Round 7 Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s
Round 7 continued to see the top three of the Futsal Premier League Open Womens competition on their road to the finals in a weekend filled with goals and excitement to enjoy. The Match of the Round featured Dural Warriors vs Sydney City Eagles.
Match of the Round: Dural Warriors 5 defeated Sydney City Eagles 0
Dural Warriors remain undefeated with their sixth straight success in a 5-nil result against a game Sydney City Eagles side Saturday night at The Centre – Dural.
The Warriors were comfortable in the end of the contest but were made to work for the three points against a gallant Eagles side. Abbey Lemon scored a brace either side of half-time alongside goals from Emma Hurley, Tess Olsen and Ellen Wheatley to remain undefeated.
Sydney City Eagles keeper Isabella Sollecito made a series of saves to repel a formidable Dural attack and whilst the Eagles didn’t find the scoreboard they battled hard across the contest and went toe-to-toe with the league leaders.
The first chance in the contest fell to Abigail Thompson for Sydney City Eagles who tried to chip Dural Warriors keeper Sarah Easthope but was repelled. Dural responded with a stinging Tess Olsen shot that was blocked.
Dural started to fall into their groove as Olsen slid an effort wide in the 3rd minute then Luseane Cook rattled the post before the follow up slipped wide of the post. Next Ellen Wheatley thrashed one wide of the goals.
The home side continued to dominate the chances with Imogen Lane the closest after a combination with Rachel Perrins. Eagles keeper Isabella Sollecito was a brick wall against their shots to keep her side in the contest.
Eventually, the Warriors found the back of the net. It was a dogged effort from Emma Hurley who dug the ball out from close range and slotted home, making it 1-nil Dural.
Just before the break, Dural Warriors added a second. Perrins worked the kick-in perfectly with Abbey Lemon for the latter to volley home smartly, 2-nil. Dural took a deserved two-goal advantage into the break.
Looking to find a route back into the contest, Eagles much like the first half challenged the Warriors goal first when Melina Manna and Montana Bolzan strode confidently down court before the final effort squeezed wide of the goal.
Dural were the first to hit the scoreboard in the second half when some superb combination work from Perrins, Olsen and Lemon stretched the Eagles defense which allowed Lemon to sweep home sweetly into the back of the net for 3-nil.
The battle between Sollecito and the Dural attackers continued when Lane was denied at point blank range then Hurley turned well before she shot low but was swatted away.
Warriors did final a pair of late goals – firstly Olsen tapped home from another well worked Warriors move for 4-nil then Wheatley got herself on the scoresheet in the final minute to finish off a five-star performance from the league leaders.
Speaking afterwards Dural Warriors coach Rob Varela was delighted with his side’s effort as they continue to build as the season progresses:
“I was happy with the way the girls played. Mostly I was happy with the defense cause we concentrate on that each week. We know that we can score goals but that was pleasing for me. It was also nice to give some of the younger girls a chance tonight.” said Varela.
For Eagles coach Roy Perre he was happy with the effort from the side to keep themselves in the contest despite tiring late:
“We were under done but were good tonight. Defensively when we tire, we aren’t there and they capitalised tonight. The keeper was solid and she will be a star in the coming years for us.” said Perre.
Match Stats
Saturday 2 November 2019
The Centre – Dural
Referee: Nathan Pitt
2nd Referee: Rowan Fisher
3rd Referee: Kyle Hockings
Dural Warriors 5 (Lemon 2, Hurley, Olsen, Wheatley)
Sydney City Eagles 0
Dural Warriors: 1. EASTHOPE Sarah, 3. COOK Luseane. 5. PERRINS Rachel, 7. OLSEN Tess, 8. HURLEY Emma, 10. LANE Imogen, 14. DOBSON Bianca, 15. WICKHAM-HILL Skye, 19. FRAGALE Estelle, 21. RACZ Emma, 22. LEMON Abbey, 58. WHEATLEY Ellen
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney City Eagles: 1. MORABITO Laura, 3. ANDERSON-SHARP Belinda, 4. MANNA Melina, 5. BOLZAN Montana, 6. SPURWAY Kayla, 7. FEATHERSTONE Lauren, 10. THOMPSON Abigail, 12, SOLLECITO Isabella, 18. NICHOLAS Alannah, 19. ANIC Elena
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
West City Crusaders 1 defeated by South Coast Taipans 3
South Coast Taipans remain equal second after their 3-1 success against a stubborn West City Crusaders side at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
It was a controlled performance from the Taipans starting from Ursula Bratjancsak’s opener which made it 1-nil at the break. Sarah Johnson scored her first of the season alongside an Ashley Kotevski strike which completed the scoreline.
Crusaders kept fighting until the end and found a late consolation through Kaitlin Harms to make it 3-1. The loss leaves West City on seven points, still only a single high-scoring victory outside the top four of the competition.
The only sour note for Taipans was the red card for Kotevski late in the contest. Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski was delighted with “another solid defensive display” and the fact that they controlled the game throughout.
Raiders Futsal Club 3 defeated by Phoenix Futsal Club 5
Make that back-to-back wins for Phoenix Futsal Club after their 5-3 win against Raiders Futsal Club on Saturday night at Thomas Hassell Anglican College.
Phoenix Futsal Club maintain their top four spot with the two-goal success. Isobel Gomez led the way for the visitors and got herself a goal while Sarah Moore, Naomi Majok, Annika Hansen and Anahid Jandagi all found the net.
For Raiders Futsal Club, they slump to a fourth straight defeat. They battled hard and found goals through the in-form Amanda Radmillo, Ellie Smith and Talie Walton. Raiders Futsal Club are sat in sixth and four points outside of the top four.
Speaking afterwards Phoenix’s Todd Nelson knew his side “had to start fast” which they did helped by stellar performances from Gomez and Steph Luyt in the first half. That allowed them to sit back and absorb the Raiders pressure in the second half with ease and remain fourth.
Sydney Futsal Club 8 defeated SD Raiders Futsal 0
Sydney Futsal Club secured their fourth straight win with a routine 8-nil success against SD Raiders Futsal Saturday night at All Sorts Indoor Sports Centre.
The home side flexed their muscles again with the eight-goal performance. Georgia Manos and Nicole Besz were the headline acts for Sydney Futsal Club with a brace each. Zoe Yeats, Brittany Christie, Morgan Maxwell and Paris Alcorn also contributed goals in a result that boosts their goal difference.
Saturday night marked their fourth straight win on the trot which has them in equal second spot with South Coast Taipans on 16 points just behind leaders Dural Warriors. SD Raiders Futsal still sit in seventh spot with the top four moving further away.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
