Round 1 Review – League One Women’s
The Football NSW League One Women’s season kicked off with a bang in Round 1 which set the tone for the season.
There were plenty of goals to enjoy across the seven games this weekend and it was headlined by the Match of the Round between Mt Druitt Town Rangers and St George FC.
Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs St George FC
Mt Druitt Town Rangers won 3-2 against a dogged St George FC side at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Town Rangers couldn’t have scripted a better start to their season. Their two star signings Leena Khamis and Rosie Galea scored in the first 15 minutes. They withstood a St George FC fightback before substitute Holly Dalrymple headed made it 3-1 in the 86th minute.
St George FC battled hard and almost snatched a point late in the game. It was their two substitutes which found the back of the net for the visitors. Jaslyn Moore scored in the 46th minute then Jordan Baker set up a grandstand finish with her 92nd minute strike.
Both Mt Druitt Town Rangers and St George FC strode onto a steaming Popondetta Park looking to start their season with three points.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers got off to the perfect start. Leena Khamis chased down the ball and swept the ball into the net for 1-0 after one minute.
The Town Rangers kept pushing forward. A diagonal ball found Rita Boateng who strode forward and forced a save from St George FC’s Amy Orphanides.
Next, Rosie Galea had a chance for the hosts. She stood over a free-kick which went over the wall but curled wide of the mark.
St George FC settled into the game and had their chances. They looked towards Kyla Vanderlaan for their early chances.
Khamis turned provider in Mt Druitt’s next attack. She drove forward and linked with Isabella Williams who fired into the side netting.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers made it 2-0 in the 21st minute. Galea showed superb vision after seeing Orphanides off her line and chipped the ball into the net.
Both Williams and Boateng looked to add further goals for Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Their efforts went wide of the mark.
St George FC had a chance to pull a goal back after the referee pointed to the spot. Saints captain Nicole Besz stepped up and had her spot kick saved by Mt Druitt keeper Renee Krstanovska.
Coming out of the break, St George FC felt just fine. Substitute Jaslyn Moore made an instant impact turning well before firing into the net for 2-1 in the 46th minute.
The other St George substitute, Jordan Baker almost equalized. She broke through the line but put her effort right at Krstanovska.
St George kept flowing forward for a second goal. Christina Dendrinos fired wide then Baker whipped a free kick over the bar.
Galea tried to repeat the dose in the 73rd minute. This time, Orphanides got a strong palm to the ball and sent it out for a corner.
The Town Rangers had a chance from a corner to add their third again. Khamis made good connection but it was swept away by the Saints defence.
St George FC piled forward and peppered the Town Rangers goal. Baker went close then substitute Abbey-Rose Cryer hit the post.
Next, Nicole Besz unfurled a ball which found Baker in stride again but she was denied strongly by Krstanovska.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers absorbed the pressure and made it 3-1 in the 86th minute. Substitute Holly Dalrymple nodded home from some slick work.
The Saints refused to concede defeat and went forward again. Baker had a free kick which was fired over the bar.
They did bring it back to 3-2 in the 92nd minute. Baker was rewarded for her strong work and slotted the ball home.
St George FC had a few chances to snatch a point late in the piece but their chances couldn’t find the back of the net and Mt Druitt Town Rangers held on.
Post match, Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Ben Gough reflected on the three points for his side on Sunday afternoon:
“I am really happy that we battled against a strong side and the girls showed good character to push through. We didn’t have our best performance but it is nice to get a win. They came at us in the second half and forced Renee into some superb stops, but we held on.” said Gough.
For St George FC’s Carlo Tini, he reflected on a solid performance from his side in the second half:
“It was a very good game between the two teams. We held the ball well but didn’t take our chances to score. The first goal was a shame to come from an error then they capitalized on it. We nearly got there in the end but we’re back to it next week.” said Tini.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 3 March 2024
Popondetta Park
Referee: Nicholas Farmer
Assistant Referees: Volkan Aktan & Miles Munro
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Khamis ‘1 Galea ‘21 Dalrymple ’86)
St George FC 2 (Moore ’46 Baker ‘90+2)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 2. Holly Williams, 7. Sheiden Jabour, 9. Peyton Cyre, 10. Isabella Williams, 11. Rita Boateng (39. Sienna Cooper-Durant ’36), 15. Rosaria Galea (12. Alessia Perre ’91), 17. Anne Zebec, 20. Tasmyn Hill (18. Holly Dalrymple ’78), 23. Tiarne Flavin, 24. Leena Khamis, 88. Renne Krstanovska
Unused subs: 1. Laura Tredinnick, 22. Rose Ienna, 33. Mia Watson
Yellow cards: Zebec ‘91
Red cards: nil
St George FC: 1. Amy Orphanies, 3. Kate Dale, 4. Nicole Besz (2. Joanna Minas ’86), 6. Tara Palmer, 10. Morgan Maxwell (18. Jasyn Moore ’45), 11. Kyla Vanderlaan (8. Abbey-Rose Cryer ’63), 12. Janan Codmani, 13. Christina Dendrinos, 14. Angelina Manos (19. Raegan Deeley ’73), 16. Emma-Jane Watson (9. Jordan Baker ’45), 22. Rebecca Cousins
Unused subs: 21. Millie Markou
Yellow cards: Dendrinos ‘84
Red cards: nil
South Coast Flame FC 5 defeated Inter Lions FC 3
South Coast Flame were 5-3 winners against a gallant Inter Lions side down at Sir Ian McLennan Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was a fantastic start to the League One Women’s season in an eight-goal thriller which saw South Coast Flame FC pick up three points. The hosts scored first through Cristina Barraza to make it 1-0 in the 9th minute.
Inter Lions equalized through Isabel McBride for 1-1 in the 22nd minute before the goals flew in before half-time. Flame snatched the lead back through Sariah Wilson then strikes from Melina Visser and Belinda Anderson-Sharp in the 39th and 40th minute made it 3-2 Inter at the break.
The Lions defence held firm for a majority of the second half then they lost keeper Safa Hijazi to a straight red in the 78th minute which saw Emma Woodin subbed on. Flame took the extra player advantage with Barraza equalizing for 3-3 then Kellie McIntyre and Sofia Kent found the back of the net for a 5-3 Flame win.
Marconi Stallions 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners 2
Central Coast Mariners won 2-0 against Marconi Stallions in their game at Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Mariners started the season with three points which gives them the perfect platform to build on and banish last year’s demons. They met a strong opposition in Marconi Stallions who made them work for the win.
Claire Denning broke the deadlock for the yellow-and-navy late in the first half to make it a much happier team talk for Mariners boss Dan Barrett. Mariners completed the win with Tataya Curry-Jones making it 2-0 in the 54th minute and the visitors held out for the clean sheet.
SD Raiders FC 4 defeated Camden Tigers 0
SD Raiders FC were 4-0 winners against Camden Tigers in their game at Cirillo Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts got off to a fast start and blew away their local rivals to open their season with a valuable three points. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar found the back of the net in the 10th minute for 1-0 then Abigail Boag doubled their delight in the 12th minute.
It was a solid debut from Taiana Almeida who scored her first goal for SD Raiders FC to make it 3-0 before half-time. The second half was a tight tussle in the hot weather but Boag added her second goal in the 82nd minute to complete the scoresheet.
Hills United FC 7 defeated South East Phoenix FC 0
Hills United FC won 7-0 in their game against South East Phoenix FC down at Bella Vista Public School on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts made a big statement on the first weekend of the season with their win against a young South East Phoenix FC side. Isabella Sciberras kicked off the scoring in the 22nd minute before Bella Donaldson and Kaylie Shannon made it 3-0 at the break.
Shannon doubled her delight in the 55th minute for 4-0 then Sciberras added her second for the fifth goal. Ashleigh Heuston-Richardson celebrated her promotion to the first grade side with the sixth goal then Shannon completed her hat-trick for 7-0 in the 87th minute.
Blacktown City FC 5 defeated Nepean FC 1
Blacktown City FC won 5-1 against Nepean FC in the local derby at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was a five-star first hit out for Blacktown City FC who collect three points in a comfortable performance with some solid support for their first home game. They did concede the opening goal with Catriona Haberman scoring from a free-kick for 1-0 for Nepean FC in the 7th minute.
From there, it was all Blacktown City FC. Amelia Savetta equalized in the 34th minute followed by Claire Szymoniczek scoring either side of half-time to make it 3-1. Savetta rounded off the performance with a hat-trick after scoring in the 66th and 72nd minute.
Bansktown City Lions FC 11 defeated Sutherland Strikers FC 0
Bankstown City Lions thumped Sutherland Strikers FC 11-0 in the final game of Round 1 at Jensen Park.
The Lions roared into action and made a statement that they want to be promoted back into the top grade right away. Skye Casacchia made it 1-0 in the 6th minute followed a first half hat-trick from Japanese star Aya Seino which made it 4-0.
The damage didn’t stop there. Jess Stretton added the fifth goal before half-time then Roukayah Al Fararjeh hit the Striker for six in first half injury time. New coach Ante Covic was enjoying a comfortable first time in the dugout.
Seino continued her goal scoring form in the second half with two more goals to make it 8-0 on the hour mark. Annabel Forbes scored a minute after being subbed on for 9-0 then Anjelica Williams and Chelsea Greguric helped the Lions to 11-0 at the full-time whistle.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
