joined a rare group to take three points away from South Nowra Football Complex today.
Goals from Gabrielle Branch and Candice Phelan was enough to hand the Mariners the victory that helped them bounce back from their loss against Olympic FC last weekend.
The Mariners still have a slim chance to make the finals but Msrk Yule will have his team fighting until the end as they try to finish as high as possible.
Nepean FC 4 defeated Inter Lions 0
In Sunday’s late kick off Nepean FC has extended the gap to the chasing pack for the fourth finals spot with a 4-nil victory over Inter Lions.
The shooting boots are truly back on for Nepean FC as they had four different scorers in an important three points with three rounds to play.
Jessica Elliot, Alix Waddell, Stephanie Haaring and Bianca Galayini all found the net which will please coach Alan Tasses after their lean period earlier this season.
Marconi Stallions had the bye
-By Justin Davies, PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s reporter
