Round 1 Review – NPL NSW Women’s
There were 25 goals scored across four games in the opening round of the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier competition.
Match of the Round
Manly United v Macarthur Rams
It was the perfect redemption for the Macarthur Rams as they opened the season with a win away at Champion Manly United 2-1.
A goal either side of the break, the first to Rose Galea and second to Leena Khamis were enough to get the Rams home despite a fightback from the home side through Chloe O’Brien.
The first chance of the game came in the fourth minute but Sophie Harding couldn’t find the target, shooting over the bar from just outside the box.
Only two minutes later and United should’ve been in front.
A mesmerising run by Ally Green down the left saw her cut back for Emily Minnet at the six-yard box, only for the striker to blast her shot over the bar.
The frantic start continued and as the Rams had their first opportunity a minute later through Leena Khamis who headed inches over the bar from a corner.
Minett was again involved on 13 minutes, making a fantastic run through the Rams defence and instead of being selfish and placing the ball beyond Khamis, she looked to lay the ball off for Remy Siemsen, allowing the Rams defence to clear.
The fast-paced start slowed as the game wore on with long range efforts from both sides not troubling the goalkeepers.
But on 30 minutes the away side had the lead from nothing.
New signing Georgia Yeoman-Dale broke though on the right before squaring the ball for an unmarked Rose Galea who calmly placed the ball beyond Clair Coelho.
Less than a minute into the second half and former Mailda Khamis doubled the lead.
The experienced attacker picked up the ball from some distance, beating Coelho with a well placed shot.
In the 52nd minute, the home side halved the deficit.
What seemed a muddled up free kick saw the the ball fall to O’Brien, who took a touch and placed the ball into the bottom left corner, giving an outstretched Sham Khamis no chance.
With Jane Vanzano coming off and Claudia Cholakian entering the fray, Remy Siemsen moved to the point of the attack and started creating headaches immediately.
In the 63rd minute she moved into the box with only Khamis to beat. The Rams keeper stood tall before the returning Renee Rollason cleared away.
It was Siemsen in the thick of it again only a minute later, getting a header on the end of a brilliant O’Brien cross, with the ball coming off the bar before being cleared to safety.
Green then went close in the 72nd minute again for United with her effort going inches over the top corner
United should’ve equalised with two minutes left on the clock.
A great run down the right by Franco saw her cut the ball back to Siemsen, with half the stadium already celebrating the equaliser, the normally reliable striker sent the ball agonisingly wide.
United pushed hard in the dying minutes and had one final chance through Cholakian but her header didn’t trouble Khamis,
Match Stats
Manly United 1 (O’Brien 52’)
Macarthur Rams 2 (Galea 30’, L. Khamis 46’)
Cromer Park, Cromer
11th of March, 2018
Manly United: 11. Coelho, 2. Wilson, 3. O’Brien, 4. Neville, 5. Green, 10. Siemsen, 13. Walker, 14. Sekulich, 15. Harding, 19. Minett, 27. Vanzano.
Substitutes: 9. Franco, 12. Ferguson, 18. Cholakian, 23. Arnold, 35. Van Weeren.
Macarthur Rams: 1. S. Khamis, 2. Polias, 4. L. Khamis 5. E. Ralston, 6. Campbell, 10. Ledbrook, 11. Hensman, 15. Galea, 16. Yeoman-Dale, 19. L. Ralston, 37. Rollason.
Substitutes: 7. Cameron, 8. Skerlevska, 20. Duggan, 71. Clarke
Sydney University 4-1 Northern Tigers
Sydney University started their campaign with a home game against the Northern Tigers at Arlington Oval.
Alex Epakis couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to his coaching career at Uni as his girls came away with a resounding 4-1 victory.
Two first goals had the home side cruising at the break and well on their way to victory.
The Tigers improved in the second period but no avail as Uni scored two more to cancel out the away side’s goal.
Kendall Fletcher, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler found the back of the net for the home side.
Blacktown Spartans 4-5 Illawarra Stingrays
At Blacktown Football Park, two favourites for the title did battle as the Blacktown Spartans welcomed the Illawarra Stingrays.
It was more than any football fan could ask for with a 9-goal thriller going the way of the Stingrays by the odd goal.
Carmelina Moscato was in dreamland at the break with her side looking home and dry, taking a 4-1 lead into the break courtesy of goals from captain Michelle Carney, Katelyn Leadbitter and newcomers Evelyn Chronis and Liana Danaskos.
The Spartans wouldn’t lie down though, putting up a real fight and taking the Stingrays all the way to the end.
It would be the South Coast side that would prevail though with Erica Halloway scoring the all-important winner.
Alyssa Rose, Sarah Yatim, Ashlie Crofts and Melissa Caceres all got on the scoresheet for the Spartans.
Sutherland Shire 1-3 North Shore Mariners
At Harrie Denning Centre, newly promoted Sutherland Shire entertained the North Shore Mariners.
It was a tight first half with the away side edging in front 2-1 at the break with Daisy Arrowsmith and Tiffany Paterson scoring for the Mariners while Rebekah Hutton scored for the home side.
The Mariners added another goal in the second period to consolidate the perfect start to the season, running out 3-1 winners.
Emerging Jets 2-2 Bankstown City
Bankstown City started their campaign with a gruelling trip to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to take on the Emerging Jets.
The Jets got off to a flying start, racing away to a two-goal lead at the break courtesy of Lucy Kell.
City showed their fight though, coming back to score two goals in the second half to register a 2-2 draw.
-By Nikola Pozder
