ROUND 4 REVIEW – NPL NSW WOMEN’S

There were goals galore on Anzac Day in round four action of the Women’s NPL NSW competition. 

Sydney Olympic 2-2 Manly United 

It was quite the entertaining game at Belmore Sports Ground between Sydndey Olympic and Manly United.

The away side had the lead for less than 60 seconds in the first half before restoring it shortly after, all inside the opening 20 minutes.

A second half penalty to Olympic settled the full-time score.

The game began very open with both teams creating chances at either end.

But it was Manly who took the lead in bizarre fashion. Olympic couldn’t clear a corner and when it seemed they would, Remy Siemsen stuck her foot in and poked the ball home.

Not even a minute had passed and Olympic were level.

Teresa Polias’ lethal low free kick wasn’t held, allowing Jess Frampton to pop up at the back post and bundle the ball home.

The entertaining opening to the match continued when Manly re-took the lead in the 18th minute.

This time Emily Minett delivered a perfect cross which first Tara Andrews couldn’t finish but Kahli Johnson could with an excellent finish.

Andrews then had a golden chance of her own but somehow pulled her shot wide from just outside the 6-yard box.

Siemsen went close next, beating Mathyssen but not Frampton who cleared off the line.

Olympic re-organised and came out a better side in the second period.

Claudia Cholakian almost came back to haunt her old side, smacking an effort against the upright.

Shortly after it was 2-2.

Substitute Aimee Phillips was brought down in the box, Angelique Hristodoulou stepped up and with an expert penalty had Olympic’s equaliser.

Polias had a shot from distance but her effort was fantastically saved by Isabella Whitton.

Johnson could’ve won it late on for Manly but made the wrong choice in a promising position.

George Beltsos was happy with his side’s performance.

“We’ve had one session together since the return of the W-League girls so I’m happy with what we produced, it will get better,” Beltsos said.

His opposite, Tom Hopley, probably thought his side could’ve taken something more from the game.

“We looked like scoring every time we went forward in the first half. Credit to them, they came out a different side in the second half.

“If someone had offered me a point before coming here tonight, I would’ve taken it,” said Hopley.

He also made special mention to reserve goal keeper Isabella Whitton who needed to replace an injured Nicole Simonsen.

Football NSW 1-0 Blacktown Spartans 

At Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW Institute hosted the Blacktown Spartans.

In what would be the shock of the round, Jaime Gomez’s girls came away with all three points to make it two wins in a row.

Sarah Hunter popped up with a second half goal to give the Institute a massive three points.

That win pushed the Institute above the Spartans and into the top five.

Northern Tigers 3-0 Sydney University 

The premiers were in action for the first time this season as Sydney University travelled to North Turramaurra to take on the Northern Tigers.

Emma Watkins had the Tigers in front after 19 minutes after a Hannah McNulty set piece wasn’t dealt with.

It was 20 minutes into the second half and the Tigers doubled their lead in style.

Ariela Cabezas delivered a teasing cross into the box which Maddie Bart took full advantage of with a fine looping header.

Bart secured the three points with a typical poachers finish at the back post with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Macarthur Rams 4-0 Bankstown City 

The Macarthur Rams continued their unbeaten run to the season when they defeated Bankstown City on Sunday afternoon.

Kylie Ledbrook had the Rams in front in some style in the 28th minute as the home side punced on a lose ball before the number 10 let fly with a special goal.

Renee Rollason kept her name at the top of the club’s score charts with a goal early in the second half.

Leena Khamis then added two of her own to round up the 4-0 scoreline.

The first came after a neat cross from Laura Murtagh and the second after a nice team move and an even better finish.

NWS Koalas 3-1 Emerging Jets 

At Christie Park, the North West Sydney Koalas and Emerging Jets were looking for win number one of the season.

Chloe Smith opened the scoring for the Jets as she volleyed home after a fine Katie Offer save.

A minute later the Jets gave a goal away.

Jets keeper Robertson was showing off her fancy footwork before Tahlia Macri appeared, slid in and scored for the Koalas.

It only took five minutes for the home team to secure the victory in the second half.

A fine team move had Morgan Roberts slotting the ball into the back of the net to put the Koalas in front.

The third was something special by Isabella Volkanovski who picked up the ball more than 20 metres out and let fly with a rocket into the top corner.

APIA Leichhardt 2-2 Illawarra Stingrays 

At Lambert Park we were treated to some game as APIA Leichhardt hosted the Illawarra Stingrays.

The away side started better and were rewarded in the 7th minute after a short corner wasn’t dealt with, ending up in the back of the net.

It took less than 10 minutes for the home side to be on level terms as Nikki Flannery rounded the keeper and slipped the ball into the back of the net.

As half time approached, APIA hit the front.

A corner wasn’t cleared by the Stingrays as the ball fell to Rhianna Pollicina who blasted the ball home.

The away side were back in it through Erica Halloway.

After some hard work from Carney, the ball fell to Halloway who let fly with a piledriver giving the keeper no chance.

The entertaining game would finish in a 2-2 draw.

By: NIKOLA POZDER, CHIEF NPL NSW WOMEN’S WRITER