Round 2 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s

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The National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition ladder resembles a Split Endz song as “we see red at the top with both Nepean FC and St George FC off to flying starts.

SD Raiders also remain undefeated in a weekend full of drama across five fixtures on Sunday afternoon which saw Central Coast and Marconi pick up their first win.

Match of the Round: Nepean FC 5 defeated UNSW FC 0

It was a five star performance from Nepean FC who thrashed UNSW FC 5-nil this afternoon at a crisp Cook Park in the Match of the Round.

From the opening whistle, Nepean FC got themselves on the front foot. Stefanie Trovato got the scoring going with a typical thunderous effort. Imogen Lane added a brace before the break to make it 3-nil then Brittany Pelle and Tayla Chaplin finished off a fantastic afternoon for the Nepean FC side.

It will be an afternoon to forget for UNSW FC. They were second best from the opening whistle and were unable to match the Nepean FC side for intensity. The students will hope for some reinforcements next weekend as they go back to the drawing board.

On a fine afternoon in Sydney’s west, Nepean FC started the contest on the front foot. The hosts had a goal within the first three minutes. Striker Stefanie Trovato popped up to fire home after a corner to make it 1-nil.

Not content with their single goal lead. Nepean FC went close through Imogen Lane then Tayla Chaplin was on the end of some good work but pushed her effort against the post, quickly followed by Chaplin forced UNSW FC keeper Nadine Knight into a big save.

The resistance for UNSW FC lasted until the half hour mark. Lane burst into the box on the left before she drove one into the corner of the net, making it 2-nil. Chaplin almost added a third from a scramble inside the box minutes later.

There was one final delight for Nepean FC headed into the break. Again, Lane showed some sublime skill to break free then rolled home to make it 3-nil. The home crowd in raptures as Nepean FC were three to the good at the break.

Coming out of the break, UNSW FC looked to get themselves a foothold in the contest. The students tried to ramp up their intensity but much of their attack was blunted before the final play and ended in a tame shot.

Alan Tasses continued to push Nepean FC forward though. The home side showed a ruthless edge to their play this afternoon. They added a pair of goals in the second half through Chaplin, who got the fourth as due reward for her effort.

Substitute Brittany Pelle mopped up the scoring late in the contest. She was on the spot to tap the ball home to make it 5-nil. Nepean FC making their dominance count on the scoreboard and make it back-to-back wins to start the season.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Alan Tasses praised his side for their complete performance against UNSW FC and enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon:

“It was a lot, lot better today. We took our chances this afternoon. That first half made me quite happy and the second half got a bit sloppy. The game lost it’s shape but happy to add two more goals.” said Tasses.

“Having everyone available and pushing for first grade selection has been good. It makes training much more and enjoyable, so we hope touch wood that it continues that way.” he finished.

For UNSW FC coach Guillermo Rubio, he conceded his side wasn’t at the races this afternoon. Hopefully the students will find some reinforcements to help them in the next few weeks:

“We were never in the game today. Started slow, conceded the goal and we dropped our heads after that. We didn’t match their intensity and it showed in the game. It was disappointing all round for us today.” said Rubio.

MATCH STATS

Sunday 11th April 2021

Cook Park, St Marys

Nepean FC 5 (Lane 2, Trovato, Pelle, Chaplin)

UNSW FC 0

Nepean FC: 1. EASTHOPE Sarah, 2. JACKSON Emma, 3. DAVIDSON Aisling (5. HANSEN ‘65), 4. BARTLE Shailee, 6. HALLS Annie, 7. TROVATO Stefanie (17. BERIOS ‘76), 8. LANE Imogen (11. NAGY ‘45), 10. GALAYINI Bianca, 12. CHAPLIN Tayla, 14. BASS Caitlin (9. PELLE ‘65), 15. WHEELER Cassandra

Unused sub: 16. BRIEN Bridget

Yellow cards: Halls

Red cards: nil

UNSW FC: 1. KNIGHT Nadine, 3. SMITH Alice, 4. DARLASTON Rio (19. MCCORMICK ‘53), 5. CASSERLY Tara, 8. LILLESKARE Malin, 9. READ Darcey (10. JOHNSTON ‘65), 11. HESS Eve, 13. WEBB Breony, 18. KUANG Jesse, 28. BATTEN Daniella, 29. BLAYNEY Ashley (14. FERNANDEZ ‘66)

Unused subs: 21. MILISAVLJEVIC Tiana

Yellow cards: Johnston

Red cards: nil

Sutherland Shire FA 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners FC 3

Central Coast Mariners put together a comfortable 3-nil result against Sutherland Shire FA this afternoon at a fresh Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Dan Barrett will be delighted to see his side put together a full performance to garner all three points this afternoon. Emily Diaz the architect of the result with a pair of goals while Annalise Rasmussen contributed the other goal.

Sutherland Shire FA will take heart in their performance. The side had five players making their debut this afternoon and despite the result matched it with one of the competition heavyweights. They showed some good patches of play in the second half to build on.

Marconi Stallions 3 defeated Gladesville Ravens 2

Marconi Stallions got themselves off the mark for the season in a 3-2 result against a luckless Gladesville Ravens side Sunday afternoon at Marconi Stadium.

The Stallions galloped into a 2-nil lead before the break. Tania Baban got her first goal of the season before Julia Morales made it goals in back-to-back weeks to give the Stallions the two-goal buffer at the break.

Credit to Gladesville Ravens who showed some fight in the second half. The Ravens will rue another afternoon of lax finishing that cruelled them. Eleanor Lidbetter and Elizabeth Gilbane got their goals in the losing effort.

Tonight belonged to Marconi Stallions though. Baban completed her brace in the second half to confirm the first three points of the season for the home side. Andy Severin will be happy to get off the mark and put behind them the opening day defeat to St George.

South East Phoenix FC 1 defeated by SD Raiders FC 5

The trip to the south coast was a success for SD Raiders FC who triumphed 5-1 against South East Phoenix FC this afternoon at South Nowra Football Complex.

SD Raiders FC built on their solid win from last week and put five goals into the Phoenix net. Sarah Mandile took the headlines for the visitors. The goal machine scored a hat-trick to help SD Raiders to a 4-nil half-time lead.

The other goal went to Young Matilda Ella Abdul-Massih with another being an own goal against the South East Phoenix FC side. Coach Anthony McFadden will be delighted in the progress from his side in the first fortnight.

For South East Phoenix FC, they battled hard against the clinical SD Raiders FC side but were second best this afternoon. They found a consolation goal in the second half to Bronte Trew to make it back-to-back weeks South East Phoenix FC have found the net.

St George FC 3 defeated Northbridge Bulls FC 2

In only two weeks, St George FC have sent an early message handing Northbridge Bulls FC their first defeat in a 3-2 success this afternoon at St George Stadium.

St George FC must feel like they are stuck in a time warp. This time the Saints scored in the first minute of the contest and kept themselves ahead to knock over the champions. Jordan Baker notched her fourth of the season while Sarah Nachar and Morgan Maxwell found the back of the net.

Northbridge Bulls will be stewing in their first loss since coming back to the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition. Last year’s Golden Boot Evelyn Chronis contributed both goals for the home side to take her tally to four for the year.

Inter Lions had the bye

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)