With the start of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand serving as a backdrop, the National Premier League NSW Women’s competition delivered plenty of entertainment and impressive goals.
Have a read of our full Round 20 Review below!
Match of the Round: Sydney Olympic 0-3 APIA Leichhardt – Belmore Sports Ground
APIA Leichhardt took a giant leap toward the 2023 NPL NSW Women’s Premiership with a 3-0 victory over Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground.
Ash Crofts added another goal to her season tally as she opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
In the second half, Rhianna Pollicina doubled the lead before a late own goal by Maya Fernandez rounded off the scoring.
Read the full match report here!
NWS Spirit 0-3 Northern Tigers – Christie Park
Saturday’s sole match of the day saw the Northern Tigers spring a surprise 3-0 win over third-placed NWS Spirit away at Christie Park.
After a plucky late draw against local rivals Manly United, the Tigers crossed the Lane Cove River to face Spirit for back-to-back derby matchups.
Hannah McNulty opened the scoring for the Tigers in the 45th minute when an attempted clearance by Spirit fell to the No. 7 in the box for a superbly taken half-volley finish beyond a crowd of defenders and into the back of the net.
The second half would keep the good times rolling for the Tigers after substitute Isabel Gomez took advantage of a lack of pressure from the opposition to unleash a thunderous long-range effort that goalkeeper Mio Nemoto could barely get a hand to, the ball deflecting off of the keeper and into the top left-hand corner.
Fellow Tigers substitute Lily McMahon would wrap the match up for the Tigers in the 88th minute after being put through via a slick pass from Gomez and confidently taking on the shot for 3-0.
Bulls FC Academy 1-2 Bankstown City Lions – Northbridge Oval
Bankstown City Lions travelled to Northbridge Oval to take on Bulls FC Academy in what was a significant fixture for both teams, although the Lions eventually prevailed 2-1 over the home side.
The Bulls entered the match amped up to ensure the three points, particularly after going down in a disappointing loss to the Illawarra Stingrays in Round 19. By comparison, the Lions were hoping to use a potential victory as a springboard to reigniting their good form after two tough losses.
Rasamee Phonsongkham was at the heart of her side’s opening goal after earning a penalty following a mazey run and trip in the box. Phonsongkham would then confidently dispatch the resulting spot kick with ease.
Dynamic Bulls youngster Avaani Prakash would fashion her side an avenue back into the match after notching an equaliser in the 77th minute.
However, the Lions were not keen to settle for a draw and would craft a dramatic late winner late-on, courtesy of a pinpoint Katie Bowler cross from the left edge and a composed first-time strike from an unmarked Stephanie Ambrose on the right wing.
A win for Bankstown consigns the Bulls to successive losses and keeps the Lions close to the top end of the ladder at the end of Round 20.
Blacktown Spartans 1-2 Gladesville Ravens – Blacktown Football Park
The Gladesville Ravens ran out 2-1 winners over the Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening.
The Ravens, who began the season as potential dark horses, would have been looking to use the match to rediscover their best form as the season comes closer to its conclusion.
Against the run of play, Blacktown opened the scoring in the 41st minute off the back of a counterattack that left the Ravens defence in disarray and a smart Donelle Moore through ball that was finished confidently by Amber Luchtmeijer.
Barely two minutes had passed before the Ravens found their equaliser. Renee Pountney hassled the Spartans defence as they struggled to clear a Elizabeth Gilbane cross, which eventually led to the No. 35 burying a loose ball for 1-1. A quickfire Ravens equaliser meant that both teams headed into halftime level.
Siobhan Edwards would prove to be the hero for the Ravens in the 91st minute when a deep free kick was knocked down by Eleanor Lidbetter for Edwards to take on and deliver a crushing blow for a Spartans side that withstood the Ravens for much of the ninety minutes. 1-2 the final score.
Following a Round 19 loss to the competition’s in-form side, Macarthur Rams, the Ravens showed that they remain a side not to be doubted as the season comes closer to its conclusion.
In contrast, Blacktown Spartans will be looking to push themselves away from the relegation zone in the coming weeks.
Manly United 2-1 Emerging Jets – Cromer Park
Despite taking the lead, the Emerging Jets were unable to hold out and eventually went down 2-1 to Manly United at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Manly United have sparked some positive momentum at just the right time in the season, whereas the Jets are still looking for that elusive first win.
In spite of their lacklustre season thus far, the Jets will take the positives from quality performances against both Manly on Sunday and Sydney Olympic last weekend.
It was the away side who would open the scoring for the match in the 30th minute through Alisha Ingrey. The sequence leading up to the goal saw Milan Hammond working hard to make space for a bobbling cross into the box that found its way to an onrushing Ingrey at the near post for a strike that was initially saved by Manly goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen. The United No. 1 was unable to prevent the follow-up though as Ingrey secured the goal on the second attempt.
The second half would see Manly restore parity in the 55th minute on behalf of some marvelous work from Kahli Johnson which saw the lively No. 7 cut in from the left wing and curl a terrific finish past Xanthe Parsons in the Jets goal.
Johnson again stepped up to give her side the lead late on in the 86th minute with a rocket of a penalty into the top left corner of the net.
Macarthur Rams 4-0 Football NSW Institute – Lynwood Park
The league’s in-form side, Macarthur Rams, proved to be too strong for Football NSW Institute as they delivered a 4-0 win in front of the fans at Lynwood Park.
Macarthur are refusing to let APIA Leichardt get away from them, and with ten wins on the bounce keeping them in 2nd place for some time now, the side from Sydney’s South-West continue to impress.
Full credit must go to Kelli Brown for Macarthur’s opening goal. After collecting and controlling a deflected Tegan Bertolissio cross, Brown defiantly held off two Institute defenders before somehow getting the ball away from her feet and decisively turning in just the right moment to stick her foot in and slip a finish beyond Tahlia Franco in goal.
Terrific linkup play saw the Rams bypass the Institute midfield to put together a smart play that ended in Brown finding Leena Khamis for an assured strike to give Macarthur a 2-0 buffer.
A minute had barely passed before the Rams were on the hunt for more as Brown instinctively latched onto an unintentionally deflected pass and evaded the defence for her brace.
The Rams’ final goal of the day was brought by Madison McComasky, volleying home from a Bethany Gordon cross.
Match Postponed: Illawarra Stingrays v Sydney University