Round 17 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 17 was another rollercoaster ride for the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition. There was goals and drama aplenty across the six exciting contests that played out on Sunday so let’s move onto the review!
Match of the Round: Nepean FC 2 defeated Sutherland Shire FA 1
Finishing off their tough run of matches, Nepean FC struck late to take all three points in a 2-1 success against competition leaders Sutherland Shire FA tonight at Cook Park.
Nepean FC have come through this stretch of contests with victories against Gladesville, Marconi and Sutherland Shire FA tonight alongside a point against APIA. Tonight, it wasn’t a vintage display on a tough pitch but an equaliser from Lauren Gaul then a late screamer from Annie Halls has Nepean FC on the verge of third spot.
Whilst tonight was a loss for Sutherland Shire FA, they remain top of the three in the NPL2 Womens competition. An arrowed effort from Jordan Baker handed them a first half lead but they were pegged back twice in the second half and their lead at the top is cut to one point.
On a cool evening in Sydney’s west, both sides came out firing. Jordan Baker had a sweeping effort blocked by Nepean FC keeper Keeley Segavcic.
There were some early nerves from the hosts. A calamity at the back almost allowed sharpshooter Jordan Baker to open the scoring tonight. She fizzed the ball narrowly wide of the post as a warning shot for Nepean FC.
Baker wasn’t going to miss a second chance. Nepean FC mucked up their lines again at the back which presented the opening goal for Sutherland Shire FA. Baker calmly stroked the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal for 1-nil.
Nepean FC awoke from their slumber after conceding, started to throw their own haymakers in the contest. Desiree Vassallo had a header saved from a corner then Eri Namita and Stefanie Trovato both fired wide.
Much of the danger for Nepean came from the flanks. Brittany Pelle fired in some wicked crosses that weren’t able to be touched home, as the frustration grew for the home side. Late in the half Madison Mccomasky fired high, as the game headed to the break 1-nil to the visitors.
In a tense start to the second half, the chances came at a premium. Ursula Bratjancsak created the best pair of chances for Sutherland Shire FA but scooped both her efforts over the bar.
Nepean FC kept pushing forward, aiming to equalise and it came in a scrappy manner. Another dangerous cross found it’s way into the area before Lauren Gaul poked the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-1 with a quarter to go.
Like some blue touch paper, the equaliser ignited the contest. Morgan Maxwell powered through the Nepean FC defense but wasn’t able to squeeze her shot inside the right-hand post.
Sutherland Shire FA looked to be finishing the stronger of the sides with a pair of chances that bounced around the area, but agonisingly squeezed wide. Baker also had a set piece chance in the 87th which went low and pounced on by Segavcic.
There was a whiff of one final moment in this contest. The crowd was on their feet with every challenge, chance and pass. It came down to the individual brillance of Nepean FC’s mid-season returnee Annie Halls.
The midfielder found some space on the edge of the box after a frantic passage of play, she unleashed a shot that rattled the crossbar then snuck over the line which prompted some deliberation. After it was confirmed, the Cook Park faithful erupted in joy and saw out the final moments to secure a 2-1 victory.
Speaking afterwards, Nepean FC boss Alan Tasses was delighted with firstly the second half effort of his side then secondly with how they ended this tough run of contests with a victory:
“It was a real tough game. We didn’t play well in the first half, despite dominating possession. One thing this side has, is self-belief – none of the girls didn’t believe we could win. I think that showed in the second half.” he said.
“To come through this stretch of contests with three massive victories has us in a wonderful spot coming into the final run of the season. I do feel sorry for both sides, with the pitch tonight – it wasn’t good for either side to play football.” finished Tasses.
Match Stats
Sunday 30 June 2019
Cook Park, St Marys
Nepean FC 2 (Gaul ‘73, ‘Halls ‘88)
Sutherland Shire FA 1 (Baker ‘17)
Nepean FC: 1. SEGAVCIC Keeley, 3. DAVIDSON Aisling, 5. HANSEN Janie, 7. TROVATO Stefanie (2. JACKSON ‘83), 9. PELLE Brittany (8. LANE ‘63), 11. GAUL Lauren, 13. VASSALLO Desiree, 15. WHEELER Cassandra (12. WADDELL ‘83), 21. NAMITA Eri (22. WHOLOHAN ‘71), 25. MCCOMASKY Madison, 26. HALLS Annie
Unused subs: 20. MALAS Narmin
Yellow cards: Namita
Red cards: nil
Sutherland Shire FA: 1. RYAN Hannah, 2. NISBET Genevieve, 5. MAXWELL Morgan, 6. CHRISTIE Brittany, 8. BESZ Nicole, 9. BAKER Jordan, 10. DALE Kate, 13. MEADS Jess (11. FARMER ‘33), 19. YEATS Zoe (12. KENDALL ‘84), 22. BRATJANCSAK Ursula, 27. GEORGIEVSKI Isabella
Unused subs: 15. FIGUERIA Julia, 24. REGAN Ashleigh, 30. CODMANI Janan
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Western NSW Mariners 4 defeated Southern Branch FC 0
Getting themselves back on the horse, Western NSW Mariners triumphed 4-nil in a comfortable display against Southern Branch FC in NPL2’s version of the distance derby.
It was a tough display from the Mariners, missing three members of their usual starting eleven due to illness and injury. They were having their own goal of the season contenders this afternoon with three superb goals.
Teegan Courtney opened the scoring with a thunderous volley from outside the box which gave the home side a slight 1-nil advantage at the break. Sarah Colman doubled the advantage with a precise free-kick that flew into the top corner.
Rounding off the display was a brace from the Mariners young sharpshooter Anna Hunt which took her total to seven for the season. Her first was a sweet turn and strike followed by a poacher’s effort to break the Mariners drought.
Inter Lions 0 defeated APIA Leichhardt Tigers 12
APIA Leichhardt Tigers swept past Inter Lions 12-nil in a one-sided Battle of the Jungle on Sunday afternoon at Concord Oval.
Three APIA players netted hat-tricks in the rout – Ash Palombi, Kerrie Ryan and Amy Dahdah. Palombi’s trio of strikes took her to the top of the Golden Boot standings with 20. Jennifer Bissett, Rebecca Watts and Filiz Urkanci all chipped in with a goal each.
The result moves the Tigers into second position on the ladder only a point behind competition leaders Sutherland Shire FA. Some credit goes to the Inter Lions keeper for some magnificent saves to deny the rampaging Tigers.
Central Coast Mariners 3 defeated Gladesville Ravens 2
Central Coast Mariners moved a step closer to securing their finals spot with a tense 3-2 success against Gladesville Ravens this afternoon at Pluim Park.
The result came late when an 86th minute goal from youngster Nina Collins gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead after they lead 1-nil at the break, courtesy of Danielle Wise’s 16th goal of the season in the nineteenth minute of the game.
Mikala Tucker doubled the academy sides advantage in the 50th minute before a superb fightback from Gladesville Ravens. Annalise Schiraldi struck back in the 51st then striker Kasia Wojtowicz netted an equaliser with a quarter of the contest to go.
Collin’s late winner gave the Mariners their tenth victory of the season, and some cushion into fifth spot on the ladder. For Gladesville, they remain sat in third but have Nepean FC breathing down their necks now in the final stretch of the season.
UNSW FC 0 drew with Marconi Stallions 0
It was a stalemate down at Seymour Shaw. UNSW FC and Marconi Stallions shared the points in a 0-0 draw on a brisk Sunday afternoon in Sydney’s south.
Both sides were disappointed that they were unable to find a breakthrough across the ninety minutes. UNSW FC coach Alex Nolan was upbeat with his sides performance: “the mentality has switched in this side. The girls believe they can beat these sides and the only lament is that this is the football we should’ve played earlier this season.”
For Marconi, it was a missed opportunity to inch closer to the top five. The Stallions remain two points and a pair of games in hand out, sitting in sixth. Today was the first time since Round 10 the Stallions were kept off the scoresheet.
SD Raiders FC 6 defeated St George FC 1
Fresh from their break, SD Raiders FC put together a complete performance to down St George FC 6-1 tonight at Ernie Smith Reserve.
The Raiders hungry to take the pitch after their fortnight of washouts, the home side raced to a 4-nil half-time lead. Samantha Muscat and Tara Baudana with a goal each. Kristi Pavlicevic singed the goal netting with a pair of long-range strikes.
Pavlicevic completed her hat-trick then added the icing on the SD Raiders FC with her fourth goal to stretch the margin to 6-nil. Saints sensation Ana Araujo extended her streak to three games with a goal with a late consolation.
SD Raiders FC coach Terry Gray remarked that his side “found a sweet spot tonight while also rediscovering their shooting boots. We were excellent in our positional and passing play which led to a result the whole team can be proud.”
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
