SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 2 Open Women’s Review
It was a frenetic weekend of SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 Women’s action with the pick of the bunch at the Fairfield Youth and Leisure Centre where the SD Raiders took on the West City Crusaders.
Fixture of the Week – Open Womens: SD Raiders 3 drew with West City Crusaders 3
SD Raiders and West City Crusaders played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in a contest that had a bit of everything and a fine display of futsal on a wonderful spring afternoon at Fairfield Youth and Leisure Centre.
At points of the contest, SD Raiders looked in fantastic form. They cut through the Crusaders early, and often, Vesna Milivojevic and Stephanie Conejeros Berjerie both found the net within the opening 10 minutes. Katelyn Hancock looked to have sealed the contest with her 48th minute tap home but a responde from Crusaders gave Milivojevic a spot-kick to snatch the points as time expired but it was saved.
For the Crusaders, while it wasn’t three points. A point must have felt like victory. They pegged SD Raiders back three times, all from the boot of Hollie Wilson. Once the Crusaders settled, they showed they will be a tough prospect after taking their first point.
In the opening exchanges, it was SD Raiders that were brighter. They scored twice, once from a well-taken effort from Vesna Milivojevic then Stephanie Conejeros Berjerie cut through the defense to make it 2-nil with eight minutes.
After the initial shock, West City Crusaders settled into the contest. Erin Hill crashed an effort against the bar before Hollie Wilson had a pair of chances that were denied.
Wilson wasn’t to be denied in the 13th minute. Her turn gave her enough space for a second Crusaders effort to crash against the crossbar, this effort though, took a favourable bounce, into the net for a 2-1 scoreline.
The pendulum continued to swing wildly in the contest, Catherine Cannuli was on the end of a well worked move that needed saving before Milivojevic pair of effort’s from a free-kick were sprayed wide as the SD Raiders clung to the one-goal advantage.
Crusaders started to push forward much more, Hill nailed the post again, then Christine Granero couldn’t snatch her chance as it seemed like the visitors wasteful nature in front of goal may cost them.
Step up Hollie Wilson. From nowhere, she popped up to swivel an effort just inside the left-hand post to make it 2-2 and suddenly, the game broke open.
SD Raiders responded instantly from the spot. An accumulation of fouls gave Cannuli the chance from the spot but she sprayed it wide right. She had a follow up chance after an incisive Raiders move but denied once again.
Despite trailing for the majority of the contest, Stephanie Trovato had a prime chance to snatch the points for West City Crusaders. A well-directed ball found her wide open, but she was denied by a superb piece of keeping then Granero’s follow-up was swatted away.
The Raiders would find the lead once again, with sixty ticks of the clock left. Katelyn Hancock was right on the spot to tap home the bouncing ball, for 3-2 SD Raiders.
Crusaders displayed their spirit as they marched down court, earning a penalty. Wilson stepped up and thumped home her hat-trick and it was 3-3 within the final minute.
Of course there was one final moment in such a pulsating contest. Crusaders were judged to have fouled. Milivojevic had the chance to be the hero, confidently strode in for the spot-kick but a brave leg save from Dione King ensured the points were shared.
Match Stats
Saturday 6 October 2018
Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre
SD Raiders 3 (Conejeros Berjerie, Hancock, Milivojevi)
West City Crusaders 3 (Wilson 3)
SD Raiders: 3. HANCOCK Katelyn, 4. CONEJEROS BERJERIE Stephanie, 5. LABRA Paulina, 7. MUSSETT Jami-Lee, 10. MILIVOJEVIC Vesna, 13. CANNULI Catherine, 19. DOAN Kaitlyn, 29. CARLE Naomi
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
West City Crusaders: 3. GARDNER Angela, 5. WILSON Hollie, 7. TROVATO Stephanie, 8. HILL Erin, 9. THORLEY Jessica, 12. KING Dione, 19. BENNETT Jennifer, 30. GRANERO Christine, 32. KING Georgia, 33. BADROV Angelina
Yellow cards: H Wilson
Red cards: nil
Best of the Rest
Phoenix Futsal Club sit alone at the top of the Open Womens competition, in a 5-4 thriller at Thomas Hassell Anglican Centre. The visitors strode out to a 3-nil, and it was a star performance from Olivia Lambkin. The striker scored all five goals making it six points from six to start the season. For Raiders Futsal Club, Cassidy Chidgey slotted home a brace while Ashleigh Krenich and Emma Voloder completed a wonderful exhibition of women’s football.
In the late kick-off, Sydney Futsal Club secured their first victory in dramatic fashion 4-3. Rochelle Johnson found the net with the final kick of the game to break Sydney City Eagles hearts. It capped off a hat-trick for Johnson as Madeleine Mirkovic was the other to find the net. For the Eagles they found success through Katherine Wilson and a brace to Tameeka Thomson as they still sit fourth despite the loss.
There was another breakthrough win down at UOW Sports Hub. South Coast Taipans were comfortable 3-1 victors in the Saturday afternoon contest. Danielle Wise and Elise Battin helped the Taipans to a 2-nil half-time advantage before Danika Matos added a third to confirm the points. For Boomerangs FS, they paid for a lethargic start to the contest and sprung to life in the second half with Grace Basser Silk scored the sole goal as they took the long trip home.
-By Justin Davies
