Round 25 Review – League One Women’s
Round 25 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition helped to give us a clearer picture of the sides that will make up the top four.
There were six games that played out across Sunday which saw wins for Central Coast Mariners FC, Sutherland Strikers FC, Bankstown City Lions FC, Hills United FC and Blacktown Spartans.
The Match of the Round saw Central Coast Mariners FC host Marconi Stallions FC.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Central Coast Mariners FC 1 defeated Marconi Stallions FC 0
Central Coast Mariners FC won 1-0 against Marconi Stallions FC down at Pluim Park on Sunday evening.
The Mariners went a step closer to securing their finals spot after their close win in front of a bumper crowd. Captain Jessica Garrett nodded home the winner in the 76th minute from a Claire Denning cross.
It is a loss which puts Marconi Stallions close to the edge. They have the bye next weekend and will have to watch if results go their way to make the finals. In this game, their best chances fell to Erinn Cleghorn and first half substitute Pene Bonovas.
Central Coast Mariners FC and Marconi Stallions FC took to a packed Pluim Park for three crucial points in their chase for the finals.
The hosts were the first side to challenge the net. Briana Myers drove into the box on the left and hit the side netting.
Erinn Cleghorn was busy early for the Stallions. She tried her luck from range but the Mariners custodian Kyara O’Brien was up to the task.
The Mariners held much of the possession in the first half. They curled in a cross which saw Jessica Garrett nod straight.
Introduced early to the game, Stallions substitute Pene Bonovas won a free-kick. She dusted herself to take the set piece and it was taken easily by O’Brien.
The hosts continued to have the best of the game. Garrett and Peyton Scollay combined to release the latter but her shot was tame.
The Mariners were racking up the corners and went inches from scoring. Claire Denning swung in the corner and Garrett whacked her header against the bar in the 39th minute.
The Stallions finished the half on a high. Bonovas had a shot while Cleghorn put in a teasing cross which Tsoler Nazarian poked straight.
They picked up where they left off in the second half. Substitute Asiyah Zreika nodded over then Cleghorn her a shot from range.
It was almost a sucker punch from the Mariners right after. Garrett glided down the wing and found Denning who was denied by Stallions keeper Isabella Sollecito.
Somehow the Mariners didn’t score in the 55th minute. Claire Denning whipped in a free-kick which rattled the bar then the follow up was swept away.
Garrett almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. Another strong cross from Denning saw the attacker try a bicycle kick which Sollecito pushed away.
Central Coast Mariners FC made it 1-0 in the 76th minute. Garrett continued her captain’s knock with a towering header to find the back of the net.
The Stallions emptied their bench to chase the result and avoid dropping from third to fourth on the League One Women’s ladder.
The hosts could’ve sealed the game in the 88th minute. Ava Moller wriggled free on the left and flashed an effort across goal.
Mariners saw out the two minutes of stoppage time comfortably and moved into third spot on the League One Women’s ladder.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 17 August 2025
Pluim Park
Referee: Mariano Llana
Assistant Referees: Adam Sloan & Gunnar Nilsen
Central Coast Mariners FC 1 (Garrett ’76)
Marconi Stallions FC 0
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1. Kyara O’Brien, 2. Jessica Garrett, 3. Teagan Jones, 4. Jordyn Drysdale, 6. Peyton Scollay, 11. Claire Denning, 12. Briana Myers (8. Natalia O’Driscoll ’70), 13. Annalise Brewster, 19. Ava Moller, 29. Tikka Jeffery, 37. Ruth Hosie
Unused subs: 9. Ruby Govind-Aley, 15. Georgia Calculli, 20. Grace Davies, 21. Lillia Rae, 33. Isabella Beresford
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. Isabella Sollecito, 2. Shelby Milton, 4. Daniela Brekic, 5. Erinn Cleghorn, 6. Sarah Urquhart (16. Pene Bonovas ’25), 8. Marie Herrera, 10. Hannah Tomelic, 11. Helena Daniele (7. Asiyah Zreika ’46), 18. Laura Malagon Avila, 43. Tsoler Nazarian (13. Charmaine Marquinez ’79), 44. Michaela Rattos
Unused subs: 21. Kiara Fragomeli
Yellow cards: Brekic ’61 Herrera ’64 Avila ’73 Rattos ‘82
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders FC 2 drew with St George FC 2
Points were shared in a 2-2 draw between SD Raiders FC and St George FC at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
It was an action-packed game between two sides looking to move themselves closer to the promised land of finals football. SD Raiders FC made it 1-0 in the 5th minute through Taiana Almeida from the spot then St George FC equalised in the 24th minute with Janan Codmani finding the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the break.
St George FC completed the turnaround in the 48th minute. Golden Boot leader Jordan Baker fired home for 2-1. Their joy was short lived as Abigail Boag restored parity and made it 2-2 in the 52nd minute for SD Raiders FC.
That set up a grandstand finish between the two sides who knew three points would help their cause greatly. Neither side could find another goal and the game ended 2-2 and not a result which suited either side.
Sutherland Strikers FC 5 defeated Blacktown City FC 0
Sutherland Strikers FC won 5-0 against Blacktown City FC in their game at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The Strikers made it three wins on the bounce after their five-star performance in their final home game of the season. The Strikers opened the scoring in the 4th minute through Lucy Johnson then Kathleen McParland made it 2-0 in the 10th minute.
The Strikers added a third goal in the contest. Johnson collected her second goal to make it 3-0 in the 21st minute and took that lead into the break. Mid-season signing Kimberley Davey made it 4-0 in the 69th minute with her maiden goal for the club.
Johnson capped off the win with her hat-trick goal in the 74th minute to complete the 5-0 scoreline for the Strikers. It completes a huge week for Sutherland Strikers FC who won their catch-up game against Inter Lions FC 4-2 on Friday night.
Inter Lions FC 0 defeated by Bankstown City Lions FC 1
Bankstown City Lions FC were 1-0 winners against Inter Lions FC at Majors Bay Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors earned back-to-back wins as they continue to finish the campaign on a high note in the last month. While neither team had much to play for it was a fiercely contested game which went into the break locked at 0-0.
The deadlock was broken in the 65th minute and decided the game. Bankstown City Lions FC took the 1-0 lead after an own goal from an Inter Lions FC defender and held off a late flurry from the hosts to secure three points.
Camden Tigers FC 1 defeated Blacktown Spartans FC 2
The Blacktown Spartans defeated the Camden Tigers 2-1 at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Neither side could find a way through in the first half and the whistle saw them go into the sheds at 0-0.
Camden Tigers FC were dealt a blow in the 60th minute when Eve Wilson was given a red card leaving them with 10 players. The Tigers shook off that loss and made it 1-0 through substitute Jade Constance in the 65th minute.
Spartans did make advantage of their extra player soon enough. They made it 1-1 in the 80th minute through Rebeca Barreto Rodrigues then completed the turnaround in the 83rd minute when Angelique Lynch swept home for 2-1.
Hills United FC 7 defeated Nepean FC 0
Hills United FC won 7-0 against Nepean FC in their game at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday evening.
The Premiers celebrated their achievement in style with a commanding result in their final home game of the season. Gemma Woolley made it 1-0 for Hills United FC in the 7th minute then defender Rhanni Plummer scored for 2-0 in the 21st minute.
Next, Rachel Glendenning made it 3-0 in the 41st minute then Monique Holder rounded off the first half display in stoppage time for 4-0. Striker Jess Wootton found the back of the net in the 47th minute for 5-0 right out of the break.
Woolley headlined the result with a hat-trick after she tallied in the 64th and 79th minute to take her to 15 goals for the season and make it 7-0 for Hills United FC. Keeper Sarah Easthope returned to the starting line-up and brought up her half century of clean sheets in the result.
South Coast Flame FC had the bye
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
