Round 8 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 8 sent the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition into its final month and set it up for a fantastic sprint to the finish.
The four games this weekend delivered drama in spades and helped to give us a clearer picture of the top four.
Match of the Round: Marconi Stallions 2 drew with North Shore Mariners 2
On a wild afternoon at Marconi Stadium, Marconi stormed back to take a point in a 2-2 draw against North Shore Mariners today.
North Shore Mariners were in cruise control at half-time, lead 2-nil through a pair of goals from Evelyn Chronis to take the sharpshooter to 13 goals for the season. Marconi showed grit and through their own star striker Ceyda Cambaz snatched a point in a pulsating contest.
Whilst draws in previous weeks were fatalistic to the Stallions, the home side will savor that game like a victory against a competition heavyweight. North Shore Mariners were disappointed but remain in a prime position for the finals headed into the final three weeks.
The build-up promised an open contest and the game obliged with a breakneck speed in the opening exchanges. Stallions had a flurry of chances started with a Samantha Huynh header and ended with a sliced effort from Nicole Ossio to signify their strong start but it remained at a stalemate.
It was huff and puff from the Stallions but the Mariners blew the house down with the opening goal in the contest. A quick counter played in Chronis. the striker underlined her Golden Boot credentials with a well-taken finish for 1-nil.
Not content with a single goal, Chronis completed her brace minutes later. Cate Gyzen stole the ball in the midfield before she angled the pass towards Chronis, who rifled home to make it 2-nil to North Shore Mariners.
Being up 2-nil is often referred to as the ‘most dangerous scoreline’ in football but the task in front of Marconi Stallions was given an extra challenge when attacker Danielle Bishop was dismissed for a second yellow.
Trying to ram home the advantage, North Shore Mariners almost added a third through Siahn Bozanic who struck the crossbar from close range. Bozanic played a one-two to slice through but left the bar rattling after the half-time whistle for a dominant Mariners lead.
Being down 2-nil didn’t deter the Stallions. The energy from their front two – Ceyda Cambaz and Tania Baban – gave them a sniff of overturning the deficit. That sniff turned into a full-blown sensation when Cambaz swept home to make it 2-1 from a Baban shot.
A sense of belief rippled around Marconi Stadium which was enhanced through the chances building up for the Stallions. Substitute Hannah Voloder nodded over in the 57th minute then Huynh forced Mariners keeper Trudy Burke into a fantastic save in the 65th.
North Shore Mariners tried to curtail the comeback when Gyzen set up a team mate to thrash over. Next, Bozanic and Chronis – the most potent Mariners attackers – forced Stallions custodian Renee Krstanovka into a flying pair of saves.
The sensation turned into a result in the 85th minute. Baban motored down the left flank, drove into the box before she cut it back for strike partner Cambaz to stab home for 2-2, sending the small crowd into raptures.
Marconi could’ve turned the point into three with a late free-kick to Huynh on the edge of the box. Huynh shaped the effort over the bar then Mariners deep in injury time through Chronis escaped her defenders slid in Bozanic who was repelled by Krstanovska.
Everyone took a massive breath as the two sides shared the points in an enthralling battle between two sides which might have a sequel in the finals next month.
Relieved after the final whistle, Marconi Stallions coach Andy Severin delighted in the result and the work from his side in the second half to overturn the result:
“They made us pay for two mistakes in transition which shows why they are a top side. To show the grit we did I’ll take the draw after the first half. I gave them a new game plan at the break, got both [Cambaz and Baban] to press and it helped us get the result.” said Severin.
Reflective after the result, North Shore Mariners coach Grant Lee found positives in the performance from his side who still remain in the top two of the competition:
“In some ways your disappointed to drop the points but it was a good test for some of the younger girls coming through for us. We’re building up towards the finals, hopefully get some bodies back and ultimately it was a good game of football.” said Lee.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 6 September 2020
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: D. Goddard
Assistant Referees: M. Limnios & J. Arena
Marconi Stallions 2 (Cambaz 2)
North Shore Mariners 2 (Chronis 2)
Marconi Stallions: 1. KRSTANOVSKA Renee, 3. BISHOP Danielle, 5. HUYNH Samantha, 7. TOMKINS Renee, 8. CAMBAZ Ceyda, 10. VOLODER Emma, 16. OSSIO Nicole (14. BUCHANAN ‘71), 17. FEATHERSTONE Lauren, 18. MANNA Melina (2. H. VOLODER ‘55), 36. TAVARES Erin Leah, 40. BABAN Tania
Unused subs: 13. BEALE Jessica, 32. SOLLECITO Isabella, 34. CASTILLO Taliah
Yellow cards: Baban, Bishop, Krstanovska
Red cards: Danielle Bishop
North Shore Mariners: 1. BURKE Trudy, 6. MIRKOVIC Madeleine, 8. CHRONIS Evelyn, 13. DI SCIASCIO Erica, 14. BOZANIC Siahn, 15. GREY Elizabeth, 18. GRIFFIN Amelia (2. PIRIZ ‘86), 25. GYZEN Cate, 27. BRADLEY Eleni, 34. JOHNSON Rochelle (11. BOATENG ‘64), 35. CLOUT Tessa
Unused subs: 12. BEARD Hannah, 26. CHARAK Hannah, 31. CROUCH Jasmine
Yellow cards: Chronis
Red cards: nil
Nepean FC 1 drew with Gladesville Ravens 1
A result which probably help either side, Nepean FC and Gladesville Ravens played out a 1-1 draw down at Cook Park on Sunday afternoon.
Coming off their loss against leaders North Shore Mariners, Nepean FC came out of the blocks firing and tested the Gladesville Ravens keeper often. Football is a funny game though, it was Gladesville who went to the break ahead.
Annalise Schiraldi capped off what has been a hectic week for the Ravens side with her 42nd minute goal. Gladesville Ravens appointed Claude De Francesco as their new coach and looked reinvigorated throughout the contest.
Nepean FC kept pushing forward, knowing they needed a win to stay in contention. Imogen Lane equalised for the home side in the second half but finishing again came back to haunt Nepean FC as the game ended 1-1.
Sutherland Shire FA 2 defeated SD Raiders FC 1
The hits like a well picked Spotify playlist keep coming for Sutherland Shire FA as they triumphed 2-1 against a gallant SD Raiders FC side down at Harrie Denning Centre.
Sutherland Shire FA returned to the summit of the competition with their win tonight. The Shire side were made to work for the three points against a stubborn SD Raiders FC who went into the break level with the leaders.
Stevie Donougher opened the scoring for Sutherland Shire FA with a well taken effort in the opening 20 minutes before SD Raiders FC striker Sarah Mandile swept home a slick team move for her third goal of the season.
Buoyed by their equaliser, SD Raiders FC dominated large patches of the second half but couldn’t unlock the Sutherland Shire FA defense. The hosts broke the offside trap once and Donougher completed her brace to seal all three points.
Central Coast Mariners 1 defeated UNSW FC 0
Central Coast Mariners gave themselves some breathing room in the top four after a tense 1-nil result against UNSW FC this afternoon at Pluim Park.
The game was settled by a terrific first half goal from Elizabeth Shorter. She broke the deadlock with a curled effort from the edge of the box, to make it 1-nil Mariners. The home side held firm to take that advantage into the break.
Knowing they needed to turn this fail into a pass mark with least a point. The Students changed up their tactics and took control of the contest. UNSW FC kept cramming and attacked the Mariners goal but were unable to break through.
The Mariners saw the contest through, got their fourth success of the season which has the yellow-and-navy sat comfortably in fourth spot with three games to go. UNSW FC look to finish the season on a high and build for 2021.
Inter Lions & St George FC had the bye
By Justin Davies @JustDavies90)
