Final Series Week Two – National Premier Leagues 2 Women’s Review
All four teams huffed and they puffed, and blew the house down with two fantastic matches across the weekend of finals for the National Premier Leagues 2 Women’s competition. Now it’s a triple threat for the title as APIA Leichhardt Tigers bowed out whilst Sydney Olympic FC achieved back-to-back finals appearances.
Semi Final 1: Central Coast Mariners 3 defeated APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2
It was wild, it was windy and full of action. Central Coast Mariners prevailed, thanks to a 90th minute Gabrielle Blanch goal in a 3-2 affair on a crisp night at Marconi Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Mariners were made to fight back after a few setbacks. Firstly, they lost striker Candice Phelan on the 15-minute mark before hitting the lead through a Jade Mcatemney corner. They were pegged back by APIA then a pair of goals from Elizabeth Shorter and Gabrielle Blanch put them into the Preliminary Final next week.
APIA had their bright moments. A two-minute salvo from Eliana Vatcky and Ashleigh Palombi fired them into the lead, but one lapse right at the end ended their season. Although, they are hurting currently, it was a positive first season from the Tigers in National Premier Leagues 2 Womens with room to improve.
On a windy afternoon at Marconi, the Mariners settled into the conditions first. Jade Mcatemney was stationed at the corner flag as the side swung in a barrage of corners that were dealt with by the APIA defense calmly.
A big part of the game for the Tigers in their quick movement in transition. It created their first chance as Eliana Vatcky and Karen Saavedra whisked the ball downfield for a corner. The set piece popped out to defensive anchor Carla Canini who curved wide.
In the opening stages, the Mariners high press caused some issues for the APIA back line. Their pressure on the ball carrier almost created a chance for Jordan Evans, she plucked an errant goal kick that curved wide to serve as a warning for the Tigers.
In the 15th minute, it was classic Mariners. The ball was threaded through in transition quickly, found NPL2 Womens golden boot, Candice Phelan, loped intot the box, touched past APIA keeper Courtney Halpin but the keeper’s second effort denied her. Sadly, that was the end of the sequence for Phelan who was assisted from the field with an ankle injury.
There was a lengthy delay that took the game into the twilight. Once the contest got back underway, Mariners switched on first. Mcatemney delivered a wicked ball from the left from the corner and it befuddled everyone and trickled in, 1-nil.
Much of the first half chances belonged to the yellow and navy. Another scramble in the box was almost tucked home by Gabrielle Blanch then Melissa Swinfield produced a superb piece of skill before spraying her effort.
APIA’s best chance came through the electric Vatcky. A sharp piece of passing had the winger boring down on goal, she elected to shoot low and was denied smartly by Mariners keeper Rhiannon Hines which preserved the Mariners single goal lead into the break.
Maiorana must’ve delivered a huge speech at the break. APIA came out, switched on and immediately set to their work with a greater impact. Saavedra nodded a header wide, as the Tigers started to find their rhythm.
The Tigers brought the game, and the crowd to life on 65 minutes. Rebecca Watts clipped a ball down the right for Vatcky, the winger again breezed past the defender, cutting it back for substitute Christina Ferreyra to hit the bar but Vatcky continued her run, turned the ball home for 1-1.
Then it was double delight for the Tigers faithful. A directed ball that by-passed the Mariners defenders, put the dangerous Ash Palombi into space. The striker steadied herself quickly, delicately chipped the ball with enough height to evade Hines and complete the APIA turnaround.
There was still plenty of twists left in the contest. Mariners locked us up again on 77 minutes. Eizabeth Shorter found space on the right, fired a low shot that took a Marconi bounce, wrong-footed Halpin, made it 2-2.
Into the final ten minutes, the action was frantic and frayed. Evans arrowed an effort that Halpin needed to pluck in the 84th before Palombi cut a tame effort right at the Mariners custodian. It looked like the game was headed into extra-time.
Mariners had other ideas though. As the clock ticked into the final minute of regulation, Blanch weaved past a defender, tried to chip an effort that APIA’s keeper got a strong hand to but the ball spun enough to cross the goal-line and hand Mariners a dramatic victory 3-2.
Once he caught his breath, Mariners coach Dan Barrett was generous with the praise for his team bouncing back from their setbacks to book a place in next week.
“It was a very exciting game, and a real finals game. Credit to my girls, they gave it their all tonight and pushed to the end. Credit to APIA, they were desperate just like us for the result but we recovered from out setbacks including losing Candice well,”
“They say 90 minutes, 90 emotions. It definitely was that tonight. We hope Candice is okay, thankfully we have [Iona] Snape, she is a special little player. Playing her off the bench was a tactical move so hopeully she can fill that gap going forward.” finished Barrett.
Obviously disappointed, Matteo Maiorana reflected on a positive first season in NPL2 Womens for APIA Leichhardt and hopes that this might spur them onto greater things next season.
“I think we acquitted ourselves well. Central Coast is a tough team to play. They are physical and very, very direct whilst we play through the midfield so it’s two contrasting styles. With some luck we might have got something but I thought we played well, especially in the second half.
“Credit to Central Coast, they took their chances. The fact we didn’t end up playing on a synthetic pitch might have come back to bite us with a few unlucky bounces.
“Our goal for the season was to make the semis and finish top three in the Club Championship. We did that, now, tonight’s loss will be good experience and onto bigger and better things next season.” finished Maiorana.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 18 August 2018
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: L. Cabasi-Power
Assistant Referees: C. Loveday & A. Phipps
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Mcatemney ‘17, Shorter ‘77, Blanch ‘90)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Vatcky ‘65, Palombi ‘67)
Central Coast Mariners: 1. HINES Rhiannon, 2. BLANCH Gabrielle, 3. SWINFIELD Melissa, 4. PHELAN Candice (25. SNAPE ‘15), 7. EVANS Jordan, 8. LITTERICK Kirby, 9. EYERS Haylie, 10. MCATEMNEY Jade, 11. SHORTER Elizabeth, 13. MURPHY Kaitlin, 35. DAVIS Georgia
Subs not used: 16. MAH Laura, 21. TUCKER Mikala, 32. BRYANT Grace, 50. BRADBURY Maddison
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. HALPIN Courtney, 5. CICCO Olivia (9. FERREYRA ‘62), 6. GILFEDDER Lucy, 7. VATCKY Eliana, 8. CANINI Carla, 11. PALOMBI Ashleigh, 14. WATTS Rebecca (10. URKANCI ‘91), 15. MANIAS Kylie, 16. BENNETT Jennifer (12. LATHAM ‘91), 17. URQUHART Sarah, 19. SAAVEDRA Karen (21. CARMICHAEL ‘72)
Subs not used: 20. MARSH Stephanie
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Semi-Final 2: Sydney Olympic FC vs SD Raiders
Sydney Olympic FC were the first side to book their spot in the NPL2 Womens Grand Final with a 2-1 victory against a tough SD Raiders side on a gusty afternoon at Sydney United Sports Centre.
It was a tough semi-final contest played out between the Premiers and a SD Raiders side that has started to find the back of the net in recent weeks. The first half might have been 0-0 but Kasia Wojtowicz cracked an effort against the bar whilst Olympic top gun Lieke De Bever spurned a pair of chances including cutting back the ball with the goal gaping.
The second half opened up as both sides looked to grasp the Grand Final spot. De Bever was cool from the spot in the 74th before Kristy Rohrer rose highest to head home making it 2-nil. SD Raiders gave them a brief scare in injury time when Lauren Gaul tapped home but the Raiders pick themselves up for next weekend’s clash against Central Coast Mariners.
For Sydney Olympic FC, the victory represents back-to-back Grand Final appearances to go along with their back-to-back Premierships. Now they rest up and hope they can head into NPL1 in style finally taking home the Championship in two weeks.
From the opening whistle, SD Raiders looked the side that were coming into the game with momentum. Logan Garard and Kasia Wojtowicz had half chances in the first 5 minutes before Jessica Fallah chipped an effort right to the keeper as the Raiders looked to strike first.
Energetic winger Yasemin Genc sparked SD Raiders best chance of the first half in the 19th minute. She clipped a ball down the right for Wojtowicz to push forward, the striker burst into the box, dinked her effort against the right post before a grateful Amanda Horafios gathered for Sydney Olympic FC.
Six minutes later, Sydney Olympic FC went close. Sharpshooter Lieke De Bever turned well, striding confidently into the area, she only had Raiders keeper Regan Hill to beat but a flying block from Courtney Krope denied her.
That chance summoned Olympic FC into action. Lily Chen relishing her starting role, had a running battle with Hill in the first half. She tested the keeper thrice with Hill saving two efforts then the defense bailed her out as the Premiers flexed their muscle.
De Bever had the final chance of the half, she worked her way confidently into the box, left one-on-one with Hill but chose to cut the ball back, being unselfish which allowed the swarming SD Raiders defense to send us to the break locked at 0-0.
Chances came thick and fast after the break. Kristy Kunovski threatened with a central free-kick that Hill pushed over the bar while Garard continued to be the focal point for SD Raiders, the striker drove at the defense in the 57th minute but curled it right at Horafios.
Eventually the scoreboard was breached. It came from the spot after Sydney Olympic FC had a player fouled in the box. De Bever stepped up calmly, slotted home, made it 1-nil as Olympic had a foot in the Grand Final.
SD Raiders almost responded immediately as a smart switch put Genc free on the left, her cross caused some chaos in the box before it fell to substitute Lauren Gaul to snatch her chance wide.
Olympic FC made them pay for their wastefulness. De Bever found space in the box from a flick on, rattled the crossbar before Kirsty Rohrer was on the spot to fire home. 2-0.
The Raiders did send some late jitters through the Olympic side, Gaul found herself in the right position after Garard’s spot squeezed out, to tap home making it 2-1. The Premiers were able to see out the final, tense filled moments to celebrate back-to-back Grand Final appearances.
Disappointed SD Raiders coach Matt Constantini remained upbeat about his side’s chances despite the result not going their way tonight.
“Definitely frustrated. I am proud of the girls today, they stuck to the game plan and our style of play, created some good chances and showed plenty of character against a tough side. Kasia hit the post and if that goes in, goals change games really.”
“Good luck to them. Now we reload to take on Mariners. Hopefully we might see them in two weeks in the Grand Final.” finished Constantini.
For George Beltsos, tonight was a marvelous achievement for Sydney Olympic FC as the Premiers edged the contest against a tough side and booked the first Grand Final spot.
“It was a very tough game. I thought we shaded them tonight, and deserved to win, had the better chances across the contest. Hopefully we have some better luck this season as there is no easy games in finals. Overall I am happy to be there.” said Beltsos.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 19 August 2018
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: L. Lilan
Assistant Referees: I. Awuips & C. Cway
Sydney Olympic FC 2 (De Bever ‘75 & Rohrer ‘84)
SD Raiders 1 (Gaul ‘89)
Sydney Olympic FC: 3. MIRKOVIC Madelaine, 4. BARHAM Deidre (43. DOWSE ‘75), 6. HALASKA Kate, 7. CALVI Danielle (2. TAYLOR ‘87), 10. DE BEVER Lieke, 11. ROHRER Kirsty, 12. CHEN Lily (9. COSTANZO ‘45), 14. AMBERG Amanda, 15. TSOUPIS Kalista, 18. KUNOVSKI Kristy, 20. HORAFIOS Amanda
Subs not used: 17. KHOURY Hanna Lea 36. SAADE Sihaem
Yellow cards: Bever & Barham
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders FC: 4. GENC Yasemin, 6. SHERMAN Morgan (14. ‘56), 7. FALLAH Jessica (13. CASSAR ‘85), 9. GARARD Logan, 10. PACE Gabriela (5. GAUL ‘65), 11. WOJTOWICZ Kasia, 18. SKINNER Tamara, 29. O’REILLY Elizabeth, 32. KROPE Courtney, 43. COSCIA Kiara (16. DAVEY ‘45), 99. HILL Regan
Subs not used: 19. GRIMBILOS Stephanie
Yellow cards: Genc
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies
