ROUND 5 REVIEW – NPL NSW WOMEN’S

It was some day for the away teams in NPL NSW Women’s Round Five action with all of them coming away with something from their matches, five of those victories. 

Emerging Jets 0-1 APIA Leichhardt 

APIA Leichhardt travelled north as heavy favourites to face the Emerging Jets.

The Jets have put up decent battles in most of their clashes and when one of the strongest come to town, everyone needs to be on their game.

And it wasn’t easy for the travelling side.

A lone goal to Georgia Yeoman-Dale secured the three points for APIA in what was a surprisingly difficult encounter for them.

Sydney University 0-0 NWS Koalas 

At Sydney University Football Ground, the students hosted their first home game of the season against the north West Sydney Koalas.

It was the away side that had the better of the opening exchanges without creating a clear cut opportunity.

Rachel Lowe came close for the home side 25 minutes in but Katie Offer made a good save.

Soon after, Isabella Volkanovski went close herself with her goal-bound shot blocked out for a corner.

Laura Hughes had the first chance of the second half for Sydney Uni but she scuffed her shot just outside the 6-yard box.

The next to try her luck was Maxine Peak but her fine shot blasted off the bar and out.

Neither side could find a goal though and the spoils were shared.

Illawarra Stingrays 2-3 Macarthur Rams 

The Macarthur Rams continued their march toward the Premiership with another important victory, this time down south against the Illawarra Stingrays.

It only took 31 seconds for the away side to hit the front as Leena Khamis placed home a perfect strike from outside the area.

It was another veteran that soon had the Stingrays level as Michelle Carney headed home a corner.

Khamis then showed some individual brilliance to put the Rams back in front just before the half hour mark.

Charalambous could’ve extended the lead but her effort couldn’t beat the keeper.

Just before the break, the home side were level again, this time after Holly Williams headed into her own net.

As both looked set to go into the break locked at 2-2, the Rams would have the final say.

Laura Murtagh sprung the offside trap and volleyed home to put Macarthur back in front for the third time in the match.

Neither side added to the score line in the second 45 as the Rams secured their spot a top of the competition.

Manly United 2-3 Northern Tigers 

It was local derby time at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon as Manly United hosted the Northern Tigers.

It was the away side that hit the front first after 15 minutes through Lauren Allan.

Allan showed some pace and composure to slot the ball home.

There was no composure in what happened next with the Tigers as Caitlin Jarvie pounced on a defensive error to show some skill before a powerful finish had Manly level.

The Tigers were back in front in the 62nd minute after United didn’t react to a short corner as Allan popped up to head the ball into the back of the net.

Shadeene Evans came off the bench and pinched the ball off Nicole Stewart before slotting home for a 3-1 lead.

Not long after United pulled one back through Remy Siemsen in some style with a powerful shot just inside the area.

The home team couldn’t find an equaliser as the Tigers picked up a massive three points.

Blacktown Spartans 0-5 Sydney Olympic 

A clash of two teams with high hopes for 2021 at Blacktown Football Park as the Blacktown Spartans hosted Sydney Olympic.

It was the away side that got the show rolling with a first half hat-trick to Teigan Collister, before Aimee Phillips and Collister were both on target in the second for a massive 5-0 victory.

It took only six minutes for Collister to get the show rolling and in some style, scoring a contender for goal of the season, blasting an effort into the top corner from more than 30 metres out.

Collister had her second and Olympics second in the 15th minute, rounding the Spartans keeper before tapping home.

Eight minutes later the hat-trick was complete.

On the turn, just inside the box she curled the ball with her left off the cross bar and over the line for a 3-0 Olympic lead.

With 20 minutes to go, Taylor Ray almost made it four but her shot rebounded off the bar.

It took until the 82nd minute for Olympic to grab their next and who else would it be but Collister, again in some style, finding the top corner once more with another excellent strike.

Phillips made it 5-0 after getting onto the end of a Teresa Polias corner at the far post in the 89th minute.

Bankstown City 0-1 Football NSW Institute 

At Jensen Park, Bankstown City went in search of their first win of the season against the Football NSW Institute.

But it was the away side the would take the three points with a solitary goal.

The goal was enough for the three points and to push the Institute up into third place on the ladder.

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