Round 21 – National Premier Leagues 2 Womens Review
Another week of furious action in the National Premier Leagues 2 Womens competition, as the top three continue to find themselves in the winner’s circle whilst results for those around the middle of the table mean we are set up for a huge final weekend of football. Let’s get into the review.
Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 drew with Gladesville Ravens 1
A late bomb has given the Gladesville Ravens a vital point in their 1-1 draw with a disjointed APIA Leichhardt Tigers on a still night at Lambert Park.
It wasn’t the most fluid of games and it took well past the hour mark to find our first goal. APIA Leichhardt Tigers substitute Dione King with a delightful chip that looked to have delivered them another three points but they have shunted down to fourth following other results.
Alas the late late show Gladesville Ravens reared their head again. Another substitute made their mark as Eliana Balicki smashed in a long-range bomb that gave the Ravens a lifeline, as they maintain fifth for another week.
After the euphoria of the APIA Leichhardt Tigers men’s emphatic victory, the women’s side looked to match their effort in front of a healthy crowd at Lambert Park on a calm Sunday evening. The first half was more a midfield battle as the two sides tried to find rhythm.
Gladesville had the best of the chances that were carved out. Liana Baker found space before she flayed an effort wide then quickly followed by Annabelle Kinchington thrashed wide from a corner as APIA inhaled deeply.
Eliana Vatcky is a spark plug for the APIA Leichhardt attack. She had their two best chances of the half – firstly a dipping shot that was denied superbly from Ravens keeper Eri Arikawa then a rare incisive move in the first 45 Vatcky smashed the post as the groan rippled across Lambert Park.
The Ravens continue to probe in the first half. In the same movement Hannah Gestier went near post with a fierce effort that APIA stopper Courtney Halpin had to save then the resulted corner was nodded over as the half ended deadlocked.
Following some slight remodeling in the APIA locker room, the Tigers came out roaring in the second half. Karen Saavedra nodded a header over as the home side looked much more comfortable on the ball against a desperate Ravens side.
There was still chances for the visitors though. Carlie Ikonomou stretched forward to fire an effort right at Halpin that the APIA keeper dived down to tip the ball past the post.
The majority of the chances came for the home side. Christina Ferreyra strode forward from a perfect slide rule pass but couldn’t put her effort past Arikawa then a corner routine fell to Lucy Gilfedder and Ferreyra who couldn’t profit.
Matteo Maiorana rang the changes, and they took immediate effect. Substitute Dione King brought the house down with the opening goal. The ball pinged across the area before the striker chipped an effort over Arikawa making it 1-nil.
Next it was Gladesville’s turn to turn on the pressure. They swarmed forward in search of an equaliser to keep their season alive. As the clocked ticked it seemed like it wasn’t coming but salvation came in the 89th minute.
From a failed clearance from Halpin, the ball fell to Eliana Balicki, the substitute had threatened a few times from long range which were collected. This time, the direction, pace and power was perfect as it crashed into the net, making it 1-1 and sending the Ravens bench into huge celebrations.
Afterwards Ravens boss Albert Disciacio was proud of his side’s effort and knows they need to repeat that dose next weekend to confirm their finals place.
“It was a big game for both teams, fighting for finals positions. It was all out there for both teams, it was going to come down to who could score,”
“Things don’t always go your way but this result is a positive for us. We’re onto the Mariners and whatever result comes then, we can be proud of how the club has done this season.” Finished the boss.
Frustration. That was the word that underlined Matteo Maiorana’s comments post-match as the Tigers were below their usual best tonight, but he remained hopeful that it was a once off.
“First half the players were doing things that we’re unaccustomed to then it resulted in us being dominated in the first half. The table and bin in the changing room bore the brunt of frustration at half-time which seemed to wake our team up,”
“We dominated them in large parts of the second half, and I think a draw is a fair result from tonight. The frustrating thing when you find the goal is the lack of game management then we copped a goal. Overall though, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and we will hopefully learn from this headed forward.” Finished Maiorana.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 29 July 2018
Lambert Park, Marion
Referee: Laureano Villarroel
Assistant Referee: Amber Morris
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 (King ’72)
Gladesville Ravens 1 (Balicki ’89)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. HALPIN Courtney, 5. CICCO Olivia (32. KING ’58), 6. GILFEDDER Lucy, 7. VATCKY Eliana, 9. FERREYRA Christina, 12. LATHAM Madeline, 15. MANIAS Kylie (2. GLANVILLE-FYFE ’84), 16. BENNETT Jennifer, 17. URQUHART Sarah, 19. SAAVEDRA Karen, 24. MACRI Hannah (21. CARMICHAEL ’58)
Subs not used: 25. COZENS Kim 43. STOJCEVSKI Alina
Yellow cards: Gilfedder
Red cards: nil
Gladesville Ravens: 4. KINCHINGTON Annabelle (4. SEETO ’92), 5. LIDBETTER Eleanor, 17. ARIKAWA Eri, 18. BEATTIE Alex (117. Balicki ’58), 19. GESTIER Hannah, 20. SMITH Ashleigh, 33. IKONOMOU Carlie, 37. DIAZ Emily, 39. SCHIRALDI Annalise, 41. BAKER Liana (29. DONALDSON ’81), 44. BREUKELAAR Isabella
Subs not used: 6. BAKER Katie 24. HOPKINS Isabella
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Nepean FC 0 defeated by Sydney Olympic FC 1
Nepean FC’s finals hopes hang by a thread as they battled hard, but fell to a single Sydney Olympic FC goal, on a blustery afternoon at Cook Park (St Marys).
Fresh from having their undefeated streak ended on the coast during the week, Sydney Olympic FC relied on the familiar face of Danielle Calvi. The striker scored the only goal in the contest as the premiers got themselves back in the winner’s circle.
For Nepean FC, it was another of those frustrating afternoons. They battled hard through the contest but a series of unfortunate events in conceding a goal, having their keeper sent off and a series of missed chances has them with it all to do in the final weekend, against Southern Branch FC.
Central Coast Mariners 7 defeated UNSW FC 2
Central Coast Mariners finished off an impressive week with a ruthless display. The yellow and navy knocked seven past UNSW FC in a 7-2 thumping on a beautiful afternoon at IFS.
Candice Phelan wrestled the golden boot back from Lieke De Bever. The striker netted five goals in the large victory whilst youngster Iona Snape continued her impressive form, the 15 year old scored the first two goals to follow her brace from Thursday night.
Mariners boss Dan Barrett praised the “clinical, confident performance” in what has been a tough run of fixtures for the yellow and navy which saw them end Sydney Olympic’s impressive streak. Their glut of goals today takes their season tally up to 89 goals only behind the aforementioned premiers as they get ready for the finals crucible.
The students are looking to the end line of the season. Captain Rio Darlaston and Gabrielle Burns found themselves on the scoresheet in the result which has them 90 minutes away from putting the season to bed after their promising start turned sour.
Western NSW Mariners 0 defeated by Inter Lions 3
Can’t touch this, the popular MC Hammer song took on a new meaning as Inter Lions were ruthless in a 3-nil defeat of Western NSW Mariners at Sir Jack Brabham Park today.
Inter coach Danny Abboud proudly labelled his side’s style “the best in the competition” and his statement was backed up by the performance. Kirilee Cook added two more goals for her tally whilst Taylor Mikaelian added the other in the victory that lifts the Lions into seventh.
Cook has been the driving force in the late season surge for Inter Lions but she has some superb talent around her in tenacious defender Angela Gardener and goalkeeper Natasha Pentecost, the custodian has a huge highlight reel for her impressive saves for Inter this season.
Southern Branch FC 2 drew with St George FC 2
It was a stalemate in Nowra as Southern Branch FC picked up a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers, St George FC on a picturesque afternoon at South Nowra Football Complex.
St George FC looked to repeat the dose of their victory over their southern neighbours and got the best possible start, Amy Bennett fired home to hand them a 1-nil half-time lead. Bennett doubled the dose in the second half to complete her brace.
Southern Branch FC showed their steel in the second 45 though, they battled back through captain Meredith Cheyne and Shaylee Meehan that split the points. Both sides now look to finish their season off in positive fashion next week.
SD Raiders 5 defeated Marconi Stallions 2
Welcome to the shootout at the Ernie Smith corral. SD Raiders got a morale boosted 5-2 success against Marconi Stallions that sees them rise to third place on the NPL2 Womens table as well.
Matt Constantini had bemoaned the lack of goals for his side in recent weeks. This afternoon the Raiders delivered them in spades, Yasemin Genc opened the scoring from an Elizabeth O’Reilly cutback before the former w-league star fired home herself for 2-nil.
The hits kept coming for the home side, as Kasia Wojtowicz, Logan Garard and Sophia Hamiltion piled home efforts to make it a five-star Sunday for SD Raiders. Garard’s effort was the pick of the contest with a long-range rocket that sailed into the net.
For the Stallions their finals hopes hung on a thread before the weekend but this result has them not even a mathematical chance to qualify now. They did find some joy in scoring twice through Demelza Howard and Louise Dal Bon as another season in NPL2 Womens looms.
By Justin Davies
