Round 20 Review – League One Women's

Round 20 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition was full of theatre and drama across Sunday afternoon as the season heads into the final act.

There were seven games to enjoy highlighted by the Match of the Round between St George FC and Hills United FC and a top of the table clash between Mt Druitt Town Rangers and SD Raiders FC.

Let’s get onto the review.

Match of the Round: St George FC 1 drew with Hills United FC 1

St George FC and Hills United FC had a dramatic 1-1 draw down at 5sports on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints grab a valuable point which keeps them right in the hunt for the top four. It was a Jordan Baker banging free-kick which clawed it back to 1-1 in the 87th minute after they dominated the second half.

It feels like déjà vu for Hills United FC who haven’t been able to see out results in recent weeks to give them some breathing space. Kaylie Shannon made it 1-0 for the visitors in the 24th minute before they were pegged back.

St George FC and Hills United FC walked onto 5sports ready to do battle in the Grand Final rematch and three precious points.

The first shot of the game fell to the hosts. Janan Codmani found space and snapped a shot right at Hills United FC keeper Sarah Easthope.

Hills United FC settled into their rhythm and had a pair of efforts. Olivia Schembri drove one straight at St George FC keeper Caitlin Russell.

Next, Mao Ikeda had a chance from the set piece. She stood over the free-kick and sent the effort over the bar.

Hills United FC made it 1-0 in the 24th minute. Rhanni Plummer flicked the ball into the path of Kaylie Shannon who volleyed home.

Plummer was central to the action in the first half. She had a shot which Russell spilled but no one followed in to find the back of the net.

St George FC brought on Genevieve Russo in the second half to patrol the midfield and urge the hosts forward.

The substitution worked as St George FC held a majority of the ball but couldn’t find any cracks in the Hills United FC defence.

Chances were at a premium early in the half. Aisling Davidson drove a long-range effort which went straight to Russell.

Brooke Hastie tried to give Hills United FC a cushion from another set piece. She drove in a free-kick which went over the bar.

St George FC were piling on the pressure as the clocked ticked away. Alexia Saltirov nodded wide from a corner.

Substitute Morgan Maxwell almost prised open the visitors defence. It was a slick one-touch move which found Maxwell who was denied strongly by Easthope.

Jordan Baker sent in a free-kick for St George FC which bounced around before Russo swept a shot towards goal and Easthope came up trumps again.

It was a piece of Baker brilliance which made it 1-1. The striker had a free-kick outside the area, curled it in before it touched off the post and into the net in the 87th minute.

The equalizer spurred on St George FC to chase all three points. Baker was denied again then Maxwell couldn’t provide the final touch.

Hills United FC final chance was another set piece. Hastie had the free-kick on the left but faded it wide of the right post.

Tayla Cvetkovski almost snatched it for St George FC in stoppage time. She bent an effort towards the top corner before a diving stop from Easthope denied her.

There was one final twist in the tale of this rematch. Baker was found inside the box and her shot was once again repelled by Easthope.

The final whistle saw the two teams play out a second 1-1 draw of the season and share the points on a crisp afternoon.

Speaking post-match, St George FC’s Carlo Tini reflected on a dominant second half for the hosts:

“It was a very tough, physical game and played at a fast tempo. I thought we dominated the second half after a few wayward passes in the first half. A draw is a fair result for the two sides but we could’ve taken the win if not for some superb saves from Easthope.” said Tini.

For Hills United FC coach Allan Tasses, he mused on a performance which has reflected their last month in the competition:

“It just seems to the last month we can’t buy a win. It isn’t due to a lack of effort from the girls but it isn’t happening for us. St George came at us in the second half and they gave it to us. This game is always a good battle.” said Tasses.

MATCH STATS

Sunday 14 July 2024

5sports

Referee: Rhys Gillon

Assistant Referees: Matthew Fisher & Blake Klaassen

St George FC 1 (Baker ‘87

Hills United FC 1 (Shannon ’24)

St George FC: 4. Nicole Besz, 9. Jordan Baker, 11. Kyla Vanderlaan (10. Morgan Maxwell ‘70), 12. Janan Codmani (18. Jaslyn Moore ‘70), 13. Alexia Saltirov, 14. Angelina Manos, 16. Emma-Jane Winston (3. Kate Dale ’80), 20. Christina Dendrinos (8. Abbey-Rose Cryer ’55), 30. Tayla Cvetkovski, 61. Caitlin Russell, 71. Paris Alcorn (15. Genevieve Russo ’45)

Unused subs: 21. Millie Markou

Yellow cards: Alcorn ‘35

Red cards: nil

Hills United FC: 1. Sarah Easthope, 3. Aisling Davidson, 5. Olivia Schembri, 6. Brooke Hastie, 8. Bella Donaldson (19. Janie Hansen ’80), 9. Mao Ikeda, 10. Bianca Galayini (2. Emma Jackson ’66), 11. Isabella Sciberras (15. Maddison Edmunds ’80), 12. Kaylie Shannon (25. Grace Attard ’90), 13. Desiree Galea, 21. Rhanni Plummer (4. Chisato Tokoro ’66)

Unused subs: 16. Bridget Brien

Yellow cards: Schembri ‘27

Red cards: nil

Central Coast Mariners FC 2 drew with South Coast Flame FC 2

Central Coast Mariners FC and South Coast Flame FC had a 2-2 draw at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.

The result gives both teams another point but it dents the finals hopes of Central Coast Mariners FC headed into the final six weeks of the competition. Both teams were cagey in the first half and the game was deadlocked at half-time.

South Coast Flame FC made it 1-0 right after half-time through Kellie McIntyre in the 48th minute before Mikayla De Jong provided impact off the bench to make it 2-0 in the 85th minute. The Mariners stormed home with a pair of goals to Claire Denning in the 87th and 92nd minute to snatch a point.

Bankstown City Lions FC 6 defeated Inter Lions FC 1

Bankstown City Lions FC won 6-1 against Inter Lions FC in their game at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions keep on the prowl for a top four spot with another comfortable result. Aya Seino made it 1-0 in the 5th minute before she doubled her delight in the 7th minute for 2-0 as Bankstown City Lions FC held a two-goal lead going into the break.

Seino completed her hat-trick in the 46th minute for 3-0 then substitute Kahtia Bedano got into the action making it 4-0 in the 66th minute. Seino rolled home a fourth to make it 5-0 in the 76th minute followed by substitute Chiara Cencigh adding the sixth in the 84th minute.

Inter Lions found a late consolation through their substitute Isabel McBridge for 6-1 in the 86th minute. The Lions saw out the game and pick up a sixth win on the spin to further enhance their finals hopes.

Camden Tigers FC 1 drew with Marconi Stallions FC 1

Points were shared in a 1-1 draw between Camden Tigers FC and Marconi Stallions at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

It is a bounce back point for both teams who suffered losses in their games back in Round 19 by one-goal margins. All the action happened in the first half in a cracking contest between two rebuilding sides.

Indiana Hernandez opened the scoring for Camden Tigers making it 1-0 in the 24th minute before Tania Baban equalized in the 41st minute for Marconi Stallions for 1-1. The second half was another fierce contest but neither team found a winner and shared the points.

South East Phoenix FC 0 defeated by Nepean FC 1

Nepean FC defeated South East Phoenix FC 1-0 down at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors picked up their first win since Round 6 of the League One Women’s competition against a gallant South East Phoenix FC side. The two sides were at a stalemate in the first half and went into the break at 0-0.

It looked like the game was headed towards another scoreless draw in Nowra before Gemma Morgan found the back of the net for Nepean FC. She made it 1-0 in the 79th minute as Nepean FC head back up the highway with three points.

SD Raiders FC 3 defeated Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 2

SD Raiders FC won 3-2 against Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts move to equal first in the League One Women’s competition after another comeback result. SD Raiders FC made it 1-0 in the 14th minute through Sarah Mandile before Rita Boateng brought it back to 1-1 in the 41st minute to leave the teams even at the break.

It was an action packed second half in this top of the table clash which featured three goals and a red card. Leena Khamis put Mt Druitt back in the lead for 2-1 then SD Raiders FC equalized through Isabella Sultan for 2-2 in the 60th minute.

Sultan completed the turnaround for 3-2 in the 75th minute. Rita Boateng saw red late in the contest which quelled the Town Rangers FC comeback. The result leaves the chase for the title still up for grabs headed into the final stage of the season.

Blacktown City FC 0 defeated by Sutherland Strikers FC 1

Sutherland Strikers FC won 1-0 against Blacktown City FC down at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Strikers have made it four wins in a row as they charge towards a top half season on the League One Women’s ladder. Blacktown City FC continue to play well without getting a result.

The only goal of the game came from the spot and was scored by Sutherland Strikers FC attacker Lucy Johnson. That takes her to three goals for the season.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)