Round 2 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
The sun blazed across NSW that forced the postponement of a majority of matches meaning only two contests were able to be played on a steamy March weekend including a Match of the Round between Nepean FC and Marconi Stallions.
Match of the Round: Nepean FC v Marconi Stallions
The weather cooled down but the sunset created the scene for a fiery encounter between Nepean FC and Marconi Stallions. The teams played out to a pulsating 2-2 draw on a balmy night at Cook Park.
Coming off their loss against Olympic FC, Marconi Stallions looked to establish themselves early in the contest got the perfect start with a Demelza Howard 7th minute strike before they were pegged back twice by Stefanie Trovato and Bianca Galayini for Nepean FC.
Ultimately the two sides had to share the points when a determined run from Stallions’ Jessica Beale which the striker smashed home for a 2-2 draw that frustrated both coaches.
Nepean FC played their cards early from a third minute diagonal ball from Danielle Bartels found two-goal hero from last week, Stefanie Trovato. The striker went the unselfish route and played in Britney Pelle but the defense cleared well.
The Stallions found joy themselves in the opening stages, Mia Connors stood up a terrific cross that needed a touch but none of the Marconi attackers could lunge at the far post ball.
Their next foray resulted in a goal that pleased coach Matt Turvey. Bartel’s goal-kick for Nepean FC misdirected and fell to the dangerous Demelza Howard, who took a touch before she buried the effort in the net for 1-nil.
Sticking to their game plan Nepean FC continued to send balls through the channels for Pelle and Trovato as both forwards whistled efforts wide of the post.
Cedya Cambaz played a starring role in the contest for Marconi. The winger constantly raced past her defender and played some dangerous cutbacks to Beale that went softly to a relieved Bartels.
Her ability to find space almost netted the Stallions their second. She shrugged off a defender before thrashing a shot wide of Bartel’s post once again, as Nepean FC were relieved to go to the break only one down.
Ten minutes into the second half, Nepean FC had found their equaliser. Trovato took the set piece just inside the halfway and timed it perfectly to loop it over the goalkeeper and into the net. 1-1.
Much like public transport, Nepean FC didn’t have to wait long to fire themselves into the net. A crossfield diagonal went into the stride of Galayini, she strode into the box confidently before firing home for 2-1.
Staring down the barrel of two straight defeats – Marconi looked to their big guns. Enter Jessica Beale on 69 minutes to claw back a point.
Beale displayed a dogged determination to keep fighting for the ball through several Nepean defenders then she hammered the ball home for 2-2.
Both teams opened up their gameplan looking to find a decisive third goal. Nepean FC had a series of free-kicks that required saving while Marconi kept true to their style but neither could find a winner and the points were shared.
Nepean FC boss Alan Tasses was delighted with the effort from the side despite their habit of hospitality that sees their opponents find goals.
“We’re too nice of hosts. We give away goals on a platter. The girls work hard and tonight, they played some football. If we’re going to gift goals, you get punished at this level,”
“We found those angled balls worked well for us in finding Britney Pelle and Stefanie Trovato. I’ve broken it down into five channels for the season and it has been working for us,”
“Our new signing [Stefanie] Trovato has three goals already for us and I think she is going to help us where we lacked last year in finding goals.” Finished Tasses.
Frustration was the key word for Marconi Stallions boss Matt Turvey as the Stallions could’ve taken all three points on another day.
“I think we certainly created a lot of chances, through passages of play and on another day we could have taken all three points,”
“The surface isn’t ideal. We got on today though where others didn’t so we’re a step ahead of the other sides in NPL2,”
“Last week we got caught out by a similar style of football by Olympic. We talked through the week and worked on it successfully tonight.” Finished Turvey.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 18th March 2018
Cook Park, St Marys
Referee: Brian DeCelis
Assistant Referees: Eliza Johnson and Matthew Pilkington
Nepean FC 2 (Trovato ’55 and Galayini ’60)
Marconi Stallions 2 (Howard ‘7 and Beale ’70)
Nepean FC: 1. BARTELS Danielle, 2. JACKSON Emma, 3. DAVIDSON Aisling, 6. BALLARD Monique, 7. HAARING Stephanie(STEDMAN ’57), 9. PELLE Britney(CLARKE ’88), 10. GALAYINI Bianca(LANE ’71), 12. WADDELL Alix(FRESSARD ’77), 13. VASSALLO Desiree, 15. WHEELER Cassandra and 21. TROVATO Stefanie
Subs not used: 20. MALAS Nermin
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Marconi Stallions: 1. MAGGIO Kira(CLARK ’67), 2. VOLODER Hannah(C. RICHARDSON ’75), 3. RICHARDSON Summar, 4. CONNORS Mia, 8. CAMBAS Cedya, 9. HOWARD Demelza, 10. VOLODER Emma, 12. CIABATTI Vanessa, 13. BEALE Jessica, 14. LAURIC Amanda, 15. WALTON Talie,
Subs not used: 22. HOGAN Georgia, 27. HOPE Kristy and 35. PREDIC Jovana
Yellow cards: Beale and H. Voloder
Red cards: nil
Western NSW Mariners 1 defeated by Gladesville Ravens 2
Gladesville Ravens have continued their strong start to the new season, with a 2-1 victory against Western NSW Mariners FC in hot conditions at Majorie Jackson Field. In tough conditions, both teams had no thoughts of self preservation in search of the three points. Both teams traded goals in the first half. Jasmin Courtenay found the net for Western NSW Mariners while Annalise Schiraldi equalised for a 1-1 scoreline at the break. Schiraldi’s strike made it two goals in two weeks for the Ravens striker and good sign for a team that struggled for goals last season. The Ravens lifted their tempo in the second half. The visitors found the winner through Kirrily Moore that sends them to the top of the competition for now. Ravens technical director Jose De Costa praised the second half effort from the visitors as they unlocked a well drilled Mariners side once they got the upper hand.
Mariners boss Josh Ward said a draw may have been a fairer result as the two teams were evenly matched and traded periods of dominance.Central Coast Mariners vs APIA Leichhardt Tigers, SD Raiders vs St George FC, Southern Branch FC vs Inter Lions SC and Sydney Olympic FC vs UNSW FC all postponed due to the heat rules.
By Justin Davies
