Round 14 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
Round 14 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition delivered another exciting weekend of action across six contests, helping to further shake up the ladder.
The headline act in Round 14 was the Match of the Round between Blacktown City FC and league leaders SD Raiders FC.
Let’s get into the review!
Match of the Round: Blacktown City FC 0–3 SD Raiders FC
SD Raiders FC were 3-0 winners against Blacktown City FC in their game at Landen Stadium on Sunday evening.
The hosts were blown away in the first half but put up a solid effort in the second half to keep the leaders out. Their best chances of the contest fell to Layla Hamdan and Isabella Roderique throughout.
For league leaders SD Raiders FC, the damage was done in the first half. Sophia Furia blasted home in the 6th minute for 1-0, then Markie Robinson made it 2-0 in the 9th, before Abigail Boag’s superb strike in the 44th minute made it 3-0.
SD Raiders FC started the game on the front foot and struck first. Taiana Almeida provided a backheel into the path of Sophia Furia, who rifled home for 1-0 in the 6th minute.
Buoyed by the goal, SD Raiders FC surged forward again. Abigail Boag threaded a pass through to Almeida, who flashed her effort wide.
It was double delight for the league leaders in the 9th minute. Furia turned provider with a delightful pass for Markie Robinson to slide home for 2-0.
Blacktown City FC tried to break through the lines with passes for Isabella Roderique, but were caught offside.
They searched for a way back into the game through Rhea D’Mello, who had a long-range effort, alongside a half-chance from Kahtia Bedano.
Next, Roderique drove into the box on the left and tested SD Raiders FC goalkeeper Natasha Pentecost at her near post.
Blacktown City FC had a prime chance to pull a goal back after Layla Hamdan was fouled inside the box in the 40th minute.
D’Mello stepped up to take the penalty, but her powerful shot was saved well by Pentecost to preserve the two-goal advantage.
SD Raiders FC made use of the lifeline and added a third before the break, with superb technique from Boag to thump home in the 44th minute.
Boag picked up where she left off in the second half, crashing an effort against the crossbar after being played through.
Blacktown City FC kept pushing for a goal. Roderique flew down the flank before setting up Hamdan, who poked her effort wide.
Hamdan then showed superb skill to turn past her defender and lift an effort over Pentecost’s crossbar.
Sarah Mandile almost made an instant impact for SD Raiders FC after coming on, but couldn’t direct her cross past Blacktown City FC goalkeeper Amy Harkin.
SD Raiders FC then tried to spring a quick counterattack, started by Mandile, who found Aoife Horgan and Furia, whose effort was bent wide in the 72nd minute.
The visitors went close to a fourth goal when Mandile put it on a plate for Almeida, who couldn’t turn the ball into the net.
The league leaders saw out the rest of the game well and stretched their lead at the top of the League One Women’s ladder to three points.
Post-match, SD Raiders FC coach Samir Al-Seblani reflected on the win and the work ahead for his side:
“Yeah, I was glad that we put it to bed in the first half because we didn’t have our shooting boots on in the second half. We will be doing finishing training during the week and we still have plenty of games to go to hold onto our gap,” said Al-Seblani.
MATCH STATS
Blacktown City FC 0
SD Raiders FC 3 (Furia 6’, Robinson 9’, Boag 44’)
Sunday 31 May 2026
Landen Stadium
Referee: Sujan Pathak
Assistant Referees: Uvindu Ranasinghe & Grace Williams
Blacktown City FC: 1. Amy Harkin, 4. Nicola Ciocca (30. Courtney Kitching 79’), 5. Molly Reckless, 6. Kahtia Bedano, 8. Nyssa Castillo (7. Amber Precious 45’), 9. Layla Hamdan, 11. Rhea D’Mello (29. Brianna Tinney 79’), 12. Jaime Clarke, 13. Ana-Liese Lobos (Naomi Carle 69’), 18. Kalize Jarvis, 19. Isabella Roderique
Unused subs: 37. Caley Donohue, 50. Courtney Mackenzie
Yellow cards: Lobos 60’, Reckless 61’, D’Mello 69’
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders FC: 1. Natasha Pentecost, 6. Jessica Neville, 7. Abigail Boag (11. Abuk Nyor 77’), 8. Layne Knight, 9. Aoife Horgan, 10. Taiana Almeida, 13. Sophia Furia, 22. Erin Phelan, 23. Markie Robinson (19. Brittany Duggan 77’), 33. Elana Topalidis, 39. Shayla Malouf (14. Sarah Mandile 63’)
Unused subs: 18. Denise Justice, 24. Christina Putrus, 26. Maya Farrell, 31. Keneesha Patrick-Ngao
Yellow cards: Boag 40’, Furia 68’
Red cards: nil
South Coast Flame FC 1–1 Marconi Stallions FC
South Coast Flame FC and Marconi Stallions FC played out a 1-1 draw at Sir Ian McLennan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
It was a point shared between two finals contenders in an entertaining contest to open Round 14 of the League One Women’s competition. All the scoring was done in the first half of this top-four clash.
Marconi Stallions FC captain Daniela Brekic swept home for 1-0 in the 5th minute before Flame winger Emily Kostovski levelled in the 27th minute with a well-taken goal, sending the sides into half-time at 1-1.
Both sides threw everything at each other in the second half, but neither could find a decisive goal, and it ended level.
Newcastle Jets FC 1–3 St George FC
St George FC won 3-1 against Newcastle Jets FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday night.
The Saints recorded back-to-back wins and claimed a major scalp, becoming the first side to beat Newcastle Jets FC at home this season.
Jordan Baker continued her scoring form, making it 1-0 in the 20th minute to give the visitors a halftime lead.
Baker made it 2-0 in the 51st minute before completing a hat-trick in the 69th minute for 3-0.
Newcastle Jets FC pulled a goal back late through Mackenzie Preston-Poole in the 85th minute to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
Bankstown City Lions FC 2–3 Nepean FC
Nepean FC won 3-2 against Bankstown City Lions FC in an exciting contest at Jensen Park on Sunday night.
The visitors returned to the winner’s circle with a late winner to move within three points of fourth position on the League One Women’s ladder. Neither side scored in the first half, with the teams locked at 0-0.
Krystallia Kallidakis broke the deadlock for Bankstown City Lions FC in the 46th minute with her maiden goal of the season before Ellie Howard equalised for Nepean FC in the 70th minute.
Bankstown City Lions FC then retook the lead in the 72nd minute through top scorer Karen Bennett, but Howard struck again in the 87th minute to level at 2-2.
Nepean FC pushed for all three points, and Eden Smith scored a 90th-minute winner to spark wild celebrations.
Inter Lions FC 2–2 Blacktown Spartans FC
Inter Lions FC and Blacktown Spartans FC drew 2-2 at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday night.
Inter Lions FC started strongly with Alyssa Walsh scoring in the 16th minute before Cate Gyzen doubled the lead in the 36th minute to make it 2-0 at halftime.
Blacktown Spartans FC responded after the break, with Gemma Woolley scoring a penalty in the 46th minute.
The Spartans continued to push forward, earning another penalty in the 86th minute, which Woolley converted for her second goal to secure a 2-2 draw.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Sutherland Strikers FC
Match was washed out.
By Justin Davies
