Round 4 Review – League One Women’s
Match of the Round: Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs SD Raiders FC
SD Raiders FC defeated Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1-0 at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers battled hard but were unable to take their chances in the game. The hosts changed their structure in the second half which gave them more bite but couldn’t find an equaliser in this contest.
For SD Raiders FC, this continues their strong start to the 2023 campaign. They remain unbeaten through the first month of the competition. Sarah Mandile was the match winner with her goal just after half time to open her account for the season.
The first chance fell to the visitors just after three minutes. SD Raiders FC captain Elin Rosenberg Cemazar had an effort which bent wide of the post.
In a keenly contested first half, chances were hard to come by from both teams. Sarah Mandile led the line well for SD Raiders FC while Holly Pender was almost played through twice on goal.
Isabella Sulton was one of SD Raiders FC’s main contributors in their draw last week and she tried to get the visitors going once more with a shot that went out for a corner.
On the half hour mark, Rosenberg Cemazar was in the action again. She found a pocket of space and unfurled a shot which was taken well by Mt Druitt Town Rangers custodian Renee Krstanovska.
SD Raiders FC continued to have the lion share of the chances in a tight first half. Sultan had a pair of shots firstly from a Mandile pass then firing right at Krstanovska.
The visitors had the final chance of the half through Olivia Campbell who was on the end of a good passing move from SD Raiders FC and shot straight as the teams went to the sheds at 0-0.
Coming out of the break, SD Raiders FC almost felt sublime. Rosenberg Cemazar crashed her free-kick against the post and the follow up was turned home but it was deemed offside.
SD Raiders FC did find the opener in the 54th minute. A cushioned ball from Elana Topalidis found an onrushing Mandile who fired home for 1-0.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers almost had an instant response. Makayla Crouch broke the offside trap and fired straight then Holly Pender bore down on goal but it was well defended.
Some quick thinking almost gave SD Raiders FC a second. From a quick throw in, the ball went to Rosenberg Cemazar who thrashed wide of the mark.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Neil Ross rung the changes and the introduction of Rita Boateng got the hosts a pair of chances which were swept away.
Pender, who had timed her run to perfection, went the closest to getting Mt Druitt Town Rangers back in the contest. She strode through on goal and thundered an effort off the post.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers had one final chance to get an equalier in the dying stages. Substitute Tamieka Eddy put Pender through on goal but her shot was fired straight at SD Raiders FC keeper Natasha Pentecost.
Chasing the equaliser meant that Mt Druitt was vulnerable at the back and SD Raiders FC almost scored a second goal. Substitute Denise Justice found Sultan who fired wide of the mark.
Post match SD Raiders FC’s Catherine Cannuli was pleased with the effort from her young side and their work through the first month.
“It was a tough battle, it isn’t easy to come to Popondetta Park and get three points.
“The girls fought well and played some good football.
“We could’ve got a few more in the end.
“If you look at our average age, it is a young team which is a credit to them.” said Cannuli.
For Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Neil Ross, he was disappointed not to get anything from the contest after a much improved second half.
“The score line is a fair one.
“We came back in the second half, had a lot of chances but were unable to finish them off.
“We are certainly down on troops but that is no excuse, you get by with your depth in this competition and look to get a few back next week,” said Ross.
Match Stats
Sunday April 2 2023
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0
SD Raiders FC 1 (Mandile ‘54)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 2. Holly Williams, 5. Zineta De Beer, 6. Grace Chambers, 9. Holly Pender, 12. Hannah Plaatjes, 16. Christine Granero (Tamieka Eddy ‘80), 19. Makayla Crouch (7. Rita Boateng ‘64 (29. Page Williams ‘86)), 30. Olivia Truong, 33. Angelina Warton (38. Kaitlyn Smith ‘64), 50. Renee Krstanovska, 63. Paris Vuniya (13. Tia Berg ‘45)
Unused subs: 1. Bronwyn Jarvis
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders FC: 1. Natasha Pentecost, 5. Amanda Radmilo, 6. Jessica Neville, 8. Layne Knight, 9. Lauren Wickremeratne (4. Bojana Poletanovic ‘75), 10. Isabella Sultan, 12. Kristen Prior, 14. Sarah Mandile (27. Denise Justice ‘88), 17. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar, 26. Olivia Campbell (13. Olga Gasteratos ‘45), 33. Elana Topalidis
Unused subs: 7. Abigail Boag, 31. Jemica Artilliga, 38. Tiana Mobbs
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Camden Tigers 0 defeated by South Coast Flame FC 5
South Coast Flame FC turned up the heat on Camden Tigers FC in their 5-0 win at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors registered their first win of the 2023 campaign in fine style. South Coast Flame FC ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first half and went on with the job. Bronte Trew continued her fine form scoring a double which took her tally to five for the season.
Cristina Barraza was the other Flame player to find the back of the net in the first half. Lulu Lozano and Sariah Wilson were the goal scorers in the second stanza to round out the scoring on a good afternoon for the visitors.
Camden Tigers were competitive for the whole 90 minutes and on another day might have found the back of the net a few times. The Tigers were reduced to ten players in the second half when Indiana Hernandez was sent off for a second yellow then to nine when Alexandria Witton also saw red late in the piece.
Nepean FC 1 drew with Marconi Stallions 1
The points were shared between Nepean FC and Marconi Stallions in their 1-1 draw played at Jamison Park on Sunday afternoon.
Nepean FC took the lead early in the contest through Jamaica Marshall and held that advantage until the break. The hosts were reduced to ten when Shieden Jabour was sent off just before half-time but were able to create chances on the break to try and take all three points.
Marconi Stallions fought back to take a point from the game but again coach Andy Severin felt that it was two points dropped for the team. Louise Dal Bon scored the equaliser on her starting return for the Stallions from a well-worked team goal.
Stallions coach Andy Severin praised his back four for their work across the game including Sienna Jackson and Emma Voloder.
Nepean FC will take the momentum of the last two results into their game next weekend.
South East Phoenix FC 2 drew with Sutherland Shire FA 2
South East Phoenix FC produced a stirring comeback in their 2-2 draw with Sutherland Shire FA at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Sutherland Shire FA thought they were on the way to their first win of the League One Womens season when they led 2-0 just after half-time. Tali Fowler opened the scoring for the visitors before young star Violet Keelan doubled the advantage.
For South East Phoenix FC, they showed tremendous grit and spirit to pull off a comeback. Jarrah Fuz brought it back to 2-1 before Isabella McConnville fired home the equaliser which was her second of the season.
The final fifteen minutes of the game was an open-ended affair where Sutherland Shire FA pushed to regain their lead, but the hosts weathered the storm. This point was the first one that South East Phoenix FC picked up for the season.
Hills United FC 2 defeated Blacktown City FC 0
The unbeaten start continues for Hills United FC after their 2-0 win over rivals Blacktown City FC at Bella Vista Public School on Sunday afternoon.
Hills United FC took bragging rights in the derby contest in comfortable fashion and maintained their unbeaten start to the League One Womens competition. Isabella Sciberras scored in either half for the hosts to make it five for the 2023 season.
Blacktown City FC weren’t at their usual best with a slight come down after their dramatic midweek loss to Camden Tigers. The visitors were unable to keep the ball and force Hills United FC keeper Sarah Easthope into many stops.
Central Coast Mariners vs Inter Lions and UNSW FC vs St George FC were washed out
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
