Round 9 – National Premier League 2 Women’s Review
It was another weekend filled with narrative and plenty of goals to enjoy! Sydney Olympic FC continue to be prolific while the rest of the top four continued their winning ways, let’s go to the review!
Match of the Round: SD Raiders 2 defeated Inter Lions 1
SD Raiders made it tough on themselves, but a pair of goals from Cassidy Chidgey, gave them a vital 2-1 victory against a spirited Inter Lions side today at Ernie Smith Reserve.
On her return to Ernie Smith, Dominique Caridad opened the scoring for Inter before a weaving run from Cassidy Chidgey cancelled out her goal in the x minute then the striker pounced at the back post to hand all three points to the home side.
SD Raiders started on the front foot. They tallied three chances in the opening fifteen minutes, Cassidy Chidgey having a pair of chances that glanced wide while Hannah Rose-Davey’s shot was gobbled up.
For their wastefulness, Inter made the home side pay. In their first real chance of the afternoon, Domonique Caridad on her return to Ernie Smith, slotted home well as Inter Lions made it 1-nil after 20 minutes.
She almost repeated the dose three minutes later, but Caridad’s free-kick whistled over the bar as Zoe Zaczek also tested Regan Hill, the SD Raiders custodian, Inter not sitting on their one-goal lead.
SD Raiders responded in rapid fire. From a tight angle on her free-kick, Sophia Hamilton lofted the ball to the back post, where Chidgey had squeezed free, the striker prodded home to draw things level.
If her first was a gritty effort, Chidgey weaved a spell for her brace. She picked up the ball on the right side of the box, danced through several defenders before planting it where the spiders live, making it 2-1 SD Raiders.
The combination between Courtney Krope and Chidgey continued to wreak havoc on the Inter defense in the second half. Between the two, they found pockets of space to run into. If the two had their shooting boots, it could’ve been much more comfortable.
As the game continued to tick on, and the one-goal margin – Inter Lions pushed forward to find a winner. Coach Danny Abboud sent on fresh troops as Zaczek almost pinched one, but her effort was always rising.
The best chance fell to Inter’s main strike weapon, Sarah Mandile, the forward pounced on a defensive loose ball but her effort ended up behind the goal. SD Raiders were able to hold on, adding a vital three points.
Afterwards SD Raiders coach, Matt Constantini praised the spirit of the short-handed Raiders in a game that should’ve been much more comfortable.
“I think that’s been our story this season. We dominate games, dealing with the physical nature of sides in the league but need to just finish our chances,”
“Credit to the girls though, we’ve got a stack of injuries currently, so to take six points in this current run is massive for us.” Finished the SD Raiders boss.
Inter Lions boss Danny Abboud remained bullish about his ideals and that the points will come for his young side.
“I thought we dominated the contest. Got our goal then lost concentration which cost us. I thought we were the better team, and out played them across the park,”
“The points will come. It is difficult when you play teams that by-pass the midfield – there incentive is different to ours and that is the hard part.” Finished Abboud.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 6th May 2018
Ernie Smith Reserve, Moorebank
SD Raiders 2 (Chidgey ’28, ’40)
Inter Lions 1 (Caridad ’20)
SD Raiders: 4. GENC Yasemin (30. HANKIN ’91), 6. SHERMAN Morgan, 7. FALLAH Jessica, 8. CHIDGEY Cassidy, 10. PACE Gabriela, 12. BUTLER Kathleen, 14. HAMILTON Sophia (29. D’MELLO ’87), 16. ROSE-DAVEY Hannah, 18. SKINNER Tamara, 32. KROPE Courtney, 99. HILL Regan
Subs not used: 19. GRIMBILOS Stephanie, 25. NGAUORA Helena, 31. VUKELIC Melissa
Yellow cards: Chidgey
Red cards: nil
Inter Lions: 2. COOK Kirilee, 7. GARDNER Angela (45. COLEMAN ’76), 8. MIKAELIAN Taylor, 10. CARIDAD Dominique, 20. PENTECOST Natasha, 26. MATEFFY Kate, 28. BARTLE Shailee (34. MANDILE ’69), 29. WHITE Lara, 30. ZACZEK Zoe, 38. THORLEY Jess (27. LORENZO ’79), 48. INCOGNITO Melissa
Subs not used: 21. BACHA Katherine, 25. TANEA Semira
Yellow cards: Cook, White
Red cards: nil
Central Coast Mariners 5 defeated Marconi Stallions 0
It was another comfortable victory for the Mariners, as they lock down their position in the top four, with a five-star performance against Marconi Stallions this afternoon.
The Stallions were one of the in-form sides coming into the contest, the Mariners though blew away the visitors, finding the net twice in the first half. Candice Phelan and Jordan Evans doing the damage as the Mariners continue to be prolific scorers.
They didn’t let up in the second half, Evans and Phelan added braces then Georgia Davis putting the icing on the cake scoring the fifth goal. The result makes it four on the trot for the surging Mariners as they continue to improve each week.
Western NSW Mariners 2 defeated by Nepean FC 6
Alan Tasses can finally breath easily, Nepean FC confidently put away Western NSW Mariners in Orange this afternoon, to the tune of 6-2.
Stefanie Trovato was the pick of the bunch in an impressive Nepean FC display. The striker netted a hat-trick in a first half that saw the visitors score five! Youngster Imogen Lane continues to impress, adding another goal to her tally.
Rounding out the scoring for the Nepean side, was winger Britney Pelle and maiden effort this season for Monique Ballard. The Mariners found some consolation through Jasmin Courtenay’s brace.
Tasses was gleeful about the perfect first half effort. He added that the determined, disciplined display in the second to see out the result was pleasing. Mariners only found the net from two set-pieces in a defeat that makes it back-to-back failures.
Southern Branch FC 0 defeated by Sydney Olympic FC 8
Sydney Olympic FC were at their clinical best down in Nowra. They blew away Southern Branch FC to the tune of 8-nil this afternoon.
The premiers were helped in their rout, by getting themselves out to a 4-nil lead at the break. Danielle Calvi continued her superb run with a brace, while Lieke Bever and Diedre Barham completed the first 45 minutes on the scoresheet.
Calvi added two more in the second half, taking her tally for the season to nine. Bever’s second also made it nine for the season for the midfielder. Lily Chen broke her duck for the season as the premiers sent a message to the other sides trying to take their crown.
St George FC 1 defeated by Gladesville Ravens 3
The race for fourth position is getting tight, Gladesville Ravens fended off their rivals and remain in pole position, completing a 3-1 victory against a St George FC side still searching for a win.
It was a dream return for Liana Baker. The Ravens player returned from a broken hand then broke Saints hearts, scoring a brace in the win. Amanda Barrera-Perez added the third as the Ravens have found their shooting boots in recent weeks.
For the Saints, it was another disappointing afternoon but Grace Ha continues to find the net for the home side, finding the consolation goal today.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 defeated UNSW FC 1
Sunday night is a great night for football. APIA and UNSW FC put on an entertaining contest that the home side edged 2-1, a second half salvo, enough to see the Tigers home.
UNSW FC looked to stifle the fluid attack from APIA, playing on the counter in the first half. They got reward for their creativity, as they took the lead from the spot. Rio Darlaston calmly slotted the penalty and the students went into the break, up 1-nil.
The Tigers looking to avoid back-to-back losses, had the ideal second half start. Christina Ferreyra pounced to sweep home a rebound for 1-1 in the 47th minute. From there it was all APIA, they started to find some joy against the students approach.
There would be no repeat of their loss this weekend for APIA. Nicole Carmichael finished well in the 69th minute, to send the home support into raptures and get APIA back into the winner’s circle.
By Justin Davies
