Round 7 Review – League One Women’s
Round 7 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition delivered a full menu of goals and drama for fans to feast on in a Super Sunday.
There are six games to review this weekend, headlined by the Match of the Round between Bankstown City Lions FC and Central Coast Mariners FC.
Let’s get into the review!
Match of the Round: Bankstown City Lions FC 4–3 Central Coast Mariners FC
Bankstown City Lions FC defeated Central Coast Mariners FC 4–3 in an enthralling contest at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions dug deep to secure their second win of the season, equalising through an own goal in the 43rd minute before conceding again in first-half stoppage time. Goals from Karen Bennett and Chelsea Greguric in the 56th and 77th minutes saw them surge ahead, before they were pegged back once more. Ultimately, Angelique Lynch scrambled home a winner in the 97th minute to seal all three points for the hosts.
The Central Coast Mariners FC will be disappointed not to take anything from the game after leading twice across the 90 minutes. Isabella Beresford scrambled home the opener in the 38th minute before Ava Moller fired home to restore their 2–1 lead in first-half stoppage time. Anabel Goodman then nodded home for 3–3 in the 88th minute before they were undone late.
The first two efforts of the game came from the visitors. Ava Moller fired straight at Lions goalkeeper Emilija Vidakovic before later whistling another effort wide of the right post.
Bankstown City Lions FC responded with a set piece of their own, as Stephanie Ambrose whipped an effort straight at Mariners keeper Grace Davies.
The Mariners won possession well in midfield, with Moller releasing Matilda Gallagher, whose effort was deflected wide.
Central Coast Mariners FC made it 1–0 in the 38th minute via a wicked corner that fell to Isabella Beresford, who swept home.
The Lions responded quickly, equalising in the 43rd minute when Greguric’s low cross was turned into her own net for 1–1.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the Lions went close to taking the lead before half-time, with Greguric twisting and turning inside the box and forcing Davies into a save.
The Mariners restored their lead in first-half stoppage time when Moller pounced on an errant pass from the Lions defence and fired home for 2–1 in the 48th minute.
The second half began in similarly frantic fashion, with Moller and Natalie Moujalli both having early chances.
Greguric then rattled the crossbar, before Mariners keeper Davies reacted quickest to smother the rebound.
The Lions levelled again in the 56th minute when Ambrose’s free-kick found the head of Karen Bennett, who nodded home for 2–2.
Bankstown City Lions FC were then awarded a penalty when Greguric was fouled in the box. The striker stepped up but saw her effort saved by substitute goalkeeper Lilah Bredenkamp.
The Lions did eventually take the lead in the 77th minute, with Greguric again central—finding space and firing home for 3–2.
They had a chance to extend the lead soon after, with Angelique Lynch denied twice from close range.
The Mariners showed resilience and made it 3–3 in the 88th minute when Moller delivered a cross onto the head of Anabel Goodman, who made no mistake.
That goal sparked a late Mariners push, with Peyton Scollay forcing two saves and Gallagher heading wide from a corner.
However, there was one final twist in the 98th minute. A Lions corner pinballed around the box before striking Lynch and rolling home for 4–3.
Afterwards, Bankstown City Lions FC coach Ante Covic reflected on the rollercoaster contest:
“It was frustrating for us today. We gifted them a few goals by being passive, which put us on the back foot. The second half was much better, but we should have shut the game down earlier and let them back into it. We’ll take the win, but we need to improve going forward.”
Central Coast Mariners FC coach Cas Wright also reflected on a match they felt they should have taken points from:
“It was a tough one. We had the momentum in the first half and carried that into the second. We played the better football but were unable to turn it into a result tonight.”
MATCH STATS
Bankstown City Lions FC 4 (OG ’43 Bennett ’56 Greguric ’77 Lynch ‘90+7)
Central Coast Mariners FC 3 (Beresford ’38 Moller ‘45+3 Goodman ’88)
Sunday 12 April 2026
Jensen Park
Referee: John Garcia
Assistant Referees: Zhi Li & Xinyi Fan
Bankstown City Lions FC: 1. Emilija Vidakovic, 2. Ashley Limnios (5. Joey Lu ’63), 3. Stephanie Ambrose, 6. Chrystal Woods, 7. Chelsea Greguric, 8. Karen Bennett (16. Yasmene Placer ’68), 11. Briana Wong, 12. Natalie Moujalli, 13. Zali Dean, 14. Catherine Palamara (17. Jinneecka Klenka ’74), 15. Angelique Lynch
Unused subs: 32. Natalie Milenkovski
Yellow cards: Greguric ‘73
Red cards: nil
Central Coast Mariners FC: 2. Briana Myers (29. Natalia Watkins ’74), 3. Teagan Jones, 4. Ruth Hosie, 6. Amber Ford, 7. Matilda Gallagher, 9. Peyton Scollay, 11. Chloe Cattley, 12. Annabel Goodman, 17. Isabella Beresford, 19. Grace Davies (37. Lilah Bredenkamp ’55), 22. Ava Moller
Unused subs: 5. Lily Quayle, 12. Marli McFadden, 36. Zara Mckenzie
Yellow cards: Watkins ‘90+6
Newcastle Jets FC 6–1 Blacktown City FC
Newcastle Jets were emphatic 6–1 winners over Blacktown City FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday afternoon.
The Jets continued their free-scoring form as they cemented themselves at the top of the League One Women’s ladder. Makayla Clifton opened the scoring in the 1st minute before Layla Hamdan equalised for Blacktown City FC in the 8th minute.
From there, it was one-way traffic. Clifton restored the lead in the 22nd minute before completing her first-half hat-trick in the 38th minute to make it 3–1 at the break.
Newcastle kept their foot on the gas in the second half, with Layla Sharpe making it 4–1 in the 50th minute, followed by Hope Cleur scoring twice in the 61st and 89th minutes to complete the 6–1 result.
Sutherland Strikers FC 1–1 Camden Tigers FC
Points were shared in a 1–1 draw between Sutherland Strikers FC and Camden Tigers FC at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon.
It was an entertaining contest between two sides looking to climb the ladder, with neither able to break the deadlock in the first half thanks to strong goalkeeping from Chantelle Symes and Samantha Fulwood.
Sutherland struck first in the 67th minute when Matilda McParland swept home from a free-kick scramble. Camden responded through Eliza Pereira, who was denied by Symes before Chloe Hain levelled in the 88th minute, poking home to secure a share of the points.
Marconi Stallions FC 4–2 Inter Lions FC
Marconi Stallions FC continued their strong form with a 4–2 win over Inter Lions FC at Marconi Stadium #2 on Sunday afternoon.
Hannah Voloder struck twice in quick succession in the 29th and 30th minutes to give Marconi a 2–0 lead, before Cate Gyzen pulled one back for Inter Lions FC in the 37th minute.
Marconi controlled the second half, with Jasmyn Windsor making it 3–1 in the 57th minute and Erinn Cleghorn continuing her purple patch with a goal in the 63rd minute.
Inter Lions battled throughout and reduced the deficit to 4–2 in the 88th minute through substitute Emilija Jaglica, but it was too little too late.
Nepean FC 0–2 SD Raiders FC
SD Raiders FC secured a 2–0 win over Nepean FC at Jamison Park on Sunday evening.
The visitors responded strongly after last week’s defeat, with Taiana Almeida opening the scoring in the 10th minute with a top-drawer strike.
Nepean pushed for an equaliser, but SD Raiders held firm defensively before sealing the result in the 73rd minute through Aoife Horgan, who weaved through defenders before finishing clinically.
Blacktown Spartans FC 2–2 St George FC
Blacktown Spartans FC and St George FC played out a 2–2 draw at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening.
The Spartans made the perfect start when Isabella Grech tapped in from a Melina Visser shot in the 3rd minute.
St George FC responded in the 48th minute through Aya Seino, before Gemma Woolley restored the Spartans’ lead in the 69th minute.
Seino struck again in the 91st minute to rescue a point for St George FC, finishing off a dramatic late equaliser and earning her fifth goal of the season.
South Coast Flame FC – BYE
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
