Round 10 Review – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Round 10 is in the books and the top four have started to break away from the pack as the race for the top five in the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition heats up. St George FC, Northbridge Bulls FC and SD Raiders FC were all winners in another round full of drama, goals and action in this competition.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Gladesville Ravens vs Northbridge Bulls FC
A late Rita Boateng goal broke Gladesville Ravens and handed Northbridge Bulls FC a 3-2 success in a pulsating encounter at Christie Park tonight.
It is the perfect start to life under new head coach Joe Haywood for Northbridge Bulls after Rita Boateng’s late winner gave them all three points. Elizabeth Grey earlier had headed Northbridge Bulls into the lead twice with her brace.
Gladesville Ravens put up a huge fight and took it to last year’s Champions. Lara Brewis scored a delightful chip to make it 1-1 then Eloise Hansen again equalised in the second half but the spirit wasn’t enough to grab anything from this contest.
Under the bright lights, both sides wanted to start fast in this contest. Northbridge Bulls were the first to challenge when Hannah Brewer rocketed an effort wide. Next, Ravens star Elizabeth Gilbane created space for Ashleigh Stevens to fire straight.
The Bulls fresh from their bye continued their bright start as both Evelyn Chronis and Rita Boateng went close. The opener came from inside the box as the ball scrambled around before Elizabeth Grey nodded home to make it 1-nil to the visitors.
Ravens started to find their rhythm in the contest and equalised in the 21st minute. A delightful ball over the top found Lara Brewis running into space, she steadied before chipping home to make it 1-1 in an end-to-end encounter.
The goal spurred Ravens forward as Anja Seeto and Elizabeth Bennett had chances go wide in their best spell of the first half. Gladesville were eager to show that last weekend’s 4-nil defeat against Nepean FC was a blip on their radar.
As thoughts turned towards half-time for both sides, Northbridge Bulls inched themselves ahead again through the head of Grey. Caitlin Campbell dropped the free-kick right on the defender’s head to poke home for 2-1.
Coming out of the break, the visitors were again the brighter starters through Boateng trying to dig a shot out which was repelled but Ravens responded with a Keiko Tanaka free-kick which floated over the bar.
Gladesville Ravens dug deep again and found their second equaliser tonight. The ball fell into the path of Elosie Hansen inside the box and a composed finish from the Ravens attacker made it 2-2 as the game headed towards the hour mark.
The game started to stretch as the finish line came into view, but it was Northbridge Bulls who were on the front foot looking for their fourth win of the season. Hannah Beard went close twice in quick succession as the Bulls charged forward.
It looked like the game was going to need one moment of magic to decide the destination of the three points and it was sparked again by Beard. She weaved through the Ravens defense like a hot knife through butter before Boateng turned home the cross for 3-2.
The Bulls were able to see out the remainder of the time to deliver new coach Joe Haywood victory in his first game in the dugout. It also brings Northbridge into equal third spot alongside SD Raiders headed to the halfway mark.
Speaking afterwards, Northbridge Bulls FC coach Joe Haywood praised his side for their performance and getting three points in his first game:
“It was a good performance overall. Always happy to get a win for the ladies and three points against a tough side. Ravens had their gameplan which got them two goals. That is something we need to work on with our mental stability but our quality shone through in the end.” said Haywood.
For Gladesville Ravens coach Claude De Francesco, he was disappointed to lose that clash in such circumstances after a huge effort from the side:
“I thought our girls were fantastic tonight. To lose in the last five minutes is disappointing especially because we had a chance down their end and it broke to Hannah Beard to get them home. This was a good performance as we rebuild this season and use it as a springboard for next season.” finished De Francesco.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 6 June 2021
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Alan Munro
Assistant Referees: Matthew Salmon & Charles H
Gladesville Ravens 2 (Brewis and Hansen)
Northbridge Bulls FC 3 (Grey 2 and Boateng)
Gladesville Ravens: 5. TANAKA Keiko, 7. SEETO Anja, 8. VLANGOS Georgia, 9. ZACZEK Zoe, 11. BREWIS Lara, 12. DENBY Astreia, 15. GILBANE Elizabeth, 20. STEVENS Ashleigh (23. MIKAELIAN ‘63), 24. WATSON-CARR Grace, 25. HANSEN Eloise (35. SCHIRALDI ‘59 (26. O’REILLY ‘85)), 31. BENNETT Elizabeth
Unused subs: 2. HARKIN Amy, 4. LIDBETTER Eleanor
Yellow cards: Zaczek
Red cards: nil
Northbridge Bulls FC: 1. BURKE Trudy, 2. BOATENG Rita, 3. BOOKER Bridget, 7. CAMPBELL Caitlin, 10. CHRONIS Evelyn (5. PARKER ‘65), 11. GREY Elizabeth, 12. BEARD Hannah, 14. CASAMENTO Cara (19. CLOUT ‘83), 15. BOZANIC Siahn (25. GYZEN ‘77), 16. DI SCIASCIO Erica, 22. BREWER Hannah
Unused subs: 13. COWARD Lara, 21. SEGAVCIC Keeley
Yellow cards: Brewer ‘38, Grey ‘52
Red cards: nil
Inter Lions 0 defeated by St George FC 7
St George FC produced an emphatic response after last week’s defeat, thrashing Inter Lions 7-nil this afternoon at Majors Bay Reserve.
The Saints travelled across town on a mission to get back on track. It was mission successful after putting seven past the league’s most porous defense in Inter Lions. Jordan Baker took the headlines with her hat-trick to make it 17 goals for the season.
For the rest of St George FC’s scoring spree, it was shared around the playing group as the Saints remain at the summit of the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens ladder by four points. Sarah Nachar, Sunny Lucien, Alicia Lee and Genevieve Russo were the scorers.
Marconi Stallions 1 drew with Nepean FC 1
Both Marconi Stallions and Nepean FC threw some heavy punches in this top five clash but it ended 1-1 at Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Marconi Stallions dominated possession and chances but were unable to make it count on the scoreboard against a well set up Nepean FC defense. Emma Voloder scored her first of the season in a result which Stallions coach Andy Severin called a fair one on balance.
For Nepean FC, their goal came from an errant pass which gave Caitlin Bass the chance to find the back of the net in a case of one of those afternoons. The result does allow Northbridge Bulls and SD Raiders FC gain ground on the second-place side.
It won’t be a point which pleases either coach after the game but it does give both Marconi and Nepean another point in their chase for the top five. Nepean FC coach Alan Tasses admitted his side weren’t at their usual standard but to take a point away from home is good.
South East Phoenix FC 1 drew with UNSW FC 1
The points were shared in a tight tussle in Nowra where South East Phoenix FC and UNSW FC drew 1-1 on a brisk afternoon at South Nowra Football Complex.
South East Phoenix FC picked up their first point since their Round 3 win against Inter Lions and moved them to four points on the ladder. UNSW FC will be disappointed to lose after leading the game 1-nil headed into the break.
UNSW FC gave themselves the perfect start when Hannah Johnston found the back of the net in the first half which was the number 10’s first goal of the season. The students were unable to pass through the 90 minutes with that margin and take one point back to Sydney.
For the home side, it was a performance full of heart and showed there is some fight left in them as we turn towards the second half of the season. Bronte Trew fired home her fifth goal of the season to snatch a point in the 1-1 draw.
SD Raiders FC 2 defeated Sutherland Shire FA 0
SD Raiders FC’s strong home record was kept intact in a comfortable 2-nil success against Sutherland Shire FA this afternoon at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Fortress Ernie Smith remains unbreeched as SD Raiders FC took their unbeaten run to three games after disposing of a feisty Sutherland Shire FA outfit. The goals came from youngster Ella Abdul-Massih and consistent Kristi Pavlicevic.
Recent form had seen Sutherland Shire FA crawl their way closer to the chasing pack for the top five but this will knock them back into seventh spot. The visitors battled hard but were unable to get through a stubborn SD Raiders FC defense.
For SD Raiders FC coach Anthony McFadden, he was pleased to take three points despite not being a vintage performance for his side. He also emphasized their good work in patches which they just need to replicate for longer periods of the contest.
Central Coast Mariners had the bye
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
