Hefty wins, last minute goals, spectacular saves – Round 5 had it all. Keep reading to find out more.

Game of the round: Newcastle Jets 4 – 1 Western Sydney Wanderers

Written by Daniel Hanney

The Newcastle United Jets picked up their first win of the campaign in style, with a 4-1 thumping of Western Sydney Wanderers at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday afternoon.

The Jets continued their trend of scoring the opening goal, this time though the pace of Lauren Allan in the 9th minute.

A beautifully weighted through ball from Rhianna Pollicina saw Allan in and away. In the one-v-one Newbon she showed all the composure crafted from years in the NNSW WPL to flick the ball with the outside of her foot back across the keeper and into the bottom corner.


Just two minutes later another, more worrying trend followed for the home side and they were pegged back to 1-1. Georgia Yeoman-Dale picked up the ball just her own side of halfway and embarked on a run to the edge of the box. The one-time Novocastrian cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable right foot bullet into the top right corner of the net.

How would the home side respond? They certainly weren’t going down with out a fight both figuratively and as it turned out literally. In the 16th minute, while attempting to shepherd the ball over the sideline for a throw, Hannah Brewer was rag dolled over the touchline by Rosie Galea. Some pushing and shoving followed, resulting in both going into the book.

From there both sides started to settle on the ball and Western Sydney had a golden opportunity from a free kick in the 21st minute when Allan fouled Julie-Ann Russell on halfway.

The ball launched towards the penalty area was initially dealt with only to break for Leena
Khamis in the box, who bent the ball first time just wide of the far post.

Drinks were taken after 25 minutes which gave both sides the opportunity for a word from their respective coaches. It was the Jets who came out strongest with three quick chances within a minute. First Tara Andrews, looking for her 4th goal in as many matches, blazed over the bar from outside the area before a double chance eventuated.

A Pollicina shot from right on the edge of the box forced Newbon to dive low and resulted in a free kick being pulled up after it was judged a hand ball offence had been committed by Olivia Price. Andrews stepped up and forced Newbon into the save of the match, tipping the top left bound free kick onto the crossbar with a strong right palm.

The Jets finally got their second on the half hour mark as Sunny Franco won a free kick on the right wing. Gema Simon delivered a free kick into the corridor of uncertainty, Newbon came and attempted to punch the ball away from danger, unfortunately taking out Nikola Orgill in the process. The ball was flicked on for Lauren Allan who headed into an empty net to register her first double at W-League level.

Sunny Franco had a golden chance to open her Newcastle account in the 40th minute after being played in by Allan, dragging her shot just wide.

It would be just before halftime that the Jets would finally get a much deserved third goal.

The initial corner was cleared out to Tessa Tamplin and her resulting up and under was spilled by Newbon into the path of Tara Andrews, who finally got that 4th goal of the campaign, slotting home from in front.

In the 2nd half Newcastle continued to assert their dominance with the new midfield combination of Davis, Pollicina, and Bass proving very effective in squeezing and picking off any loose passes.

A rare Gema Simon goal rounded out proceedings in the 53rd minute as she strolled her way through the defence and rounded Newbon for a tap in.

 

Adelaide United 2 – 1 Melbourne City

Written by Angela Christian-Wilkes

In their first time hosting Melbourne City, Adelaide United made history with their first win over the side thanks to captain Dylan Holmes’ brace. 

It wasn’t easy for the Reds. City applied pressure early, getting both a formidable chance from Harriet Withers and a subsequent corner in the 4th minute. The ten corners City took throughout the match are indicative of their high attacking line and multiple chances – some cleaner than others.

However, Adelaide were more clinical in their finishing and Holmes opened the account just after the half hour. Maria Jose Rojas protected the ball, allowing Fiona Worts to pinpoint the through ball. Holmes then rounded keeper Teagan Micah and placed it in the back of the net.

This goal provided a boost to Adelaide’s momentum, and they surged forward a number of times in the following minutes. The closest opportunity came when Worts headed a miscleared ball skywards.

Three minutes before the whistle, Chinatsu Kira produced one of City’s most threatening chances with her free kick outside the 18 yards curling towards the top right corner. However Sian Fryer-Mclaren reacted quickly to keep the home side 1-0 up at half-time.

The second half brought renewed intensity from Adelaide. It wasn’t long before Holmes got her second in a tenacious display. She wasn’t able to pinch the ball from Hollie Palmer with her initial tackle, but kept up the pressure and muscled the midfielder off the ball. Spotting an opening, Holmes shot from outside the 18 yards cut past City’s defence into the bottom left corner.

Applying a high press, an organised Adelaide were able to lock City out even more so than in the first half. However, captain Emma Checker – stepping up for her first start in place of a concussed Jenna McCormick – was able to narrow the difference in the very last minute. Palmer’s well-taken free kick floated in and Checker had the height advantage to leap and head the arcing ball over Fryer-Mclaren. 

The win places Adelaide at equal top with Sydney FC, who were out with a bye this round. It also suggests that they might have what it takes to make finals. 

Brisbane Roar 6 – 0 Melbourne Victory

Written by Nick Amies

Brisbane Roar snapped their winless run in style on Friday night with a 6-nil triumph over Melbourne Victory on the Gold Coast.

Goodship’s side had only scored twice in the opening four rounds – they would equal that tally by half time this week.

Finding herself in space on the right flank in the 26th minute, Emily Gielnik slid a low cross into the box into the path of Mariel Hecher, who put away the chance for her maiden W-League goal.

Returning to the side after two weeks out injured, Tameka Yallop doubled the lead with a spectacular strike as half time approached.

Bringing down a high ball, the midfielder turned her marker and zeroed in on the bottom left corner through a crowd of bodies from outside the box.

The second half scoring kicked off with another first W-League goal, this time with Hecher setting up Sharn Freier in the 67th minute.

Having worked tirelessly all match, Gielnik scored a deserved goal with fifteen minutes remaining, producing a looping header from a set piece to beat Gabby Garton in goal.

Stoppage time yielded a further two goals – a composed one-on-one finish by Gielnik and a poacher’s finish from Winonah Heatley.

Note – Now we’ve talked about the game, the Fox Sports coverage unfortunately wasn’t up to standard. PFA Co-Chief Executive Kathryn Gill summed it up perfectly:

 

Canberra United 1 – 1 Perth Glory

Written by Steffen Moebus

Canberra United maintained their trend of dramatic late finishes at Viking Park on Sunday, drawing 1-1 in sweltering heat with a Perth Glory side that continues to show improvement week by week.

For the home side, goalkeeper coach Chantel Jones returned to the squad in a playing capacity to cover keeper injury niggles. Captain Kendall Fletcher was also out due to a minor knock sustained in training, while Junior Matilda (and local) Emma Ilijoski made her debut at left back.

The away team saw Tijan McKenna and Katarina Jukic replacing former Canberra United player Sarah Morgan and the injured Gemma Craine.

Neither team was able to break down the other in the first half, with both defensive structures looking organised and able to deal with the speed and passing movement of their opponents. The home side looked the more threatening but the most significant moment came late in the half with Jones denying Glory’s Mariana Tabain in fine style.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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With the playing trend of the first half continuing into the second, it was the away side who opened the scoring with just four minutes left on the clock.

The team in green responded almost immediately with a counterpunch via substitute Hayley Taylor-Young, but neither team was able to break the shackles in the dying moments.

The result sees United slip to third despite being unbeaten, while Glory remain at the foot of the ladder with just the one point to their name. On this showing however, more points are not far away.

Round 6 details

All times are AEDT. 

  • Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory at Marden Sports Complex – Friday, January 29, 7.05pm.
  • Canberra United vs Western Sydney Wanderers at Viking Park – Saturday, January 30, 5.05pm.
  • Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park – Sunday, January 31, 4:05pm.
  • Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets at Cromer Park – Sunday, January 31, 6:05pm.

Download our shareable W-League calendar. 

Graphic: Michael Alesich
Nick Amies
Nick Amies
Nick is a writer for Beyond 90 covering Brisbane Roar for the 2019-20 season. He is still waiting for his beloved Central Coast Mariners to make a return to the W-League and is the current Digital Content and Social Media Manager for Northern Tigers/Northern Suburbs Football Association.
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