Round 7 – National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Review
There is a certain crispness in the air, as the nights grow colder, time to turn to this National Premier Leagues 2 Womens recap to warm things up. This week is highlighted by some titanic battles at the top of the table and a tense Match of the Round at Christie Park.
Match of the Round: Gladesville Ravens 1 drew with UNSW FC 1
Gladesville Ravens were forced to share the points with UNSW FC on a crisp night at Christie Park in a 1-1 draw after Rio Darlaston’s spot kick cancelled out the Ravens first half strike.
The game took on one of football’s oldest cliches – it was a game of two halves. Gladesville Ravens had the greater of the chances in the first half, as Annalise Schiraldi, rifled home her fourth of the season as the Ravens looked dangerous from the set piece.
After a passionate team talk from Renato Jelen, UNSW FC flew out of the blocks. Their pace behind the Ravens defense worried the home side but it was a spot kick that shared the points. Rio Darlaston confidently slotted her penalty in a game that never rose to great heights.
Both sides sprung out of the box quickly, trying to get their passing movements together but it was some raw pace from Tasmanian winger Paige Ayton, that created the first chance. She robbed the defender then arrowed an effort narrowly past the post.
For the Ravens, their best chances of the first half came at the set piece. They had terrific delivery from deep and it looked like defender Alex Beattie had prodded home for the opener but her joy was cut short by the assistant’s flag.
Next Amy Altman sprung free, rounded her defender and bent the cutback to Christine Tanaka Lucantonio, but the striker couldn’t meet the cross with enough power to slide it past Ravens custodian, Eri Arikawa.
The Ravens started to find more of the ball, as Eleanor Lidbetter thumped a free-kick wide before the home side’s top scorer stepped up to prise open the contest.
Annalise Schiraldi timed her run to perfection as she met a delightful cross from wide, quickly turned it home for a 1-nil lead for the Ravens. The striker almost had a second just before the break from a free-kick but the UNSW FC keeper denied here well.
The students almost found the equaliser right before the break. Alice Kriesler and Altman hustled the defense into an errant pass but neither could find the finishing touch as the Ravens held onto their slight lead at the break.
Right after the break, Ravens created a prime opportunity. Emma Douglas Oliveira burst free down the right before she unleashed a ferocious volley at the near post that UNSW FC keeper Nadine Knight soared through the air to save.
Altman looked the likely candidate for the students to equalise. Her pace created problems for the retreating defense before she curved an effort wide in the 51st minute then creating the goal eight minutes later.
The students broke quickly and put enough doubt in the Ravens mind, which led to Beattie conceding the penalty. Rio Darlaston confidently stepped up and slotted the spot kick, making it 1-1 with just over a half hour to play.
Neither side could find much rhythm as the time ticked away. Ayton clipped one promisingly for Altman, who created enough space for a shot but couldn’t sort out her feet.
Last year’s wooden spooners might not have collected all three points tonight but the Ravens, and UNSW FC both showed glimpses of the exciting football they can produce when they’re on song.
“It just wasn’t our night tonight,” lamented Ravens coach Albert Disciacio. “We had chances in the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net and it cost us.” He finished.
“It was a pretty close contest. I thought we dominated the second half, against a quality side. They pressed us well and we weren’t winning the second balls,” said a content Jelen after a quality second half display.
Jelen also had his half-time talk ready for the UNSW FC side after their lax defending in the first half. “We worked on it [free-kick defending] at training but if one person doesn’t go it looks dodgy. So we employed a sweeper in the second half, making it a bit safer.”
MATCH STATS
Sunday 22nd April 2018
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: A. Drummond
Assistant Referees: A. Mclean & C. Salmon
Gladesville Ravens 1 (Schiraldi ‘ 41)
UNSW FC 1 (Darlaston ’58)
Gladesville Ravens: 5. LIDBETTER Eleanor, 17. ARIKAWA Eri, 18. BEATTIE Alex (24. HOPKINS ’59), 19. GESTIER Hannah (15. BARRERA PEREZ ’52), 20. SMITH Ashleigh, 25. DOUGLAS-OLIVEIRA Emma, 29. DONALDSON Annabel, 32. WATSON Kate, 33. IKONOMOU Carlie, 39. SCHIRALDI Annalise, 44. BREUKELAAR Isabella
Subs not used: 4. KICHINGTON Annabelle 22. DISCIASCIO Nattasha 30 BOURIS Cyrena
Yellow cards: Ikonomou
Red cards: nil
UNSW FC: 1. KNIGHT Nadine, 2. KRIESLER Alice, 3. HANSLOW Tahlia, 4. CASSERLY Tara, 5. SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL Miranda (13. BLAYDON ’80), 6. DARLASTON Rio, 7. AYTON Paige, 9. ALTMAN Amy, 10. TANAKA LUCANTONIO Christine, 16. OLRICH Andrea, 19. BANNISTER Georgina
Subs not used: 20. BURNS Gabrielle 21. SUTHERLAND Ashlee 29. MCCORMICK Grace 40. BRIDSON Charlotte
Yellow cards: Blaydon
Red cards: nil
Sydney Olympic FC 2 defeated SD Raiders 1
It was rough, it was tumble but in the end the streak continues in a 2-1 Sydney Olympic FC victory that saw a late Madelaine Costanzo goal seal the points.
Sydney Olympic FC playing their second game in four days were ridden close by the Raiders. Danielle Calvi’s spot kick opener was cancelled out, right as the referee was blowing for half-time by SD Raiders forward Logan Garard.
The first half seemed a prequel to the blockbuster action of the second half. Goalscorer Garard was dismissed which gave Olympic FC more space to move. They needed all of that space, in the 88th minute, Madelaine Costanzo fired home her 12th of the season to keep Olympic at the top.
There was no disgrace for SD Raiders, they stood their ground despite the injury of regular keeper, Regan Hill that meant Stephanie Grimbilos went into goal. She produced some solid saves as Olympic FC dug deep and gutted out the victory.
Central Coast Mariners 3 defeated Nepean FC 2
In this weekend’s edition of the goal bonanza, Central Coast Mariners edged Nepean FC 3-2 on a brisk afternoon at Pluim Park.
Amazingly, all five goals were delivered in the first half. Both teams flew out of the blocks as Candice Phelan, already on an amazing goal run, fired home a brace while midfielder, Jade Mcatamney drove home her third of the season.
Like a popular sitcom in reruns, Nepean FC followed the same script recently. They found goals through their dynamic duo of Stefanie Trovato and Imogen Lane as Alan Tasses side showed promise but it came back to the major plotline, consistency.
Nepean FC coach Alan Tasses remained frustrated, not only with the errors from his admittedly young squad but if they are to repeat their finish from last season, those errors need to be cut out quickly.
Western NSW Mariners 1 defeated Southern Branch 0
NPL2 Womens Midtable is starting to become busier than peak hour motorway, as Western NSW Mariners parked themselves right in the mix, after their narrow victory against Southern Branch this afternoon in the distance derby.
The Mariners have now made it back-to-back successes after the Jasmin Courtenay fired home to settle the contest, it was the third strike of the season for the forward.
Southern Branch might consider that result a small victory after the heavier scorelines they have been conceded in the last few weeks and use it as a building block for their first points of the season.
St George FC 2 defeated by Marconi Stallions 3
Marconi Stallions have found themselves a nice position, sitting third after their comfortable 3-2 victory over St George FC this afternoon at the historic St George stadium.
Matt Turvey’s ladies are firing on all cylinders in National Premier Leagues 2 Womens showing the firepower available as they set themselves to take on APIA Leichhardt Tigers next weekend.
Demelza Howard and Jessica Beale sent the Stallions on their way before Leanne Sharp pulled one back for the home side before half-time.
The two sides traded goals in the second half, as Marconi captain, Hannah Voloder fired home her fourth of the season while Lara Nicholls effort for the Saints gave them some hope for a late comeback.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 defeated Inter Lions 0
It was cruise control for APIA Leichhardt Tigers. They swept aside Inter Lions 4-nil in a result that keeps them in touching distance of leaders Sydney Olympic FC.
Inter Lions kept up with their more fancied foes for the opening half hour until a timely brace from APIA striker Jess Martinez, her third and fourth tallies of the season made for much happier reading at the break.
One word described APIA’s second half; comprehensive. It isn’t a Tigers game until Ash Palombi finds the net, the striker finished well before Christina Ferreyra marked her return to action in style, hammering home the fourth.
By Justin Davies
