Finals Week One – National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Review

38521703_1086905104796344_762192769023213568_o

Five became four, as the crucible that is the National Premier League 2 Womens finals series claimed Nepean FC in a tense shootout. For the other four, they move onto the next weekend after an exciting weekend of thrills, spills and ultimately drama in the buffet of NPL2 Womens! 

 

Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0-0 Nepean FC (APIA wins 4-3 on penalties)

They made heavy weather of it, but APIA prevailed in a tense shootout 4-3 against a determined Nepean FC held on for 120 minutes for a 0-0 draw on Saturday evening at a brisk Lambert Park.

At points, APIA Leichhardt cut a swathe through their opponents. The Tigers were irrespresable in the first half, they pinged the ball around the park playing probably their best half of the season but missed the goal.

Both sides battled hard in the second half, as nerves started to take over as the whistle blew for full-time. The two sides again couldn’t be separated in extra-time, so it was down to the dreaded penalties. Karen Saavedra was the hero as she slotted the victorious penalty as APIA Leichhardt move onto a showdown with Central Coast Mariners next weekend.

Nepean FC produced probably the most heroic rearguard tonight. Whilst it a second straight season being eliminated on penalties, Alan Tasses remained upbeat as his young side got “on the job training” and should be better for this run next season.

For the majority of the half, APIA enjoyed the lions share of possession, although it was Nepean FC that offered the first chance. Youngster Imogen Lane almost ghosted behind the APIA defense but the effort was cleared without much danger to Courtney Halpin’s goal.

Otherwise the first half ended up a being a constant stream of APIA efforts on the Nepean FC goal. Nepean’s custodian, Narmin Malas produced some brave efforts to deny the Tigers on several occasions in the first half.

Malas had a duel going on all evening with APIA’s energetic winger, Eliana Vatcky. She saved an effort from forward in the 11th minute, then gobbled up her hard shot in the 24th as APIA continued to purr in their attack.

Nicole Carmichael had a header flashed past the post just before the break, as Nepean FC bent but they didn’t break headed into the half-time whistle, as it remained deadlocked. Both sides knew the game loomed as a single goal contest.

Right after the break, Carmichael had another chance as she popped up in the box but it was saved. Next Vatcky danced through the defence, cut it back for newly introduced Karen Saavedra, as Malas once again came up trumps.

The waves continued to crash onto the Nepean FC defense. The returning Carla Canini drove one wide as it seemed evitable that APIA would find the opener.

As the game became stretched though, Nepean FC did have their chances. Lane again sprung free before firing wide then substitute Bianca Galayini shot through the crowded area in some rare work for Halpin.

Deep into injury time, Vatcky was threaded through, bounded down on goal but much like the previous 93 minutes, Malas denied her and the APIA attack, the game headed into extra-time.

Both teams rung the chances in the extra-time, Lisa Fressard for Nepean was bright in her work. She released Galayini but the substitute arrowed her effort wide of goal.

The extra half hour took it’s toll on the sides, as the chances dried up in the final 15 minutes of the contest. Lane had a tame shot and a scramble around the box that briefly shocked the Nepean defense were the sum of them as the game went to penalties.

She may not have had much to do during the first 120 minutes, but Halpin came up trumps in the shootout. The custodian produced two magnificent saves as APIA remained cool from the spot.

On their fifth kick of the shootout, Karen Saavedra stepped up and calmly slotted APIA’s fourth penalty, sparked wild celebrations as the Tigers squeezed through whilst it is another shootout disappointment for Nepean FC.

Afterwards a composed Matteo Maiorana praised the effort from his side as they produced their best display in their most important game thus far.

“I thought we were fantastic today. Out of 120 minutes, we dominated 100 of it. I knew through the week, the girls were ready for tonight. I was really pleased [with our first half] and it is always pleasing when I can walk into the change rooms and tell them not to change anything,”

“Sometimes you have to do things the hard way, it showed the character of the team. We move onto next week. I thought the team that deserved it, went through in the end.” finished Maiorana.

For Alan Tasses, whilst he was disappointed to lose in those circumstances, the on the job training for his young side will serve them well next season.

“It does hurt, this year much more than the last. Although having both first and reserve grade in the finals is a great achievement. We tried to evolve our style through the season, we know our strengths now it is to build on them,”

“This season, especially tonight, was one big learning curve. They learnt so much, tonight was on the job training. We’ve had finals for the last month and it will be invaluable headed into next season.” finished Tasses.

MATCH STATS

Saturday 11 August 2018

Lambert Park, Marion

Referee: E. Kocbek

Assistant Referees: Y. Guilmeer & S. Ho

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0

Nepean FC 0

APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. HALPIN Courtney, 5. CICCO Olivia (11. PALOMBI ‘72), 6. GILFEDDER Lucy, 7. VATCKY Eliana, 8. CANINI Carla, 9. FERREYRA Christina (12. LATHAM ‘101), 14. WATTS Rebecca, 15. MANIAS Kylie, 16. BENNETT Jennifer, 17. URQUHART Sarah (10. URKANCI ‘110), 21. CARMICHAEL Nicole (19. SAAVEDRA ‘57)

Subs not used: 20. MARSH Stephanie

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Nepean FC: 3. DAVIDSON Aisling, 6. HANSEN Janie, 7. HAARING Stephanie (10. GALAYINI ‘51), 8. LANE Imogen, 9. PELLE Britney (24. POTTER ‘96), 12. WADDELL Alix (32. FRESSARD ‘79), 13. VASSALLO Desiree, 15. WHEELER Cassandra, 20. MALAS Narmin, 21. TROVATO Stefanie, 22. WHOLOHAN Emma (2. JACKSON ‘119)

Subs not used: 16. BRIEN Bridget

Yellow cards: Galayini

Red cards: nil

Match of the Round: Central Coast Mariners 1-2 SD Raiders

On a windy afternoon in the Shire, SD Raiders continue to haunt Central Coast Mariners, as they made it three straight against the yellow-and-navy in a 2-1 success at Seymour Shaw.

SD Raiders have made themselves something of a finals specialists in recent years. They have collected a pair of State League Womens titles in recent years and they turned it on today. Goals in each half from Kasia Wojtowicz and Elizabeth O’Reilly saw them into the major semi-final against Sydney Olympic FC.

It was a rare misstep from Central Coast Mariners today. Candice Phelan did collect her 44th goal of the season with her first half equaliser but SD Raiders kept them in check. Dan Barrett must dust his side off now as they face an elimination contest against APIA next weekend.

From the opening exchanges, both sides threw some big punches. Mariners strike weapon, Candice Phelan unleashed a fierce volley that Raider’s Hill had to dive to save then from a corner Elizabeth O’Reilly forced the Mariners custodian into action.

SD Raiders settled the quickest of the two sides, Kasia Wojtowicz almost nodded home from a free-kick then O’Reilly skied the follow up. The former remained a threat across the first half as a tall option for the Raiders at the set piece.

Her height brought the opening goal. A diagonal ball from Gabriela Pace found Wojtowicz in stride, she cushioned it with her head before finishing well to make it 1-nil in the 19th minute.

The Mariners have been one of the big scorers this season, and responded immediately. No surprise it involved their two biggest threats. Jordan Evans sprinted past her defender down the left, shooting onto the far post allowing Candice Phelan to tap home for 1-1.

Both sides had half chances as Kiara Coscia low shot was saved by Mariners’ Hines then just before the break Iona Snape, on a hot streak, couldn’t get enough on her shot as we headed to the break locked at 1-1.

Phelan looked to have a second eight minutes into the second half when she poked home. Her joy was short-lived as the flag was raised which chalked off the effort as the striker mis-timed her run.

Pace once again delivered the key moment for SD Raiders. She delivered another peach of a ball that cut through the Mariners defence, O’Reilly was on hand to stroll through and chip the keeper with her effort making it 2-1.

Yasemin Genc had the chance to kill off the contest. Logan Garard flew down the left, cut the ball back for the winger but can’t wrap her foot around the ball.

Dan Barrett rung the chances for the Mariners, as he searched for the equaliser to send us to extra-time. SD Raiders held firm though, and reduced the Mariners to long range efforts from Melissa Swinfield and Georgia Davis.

The full-time whistle brought SD Raiders third success against the Mariners this season, in a tight contest which sees Mariners take on APIA whilst SD Raiders play for a Grand Final spot against Premiers Sydney Olympic FC.

Afterwards SD Raiders Matt Constantini was buoyed by Raiders fantastic display. They remained calm in possession and defended well against a tough outfit. Especially after the second goal they needed to show character to see out the result.

For Dan Barrett, it was two moments where their high line was caught out that cost the Mariners in such a tight contest but gave kudos to the Raiders, the scoreline being a fair reflection of the contest overall.

MATCH STATS

Sunday 12 August 2018

Seymour Shaw, Miranda

Central Coast Mariners 1 (Phelan ‘24)

SD Raiders 2 (Wojtowicz ‘20, O’Reilly ‘62)

Central Coast Mariners: 1. HINES Rhiannon, 2. BLANCH Gabrielle, 3. SWINFIELD Melissa, 4. PHELAN Candice, 5. OLIVEIRA Katie (35. DAVIS ‘74), 7. EVANS Jordan (13. MURPHY ‘58), 8. LITTERICK Kirby (32. BRYANT ‘79), 9. EYERS Haylie, 10. MCATEMNEY Jade, 11. SHORTER Elizabeth 25. SNAPE Iona

Subs not used: 21. TUCKER Mikala 50. BRADBURY Maddison

Yellow cards: Swinfield

Red cards: nil

SD Raiders: 4. GENC Yasemin, 6. SHERMAN Morgan, 7. FALLAH Jessica, 9. GARARD Logan, 10. PACE Gabriela, 11. WOJTOWICZ Kasia (14. HAMILTON ‘80), 18. SKINNER Tamara, 29. O’REILLY Elizabeth (20. DENNIS ‘84), 32. KROPE Courtney, 45. COSCIA Kiara (5. GAUL ‘91), 99. HILL Regan

Subs not used: 16. DAVEY Hannah Rose 19. GRIMBILOS Stephanie

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Thanks to Justin Smith for his help in compiling the Mariners vs SD Raiders report

 

Photo Credit: Luciano Marchese