The Champions are back on top of the league after five rounds in the NPL NSW Women’s competition.
APIA Leichhardt 0-2 Blacktown Spartans
In the final game of the round, the Blacktown Spartans took a massive three points as they catapulted themselves into second place on the competition ladder.
The win is Brad Attard’s girls’ second straight and with only one loss this season, confidence is high at Blacktown Football Park.
The Spartans started off on fire and from the kickoff it was obvious they were going to put pressure on the home side.
That pressure told after only three minutes as Alex Tims received her marching orders for a last player in defence challenge.
It meant APIA had to re-arrange and their most potent player of 2020, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, had to settle in into right back
Blacktown would continue their push but couldn’t create a clear-cut opportunity in the first period with Sophie Magus quick to react to any opportunities.
It’d be APIA with the best chances of the first period though with first Yeoman-Dale going close before Ash Pallombi’s cross almost found Princess Ibini at the far post.
The physical contest from the first period continued in the second with both teams working hard.
Mid-way through the first half it would be the Spartans who finally broke the dead lock.
Kyra Cooney-Cross was fouled on the edge of the area. She dusted herself off, took the free kick and beat Magus at the far post with a powerful effort.
APIA looked to respond and went for broke by bringing on attacking options Tara Pender and Amy Dahdah.
But it’d be the Spartans that would settle it late on after a swift counter attack with Charlotte Grant placing a fine finish into the back of the net.
Manly United 2-1 Sydney Olympic
Manly United bounced back after last week’s defeat, coming from behind and defeating Sydney Olympic.
Olympic got off to a bright start and had the lead after 14 minutes in spectacular fashion through their captain Teresa Polias.
Polias saw the Manly keeper off her line and caught her with a precise free kick from a difficult angle and from some way out.
On the half hour mark, the home side were level in controversial circumstances.
Corinne Winkler’s lob at the far post was adjudged to have crossed the line after a corner to the delight of the home players.
Another set piece would be Olympic’s undoing once more as Tara Andrews blasted the ball home with only 13 minutes remaining and keeping the three points at Cromer Park.
Bankstown City 0-8 Sydney University
At Jensen Park, Syd Uni took all three points against Bankstown City.
Bankstown’s young side battled hard but were undone by two own goals and a penalty in the first half.
Uni went on and completed the job in the second half to move back to the top of the ladder.
Julie Ann-Russell scored a hat-trick while Clare Wheeler, Stephanie Augoustis, Sarah Morgan and Teigan Collister got on the score sheet.
Northern Tigers 0-0 Football NSW Institute
It was a stalemate at North Turramurra as the Northern Tigers and Football NSW Institute shared the spoils.
The draw didn’t do either too much in the battle for finals football.
The Tigers remain in eighth while the Institute move one place forward into sixth.
Macarthur Rams 1-3 Illawarra Stingrays
The Stingrays hit the front in some style as Michelle Carney scored an absolute screamer after only two minutes on the clock from a free kick.
Six minutes later, Carney did it again!
Another perfect set piece, this time placed into the top corner had Sham Khamis watch the ball fly into the back of the net.
Patty Charalambous added another goal to her tally after some excellent work by Leena Khamis.
Illawarra’s first win of the season was safe 10 minutes from full time as Carney turned provider for Eden Stoddard who tapped the ball home.
Emerging Jets v NWS Koalas – PP
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By: Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer