Round 16 – National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Review
In another exciting weekend of National Premier League 2 womens action, the Sydney Olympic FC machine rolled on while SD Raiders and Central Coast Mariners kept on their merry way; Marconi Stallions moved into fifth while they are still being chased by a series of contenders.
Match of the Round: Sydney Olympic FC 6 defeated APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2
The beat goes on. Sydney Olympic FC march on with another victory after they were clinical, in a 6-2 display against a spirited APIA Leichhardt Tigers at a sun-drenched Peter Moore Field.
In a contest that pitted two of National Premier League 2 Womens most attacking sides, it was a given that it would be an open contest. Sydney Olympic were clinical in front of goal – Danielle Calvi headlined with a superb hat-trick while Madelaine Costanzo, Hannah Lea Khoury and Kristy Rohrer found the net – as it was a much more settled performance from the reigning premiers.
For APIA Leichhardt, they were the architects of their own demise. A few simple mistakes cruelled their chances, as they scored two fine goals through Lucy Gilfedder and Britney Palombi, but every time they got back into the contest, Olympic snatched their momentum away.
From the opening whistle, Sydney Olympic FC were keen to wash away their poor performance last weekend. Their talisman Lieke De Bever was vibrant, piloting an early effort wide before a fantastic flick gave her space to crash an effort against the bar.
Fortunately for Olympic, Golden Boot Madelaine Costanzo was on hand to poke home, 1-nil. The premiers repeated the dose in the 13th minute, Hannah Lea Khoury was on the spot to sweep home from a tricky corner to make it two.
Those pair of goals woke up the sleeping Tigers. They had a trifecta of chances as Lucy Gilfedder firstly headed wide before Ash Palombi double dip of headers were repelled then finally, Elaina Vatcky weaved some magic to find space but fired over.
The open nature of the first half continued as the sides traded chances. Vatcky continued to find pocket of spaces for APIA and combined well with Palombi but there was no finish for the visitors.
Conversely when Sydney Olympic poured forward, another goal seemed inevitable. They added their third in the 37th minute, Danielle Calvi struck a powerful shot that took a helpful deflection from a defender to wrong foot the APIA keeper, 3-nil.
APIA found some joy immediately after that goal though. A slick passing movement opened up space for Nicole Carmichael to send a low cross into the box, Gilfedder showed a striker’s instinct to finish for 3-1.
It could’ve been double delight for the Tigers when Gilfedder won a penalty right on the whistle. After a pair of penalty misses last week, a third new taker stepped up. Vatcky walked in confidently but was denied by a sprawling Amanda Horafios for Olympic FC as it remained 3-1 going into the break.
Thoughts of a quieter second half were dispelled in the 48th minute. Calvi again was left in space by defenders, and the striker needed no second invitation to lash home, making it 4-1 Olympic.
Like a pendulum the momentum continued to swing. APIA coach Matteo Maiorana brought on Britany Palombi to push forward. Her entrance brought an instant impact, as she seared an effort past Horafios for a two-goal deficit again.
“Don’t let the ball bounce” bellowed Maiorana at his defenders but they didn’t heed his warning, as an angled ball from Horafios found Calvi, who improvised with a delicate chip make it 5-2.
APIA continued to push forward as they aimed to play the full ninety. Horafios pulled out a string of magnificent saves in the late stages of the contest to keep the APIA attack out.
Down the other end, Olympic FC added a sixth through a free header from Kristy Rohrer but could’ve added a few more, as De Bever missed a penalty and Rohrer crashed an effort against the post in a successful afternoon for the premiers.
Afterwards Olympic FC coach George Beltsos was pleased with the improved performance and the clinical nature of their finishing.
“Last week was a poor performance by our standards. Today it was much, much better. Credit to their keeper, she pulled off some incredible saves. We’re taking this one game at a time though, with a few big games on the horizon.” he said.
For APIA coach Matteo Maiorana, he was frustrated with some of the mistakes his side made but stressed that they can compete against the bigger sides.
“Simple mistakes have cost us this season. Five of the goals this afternoon were individual mistakes from us while it seems we have to work quite hard for our goals,
“I thought we matched Olympic FC today, and we have the quality it just isn’t clicking currently and we’re not getting the bounce of the ball. Against quality opposition in [this league] it hurts you but I want to credit Olympic and congratulate them on their coming promotion.” he finished.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 24 June 2018 – Peter Moore Field, Belmore
Sydney Olympic FC 6 (Calvi ‘37, ‘48, ‘57, , Costanzo ‘11, Khoury ‘13, Rohrer ‘87)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Gilfedder ‘38 B. Palombi ‘54)
Sydney Olympic FC: 3. MIRKOVIC Madelaine, 4. BARHAM Diedre (14. AMBERG ‘80 ), 6. HALASKA Kate, 7. CALVI Danielle, 9. COSTANZO Madelaine (34. MINAS ‘86), 10. DE BEVER Lieke (12. CHEN ‘86), 11. ROHRER Kristy, 17. KHOURY Hannah-Lea (16. JOHNSON ‘83), 18. KUNOVSKI Kristy, 20. HORAFIOS Amanda, 43. DOWSE Emma
Unused subs: 36. SAADE Sihaem
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. HALPIN Courtney, 4. SCARLATO Samantha (14. WATTS ‘60), 6. GILFEDDER Lucy, 7. VATCKY Elaina, 8. CANINI Carla (17. URQUHART ‘60), 11. PALOMBI Ashleigh, 13. SIM-SING Marie (9. FERREYRA ‘72), 15. MANIAS Kylie, 16. BENNETT Jennifer (3. B. PALOMBI ‘54), 21. CARMICHAEL Nicole, 23. BUGDEN Lorena
Unused subs: 25. COZENS Kim
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Inter Lions 0 defeated by Gladesville Ravens 1
Gladesville Ravens have started to build back their early season momentum, as they triumphed in a tense 1-nil score on a lovely afternoon at Concord Oval.
Coming off their late heroics against Nepean FC, Gladesville looked to register back-to-back wins for the first time in a long standing absence. Thanks to Emily Diaz’s second goal in as many weeks, they were able to hold off an Inter Lions side that has been in fine fettle themselves.
It was a vital result for the Ravens. They needed to keep pace with the other sides in mid-table, and now, they still sit within striking distance of Marconi Stallions as the race for the final position in the top five intensifies for those teams in a mini competition.
Western NSW Mariners 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners 5
Bouncing back like a good prize fighter, Central Coast Mariners delivered a haymaker to their Western neighbours, in the Mariners derby, 4-nil this afternoon.
In some warmer conditions than last weekend, the visitors got back to their cutting best. Candice Phelan, going through a mini-slump not having scored in a few weeks, got herself four goals this afternoon, taking her tally to 27 for the season.
The visitors controlled the whole contest, Jade Mcatemney opened the scoring in the five-star performance which puts the navy-and-yellow in a solid second place, as they gear up for a top of the table clash against Sydney Olympic FC next weekend.
It was a bitter loss for Western NSW Mariners, they continue to be unable to string consecutive victories together in their chase for finals football.
Southern Branch FC 0 defeated by SD Raiders 4
Long trips home are much sweeter with three points. SD Raiders continue their sublime form, hitting Southern Branch FC for 4 at the South Nowra Football Complex this afternoon.
Sharpshooter Cassidy Chidgey showed off all her skills in the performance as she bagged all four goals in the contest. The first came from a thunderous shot outside the area before a well-placed effort took the Raiders to a 2-nil half-time lead.
Picking up where she left off in the second half, Chidgey weaved past several defenders then was cut down in the box. The striker dusted herself off and sealed her hat-trick with the spot kick.
Her fourth was a very ice hockey goal,as she deflected in Logan Garard’s initial shot for four goals, and four victories on the trot for the Raiders. Afterwards coach Matt Constantini was delighted in how they controlled the game, and the character shown for a tough away trip.
UNSW FC 1 defeated by Marconi Stallions 3
The Stallions have moved themselves into pole position, they did enough to secure three points, a 3-1 success against an improved UNSW FC at the fabled Marconi Stadium to round out the afternoon fixtures.
It was another fast start for the Stallions. They took a fortuitous lead through Demelza Howard, scoring her eighth of the season, allowing the Stallion 2-nil advantage over their opponents. UNSW FC pulled one back through Rio Darlaston before the break to make it 2-1.
Jessica Beale quelled any question of a comeback, when she slotted home comfortably to restore the two-goal lead. UNSW FC seemed to get themselves back into their groove, despite the loss their coach, Renato Jelen was the happy about the style of play as the students try to play spoiler for the rest of the season.
Nepean FC 2 defeated St George FC 0
That wave of relief that swept across the state isn’t Blues fans celebrating after Origin success, it was Nepean FC after they took the chocolates, 2-nil against St George FC under the Cook Park lights tonight.
St George FC showed marked improvement in the contest, they remained compact, their defensive structures which frustrated the home side might have brought back nightmares of last week for Nepean FC.
Thankfully for Alan Tasses, they found a way to unlock the Saints defense. Mid-season signing, Annie Halls fired home the first goal then Lisa Fressard finished off the visitors with the second goal. Afterwards Tasses tipped the Saints to put a spanner in the works in the remaining weeks of the season.
By Justin Davies
