Round 4 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 4 saw the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition supply goals and drama at a high standard to round off the first month of the season. 24 goals were scored across five exciting matches.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: St George FC 3 defeated UNSW FC 0
Unbeaten St George FC kept their strong start to the season going with a comfortable 3-nil result against UNSW FC at St George Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Refreshed from a week off St George FC continued to show that they are hungry for success in 2021. Jordan Baker added a brace to take her season total to six while substitute Brittany Christie rounded off the scoring in another comfortable afternoon for the Saints.
The Students battled hard but showed they might not be ready to compete against the heavyweight sides this season. UNSW FC tried across the whole contest but were unable to match the firepower of St George FC.
On a bright afternoon down where the city meets the sea, St George FC started on the front foot with Sunny Lucien having the first shot at the back post which was blocked well.
UNSW FC responded with their own attack in the fifth minute. Eve Hess strode forward confidently but her effort came to naught. Much of their attack in the first half came down the right-hand side of the field. Their other chance in the first half fell to Jessie Kuang after a lung busting run which drifted wide.
Jordan Baker proved to be a nuisance for the students defense. She forced UNSW FC keeper Nadine Knight into a pair of saves – firstly from a deflected cross then a thumped header as the Saints sent out a warning shot.
St George FC continued to threaten through Morgan Maxwell and Baker. Both tested out Knight but the custodian did enough to repel the danger. Both sides headed into the break still deadlocked at 0-0 despite chances at both ends.
Right after the break, St George FC made amends for their errant work in the first half. Baker took the ball well to her feet, turned and fired into the net for 1-nil to the home side.
It was double delight for Baker in the 55th minute. Again, she had the ball in space on the right side, strode confidently into the box, rounded the keeper and easily made it 2-nil to St George FC and well on to a positive result.
UNSW FC tried to find their way back into the contest with a few waves of attack. Malin Lilleskare tested out St George FC keeper Chloe Avgoustou then Francesca Fernandez can’t finish off a cutback to claw back a goal.
Despite their huff and puff, UNSW FC can’t find a way past the rugged St George FC defense today and the home side sealed the result in stoppage time. Substitute Brittany Christie finished off a good move to make it 3-nil and another successful afternoon for the Saints.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 25th April 2021
St George Stadium, Rockdale
St George FC 3 (Baker 2, Christie)
UNSW FC 0
St George FC: 4. NACHAR Sarah (6. RUSSO), 9. LUCIEN Sunny (7. LEE), 14. BAKER Jordan (34. COUSINS), 15. PEZZOTTA Sara, 17. YEATS Zoe (8. BENNETT), 19. BESZ Nicole, 20. AVGOUSTOU Chloe, 23. FARMER Maddison (21. CHRISTIE), 24. DALE Kate, 25. MAXWELL Morgan, 28. HUTTON Bek
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
UNSW FC: 1. KNIGHT Nadine, 2. FERRIS Sarah (7. HANSLOW), 3. SMITH Alice (21. MILASAVLJEVIC), 5. CASSERLY Tara, 8. LILLESKARE Malin, 10. JOHNSON Harley (19. MCCORMICK), 11. HESS Eve, 14. FERNANDEZ Francesca, 17. BARTLEY Zoe, 18. KUANG Jessie (24. GOUCHER), 29. BLAYNEY Ashley (28. BATTEN)
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
With help from Assistant NPL2 Womens reporter Justin Smith (@SmithTheJustin
Sutherland Shire FA 2 defeated by Northbridge Bulls FC 5
Northbridge Bulls FC found their scoring groove in their 5-2 success against Sutherland Shire FA this afternoon at Harrie Denning Centre.
The Bulls found their shooting boots to record their third win of the season. The visitors lead 2-nil at the break before they piled in three more to confirm their result. Coach Grant Lee will be pleased to see his side take their chances after some misses last week.
Last year’s Golden Boot Evelyn Chronis took center stage again with a hat-trick. Chronis has seven goals for the season to become the joint top scorer in the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens. Rita Boateng and Hannah Beard also found the back of the net.
For Sutherland Shire FA, they were blown away in the first half. The home side did score twice in the second half to get on the scoreboard. Captain Genevieve Nisbet added another to her tally alongside Isabella Raad in the defeat.
Inter Lions 2 defeated by Marconi Stallions 4
It was a big response from Marconi Stallions after last week to defeat Inter Lions 4-2 in an intriguing contest at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
After their close defeat last week, Marconi Stallions built on that performance to put away a dogged Inter Lions side. It was headlined by a hat-trick to striker Tania Baban to take her tally to five goals for the season.
Lauren Featherstone added the other goal with a long-range bomb as coach Andy Severin praised the effort in their performance and the football they played in patches. Keeper Kiara Rochaix also made a fantastic penalty save in the result.
Inter Lions again showed they can find the back of the net despite being on the losing side of the contest once again. Alina Stojcevski and Sofia Issa supplied the two consolation goals in the second half for the home side.
South East Phoenix FC 1 defeated by Gladesville Ravens 3
Gladesville Ravens got themselves off the mark for the season with a 3-1 success against South East Phoenix FC down at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday.
The Ravens finally took flight for the season and move themselves away from the bottom of the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens ladder. Former Japan youth international Keiko Tanaka led the way for the side with a pair of goals. Lara Brewis kept her up purple patch with her second of the season in the victory.
South East Phoenix FC had their wings clipped this afternoon after their breakthrough success last weekend against Inter Lions. Amanda Carney was the lone goal scorer for the home side as they were unable to record back-to-back results.
SD Raiders FC 3 defeated Central Coast Mariners 1
Fortress Ernie Smith Reserve remained unbreeched again as SD Raiders FC triumphed 3-1 against Central Coast Mariners FC this afternoon.
SD Raiders FC sit alone at the top of the NPL2 Womens ladder after their third win in the first month of the competition. Coach Anthony McFadden will be pleased with how his side has started the campaign and look to push to secure their finals position early on.
The scoring was shared around by SD Raiders FC this afternoon. Sarah Mandile added another goal to her tally to make it seven for the season. Kiara Coscia and former Mariner Mikala Tucker were the other scorers in a strong effort from the home side.
Central Coast Mariners remain stuck in mid-table after their third defeat the season. They did find the back of the net once through Emily Diaz for some consolation in the contest. It is back to the drawing board with UNSW FC visiting next weekend.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
