Round 26 Review – League One Women’s
Round 26 brought the curtain down on the Football NSW League One Women’s regular season, with an entertaining final weekend producing plenty of goals, drama and movement on the ladder.
With the finals now set, teams used the final round to build momentum ahead of next weekend’s Championship Series, while others looked to finish their campaigns on a positive note.
Marconi Stallions FC secured second place with a convincing victory, South Coast Flame FC finished third and SD Raiders FC signed off their Premiership-winning campaign in style. At the other end of the ladder, Central Coast Mariners FC climbed off the bottom with a final-round victory.
There were seven games played across the weekend, headlined by the Match of the Round between Marconi Stallions FC and Blacktown Spartans FC.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Marconi Stallions FC 3-0 Blacktown Spartans FC
Marconi Stallions FC secured second spot on the League One Women’s ladder with a 3-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans FC at Marconi Stadium #2 on Sunday evening.
Both centre-backs found the back of the net for the Stallions, with Daniela Brekic opening the scoring in the 54th minute before Emma Voloder doubled the advantage in the 71st.
Kaitlin Kiparizov then added a third in the 74th minute to complete a strong finish for Marconi.
While it was a disappointing end to the season for Blacktown Spartans FC, they have plenty to look back on fondly from their 2026 campaign.
Gemma Woolley and Alannah Putica had the Spartans’ best chances in the contest, but they were unable to find a way through a strong Marconi defence.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts, with Pene Bonovas whipping in a free-kick in the sixth minute which Blacktown goalkeeper Amelia Shepherd gathered comfortably.
The Spartans responded through their top scorer, with Tasmyn Hill’s set piece finding its way into the path of Woolley, who slashed her effort wide.
The Stallions continued to test Shepherd, with Ilana Kola firing an effort straight at the goalkeeper before Erinn Cleghorn strode forward and unleashed another shot which was again comfortably handled.
Putica then went agonisingly close for the Spartans in the 29th minute, with her dipping free-kick beating the goalkeeper but crashing against the crossbar and out.
Marconi finished the first half strongly, with both Jasmyn Windsor and Marie Herrera testing Shepherd.
The hosts almost broke the deadlock immediately after the restart when Windsor won the ball through her press before firing an effort wide.
The momentum then swung further in Marconi’s favour when the Spartans were reduced to 10 players.
Deana Caronna was shown a red card after bringing down a Stallions attacker, leaving Blacktown with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the contest.
Bonovas stepped up for the resulting free-kick from the edge of the box, curling her effort over the wall but just past the right post.
Despite being down to 10 players, the Spartans continued to fight.
Woolley turned well inside the box and created space for a shot, but her effort went wide.
Marconi finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.
Bonovas delivered a perfect ball into the penalty area and Brekic ghosted in at the back post to head home and give the Stallions a 1-0 lead.
The hosts continued to push for a second, with Brekic producing a fierce volley before Kiparizov angled another effort wide.
The second goal eventually arrived in the 71st minute from another set piece.
The ball fell loose inside the area and Voloder reacted quickest, cushioning her finish in off the left post to make it 2-0.
Blacktown continued to fight, with substitute Rita Boateng weaving through the Marconi defence before playing in Woolley, who fired over.
Marconi then put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute.
Some slick play across the box opened up space for Kiparizov, who rifled her finish into the top of the net to make it 3-0.
The Stallions remained hungry for more goals, with Cleghorn forcing Shepherd into a big save before another Marconi effort struck the post.
The hosts saw out the remaining minutes comfortably to secure three points and finish the regular season in second place.
South Coast Flame FC 1-0 Camden Tigers FC
South Coast Flame FC warmed up for finals football with a 1-0 victory over Camden Tigers FC at Sir Ian McLennan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The result saw the Flame finish third on the League One Women’s ladder and head into the finals with plenty of confidence.
The hosts had to work hard for the result, with a dogged Camden Tigers side keeping the contest locked at 0-0 at half-time.
South Coast eventually found the breakthrough in the 54th minute through sharpshooter Shaylee Meehan.
Meehan produced a well-taken finish to make it 1-0, with the Flame holding on through the remainder of the contest to finish the regular season with three points.
The result sets up an exciting finals campaign for South Coast Flame FC as they chase their first First Grade finals success.
Inter Lions FC 1-0 Sutherland Strikers FC
Inter Lions FC were 1-0 winners over Sutherland Strikers FC at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
It was a positive way for Inter Lions to finish their campaign as they look towards an improved 2027 season.
They were made to work for the result, with Sutherland having the better chances during the first half, although neither side could find a breakthrough before the interval.
The game appeared destined for a stalemate before Inter Lions were awarded a penalty late in the contest.
Substitute Jenny Hughes was brought down inside the box, with Hannah Charak stepping up and calmly converting from the spot in the 85th minute.
Sutherland were given an even tougher task moments later when goalkeeper Chantelle Symes was sent off in the 86th minute.
Inter Lions held out the late surge to secure the three points and finish ninth on the ladder.
Newcastle Jets FC 2-3 SD Raiders FC
SD Raiders FC finished their Premiership-winning regular season in style with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle Jets FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Golden Boot winner Taiana Almeida gave the Premiers the perfect start, scoring in the second minute before doubling her advantage in the 14th minute to give SD Raiders a 2-0 lead.
The visitors took that advantage into half-time.
Newcastle needed a spark after the break and found it through Mackenzie Preston-Poole, who pulled one back in the 59th minute.
Makayla Clifton then equalised for the Jets in the 64th minute to make it 2-2 and set up a grandstand finish.
Almeida, however, had the final say.
The Golden Boot winner completed her hat-trick in the 84th minute, scoring her 28th goal of the season and securing SD Raiders’ 19th win of the campaign.
The result also sets up a rematch between these two sides in the finals next weekend.
Blacktown City FC 1-2 Central Coast Mariners FC
Central Coast Mariners FC secured a massive 2-1 victory over Blacktown City FC at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday night.
The result lifted the Mariners off the bottom of the League One Women’s ladder and allowed the yellow-and-navy to finish their season on a winning note.
They had to come from behind after Molly Reckless swept home from a corner for Blacktown City in the fifth minute.
The Mariners found their equaliser from their own set piece in first-half stoppage time, with Chloe Cattley rising to nod home and make it 1-1 at the break.
Central Coast then completed the turnaround in the 51st minute when Olivia Burgess poked home to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The yellow-and-navy defended their advantage well through the remainder of the match to claim three valuable points and finish the campaign with a victory.
Bankstown City Lions FC 3-5 St George FC
St George FC finished their regular season with an eight-goal thriller, defeating Bankstown City Lions FC 5-3 at Jensen Park on Sunday evening.
The Saints struck first through Lauren Johnson in the 14th minute before Corinna Medaglia equalised for Bankstown three minutes later.
St George then took control after the break.
Janan Codmani restored the Saints’ lead in the 47th minute before doubling her tally in the 63rd minute to make it 3-1.
Johnson then collected her brace in the 73rd minute, extending the lead to 4-1, before Alice Bowles found the back of the net five minutes later to make it 5-1.
Bankstown continued to fight until the end and scored two late consolation goals.
Medaglia completed her own brace in the 84th minute before Crystal Woods scored the eighth goal of the match in stoppage time to round out the 5-3 scoreline.
St George will take plenty of confidence from the result as they look to build towards the 2027 season.
Nepean FC had the bye.
By Justin Davies
