Salisbury Inter and Metro United kicked off Round Eight of WNPL at VALO Football Centre, with both sides entering the contest off the back of important victories.
A come-from-behind 2-1 win over West Adelaide in the top of the table clash kept Inter’s unbeaten streak in the league alive – the only one still active in the competition after seven rounds – and saw them reclaim top spot as we reach a third of the way through the season.
Metro have reignited their season after a shaky start by winning their last two, most recently defeating Adelaide City 4-2 away from home. They are now back on the top half of the ladder.
There was no hint of the drama to come when Cote Rojas gave Salisbury Inter the lead after 25 minutes when the Chilean international ran onto a defence-splitting through ball. She turned a defender and calmly slotted home her eighth goal of the season. This was the beginning of three goals in as many minutes.
The 2020 Grand Final winners got back on level terms when Lauren Steer headed home after Inter didnn’t completely clear a corner kick. Metro then hit the front shortly afterward thanks to a delightful effort from Victoria Mansueto, who lofted the ball into the net from an acute angle on the left-hand side off the far post.
However, just a minute after the break, Inter were level thanks to Emily Heazlewood. The Tasmanian broke through and fired home from the edge of the box.
Yet Metro United were not finished and they become the first side to beat Salisbury Inter all season when Millie Scott scored from the spot ten minutes into the second half.
The second Friday night clash at VALO Football Centre saw third placed Football SA NTC take on West Adelaide.
NTC went into the game following their second win in a row. They eased past Uni last weekend with a 4-0 victory that brought them just four points away from the league summit and provided their first clean sheet of the season.
West’s stint at the top of the ladder was short-lived, as a 2-1 defeat to Inter marked their first of the season but, encouragingly, they remain just a point off the pace entering this Round 8.
The first half was a high-pace affair with the young teenagers of NTC putting in an impressive shift. Anastasia Willoughby was hugely impressive down the left and had a lot of joy against West’s W-League star Emily Hodgson. Lily Di Cola forced a great save from Sarah Willacy in the West goal in these early exchanges.
However, for all NTC’s work rate and cohesion, West Adelaide produced a greater skill level and quality – but only when they were allowed to. One such piece of sublime skill was a millimetre perfect cross-field ball from Lara Kirkby which found Laura Johns on the left-wing. Johns advanced and hit a shot which Grace Wilson saved well, but could only push into the feet of West’s dangerous Nicole Tilley, yet her effort was snaffled up by Wilson again.
With 20 minutes gone, a piece of skill of the highest order helped West take the lead. A free-kick was awarded to them on the left-hand side, around 25 metres from goal. Tilley, who scored a glorious set-piece goal last week, stepped up and hit a rocket into the net from this tough angle. It was a sensational strike and there will be few better anywhere in South Australia this season.
NTC continued to battle, with Emilia Murray particularly impressive. Elena Psaroulis and Zoe Haralampopoulos found it hard to contain the youngster.
The second half was much tighter, and the impact of the pace of the first half took its toll with numerous players from both sides going down with cramp in the last half hour.
Willoughby had NTC’s best chance of an equalizer when she pounced on a heavy touch by Haralampopoulos to get in on goal, but Willacy stood tall in the West’s goal to repel the effort.
Defensively, NTC worked hard to largely nullify the threat of both Georgia Macri and former team-mate Mawa Sumaoro.
The last real chance of the game came ten minutes from time for West Adelaide when Laura Johns’ free-kick on the right-hand side of the box was initially saved by Wilson. It fell for Harriet Burnett to lash home, but she was in an offside position.
West gained an important win from which takes them back to the top of the table following a piece on individual quality. However, NTC outlined just what a talented crop of teenagers they have this season – a group who should steer them to a spot in the Finals come the end of the campaign.
For the second week in a row, Fulham United were involved in a battle of the bottom two when they took on Adelaide University at Adelaide Shores Football Centre
Five losses in their last five league fixtures makes for difficult reading for Fulham, who went into the game five points adrift at the bottom.
Uni’s win over Fulham in Round Five represents their only points gained since the opening round of matches. On top of this depressing run, their 4-0 defeat at the hands of NTC last time out was the third time in their last five league matches that they’ve conceded three or more goals.
The 0-0 outcome did neither side any favours at the bottom – although Fulham are likely to be happier as their point it ensured they would not be cut further adrift at the bottom.
Adelaide Comets took on Adelaide City to complete the Round Eight action on Saturday night at the South Australia Athletics Stadium, both sides having a point to prove following their disappointing early season form.
The hosts picked up their second win last week, a 2-1 triumph over Fulham that sent them a point ahead of City after seven rounds. City’s early-season woes continued with a 4-2 loss in the Grand Final rematch with Metro United, meaning they’ve now only won one of their opening six matches.
City fans would have been concerned when Comets captain Valeria Guajardo gave her side the lead just before the quarter-hour mark after a through ball was deflected into her path. She rounded the keeper and hit a weak shot that looked to take a deflection on its way into the net.
However, Chelsie Dawber steered her side level with thirty minutes on the clock after she broke through the defence, waited for the goalkeeper to commit herself and rolled the ball calmly into the net.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Adelaide City took the lead thanks to a fantastic shot from Alana Fitzsimmons who smashed a high drive into the far corner of the net from the right-hand side of the pitch.
Two goals in four minutes sealed City’s 4-1 win. First, on 76 minutes, Caitlin White received the ball in the six-yard box and simply couldn’t miss. Then, Daniela Di Bartolo completed the rout when she was able to reach behind her and lift the ball into the net with the Comets defence beaten all ends up.
WNPL/WSA Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Modbury Vista v Adelaide Comets, Fulham United v West Adelaide, Adelaide City v Football SA NTC Reserves, Flinders Flames v Metro United. Ties will be played between 2nd and 4th July.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD | |
| West Adelaide | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 19 | + 11 |
| Salisbury Inter | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 17 | + 15 |
| Football SA NTC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 13 | + 4 |
| Metro United | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 13 | = |
| Adelaide City | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 9 | + 3 |
| Adelaide University | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 7 | – 8 |
| Adelaide Comets | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 7 | – 10 |
| Fulham United | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 2 | – 15 |
