Round 11 Review – League One Women’s
Round 11 in the Football NSW League One Womens competition once again saw the drama in the competition go up another notch.
The seven games delivered some quality football and goals which have helped to shake up the competition ladder.
Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Sutherland Shire FA 1 drew with Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1
It was honours even at Seymour Shaw after a 1-1 draw between Sutherland Shire FA and Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday night.
Sutherland Shire FA broke the deadlock late on through a magnificent solo goal from striker Violet Keelan in the 82nd minute. However, they weren’t able to hold on and had to settle for their fifth draw of the season.
For Mt Druitt Town Rangers, they will take a point after their encouraging second half display which saw Anicka Castaneda head home from a Holly Williams corner. Their other best chance was a one-on-one chance for Rita Boateng.
On a crisp night at Seymour Shaw, both Sutherland Shire FA and Mt Druitt Town Rangers strode onto the pitch confident to take three points back home.
The opening exchanges were tight between these two top half teams. Rita Boateng had a warning shot for the visitors while Janan Codmani had her effort pushed away by Mt Druitt keeper Renee Krstanovska.
Set pieces were a key weapon for Mt Druitt Town Rangers in this contest. One of them fell to the foot of Hitomi Maeda who had her close-range effort blocked.
Sutherland Shire FA settled into their rhythm and had the next two shots. Codmani was involved again then striker Violet Keenan shot straight.
Holly Williams whipped in another free kick for Mt Druitt Town Rangers which found the head of Maeda but she nodded it wide of the mark.
Both sides were working hard but neither could find the room needed to get themselves a goal and the game headed to break locked up at 0-0.
Coming out of the break, Sutherland Shire FA went close again. Captain Genevieve Nisbet went direct from a free kick which needed an intervention from Krstanovska again.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were starting to pile up the shots. Boateng latched onto a cross from Holly Pender then sent her acrobatic effort over the bar.
Boateng went the closest to opening the scoring in the 64th minute. She was on the end of a passing move which left her one-on-one but she fired it over the crossbar.
Headed into the final 20 minutes both sides surged forward for a winner. Anicka Castaneda blazed wide for Mt Druitt while Keelan went close again for Sutherland Shire FA.
It was the young striker who broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute. She surged forward on the right wing before she unfurled a shot which dipped past Krstanovska to make it 1-0 to Sutherland Shire FA.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers left it late but found an equaliser from a set piece. Williams sent in the corner which saw Castaneda head home from close range to make it 1-1 in the 88th minute.
There were late chances for both sides through their goal scorers but they weren’t about to make their mark and the game ended all square.
Speaking post-match, Sutherland Shire FA coach Jon Long reflected on the game and the point earned by his side before their Sapphire Cup clash next week:
“It was a good game and well fought by both teams. It was different tactics from both sides but it is a shame that we gave away too many corners which led to the goal. It was always going to be a good arm wrestle so now we face Northern Tigers in the cup.” said Long.
For Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Neil Ross, he was delighted to take something from the contest with their second half effort:
“I thought it was a very close game and in the first half Sutherland Shire FA had the ball, but we had the chances. We were good on the counter and frustrated them with our defensive structure, so I’ll take a draw in this game.” said Ross.
Match Stats
Sutherland Shire FA 1 (Keelan ‘82)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 1 (Castaneda ‘88)
Sunday 21 May 2023
Seymour Shaw, Miranda
Sutherland Shire FA: 1. Jasmin Lawler, 2. Genevieve Nisbet, 3. Zoe Hart, 4. Angelina Mastoris, 6. Jasmine Stretton, 7. Violet Keelan, 8. Isabella Raad, 9. Alina Stojcevski (5. Ariane Brown ‘66), 10. Janan Codmani, 11. Christina Dendrinos, 32. Tahli Fowler
Unused subs: 12. Ella Gair, 13. Ella Boes, 17. Sarah Waser, 24. Ruby Hart, 37. Eva Maddox
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 2. Holly Williams, 4. Breony Webb, 7. Rita Boateng, 9. Holly Pender, 11. Hitomi Maeda, 12. Hannah Plaatjes, 19. Mikayla Crouch (13. Tia Berg ‘83), 30. Olivia Truong, 33. Angelina Warton (10. Isabella Williams ‘59), 40. Anicka Castaneda, 50. Renee Krstanovska
Unused subs: 1. Cassidy Chambers, 5. Zineta De Beer, 6. Grace Chambers, 17. Tasmyn Hill
Yellow cards: Webb
Red cards: nil
Nepean FC 0 defeated by UNSW FC 3
Leaders UNSW FC rolled on with their 3-0 win over Nepean FC at Cook Park on Sunday afternoon.
The students got their trip off to the perfect start when Marcella Santos found the back of the net within 120 seconds of the opening whistle for her eighth of the season. Jess Mullins popped up with a rare goal as well to make it 2-0 at the break.
UNSW FC completed the result with their third goal through Hannah Beard in the 74th minute which sees them maintain their two-point gap at the top of the table. Nepean FC have struggled to find their consistency in recent weeks which has hurt them.
Camden Tigers 0 defeated by Marconi Stallions 1
Marconi Stallions put in a shift in their 1-0 win over Camden Tigers down at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The Stallions were made to work for the result against a stubborn Tigers side. Ella Sievwright got the only goal of the contest after some superb work from Julia Figueira in the first half. Marconi now have won three on the bounce.
It could have been even better for the Stallions who had a penalty saved in the contest from a terrific save by Camden Tigers keeper Zarli Lakeman. She made some huge saves as the Tigers showed their defensive resolve at home.
Inter Lions 1 defeated by St George FC 5
St George FC were comfortable 5-1 winners over Inter Lions in their game at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The first half was a keenly fought affair between these two sides. Jordan Baker opened the scoring for St George FC before Riley Dennis equalised for Inter Lions.
St George FC extended their advantage in quick succession on the half hour mark. Kate Dale made it 2-1 before Morgan Maxwell gave the Saints a two-goal cushion. Kyla Vanderlaan and Jordan Baker rounded out the display with goals with second half goals in the five-star performance.
SD Raiders FC 0 defeated by Hills United FC 1
Hills United FC maintained their run with a 1-0 win over SD Raiders FC at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
It was a tight first half between these two sides who enjoyed success midweek in the Sapphire Cup and went into the sheds locked at 0-0 all. That also marked the second week in a row that Hills United FC were kept scoreless in the first half.
Hills United FC were able to finally break down the stubborn SD Raiders FC defence in the second half to take all three points. Imogen Lane scored in the 72nd minute for her ninth goal of the season and kept the visitors in third spot.
South East Phoenix FC 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners 10
It was a one-sided win for Central Coast Mariners in their 10-0 demolition of South East Phoenix FC at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Just like last week, Savannah Murray opened the scoring before Sophie Nenadovic and Chloe Smith found the back of the net to give the yellow-and-navy a 3-0 lead at half-time in the League One Womens distance derby.
There was a goal glut in the second half which saw the Mariners give a boost to their goal difference headed towards the midway point. Kaya Hawkinson scored in the 50th minute before Nenadovic completed her second hat-trick in a row to make it 6-0.
Hawkinson added another alongside a fourth from Nenadovic in their second half bonanza which also saw Chloe Smith get her second hat-trick of the season with the ninth and tenth goal for some happy travels back up the highway.
Blacktown City FC 0 defeated by South Coast Flame FC 2
South Coast Flame FC took home the points in a 2-0 win over Blacktown City FC at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
That makes it nine games unbeaten for South Coast Flame FC. The visitors scored twice in their fourth win of the campaign and kept them in the fight for the top four. They face Mt Druitt Town Rangers next weekend at home.
Blacktown City FC were once again left frustrated in this game. The hosts had enough chances to get themselves on the scoresheet but were unable to convert them while keeper Kiara Rochaix made some key saves in the game.
By Justin Davies @JustDavies90
