Round 26 Review – League One Women’s
Round 26 saw the finale of the motion picture which was the Football NSW League One Women’s season which sees Hills United FC take the gold.
They will join SD Raiders FC, Central Coast Mariners FC and Marconi Stallions FC in the finals.
The season concluded with six enthralling contests across the weekend headlined by the Match of the Round between St George FC and Hills United FC.
Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: St George FC 0 defeated by Hills United FC 2
Hills United FC won 2-0 against St George FC in their game at 5sports played on Sunday afternoon.
The Premiers stamped a fantastic season with one final win in comfortable fashion away from home. Gemma Woolley made it 1-0 in the 35th minute then Monique Holder sealed the win in the 79th minute with a dipping shot for 2-0.
For St George FC, the loss means that they won’t participate in the 2025 League One Women’s finals campaign for the first time in ages. It is a campaign of missed chances and what ifs for the Saints.
St George FC walked onto 5sports knowing only a win would guarantee finals football and Premiers Hills United FC stood in their way.
It was a cagey opening to this important game. Hills United FC had a few early set pieces while St George FC tried to release Danielle Rutstein and Jaslyn Moore down the wings.
Hills United FC were the first to offer a shot. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar had a pair of efforts which St George FC shot stopper Caitlin Russell claimed.
The visitors continued to create most of the chances. Monique Holder tried from range then Rachel Glendenning cut inside to shoot straight in the 27th minute.
Rutstein flew down the wing to create space then cut the ball back for Moore to poke the effort past the left post.
Both sides traded chances as the game went past the half hour mark. Bianca Galayini fizzed a shot wide.
Hills United FC made it 1-0 in the 35th minute. It was worked out to Gemma Woolley who curled her shot into the bottom corner.
Buoyed by their goal, Hills United FC kept pushing. Cemazar released Woolley towards goal but her shot was stuffed by Russell.
Headed towards the break, St George FC had one final chance. Janan Codmani found space and sent one over the bar.
The Saints marched out with a mission in the second half. Jordan Baker turned creator to carve space for Eyerus Hillman who blazed it over.
Hills United FC continued being nuisances at corners throughout. Defender Zoe Murdoch broke free from one and nodded wide.
St George thought they had equalised in the 76th minute. Baker and Codmani combined to put substitute Genevieve Russo towards goal. She fired home but the flag was raised.
Hills United FC snuffed out the hosts finals chances in the 80th minute. Holder dipped a shot perfectly past Russell and into the net for 2-0.
The visitors remained hungry for goals. Substitute Portia Berios fired wide as they rung the changes late.
Baker tried to get St George FC on the scoresheet. She stood over a free-kick and curled it right to Hills United FC keeper Nicola Simmons.
Murdoch went close again from a set piece. She rose highest from a corner and crashed her header against the bar.
The final opportunity fell to the 2025 Golden Boot. Baker turned well on the edge of the box and rifled it right to Simmons.
Hills United FC held out the final moments well and finished off the 2025 regular season with another win and they lifted the Premiers trophy post-game to celebrate.
It also meant that Marconi Stallions FC take the fourth and final spot in the League One Women’s finals series after watching the game while on the bye.
Post match, St George FC coach Mark Greenfield reflected on a tough season for his side who ran out of gas late:
“We had our chance today against a side who had nothing to play for. We played well in the first half but couldn’t find the goal we needed. We had too many draws this season and really were the walking wounded by the end of the season.” said Greenfield.
For Hills United FC coach, Allan Tasses, he looked back on a tremendous season for his side and capping it off in style:
“It was a great way to cap off the season, it is tough to get motivated after a big occasion in winning the title. We knew they would come after us but we turned up professionally and got ready for next weekend.” said Tasses.
“The girls have kept turning up despite the injuries recently. It was fitting to finish the season here at 5sports after this is where our title charge ended last year. We got to hand out a few debuts to [Sara] Malinowsky and [Kiera] Culnane which shows the strength of the club.” finished Tasses.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 24 August 2025
5sports Main
Referee:
Assistant Referees:
Hills United FC 2 (Woolley ‘35 Holder ‘79)
St George FC 0
St George FC: 3. Danielle Rutstein, 6. Tara Palmer (17. Ashley Kotevski ’74), 7. Tayla Cvetkovski, 9. Jordan Baker, 10. Janan Codmani, 13. Lauren Johnson, 18. Jaslyn Moore (15. Genevieve Russo ’61), 20. Caitlin Russell, 26. Sienna Borrill (22. Rebecca Cousins ’74), 57. Eyerus Hillman (29. Maiya Perdikaris ’84), 74. Ivana Galic
Unused subs: 1. Emilija Vidakovic, 24. Eliza Mok
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Hills United FC: 1. Nicola Simmons, 7. Gemma Woolley (19. Portia Berios ’80), 8. Bella Donaldson, 10. Bianca Galayini, 13. Helen Berridge, 14. Elin Rosenberg Cemazar (9. Ellen Berios ’61), 15. Tasmin Buchanan (5. Rhanni Plummer ’61), 17. Rachel Glendenning (24. Sara Malinowsky ’85), 25. Monique Holder (23. Kiera Culnane ’85), 27. Amie Mastop, 33. Zoe Murdoch
Unused subs: 99. Sarah Easthope
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
South Coast Flame FC 0 defeated by Central Coast Mariners FC 2
Central Coast Mariners FC won 2-0 against South Coast Flame FC at Sir Ian McLennan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Mariners made it two wins on the bounce and made sure that the yellow-and-navy can’t finish lower than 3rd place on the League One Women’s ladder. The visitors were bright from the opening whistle in this encounter.
Peyton Scollay opened the scoring in the 18th minute from the spot to make it 1-0 then the Mariners pressed well to win the ball before Ava Moller poked home for 2-0 in the 30th minute for a two-goal lead at the break.
They saw out the game in confident fashion and set up a semi-final clash against SD Raiders FC next weekend. For South Coast Flame FC, they fell at the final hurdle again but they will be red hot again in 2026.
Nepean FC 0 defeated by Inter Lions FC 3
Inter Lions FC won 3-0 against Nepean FC in their contest at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions signed off 2025 on a winning note and a performance which will have coach John Di Biase excited for the next season. Inter Lions FC had to work for the points against a dogged Nepean FC defence which kept it to 0-0 at half-time.
Inter Lions FC found the breakthrough in the 54th minute. Hannah Charak made it 1-0 then doubled her delight in the 65th minute for 2-0. Charak put the icing on the cake with her third hat-trick goal which saw neat work from Inter Lions FC and she fired home for 3-0 75th minute.
While Charak will take the headlines, it was a full team performance from Inter Lions FC who have shown signs of progress this season. Captain Zoe Katsionis stood out again assisting a goal and being a commanding presence across the park.
Blacktown City FC 0 drew with Camden Tigers FC 0
Points were shared in a 0-0 draw between Blacktown City FC and Camden Tigers FC at Landen Stadium on Sunday evening.
Both sides will take a point to end the season but it was a frustrating way to conclude what has been a tough year for both. Blacktown City FC played some solid football in patches but missed the clinical edge up front which has been the case all season.
For Camden Tigers FC, it has been a step forward for them in 2025. They have taken part in some big games and collected some big scalps including taking points off Central Coast Mariners and SD Raiders FC.
Blacktown Spartans FC 0 defeated by SD Raiders FC 4
SD Raiders FC were 4-0 winners against Blacktown Spartans FC at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening.
The visitors warmed up for the finals with a clinical performance away from home to finish second on the League One Women’s ladder. Taiana Almeida got the goal scoring started in the 10th minute to make it 1-0 then Tenealle Hay made it 2-0 in the 26th minute for a two-goal lead at the break.
SD Raiders FC pushed for more goals in the second half and netted twice to complete their regular season campaign. Abigail Boag scored for 3-0 in the 71st minute then Hay collected her second in the 81st minute to finish it off at 4-0.
Now SD Raiders FC host a semi-final against Central Coast Mariners FC next weekend and Blacktown Spartans FC take some building blocks from 2025 for a jump up the ladder next season.
Bankstown City Lions FC 1 defeated by Sutherland Strikers FC 3
Sutherland Strikers FC won 3-1 against Bankstown City Lions FC at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Strikers ended the season on a high to finish eighth on the League One Women’s ladder. Alliyah Yamaguchi made it 1-0 for Sutherland Strikers FC in 18th minute then Kirsty Fenton scored for 2-0 in the 35th minute with a wicked shot.
Bankstown City Lions FC did pull a goal back before half-time through the reliable Karen Bennett who looped home a header in the 39th minute for 2-1 at the break. Fenton restored the Strikers two-goal advantage in the 48th minute with her second of the game for 3-1.
Strikers saw out the rest of the game well to make it four wins on the bounce to take positives into the next season. The Lions endured a tough campaign but the young squad had some strong results to look back on including beating the Mariners.
Marconi Stallions had the bye
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
