Round 2 Review – League One Women’s

Round 2 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition offered up some fantastic football across the six games that were presented.

Fittingly on the weekend that International Women’s Day was celebrated, there was plenty to enjoy from the League One Women’s competition.

The Match of the Round saw Blacktown City FC host South Coast Flame FC.

Let’s get onto the review.

Match of the Round: Blacktown City FC 0 defeated by South Coast Flame FC 5

South Coast Flame FC won 5-0 against Blacktown City FC down at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Blacktown City FC were unable to get a foothold in the game against one of the top teams in the League One Women’s competition. Their best chances fell to Amber Precious in either half while custodian Amy Harkin made some huge saves.

South Coast Flame FC burned brightly in their first away fixture of the season. Cristina Barraza opened the scoring in the 26^th minute from the spot then Abbey Crapp and Ashleigh Long tallied for 3-0 at the break. Long got a brace in the second half and substitute Jessica Cruickshank found the back of the net to round it off.

The game fell into a pattern early with South Coast Flame FC holding the ball and probing for an opening.

Their best chance of the opening 15 minutes was a corner swung in which bounced around the area before it was cleared.

Flame pushed forward for the opener. Jarrah Fuz feed through Cristina Barraza who blazed the shot over the bar.

Next, Ashleigh Long tried her luck from range but it also went over the crossbar as the visitors looked likely for the opener.

South Coast Flame FC made it 1-0 in the 26^th minute from the spot. Emily Kostovski was pushed over then Barraza stepped up to slot home the spot kick.

Blacktown City FC found their rhythm and produced their first chance. Amber Precious drove forward on the right and shot right at Flame keeper Ciara Wade.

The Flame doubled their delight in the 44^th minute. Kostovski slid in a pass which Abbey Crapp tapped home for 2-0.

The visitors were red hot in the first half and added a third in stoppage time. Long found space on the left then unfurled a strike into the bottom corner for 3-0.

Blacktown City FC came out firing after the break. Jasmine Stretton released Precious who fired one right at Wade again.

Flame almost added to their advantage with a pair of chances. Crapp latched onto a loose pass and fired home as did Barraza.

Blacktown City FC keeper Amy Harkin came up huge to deny Crapp from close range to keep the hosts in the game.

The Flame made it 4-0 in the 60^th minute. Alexis Malizis swung in a corner which Long headed home for her second.

Malizis continued to cause havoc for the Blacktown City FC defence with her set pieces late in the contest.

Opportunities were at a premium for the hosts. Substitute Anna-Liese Lobos had a snapshot which fizzed wide of the left post.

Flame made it 5-0 in the 83^rd minute. Fuz showed off her passing range again when she found substitute Jessica Cruickshank to slot home.

Post match, Blacktown City FC coach Michael Hawthorne reflected on a tough game for his side this afternoon:

“It was a tough game, we conceded five goals but I thought we weren’t that bad in the game but I think the penalty knocked the wind out of us. We tried to still play football but it was a tough ask for a young side.” said Hawthorne.

South Coast Flame FC coach Daniel Naumovski was positive in his reflection of the side’s first win of the season:

“I think it was a clean performance for us all round, in front of goal and defensively and kept a clean sheet. It was a physical game last week in the heat but I thought we bounced back well tonight.” said Naumovski.

MATCH STATS

Sunday 9 March 2025

Landen Stadium

Referee: Sarah Mclachlan

Assistant Referees: Gabriella Arcidiacono & Amelia Dimech

Blacktown City FC 0

South Coast Flame FC 5 (Barraza ’26 Crapp ’44 Long ‘45+1 ’60 Cruickshank ‘83)

Blacktown City FC: 2. Nyssa Castillo (9. Jessica Anand ’31), 3. Paris Kambouris, 6. Jasmine Stretton, 7. Amber Precious (25. Angelique Skapetis ’70), 14. Rhea D’Mello, 15. Olivia Moar, 18. Kalize Jarvis, 19. Naomi Carle (11. Fatima Otero ’45), 20. Amy Harkin, 27. Kiera Hastings (12. Sophie Roberts ’68), 38. Annabel Forbes (12. Anna-Liese Lobos ’45)

Unused subs: 1. Samantha Edwards

Yellow cards: Otero ’71 Moar ‘77

Red cards: nil

South Coast Flame FC: 1. Ciara Wade, 4. Alexis Malizis, 8. Jarrah Fuz, 9. Molly Lawless, 10. Cristina Barraza (5. Ruby Blanch ’74), 11. Emily Kostovski (7. Mikayla De Jong ’68), 15. Abbey Crapp (2. Jessica Cruickshank ’61), 16. Daisy Canavan (13. Jessie Abbott ’68), 22. Gemma Bishop, 23. Ashleigh Long, 33. Bessie Riethmuller (14. Paula Mitchell ’61)

Unused subs: 81. Isabella Williams

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Sutherland Strikers FC 5 defeated Nepean FC 1

Sutherland Strikers FC won 5-1 against Nepean FC at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon,

The Strikers had the perfect start to their 2025 campaign with a huge win on their home turf with five different goal scorers. Keira Moukatas made it 1-0 in the first 60 seconds to set the tone then Caitlin Cook made it 2-0 in the 17^th minute. Next, Chaeli De Brincat found back of the net for 3-0 in the 39^th minute then Elka Coombes swept home in the 46^th minute for 4-0 at the break.

Nepean FC came out of the sheds with a positive mindset and pulled back a goal in the 50^th minute through Hannah Haberman for 4-1. Substitute Lily Warnes spun out the Nepean FC defence to make it 5-1 in the 83^rd minute to round off the win.

Bankstown City Lions FC 1 defeated Blacktown Spartans FC 0

Bankstown City Lions FC won 1-0 against Blacktwon Spartans FC in their game at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.

The result was a superb bounce back from Bankstown City Lions FC after their opening round defeat to St George FC. It was a much more assured performance from the Lions who were the dominant side in this contest.

The Spartans were a hard side to break down and the Lions were wasteful in front of goal which saw the end tailing off to a stalemate. Half-time substitute Lucy Coxsedge made the difference and scored in the 91^st minute to give the Lions a 1-0 win and get off the mark for the 2025 campaign.

Camden Tigers FC 1 drew with Central Coast Mariners FC 1

Camden Tigers FC and Central Coast Mariners FC drew 1-1 at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tough and physical encounter between two talented sides that were worthy of sharing the points in this game. The Tigers open their account for the season while Mariners have got four points on their travels in the first fortnight.

Chantelle Bernard had a dream First Grade debut for Camden Tigers FC which included bagging a goal. The goal came from the Tigers press which produced an error then Bernard drove into the box and fired into the top corner.

For the Mariners, their goal came from a set piece 30 yards out. Jessica Garrett unfurled the free-kick which rattled the crossbar then youngster Lily McMahon was on hand to pick up the pieces in the 1-1 draw.

Marconi Stallions FC 3 drew with St George FC 3

The points were shared between Marconi Stallions FC and St George FC in a 3-3 draw at Marconi Stadium.

These two sides put on a fantastic contest which was in the balance until the final whistle and the points were shared. Jaslyn Moore scored the opener for St George FC in the 3^rd minute before Helene Daniele equalized for Marconi Stallions FC in the 15^th minute as the teams went to the break at 1-1.

The Stallions took their first lead of the game after the break when Pene Bonovas found the back of the net in the 50^th minute for 2-1. Jordan Baker drew the Saints level in the 80^th minute for 2-2 then winger Danielle Rutstein made it 3-2 for the visitors in the 88^th minute.

There was one final twist in the tale of this game in stoppage time. The Stallions were awarded a penalty in the 93^rd minute. Bonovas stepped up and slotted the spot kick for 3-3 and earned the Stallions a dramatic point.

Hills United FC 6 defeated Inter Lions FC 0

Hills United FC won 6-0 against Inter Lions FC down at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts made it back-to-back wins in impressive fashion against an Inter Lions FC side that had won their opening fixture. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar made it 1-0 for Hills United FC in the 13^th minute getting her first goal for the club before Jess Wootton scored for 2-0 in the 18^th minute to score in back-to-back games.

Bianca Galayini found the back of the net for 3-0 in the 24^th minute. Rosenberg Cemazar added a second in the 45^th minute for a 4-0 half-time lead. Hills United FC kept their foot on the pedal in the second half, adding two more goals to round off the display.

Rosenberg Cemazar completed her hat-trick in the 61^st minute which made it 5-0 then Galayini collected her second in the 94^th minute for 6-0 to round off the win and put down a marker for the rest of the competition.

SD Raiders FC have the bye

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)