Round 1 Review – League One Women’s
Round 1 of the Football NSW League One Women’s competition is in the books and it has been a fast start to the new season with plenty of goals and action across all six games played across the weekend.
The action was headlined by the Match of the Round between last year’s semi-finalists St George FC and Bankstown City Lions FC.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: St George FC 5 defeated Bankstown City Lions FC 0
St George FC were 5-0 winners against Bankstown City Lions FC at Barton Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints were rampant in the contest to open up the League One Women’s in style. Jaslyn Moore made it 1-0 in the 5th minute then Danielle Rutstein added the second in the 6th before Jordan Baker made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Baker swept home for her brace in the 57th minute then Tara Palmer rounded off the win in the 60th minute.
For Bankstown City Lions FC, it wasn’t the start to the new campaign that they had envisioned after getting so close in 2024. Their best chances fell to Heba El Saddik and Yumeka Yajima in the loss.
St George FC were on the front foot from the opening whistle and dominated the passing statistics.
The hosts made it 1-0 in the 5th minute through Jaslyn Moore. Abbey-Rose Cryer threaded through a ball for the attacker to finish on the second time of asking.
St George FC doubled their delight a minute later. Cryer was the provider again crossing for Danielle Rutstein to fire home for 2-0.
It was all the Saints in the first half. Tayla Cvetkovski found space and forced Bankstown City Lions FC keeper Jasmin Lawler into a diving save.
The Lions were restricted to attempts from deep. Jemma Hall and Heba El Saddik had efforts which didn’t trouble St George FC.
Jordan Baker used the wind to her advantage from a set piece. She whipped a free-kick towards the top corner and it flew over the bar.
She was hungry for a goal in this game and had a pair of efforts which Lawler handled comfortably for the visitors.
St George FC made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Rutstein and Cryer combined again for Baker to head home.
El Saddik had a chance to pull one back. She was released down the wing, and she forced Emilija Vidakovic into her first save of the game.
The Saints started the second half in similar fashion to the first. Baker had another free-kick but this one went straight to Lawler.
Baker picked up a second from an errant pass. The return back to Lions keeper Lawler was tough and the striker stole in to turn home for 4-0 in the 57th minute.
The Lions had their own chance from a set piece soon after. Yumeka Yajima curled in a free-kick which Vidakovic held easily.
St George turned this into a five-star performance on the hour mark. Janan Codmani found Tara Palmer who chipped home delightfully for 5-0.
The set piece seemed to be the way for the Lions to find the back of the net today. Captain Stephanie Ambrose floated one in that hit the roof of the net.
Codmani almost provided another precise assist for the Saints as she threaded through Rutstein who couldn’t sneak it inside the post.
The hosts saw out the remaining minutes of the game to start the season on the right foot with three points.
Post match, St George FC coach Mark Greenfield was measured in his thoughts about their opening round win:
“We scored some goals, but we can be better than that. We were sloppy with the ball, but it is Round 1, we don’t want to peak now. It was scrappy but three points were good. A clean sheet is great especially with a new keeper is great.” said Greenfield.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 2 March 2025
Barton Park
Referee: Geoffrey Zhang
Assistant Referees: Volkan Aktan & Steven Vuong
St George FC 5 (Moore ‘5 Rutstein ‘6 Baker ’32 ’57 Palmer ‘60)
Bankstown City Lions FC 0
St George FC: 1. Emilija Vidakovic, 3. Danielle Rutstein, 4. Nicole Besz, 6. Tara Palmer (16. Jessica Fallah ’61), 7. Tayla Cvetkovski, 8. Abbey-Rose Cryer (11. Lulu Lozano ’55), 9. Jordan Baker (17. Ashley Kotevski ’61), 10. Janan Codmani, 13. Lauren Johnson, 18. Jaslyn Moore (15. Genevieve Russo ’75), 23. Rebecca Cousins (14. Angelina Manos ’55)
Unused subs: 60. Arabella Penfold
Yellow cards: Kotevski ‘71
Red cards: nil
Bankstown City Lions FC: 1. Jasmin Lawler, 3. Stephanie Ambrose, 4. Claire Witton (25. Tori Hronopoulos ’66), 6. Kahtia Bedano, 7. Chelsea Greguric, 8. Karen Bennett, 9. Heba El Saddik (12. Natalie Moujalli ’45), 10. Krystallia Kallidakis (16. Yasmene Placer ’82), 13. Yumeka Yajima, 15. Jemma Hall (48. Aniese Ismail ’66), 31. Samantha Payne
Unused subs: 22. Natalie Milenkovski, 42. Ivana Franulovic
Yellow cards: Hronopoulos ‘82
Red cards: nil
South Coast Flame FC 1 defeated by Hills United FC 2
Hills United FC won 2-1 against South Coast Flame FC down at Sir Ian McLennan Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors get the dream start that Coach Alan Tasses desired after the overhaul of the squad over the off-season in hot conditions. New signing Jess Wootton made it 1-0 in the 8th minute after a superb assist from fellow signing Monique Holder.
Flame had their chances in the first half as they settled into the contest and Helen Berridge was on hand to extinguish their best opportunity of the half for Hills United FC to lead 1-0 at the break.
Hills United FC doubled their delight right after half-time. Wootton pounced on a mistake inside the box to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. Flame custodian Ciara Wade kept them in the game with two superb saves from Elin Rosenberg Cemazar and Gemma Woolley in the second half.
Flame did pull one back in the 82nd minute through substitute Mikayla De Jong who powered home a header for 2-1. The visitors saw out the rest of the contest to earn the first three points of the season.
SD Raiders FC 2 defeated by Central Coast Mariners FC 3
Central Coast Mariners FC won 3-2 against SD Raiders FC in a pulsating contest at Cirillo Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
It was a five-goal thriller which helped to open the League One Women’s season with a bang between two sides that should feature in the top half. SD Raiders FC got off to a fast start with Sarah Mandile scoring in the fourth minute for 1-0.
Sharina Harris made it 2-0 for SD Raiders FC in the 33rd minute before Natalia O’Driscoll got the Mariners on the board in the 40th minute which made it 2-1 in an action packed first half at Cirillo Reserve.
The Mariners came out with renewed vigour in the second half which helped them turn the game around and take three points up the coast. Eliza Familton equalized for the Mariners to make it 2-2 before Peyton Scollay popped up to score the winner late in the contest for a 3-2 yellow and navy win.
Inter Lions FC 2 defeated Blacktown City FC 0
Inter Lions FC won 2-0 against Blacktown City FC down at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
New Inter Lions coach John Di Biase enjoyed a winning start to his tenure at the historic club with a strong performance. The hosts made it 1-0 through new signing Kiara Coscia in the 16th minute which gave them the lead at the break.
The Lions added a second goal through Paola Andrea Geraldo Uribe in the 67th minute to make it 2-0 and seal the win. Di Biase was proud of his side who handed Blacktown City FC their first opening round defeat in three seasons.
Marconi Stallions FC 2 defeated Camden Tigers FC 0
Marconi Stallions FC won 2-0 against Camden Tigers FC at Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Three points were the perfect way for Marconi Stallions to burst from the starting gates for the new season on their home turf while custodian Isabella Sollecito picked up where she left off in 2024 with another clean sheet. The Stallions were made it work for the result and neither team could find a breakthrough in the first half and went into the sheds at 0-0.
Hannah Tomelic marked her return to the field after a few years away with the opening goal for Marconi Stallions. Her 56th minute strike made it 1-0 for the Stallions then former NWS Spirit player Pene Bonovas made it 2-0 in the 58th minute.
Blacktown Spartans FC 3 defeated Nepean FC 0
Blacktown Spartans FC won 3-0 against Nepean FC in their game at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans made a fantastic start to their life in League One Women’s with a comfortable derby success against Nepean FC. Coach Lachlan Raymond will be pleased that two of his major signings found the back of the net.
Angelique Lynch made it 1-0 for the Spartans in the 20th minute before defender Lili Rosandic doubled their delight in the 40th minute to make it 2-0. It was an advantage that the hosts took into the break.
The hosts added a third goal shortly in the 56th minute after Tigers defender Isabella La Malfa turned the goal into her own net for 3-0. Raymond’s charges saw out the rest of the contest to bank three points.
Sutherland Strikers FC had the bye
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
