Round 10 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s

Round 10 was a perfect 10 in the drama delivered across the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition.

All three games had moments of magic as we continue to drive down the path of the finals with only one week left to impress.

North Shore Mariners 3 defeated Sutherland Shire FA 2

North Shore Mariners confirmed their status as top dog in the NPL2 Womens competition after a pulsating 3-2 success against Sutherland Shire FA today at Northbridge Oval.

The Mariners were made to work for the three points in the top of the table clash. Siahn Bozanic opened the scoring before Sutherland Shire FA pegged a goal back. It took a pair of second half goals from Sarah Piriz and Rita Boateng to inch closer to the Premiership.

Defeat won’t dampen Sutherland Shire FA’s spirit. They matched it with the Mariners in the first half and goals from Jordan Baker either side of the break, briefly gave Sutherland Shire FA the lead. Now, they have a week off to freshen up before the finals crucible.

On a bright afternoon on the North Shore, the contest started at a cracking pace. Both sides fell into their patterns quickly and it was the away side which had the first cracks at the goals.

Twice, Jordan Baker played cushioned balls into the path of Ursula Bratjanscak which just evaded her foot but it was enough to send a warning signal to the North Shore Mariners defense.

Rita Boateng who has been a revelation in her work since coming out of park football responded for the Mariners with some strength. Boateng swept between a pair of defenders and arrowed the ball over the bar.

The chances continued to pile up at either end. Bratjanscak almost had a cross-cum-shot which landed just wide of the net. Boateng again got involved, beating defenders to the ball and arrowed wide of the goal.

It was the Mariners who opened the scoring just before the break. It came through Siahn Bozanic who found the back of the net and broke open the contest, making it 1-nil North Shore Mariners.

Sutherland Shire FA were straight back on the front foot despite conceding the opener. Isabella Georgievski nodded wide from a corner. Next it was Sutherland Shire FA’s talisman Baker who found enough space to roll home for 1-1 at the break.

Buoyed by their equaliser just before the break, Sutherland Shire FA flew into the lead after the break and silenced the home crowd. Again, it came through Baker. The Mariners offered her space on the edge of the box, Baker obliged and slotted home for 2-1 Sutherland Shire FA.

North Shore Mariners were rocked but not out of the contest. They responded immediately with a set piece goal to make it 2-2. The corner was swung in, the initial effort thudded against the bar then Sarah Piriz swept home.

The Mariners hit the go button from that moment to lift the tempo of the contest. Substitute Hannah Beard linked well with Boateng for the latter to be denied by a fantastic save from Sutherland Shire FA custodian Chloe Avgoustou.

Down the other end, Baker again strode confidently into the box but this time, Mariners custodian Trudy Burke came up trumps to keep the game level. Burke’s save would be rewarded instantly as Mariners edged into the lead again.

From a set piece, the ball pinballed like it was a level in Sonic the Hedgehog before it fell to the capable foot of Boateng. The striker thrashed home her sixth goal of the season to make it 3-2 North Shore Mariners.

There was a final twist in the tale left in this contest. Sutherland Shire FA continued to pore forward and find an equaliser for the second time. Baker nodded wide from a corner then Bratjanscak and Stevie Donougher had chances which angled wide.

North Shore Mariners had a late chance through substitute Hannah Young from the corner which was thumped wide. The Mariners did enough, secured top spot and are in a prime position for the upcoming finals series.

Talking afterwards North Shore Mariners coach Grant Lee was happy to get the result and see the improvement from the squad headed into the finals coming up:

“Sutherland Shire FA are a good side which made us work for the result today. We did a few silly things which didn’t make it easy for us especially against a side like Sutherland Shire FA. You can’t relax against them otherwise it will be in the back of the net, and it was today.” said Lee.

“You would like to think we’ll cement top spot next weekend and give us that 1 against 4 match-up. Rita Boateng was exciting to watch. She can do things which others can’t that makes it exciting for the crowd to watch and she has developed well since coming from park football.” finished Lee.

For Sutherland Shire FA coach Alan Edmonson, the result wasn’t ideal but the commitment and effort was there for his side as they keep their heads held high after an exciting game of football between the top two sides:

“They played quite well. Committed was the word and it was fantastic. I couldn’t find a player who wasn’t putting 100% to make any subs today. I think a draw might’ve been a fair result for the game and hopefully we might have a rematch later this season.” he said.

MATCH STATS

Sunday 20 September 2020

Northbridge Oval, Northbridge

Referee: M. Ryan

Assistant Referees: A. Hasnani & L. Jones

North Shore Mariners 3 (Boateng, Bozanic, Piriz)

Sutherland Shire FA 2 (Baker 2)

North Shore Mariners: 1. BURKE Trudy, 2. PIRIZ Sarah, 6. MIRKOVIC Madeleine (12. BEARD ‘51), 8. CHRONIS Evelyn, 11. BOATENG Rita, 13. DI SCIASCIO Erica, 14. BOZANIC Siahn, 15. GREY Elizabeth, 27. BRADLEY Eleni (18. GRIFFIN ‘29)(20. YOUNG ‘85), 34. JOHNSON Rochelle, 35. CLOUT Tessa

Unused subs: 28. HANNIGAN Emma, 31. CROUCH Jasmine

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Sutherland Shire FA: 1. AVGOUSTOU Chloe, 2. NISBET Genevieve, 3. GEORGIEVSKI Isabella, 4. HUTTON Rebekah, 7. MAXWELL Morgan, 8. BESZ Nicole, 9. BAKER Jordan, 10. BRATJANSCAK Ursula, 11. DALE Kate, 12. CODMANI Janan, 32. DONOUGHER Stevie

Unused subs: 6. YEATS Zoe, 14. MASTORIS Angelina, 21. RYAN Hannah, 23. HART Zoe, 24. REGAN Ashleigh

Yellow cards: Maxwell

Red cards: nil

SD Raiders FC 4 defeated Inter Lions 0

It was a successful close to SD Raiders FC home campaign this season with a comfortable 4-nil result against Inter Lions today at Ernie Smith Reserve.

Today’s result gave SD Raiders FC moved into fifth position after this result which snapped a two-game losing streak. Kiara Coscia scored the only goal in the first half when she swept home from a goalmouth scramble.

The second half was one-way traffic as SD Raiders FC piled on the pain. Coscia completed her brace whilst Erin Phelan slotted home her first of the season in the rout. It was an afternoon to remember for debutant Ella Abdul Massih who found the back of the net in the second half with a thumping header on a wonderful afternoon for SD Raiders FC.

Gladesville Ravens 3 defeated UNSW FC 1

In the night cap this weekend, Gladesville Ravens triumphed 3-1 against a stubborn UNSW FC side tonight at Christie Park.

Gladesville Ravens would be the first to admit their title defense has been a disappointment but tonight represented some of the old Ravens in their football. Ravens youngster Lara Brewis scored a memorable first senior goal after she weaved through the students side for 1-nil.

The home side added a further two goals in the first half through Annalise Schiraldi to give the home fans some delight in their final home fixture of the season. Gladesville Ravens moved into eighth after this result.

For UNSW FC, it was another forgettable contest. The students scored the only goal of the second half through a Miranda Summersby-Mitchell header for some consolation. 2020 has slipped away quickly for them after a bright start to the shortened campaign.

St George FC vs Marconi Stallions was washed out.

Nepean FC & Central Coast Mariners had the bye.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)