Womens State League Round 21 Review
In what was the last round of the regular season of the Womens State League the match of the round certainly did not disappoint.
Bankstown City FC 4 -1 St George
Surprise, surprise Samantha Muscat was the star as a bright sunny day, something we have not been blessed with on a Sunday for a long time was set on Jensen Park and boy did the girls turn up and entertain us well. With their finals place well cemented Bankstown was in a position to catch Nepean FC for the minor premiership.
What we had were sides with the two best attacking records this season and the game demonstrated just that. The match was filled with tremendous width and amazing interplay by both teams. Bankstown’s midfielders were absolutely immense in the middle and showed why they are favourites to win the comp.
From the first minute, Bankstown’s game plan was clear and which was to press high and focus on putting the pressure on St George’s back four. They did so with absolute valour as Muscat was the focal point of two early chances just wide. The Lionesses were relentless on their approach as they tested St George’s fullbacks with narrow dribbling and one-two passing.
With their final four hopes still on the line the Saints needed to record at least one point from their remaining games to ensure Southern Districts don’t pip them. After surviving an early barrage of goal attempts, St George then began to gain confidence and started building from the back. They regained their composure and started to play their normal game with brimming confidence.
As both sides traded blows the difference was of course the league’s best player, Samantha Muscat. After a build up from her winger Muscat received a clinical pass in the box with a defender in near sight and had the finesse to slot the ball into goal in one touch. On her way to winning the golden boot, Muscat once again proved the difference early on.
To their credit, St George did not alter their game plan and continued to play their expansive style. Though with beauty come some risks. Just six minutes later, after intercepting a ball Muscat beat two defenders on the way for her second of the day, simply brilliant.
Again, the goal did not alter the Saints as they kept persisting with their brand of football and it almost pulled through with Georgia Koinis and Melissa Toumbelekis just missing the target on the way to half-time. The Lionesses at the half were 2-0 up and were in cruise control.
In the second half the mood changed as St George began in blistering pace, a few handy crosses from Koinis gave the Saints a few early chances but were defused by the Bankstown defenders. Then in the 53rd minute, Koinis intercepted a pass and fed her striker Rachelle Wang in the box who had the composure to find the back of the net.
There were high fives all round and belief was back and we had a game on our hands. As the match continued the battle was in the middle of the park as both teams vied for possession. Then in a penalty box scramble, that name again Muscat scored her hat-trick from point blank range. Samantha Muscat’s third goal of the game meant it was her 51st goal of the season, a staggering haul.
With the two-goal deficit St George finally looked defeated, they showed some flashes of fatigue but their courage was always there. With minutes to go, the final nail to the coffin, a freakish almost impossible goal from Lyndsay Kohlett. From a great dribble on the left hand side, Kohlett beat a defender and proceeded to cross the ball but instead lobbed the keeper and went into the net, to score a contender for goal of the season.
The headline here is Bankstown’s comfortable win, but at times both sides were level and the result could have swung either way, but today the Lionesses stood tall.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 – 1 Gladesville Ravens
The Town Rangers continued their consistent form with a comfortable win in their own backyard. With this result they consolidate third spot on the ladder as they head toward next weekend’s finals series.
More to follow…
– Chris Doroudgar
