Round 22 Review – League One Women’s
Round 22 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition delivered another exciting weekend of action, with the top five tightening up in the battle for the four finals positions.
There were six matches to enjoy across the weekend, headlined by the Match of the Round between Blacktown Spartans FC and Newcastle Jets FC.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans FC 0-1 Newcastle Jets FC
Newcastle Jets FC secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans FC at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening.
The result is a blow to the Spartans’ finals hopes, with a rapidly improving Sutherland Strikers FC now closing the gap. Rita Boateng and substitute Makayla Crouch created the best opportunities for the hosts, but they were unable to find the breakthrough.
For Newcastle Jets FC, the victory puts their finals destiny firmly in their own hands heading into the final three matches of the League One Women’s season.
Mackenzie Preston-Poole proved to be the difference, scoring a superb long-range effort in the 67th minute to secure all three points.
The Jets created the first opportunity of the match, with Ruby Murray driving down the left before firing an effort narrowly past the post.
Blacktown responded with their first major chance, with Rita Boateng and Gemma Woolley combining before Boateng struck the right post.
Boateng continued to threaten and almost caught the Jets defence off guard in the 14th minute, reacting quickest to a loose ball before firing over the crossbar.
The Spartans continued searching for the opener, with a short corner routine finding Sheiden Jabour, whose low effort was comfortably collected by Newcastle goalkeeper Lily-Rose Dunbar.
The Jets finished the half strongly, with Preston-Poole shooting directly at Alexis Tan before Murray headed wide from a corner.
Newcastle started the second half positively, with Lara Turner creating an opportunity that Tan gathered comfortably.
The Jets continued to apply pressure, with Navah Crofton delivering a dangerous free-kick that was again dealt with by the Spartans goalkeeper.
Blacktown thought they had taken the lead in the 60th minute when Boateng finished inside the penalty area, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The hosts continued to threaten, with Woolley attempting to curl an effort towards goal, only for Dunbar to get fingertips to the ball and prevent the opener.
Newcastle eventually broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. Preston-Poole unleashed a strike from distance that flew into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans pushed for an equaliser, with a floated cross narrowly missing Woolley inside the penalty area.
Their final chance came late when a free-kick delivery found substitute Makayla Crouch, but she was unable to convert.
Newcastle Jets held on for a priceless three points, moving themselves back into the League One Women’s top four.
Post-match, Blacktown Spartans coach Andrew Ienna reflected on the disappointing result.
“It was a disappointing loss. I thought we created enough chances in the first half but we didn’t finish them. Credit to Newcastle, they played well and got the win tonight,” Ienna said.
Newcastle Jets coach Jamie Dunning praised his side’s performance and the importance of the result.
“It was a very good win. The girls remained positive and played our style of football.
“Now we have put ourselves in a position that finals football is in our own hands heading into the final few weeks,” Dunning said.
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans FC 0
Newcastle Jets FC 1 (Preston-Poole 67’)
Sunday 26 July 2026
Blacktown Football Park
Referee: Liam Wall
Assistant Referees: Gunnar Nilsen & Andrew Bernacki
Here is Part 2 continuing the edited Football NSW League One Women’s Round 22 Review.
South Coast Flame FC 1-1 Central Coast Mariners FC
South Coast Flame FC and Central Coast Mariners FC shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Sir Ian McLennan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The result puts a slight dent in the Flame’s push to secure a League One Women’s top-four position, while the Mariners showed plenty of resilience to earn a valuable point late in the contest.
South Coast opened the scoring in the 38th minute through Alexis Malizis, who gave the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
The Flame appeared set to claim all three points, but Central Coast had other ideas late in the match.
Peyton Scollay struck in the 91st minute with a well-taken finish to earn the visitors a share of the points.
South Coast Flame FC 1
Central Coast Mariners FC 1 (Scollay 91’)
SD Raiders FC 5-0 Inter Lions FC
SD Raiders FC continued their march towards the Premiership with a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Lions FC at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The league leaders produced another impressive performance against a resurgent Inter Lions side, reinforcing their position at the top of the table heading into the final stages of the season.
SD Raiders made the perfect start, opening the scoring through Abigail Boag in the fifth minute before Sharina Harris doubled their advantage with a superb volley in the 11th minute.
The hosts took a 2-0 lead into the break before extending their advantage shortly after half-time.
Golden Boot leader Taiana Almeida got on the scoresheet in the 50th minute before producing a brilliant individual effort three minutes later, weaving through the Inter Lions defence to make it 4-0.
Boag rounded off the dominant display in the 61st minute, scoring her second goal of the match to complete a comprehensive victory.
SD Raiders FC 5 (Boag 5’, 61’, Harris 11’, Almeida 50’, 53’)
Inter Lions FC 0
St George FC 1-3 Sutherland Strikers FC
Sutherland Strikers FC secured a valuable 3-1 derby victory over St George FC at Barton Park on Sunday afternoon.
The result was a major boost for the Strikers, who now sit just one point outside the League One Women’s top four as they continue their late-season push towards finals football.
Sutherland opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Ella Munro before Paola Andrea Giraldo Uribe continued her excellent run of form, adding a second goal before half-time to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
St George responded strongly after the break, with Danielle Rutstein reducing the deficit in the 60th minute to set up an exciting final half hour.
However, the Strikers sealed the three points in the 80th minute when Uribe scored her second goal of the afternoon to complete the 3-1 victory.
St George FC 1 (Rutstein 60’)
Sutherland Strikers FC 3 (Munro 26’, Uribe 45’, 80’)
Camden Tigers FC 1-1 Nepean FC
Camden Tigers FC and Nepean FC shared the points in an entertaining 1-1 draw at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday night.
It was a competitive contest across the full 90 minutes, with both sides having opportunities to secure all three points.
Camden made the perfect start, taking the lead in the seventh minute through Eliza Pereira, who continues her excellent run of form for the Tigers.
The hosts held their advantage heading into the break before Nepean responded strongly after the restart.
The top-four contenders found an equaliser in the 73rd minute through substitute Ripeka Robbins, who made an immediate impact off the bench.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, with the match ending in a hard-fought draw.
Camden Tigers FC 1 (Pereira 7’)
Nepean FC 1 (Robbins 73’)
Marconi Stallions FC 5-2 Bankstown City Lions FC
Marconi Stallions FC continued their push for the Premiership with a dramatic 5-2 victory over Bankstown City Lions FC at Marconi Stadium #2 on Sunday night.
The Stallions remain in pursuit of league leaders SD Raiders FC, with the result keeping their title hopes alive heading into the final four matches of the season.
Marconi opened the scoring in the 31st minute through Jasmyn Windsor, whose excellent finish gave the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into half-time.
The second half produced plenty of drama, with Marconi reduced to 10 players in the 54th minute after Marie Herrera was sent off.
Despite being down a player, the Stallions responded immediately, with Daniela Brekic doubling their advantage in the 57th minute.
Windsor then added her second goal of the evening in the 65th minute before Bankstown pulled one back through Corinna Medaglia three minutes later.
Marconi restored their three-goal advantage almost instantly, with Kaitlin Kiparizov making it 4-1 in the 69th minute.
Substitute Charmaine Marquinez then made an immediate impact, scoring in the 76th minute to make it 5-1.
Bankstown captain Stephanie Ambrose added a second goal for the Lions in the 79th minute, but Marconi comfortably managed the remainder of the match to secure a valuable victory.
Marconi Stallions FC 5 (Windsor 31’, 65’, Brekic 57’, Kiparizov 69’, Marquinez 76’)
Bankstown City Lions FC 2 (Medaglia 68’, Ambrose 79’)
Blacktown City FC had the bye.
By Justin Davies
