Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League Semi Final Review
As expected the four participants provided plenty of thrills and spills before the semi final encounters were decided. It wasn?t a weekend for upsets; but then is there ever really such a thing as an upset in a semi final series? When you have the best four teams in the competition playing off anything can happen. The biggest surprise of the weekend was that I tipped both of the winners!
Out at Lynwood Park the home town heroes, Macarthur Rams, hosted their arch rivals NWS Koalas. The Koalas two previous visits to The Rams home ground had been less than enjoyable. The Rams had roared home with late goals on both occasions with the most recent win having sent the Minor Premiership on a fast train to Campbelltown. The Koalas were out for revenge in a match where you could be sure nobody would be taking any prisoners!
Now, at this stage I thought I could probably pull out my last Rams v Koalas match report and submit the copy. Games between these two sides have a familiar pattern. Both teams have periods of ascendancy; both teams lay claim to victory at various stages. The usual suspects come out of the ruck to plot the course of the match. Players like Ledbrook, Haim, Cavanagh and McLean are always prominent and this game was no different.
However, despite a number of goal scoring opportunities from both sides nobody could find the back of the net. Half time came and went, fulltime sounded and still the two teams had failed to trouble the scoreboard attendant. Was this going to be one of those dreaded penalty shoot outs?
In the 112th minute of play, after some quality lead up work from Alicia Cavanagh and Sanaa Hawkins, Danni Calvi slotted away what The Koalas hoped would be the winner. As the clock ticked down, ever closer to the final whistle, The Rams threw everything they had at The Koalas defence in an attempt to equalise. With one minute remaining in extra time Leesa Thompson broke the visitor?s hearts with a fine goal that sent the two sides to the penalty spot to find a winner.
Now, I?m not going to list who scored in the shoot out and who didn?t but suffice to say that Macarthur progressed to their second successive Grand Final. I?d say that Leesa Thompson will be receiving free drinks from all of her team mates for the next fortnight. Another great escape for The Rams that will leave The Koalas considering trying black magic as solution to the Lynwood Park curse. The Rams now await their Grand Final opponents whilst The Koalas play off in next weekend?s Preliminary Final.
I must mention Macarthur?s Nicole Winley, who came into the match off the bench only to break her arm. Nicole will now miss the Grand Final and be in plaster for six weeks. I?m sure that her injury tempered The Rams? celebrations somewhat.
Macarthur Rams 1 (L.Thompson)
NWS Koalas 1 (D.Calvi)
The Minor Semi Final at Marconi Stadium saw third placed Marconi Stallions clash with Manly United FC.
Marconi had taken something of a hammering at the hands of NWS Koalas last weekend. However, the locals welcomed back ace striker Ash Connor from the suspended list along with injured star Jodie Bain.
Marconi started the match in the same rampant mood they did against The Koalas. The difference was that this week the shots found the back of the net! Within four minutes Ash Connor had welcomed herself back to the side with the opening goal. Two minutes later Sam Muscat doubled Marconi?s lead. Things were looking pretty bleak for the Manly girls.
To their credit the Manly girls dug deep in an attempt to work their way back into the game. The game became one of those semi final arm wrestles but Ash Connor seemingly put the match beyond the visitors in the 57th minute with her second goal. Kate Hensman snatched one back for Manly just two minutes later from a well taken free kick.
This was Marconi?s day though with Sam Muscat spearing onto a through ball to make it 4-1 in the 90th minute. A fine win to Marconi, a huge disappointment for Manly United.
So, The Stallions proceed to a return bout with NWS Koalas next Sunday with the winner to play Macarthur Rams in the Grand Final. Manly will be left to consider how they can go a step or two further in 2009.
Marconi Stallions 4 (A.Connor 2, S.Muscat 2)
Manly United FC 1 (K.Hensman)
Two exciting games marked by some inspiring play and quality finishing. Next weekend?s Final looks like a mouth watering clash; The Stallions will be no push overs and The Koalas will feel the pressure of expectation. There are plenty of players in both squads who are capable of influencing the result. This should be a great precursor to Grand Final Day.
-By Ross Anderson
