Round 8 – National Premier League’s NSW Women’s Review
Sydney University suffered defeat for the first time this season in the NPL NSW Women’s competition but hold on to top spot.
As has become the norm, again there were a plethora of goals scored in round eight, 27 to be exact.
Football NSW Institute 3-2 Sydney University
It was always going to be a tough test for the Football NSW Institute at Valentine Sports Ground when they took on league leaders Sydney University.
It was the away side that took a 2-0 lead into the break, scoring though.
But the young Institute side rallied in the second 45, as Kyra Cooney-Cross, Susan Phonsongkham and Aideen Keane all found the back of the net for a massive 3-2 victory.
Uni hit the lead with their first chance of the match after nine minutes.
A ball down the left found Julie-Ann Russell who first muscled her defender off the ball before moving into the box and beating Jada Mathyssen-Whyman at the second attempt.
Only two minutes later and Russell had her second.
Some fine skill by Cortnee Vine saw her beat her defender before moving in the box and squaring up the ball unselfishly to Russell who had the easiest of jobs tapping the ball home.
On 25 minutes Uni should’ve been three in front.
Russell moved in on Mathyssen-Whyman but the Institute keeper saved well, before fouling the Uni striker, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.
The striker stepped up to take the spot kick but hit it poorly, allowing the Mathyssen-Whyman to save and hold onto the ball.
The penalty save seemed to lift the home side as they moved on the offensive.
It was Institute threatening through Courtney Nevin from a set piece on 28 minutes with her shot from the edge of the area going inches wide of the top corner.
Melindaj Barbieri tried her luck from distance a minute later but her effort sailed over the bar.
The Institute went close again on 32 minutes, this time through Julia Vignes who shot just wide of the far post.
Four minutes before half time, the Institute sent another warning sign, Courtney Nevin tested Georgia Boric from distance, only for the Uni keeper to save well.
Nevin was in the mood, sending another powerful effort from her lethal left foot just wide of the goal in the 44th minute.
Uni had the first chance of the second half on 49 minutes as Vine got onto the end of a Russell cut back, only for Mathyssen-Whyman to save. The rebound fell at the feet of Russell but again the Institute keeper was quick to react and save.
Two minutes later and Susan Phonsongkham halved the deficit.
A free kick by Nevin found Phonsongkham in the box as the midfielder took a touch before tapping the ball beyond Boric.
On 59 minutes Uni went close to extending their lead.
Mathyssen-Whyman didn’t deal well with a cross from Rachel Soutar as the ball dropped at the feet of Bianca Galic who couldn’t poke the ball into the goal.
The home side had their equaliser on 68 minutes through Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Phonsongkham played in Cooney-Cross who shot toward goal with her shot taking a slight deflection before beating the Uni keeper.
With 12 minutes remaining, the Institute almost had the lead after a fine team move.
Vignes laid off a ball on the edge of the area for Rachel Lowe who forced Boric into a fantastic finget tip save.
In the first minute of stoppage time Uni had a chance to take all three points.
They must still be wondering how someone didn’t tap the ball into the back of the net before Mackenzie Hawkesbury hit her effort wide.
It was the Institute that would steal all three points though, taking advantage of a defensive mix up.
A hopeful ball from the back caught out both keeper and defender allowing Aideen Keane to sweep in, take the ball and tuck it into an empty net.
Blacktown Spartans 3-3 Macarthur Rams
A coaching change seemed to shock the Blacktown Spartans into battle as they welcomed the Macarthur Rams to Blacktown Football Ground.
Stephen Peters needed a reaction from his Spartans side and it was exactly what he called for, as the side went into the break 3-1 to the good.
But of course, the Rams are one of the most experienced and well drilled sides in the competition and they roared back into this contest.
They couldn’t find a winner but would have to settle for an entertaining 3-3 draw.
Eliza Ammendolia scored a brace for the home side while Gab Marzano scored the other.
Georgia Yeoman-Dale kept her goal scoring form going, scoring one as Kylie Ledbrook scored the other two.
NWS Koalas 3-0 Bankstown City
It was back to back wins for the North West Sydney Koalas on Sunday as they defeated Bankstown City at Christie Park.
The home side took a two-goal lead into half time before adding a third in the second period.
Kiara Farquhar, Princess Ibini-Isei and Panayiota Petratos all got there names on the scoresheet for the Koalas.
Illawarra Stingrays 7-0 Sutherland Shire
At JJ Kelly Park, Carmelina Moscato’s Illawarra Stingrays got back on track with a convincing win over the Sutherland Shire.
Liana Danaskos opened the scoring after only five minutes before adding her and the Stingrays’ second just 10 minutes later.
Captain Michelle Carney made it 3-0 just before the break with the home side cruising.
Erica Halloway increased it to four before Danaskos rounded off her hat-trick five minutes before full time.
The goal fest wasn’t over though as Mary Fowler and Hannah Beard made it 7-0.
Emerging Jets 1-3 Manly United
Manly United kept got closer to first placed Uni with a victory over the Emerging Jets at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
It was a close first half as the teams went into halftime locked at 1-1.
It would be the away side that would prevail though, scoring twice in the second 45 to close out a 3-1 victory.
Claudia Cholakian scored one as Emily Minett scored a brace for Manly.
Ashlee Brodigan got on the scoresheet for the home side.
Northern Tigers 1-1 North Shore Mariners
The Northern Tigers and North Shore Mariners couldn’t be separated in ther local derby on Sunday afternoon at North Turramurra Recreational Area.
The 1-1 score line sees both teams drop a place on the ladder to sixth and and seventh after eight rounds.
Servet Uzunlar scored for the home side while Daisy Arrowsmith continued her good form in front of goal with another for the Mariners.
