Round 4 Review – NPL NSW Women’s
Six games took place on Easter Monday in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition.
Interestingly, not one side could capitalise on home field advantage as an incredible five games went the way of the away sides, with one finishing in a share of the spoils.
NWS Koalas 1-2 Manly United
On Easter Monday at ELS Hall Park, Manly United staged a late come back to take all three points from the North West Sydney Koalas.
Two late Sophie Harding goals cancelled out Morgan Roberts’ goal mid-way through the second half.
Remy Siemsen had the first chance of the match on five minutes, breaking through the Koalas defence she tried a cheaky chip but it went wide of the goal.
On 18 minutes Manly threatened again, this time through Emily Minett as the attacker showed skill and strength to beat her defenders before shooting inches wide.
But it was the Koalas that should’ve been in front on 33 minutes.
Rachel Perrins was found all alone on the right with acres of space. As she moved in on Claire Coelho, she tried placing the ball beyond the United keeper who saved well with her feet before Perrins got another bite of the cherry, but again Coehlo saved well.
Again it was the home side with another golden opportunity on 39 minutes.
A Natalie Tobin free kick wasn’t dealt with by United, allowing Erin Pridmore to get a volley on goal, but a finereflex save by Coehlo kept the scores at 0-0.
In the last minute of the first half Natasha Prior had a chance, but her volley from a corner couldn’t find the target.
Pridmore had the first chance of the second period but Coelho came out on top again.
On 58 minutes it was United’s turn to attack as Madeleine Neville rose highest from a corner, heading the ball just wide of the far post.
Only a minute later and the home side had the opening goal of the match.
Grace Gibbeson found space on the left before delivering a low ball into the box for Morgan Roberts who tapped the ball into the back of the net.
Manly was level with nine minutes remaining on the clock.
A Nikola Orgill free kick was flicked on to Chloe O’Brien who headed back across goal, allowing Sophie Harding to tap the ball home at the far post.
The turn around was complete for the away side in the 88th minute as Harding picked up her second.
A quick break by United saw Siemsen fire in allow ball to Harding who made no mistake with her finish, finding the bottom left corner of the goal for a 2-1 lead.
Siemsen should’ve made the points safe in the 90th minute but her shot from just in front went over the bar.
Her miss didn’t matter in the end as Manly picked up a valuable win.
Bankstown City 0-4 Sydney University
Bankstown City entertained Sydney University at Jensen Park on Easter Monday.
Uni continued their perfect start to the campaign with another convincing victory.
The game started in the best possible way for the away side, taking the lead after only two minutes through Julie-Ann Russel.
Stephanie Ambrose and Cortnee Vine each scored one to send Uni into the sheds three goals to the good.
Mackenzie Hawkesbury added a fourth in the second half to hand Uni their third win of the season.
Northern Tigers 1-3 Football NSW Institute
At North Turramurra Recreational Area, the Northern Tigers hosted the Football NSW Institute.
In the battle of two winless sides, it was the young Institute who picked up win number one of 2018.
After losing by the odd goal in their previous three outings, they finally picked up all three points with a 3-1 victory.
A brace by Courtney Nevin and a goal from Rachel Lowe all but cancelled out the Tigers’ sole goal from Georgia Goulding to gift the Institute a precious away victory.
Sutherland Shire 0-7 Macarthur Rams
The Sutherland Sharks took on the high-flying Macarthur Rams on Monday at Harrie Denning Centre.
The Rams made it three from three on Monday afternoon against Sutherland.
Macarthur came out of the blocks flying, taking a commanding four goal lead into the break.
They added another three in the second period to be in ‘seventh heaven’ completing a 7-0 win.
Two goals each for Leena Khamis, Kylie Ledbrook and Georgia Yeoman-Dale saw the away side go home with the win.
Blacktown Spartans 1-1 Emerging Jets
At Blacktown Football Park, the Blacktown Spartans hosted the Emerging Jets.
The Emerging Jets picked up their first points of the new campaign, rescuing a point against the Spartans.
Courtney Fitzharris picked up two in as many weeks as she put the home side in control at the break, giving them a 1-0 first half lead.
The Jets responded in the second 45 though, as Molly Arens found the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Illawarra Stingrays 2-3 North Shore Mariners
On Monday afternoon at Albert Butler Memorial Park, it was a top of the table clash between the Illawarra Stingrays and North Shore Mariners.
It was a battle between two sides yet to taste the bitterness of defeat as the Mariners triumphed to push them to the top of the table.
Drew Taylor’s team went 2-1 up in an entertaining first period as they moved into the sheds.
A goal to either side in the second half meant the away side came away with a valuable three points and 3-2 victory.
Liana Danaskos and Michelle Carney found the back of the net for the home side, while Eliza Apps picked up a brace for the Mariners with Tiffany Paterson scoring the other.
-By Nikola Pozder
