Round 5 Review – League One Women’s
Round 5 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition delivered some long weekend excitement across all four days.
There were six games to enjoy which saw plenty of action and drama for those who attended.
The weekend’s action was highlighted by the fixture between title challengers Hills United FC and Central Coast Mariners.
The Match of the Round between Sutherland Strikers FC vs Inter Lions will be played on Wednesday 3 April and streamed live on the FNSW YouTube Channel.
Let’s get onto the review.
Hills United FC vs Central Coast Mariners
Hills United FC won 5-2 against Central Coast Mariners FC at Landen Stadium on Easter Monday afternoon.
The hosts solved their goal scoring woes in terrific style with five second half goals to blow away the Mariners after falling behind. Isabella Sciberras made it 1-1 in the 46th minute then a double from Kaylie Shannon put them ahead 3-1. Goals from Ellen and Portia Berios in the 73rd and 92nd minute rounded off the big win.
Central Coast Mariners will be disappointed to lose after they took the lead just before half-time through Maya Lobo in the 45th minute. Eliza Familton brought it back to 3-2 in the 60th but a red card to Tess Quilligan cruelled their chances of a result.
Both Hills United FC and Central Coast Mariners were undefeated as they walked onto Landen Stadium for an early season blockbuster.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors. Sophie Nenadovic found some space and blasted a shot over in the 10th minute.
Hills United FC strung together a few chances in quick succession. Both Kaylie Shannon and Isabella Sciberras having chances whistle wide.
Once again for the Mariners, Nenadovic was in the middle of the action. She wriggled free of a defender and bent an effort past the post.
Hills United FC are always dangerous from corners and Aisling Davidson went close with her header in the 36th minute that she nodded over.
Sciberras had the biggest chance of the half for the hosts. She strode past the defence and placed it right at Mariners keeper Chloe Carmichael.
Central Coast Mariners made it 1-0 in the 45th minute. It came from a corner which fell to Maya Lobo to volley home.
Coming out of the break, Hills United FC felt just fine. They equalized right away when Sciberras poked home from a free-kick for 1-1 in the 46th minute.
Kaylie Shannon had a quickfire double for Hills United FC. She slotted it home nicely in the 48th minute for 2-1.
Like Sydney buses, her second arrived quickly. It was another well-timed pass to release Shannon who found the bottom corner for 3-1 in the 51st minute.
She could’ve had a hat-trick moments later. Shannon unfurled a shot which whacked against the crossbar and was cleared.
Central Coast Mariners pulled one back to make it 3-2 in the goal flurry. Eliza Familton was on hand to sweep home in the 60th minute.
The task was made harder for the Mariners in the 71st minute. Tess Quilligan was shown a red card for her foul on Shannon.
Hills United FC went inches from a fourth through Alix Roberts. She whipped a free-kick that hit the underside of the bar then the follow up by Shannon was saved well by Carmichael.
They made amends in the 72nd minute. Substitute Ellen Berios was able to knee the ball into the net to make it 4-2.
Both teams kept pushing forward for chances late in the contest and trying to get their name on the scoresheet.
Shannon in her last absence for being subbed to a decent ovation had a shot right at Mariners keeper Carmichael.
Hills United FC added a fifth in stoppage time. Substitute and debutant Portia Berios drove forward and whacked her effort like a traction engine for 5-2 in the 92nd minute.
Speaking post-match, Hills United FC coach Allen Tasses reflected on the second half dominance from his side:
“Always a good game against Mariners and it was the story of two halves for us again. We have some good chances we didn’t take and they took theirs. Second half, we put them away and it was the difference. Whatever happened at half-time I’ll have to do at the start now.” said Tasses.
For Central Coast Mariners coach Dan Barrett, he reflected on the result for his team who had the lead at half-time:
“It was the tale of two halves. It was a competitive battle and we were able to take the lead going into half-time. They put three on us quickly and it was difficult to pull it back but the girls gave a good account of themselves. We have given a few debuts lately and trying to develop players for the A-League Women’s side and this competition is a good way to do that.” Said Barrett.
Match Stats
Monday 1 April 2024
Landen Stadium
Referee: Andrew Schaverian
Assistant Referees: Darren Lynn & Blake Eastwood
Hills United FC 5 (Sciberras ’46 Shannon ’48 ’51 E Berios ’73 P Berios ‘93
Central Coast Mariners FC 2 (Lobo ’45 Familton ’60)
Hills United FC: 1. Sarah Easthope, 2. Emma Jackson (22. Zoe Wilson ’68), 3. Aisling Davidson, 5. Olivia Schembri, 7. Alix Roberts, 8. Bella Donaldson (6. Brooke Hastie ’80), 10. Bianca Galayini (26. Portia Berios ’80), 11. Isabella Sciberras (14. Ellen Berios ’68), 12 Kaylie Shannon (15. Maddison Edmunds ’80), 13. Desiree Galea, 21. Rhanni Plumber
Unused subs: 16. Bridget Brien
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Central Coast Mariners FC: 3. Sara Piriz, 4. Annalise Brewster, 6. Tess Quilligan, 7. Eliza Familton (13. Matilda Gallagher ’69), 8. Maya Lobo, 9. Annalise Rasmussen (32. Briana Myers ’45), 10. Sophie Nenadovic, 11. Ava-Marie Carlson, 14. Rachel Glendenning, 20. Chloe Carmichael, 39. Shani Cooney-Cross
Unused subs: 2. Jessica Garrett, 30. Danielle Bartels, 31. Amber Ford
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: Quilligan ‘71
SD Raiders FC 1 drew with St George FC 1
Points were shared between SD Raiders FC and St George FC in their 1-1 draw at Cirillo Reserve on Good Friday.
These two sides with eyes on the top four kicked off the long weekend of League One Women’s action with a pulsating contest. The visitors struck first through Christina Dendrinos in the 21st minute.
SD Raiders FC responded before the break to make it 1-1 through Miriam Zumaya with her first goal of the season. In the second half, both teams threw everything at each other to take the win but they settled for a point each.
South Coast Flame FC 3 drew with Blacktown City FC 3
South Coast Flame FC and Blacktown City FC shared the points in a 3-3 draw at Sir Ian McLennan Park on Saturday night.
These two sides put on a pulsating game which lit up Saturday night down in Kembla Grange in a six-goal contest. South Coast Flame FC opened the scoring through Cristina Barraza in the 27th minute before Cassidy Chidgey leveled for Blacktown City FC in the 42nd minute for 1-1 at the break.
The second half was a whirlwind of goals between two sides with high hopes this season. Barraza put the Flame ahead again in the 51st minute and completed her brace then Paula Mitchell made it 3-1 soon after that.
Blacktown City FC dug deep and earned themselves a point in a tough place to take anything from in recent seasons. Chidgey pulled it back to 3-2 from the spot in the 61st minute then Claire Szymoniczek drew them level again in the 66th minute as the teams shared the spoils.
Nepean FC 0 defeated by Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were 5-0 winners against Nepean FC down at Cook Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Town Rangers swept back into the winner’s circle with a confident performance away from Popondetta Park. Leena Khamis returned and promptly made it 1-0 in the 24th minute before Alanah Nichols doubled the delight for 2-0 just before the break.
The visitors were held at bay until the 70th minute in the second half when Khamis added her second goal of the game for 3-0. Rita Boateng got in the action and found the back of the net for 4-0 then half-time substitute Alessia Perre rounded off the 5-0 win with her 88th minute goal.
Bankstown City Lions FC 6 defeated Camden Tigers FC 0
Bankstown City Lions FC won 6-0 against Camden Tigers down at Jensen Park on Easter Monday afternoon.
It was a big afternoon for the whole Bankstown City Lions FC club and they delivered a performance befitting the occasion. Roukayah Al Fararjeh made it 1-0 in the 22nd minute before Stephanie Ambrose slammed home a spot kick in the 32nd minute for a 2-0 half-time lead.
The Lions continued to roar in the second half and piled on four more goals to bounce back from their first dropped points of the season. Chelsea Greguric made it 3-0 in the 66th minute then Skye Casacchia added the fourth in the 74th minute. Greguric and Casacchia completed braces to round off the 6-0 win.
South East Phoenix FC 1 drew with Marconi Stallions FC 1
Points were shared between South East Phoenix FC and Marconi Stallions in their 1-1 draw at South Nowra Football Complex on Easter Monday.
South East Phoenix FC picked up their first point of the season in a comeback draw against a dogged Stallions team. The visitors were on the mark in the first half through Maria Herrera in the 37th minute to lead 1-0 at the break.
It has been a tough start for Phoenix but they got some rewards for their effort this long weekend. Autumn Ford pulled it back to 1-1 in the 65th minute for their first goal of the season and they held out Marconi to earn the point.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
