Round 3 Review – League One Women’s
There was drama, action and excitement as the League One Women’s Round 3 competition featured some big results and a flurry of goals.
Let’s get to this week’s review.
Match of the Round: Marconi Stallions 1 drew with SD Raiders FC 1
Marconi Stallions and SD Raiders played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Marconi Stadium in the League One Women’s Match of the Round on Sunday afternoon.
The first effort of the contest came from the visitors. Sarah Mandile found some space and fired off an early warning shot which Stallions keeper Yoshimi Miki saved easily.
Marconi Stallions built up the corners early in the contest and opened the scoring from a set piece. It was the perfect delivery from Michelle Dal Bon which found the head of Julia Figeuira to nod home for 1-0.
Looking to respond, SD Raiders FC got their foot on the ball. Their top scorer Elin Rosenberg Cemazar unfurled an effort which went straight at Miki.
Once again, Marconi Stallions looked to the set piece for a further goal. Samantha Huynh stood over the free-kick which was saved easily by SD Raiders FC keeper Natasha Pentecost.
The Stallions had a pair of chances to further extend their lead. Figueira cushioned a ball into the path of Ella Sievwright who shot straight then Emma Voloder headed wide from a corner.
SD Raiders FC weathered that storm and equalised just before the break. Amanda Radmilo started the move with a good pass and strode onto the return ball to chip home and it was 1-1.
Buoyed by that goal, SD Raiders FC almost took the lead right before half-time. Isabella Sultan dragged a shot wide then Mandile hit the base of the post.
Marconi Stallions also had one final chance before the break. They had another set piece but the free-kick sailed straight at the keeper and the match ended 1-1 at the break.
Coming out for the second half, both sides were cagey in the opening stages. Neither teams wanted to give an inch and afford their opponents a chance to win the game.
Substitute Sienna Jackson had one of the best chances for the Marconi Stallions in the second half when she found room to fire a shot which whistled wide.
It was a substitute for SD Raiders FC that almost handed them the lead. Ellie-Leigh Lontis made a driving run on the right before she cut it back for Rosenberg Cemazar whose shot went over the bar.
There was nothing to separate the sides after 90 minutes and the points were shared.
Post match, Marconi Stallions coach Andy Severin lamented on the two points lost for his side.
“It was a case of two points that got away from us.
“I am proud of the girls, they showed character through the whole 90 minutes,” said Severin.
For SD Raiders FC coach Linda Khamis, she was happy to get a point out of the game as well as seeing her side improve.
“It was a game that if we had to do it over, we would fix up the patchy moments in the game.
“Us trying to play football was a positive. To equalise and almost pinch the game in either half shows great character for us.” said Khamis.
“The intensity and effort levels from the girls was great. The team get out there to play for each other and the club and I couldn’t ask for anymore from them.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Figueira ‘8)
SD Raiders FC 1 (Radmilo ‘40)
Sunday 26 March 2023
Marconi Stallions, Bossley Park
Marconi Stallions: 2. Caley Donohoe (8. Louise Dal Bon ‘69), 3. Emma Voloder, 4. Samantha Huynh, 9. Julia Figueira, 11. Michelle Dal Bon, 12. Daniela Brekic, 13. Alexandra Morgan (17. Lauren Featherstone ‘56), 19. Erinn Cleghorn, 20. Yoshimi Miki, 24. Kyra Cabrera (10. Sienna Jackson ‘45), 34. Ella Sievwright
Unused subs: 1. Claira Jovanovski, 25. Caitlin Cook, 37. Olivia Van Uden
Yellow cards: Featherstone, Brekic, Sievwright
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders FC: 1. Natasha Pentecost, 5. Amanda Radmilo, 6. Jessica Neville, 8. Layne Knight, 10. Isabella Sultan, 12. Kristen Prior, 13. Olga Gasteratos (4. Bojana Poletanovic ‘45), 14. Sarah Mandile (27. Denise Justice ‘60), 20. Tahlia Voskanian (28. Ellie-Leigh Lontis ‘60), 25. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar, 33. Elana Topalidis
Unused subs: 9. Lauren Wickremeratne, 31. Jemica Artillaga, 38. Tiana Mobbs
Yellow cards: Voskanian, Neville
Red cards: nil
South Coast Flame FC 0 drew with UNSW FC 0
South Coast Flame FC and UNSW FC played out a gritty 0-0 draw on Saturday night.
That was the first scoreless draw of the League One Womens season and it will be a game that UNSW FC felt got away from them.
For South Coast Flame FC, it was another point secured and one that’s showed that they can compete with the best even though it was their second successive draw.
Coach Dan Naumovski was pleased with the effort from his side and their commitment.
St George FC 0 defeated by Hills United FC 1
Hills United FC won a tight tussle in dramatic fashion with a 1-0 win over St George FC at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams went at it for the full 90 minutes and the winner came in the final few minutes. Both Alexandra Hinson and Sarah Easthope were exceptional between the sticks.
In the end, Hills United FC ran out winners. Brooke Hastie curled home a wonderful free-kick which keeps the visitors undefeated.
St George FC once again showed they won’t be a pushover side for anyone in the League One Womens competition. They held their own against last year’s Grand Finalists and will take that momentum into their next game.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners 2
A bruised Mt Druitt Town Rangers competed well against Central Coast Mariners in their 2-0 defeat at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Town Rangers had some key personal missing through injury but battled well against a strong Mariners side and conceded a goal in each half.
Central Coast Mariners remain at the top of the League One Womens ladder and this performance showed why they have been the early pacesetters. They controlled the game well and scored through Ava-Marie Carlson and midfielder Sophie Nenadovic to take the points.
For Mt Druitt Town Rangers, they remained upbeat despite the loss. The hosts hit the crossbar twice and competed until the final whistle.
Inter Lions 8 defeated Camden Tigers 4
Inter Lions triumphed 8-4 in a goal fest against Camden Tigers at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Stung by the three goals early on, Inter Lions went bang with four straight goals to take the lead before Santina Wang added the fifth. Annabel Forbes and Natalie Pajor got in on the scoring act with one final goal from Inter in the 89th minute.
Camden Tigers started the game with a bang and strode out to a 3-0 lead. Kristy Rohrer opened the scoring before Samantha Cefai and Alex Honan got in on the act. Cefai made it a double late in the game with a consolation goal but it was Inter who took it to the next level finishing off the match with a big victory.
South East Phoenix FC 0 defeated by Nepean FC 7
Nepean FC got their first win in style with a comfortable 7-0 win over South East Phoenix FC at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Nepean FC put a stamp on the game early with a goal in the third minute from Jessica Robinson.
Bronte Connolly and Gemma Morgan both scored braces while Sofia Sollecito and Ella Joyce were the other two goal scorers in the thumping. Coach Ben Gough praised the side for their development in their roles and keeping a clean sheet.
Blacktown City FC 1 drew with Sutherland Shire FA 1
The points were shared in a pulsating 1-1 draw between Blacktown City FC and Sutherland Shire FA at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Sutherland Shire FA took the lead through a goal from young striker Violet Keelan who opened her account for the 2023 season.
City then equalised voa Channelle Tabone, her first for the club, which came from a wonderful run from Malea Cesar. Coach David O’Keefe praised Lexy Thorpe and Ainsley Byrne for their work defensively alongside custodian Rochaix in the draw.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
