Round 5 – NPL NSW Women’s Review

Exciting football and interesting results were the result of round five in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition.

Sydney University 5-1 NWS Koalas

Sydney University continued their unbeaten start to the season, dismantling the North West Sydney Koalas at Sydney University Football Ground.

A brace to Cortnee Vine, as well as goals to Steph Ambrose, Kendal Fletcher and Clare Wheeler were too much for the Koalas who scored a late consolation goal through Rachel Perrins.

Stephanie Ambrose had the home side in front after just 10 minutes.

The winger latched on to a cross at the far post to calmly volley the ball into the back of the net.

Uni dominated proceedings following the goal, keeping the ball well and pressing the Koalas high up the pitch.

Uni doubled their lead on 36 minutes, taking advantage of one of their many corners throughout the first half.

Kendall Fletcher rose highest in the box to head the ball into the back of the net and send Uni further in front going into half time.

The home side came from the sheds fired up and put the pressure on the Koalas immediately.

In the 53rd minute Ambrose should’ve had her second.

Latching on to a cut back, Ambrose’s first striker came off the bar before she sent her follow up over the bar.

On 60 minutes Uni stretched their lead to three.

Rachel Soutar went down the left before crossing a low ball into Cortnee Vine who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home.

Vine had her second only three minutes later.

The in form striker picked up the ball on an acute angle, blasting toward the bottom near corner and finding the back of the net.

It was 5-0 on 73 minutes as Clare Wheeler added another.

Picking up the ball on the left, she beat two defenders before placing the ball into the goal.

The Koalas pulled one back nine minutes from the end.

Rachel Perrins got on the end of a ball on the edge of the area to place it expertly first time into the back of the net.

Sutherland Shire 1-2 Northern Tigers

It was a clash between two winless sides at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon as Sutherland Shire took on the Northern Tigers.

The away side hit the lead in the first half and held their advantage to the break, going into the sheds 1-0 up.

Both sides continued their battle in the second half as Sutherland pulled one back through captain Jordan Baker.

But the Tigers wouldn’t be denied their first win of the season, picking up the points with a second goal.

Shayna Killey and Molly Wood both got on the scoresheet for the Tigers.

Bankstown City 1-7 Macarthur Rams

At Jensen Park on Sunday, Bankstown City went in search of win number one against top of the table Macarthur Rams.

The league leaders sprinted off to a fine start, going into the break 3-0 to the good.

And it kept going in the second half as the Rams steam rolled the home side who managed to pick up a consolation in a 7-1 demolition.

North Shore Mariners 1-3 Blacktown Spartans

Northbridge Oval was the venue for Sunday’s clash between the North Shore Mariners and Blacktown Spartans.

The home side was keen to keep their unbeaten start to the season going but Andrew Mastoris’s team gave them quite the shock.

Two first half goals, one to Sarah Yatim and the other to Gab Marzano had the Spartans in control at half time, leading 2-0.

Daisy Arrowsmith kept the home side in the battle but another goal to the Spartans through Alix Roberts meant the points went to Blacktown.

Manly United 1-2 Illawarra Stingrays

Manly United welcomed the Illawarra Stingrays to Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was always going to be a massive game between two who are considered by many as competition favourites.

It was the away side that took all three points in this one, bouncing back following last week’s first defeat of the campaign.

The win put Carmelina Moscato’s team in third spot on the ladder while Manly has now lost both of their home games this season.

-By Nikola Pozder