With the winter solstice having been and gone, the sun finally peaked its face through the June clouds to bathe Sydney in its warm glow this weekend – just in time for another round of NPL Women’s NSW!
This week we’re back under the lights in Camperdown as Sydney University looks to extend its winning run at home against the youthful Blacktown Spartans.
Sydney University vs Blacktown Spartans
Sydney University scored a crucial 2-0 home win over Blacktown Spartans at Sydney University Football Ground to leave the Students just one point off top spot at the half-way mark of the season.
Late goals from Rola Badawiya and Holly Caspers secured all three points for Emily Husband’s side, whose undefeated run now stands at nine games, their last defeat coming all the way back in April.
Blacktown started the brighted of the two sides, attacking down the flanks to expose University’s wingbacks, and should have had the opener after 12 minutes through Ashlie Crofts, but the Western Sydney striker’s header was well saved by Courtney Newbon in the Students’ goal before being cleared away by a scrambling defence.
Spartans again found themselves with a prime opportunity 11 minutes later through Bryleeh Henry, who found herself presented with an open goal thanks to Taren King’s shanked defensive clearance, only to blast her shot over Newbon’s goal and out towards Parramatta Road.
Blacktown could have had a penalty with nine minutes of the second half to play after King appeared to block Henry’s cross from the right flank with her arm, but referee Jerry Bitas waved play on much to the University captain’s relief, and Spartans could only muster a weak final cross straight into Newbon’s waiting gloves
The visitors started the second half as they started the first – with real attacking zeal – and again should have opened the scoring after another brilliant Henry cross, but skipper Rosie Galea couldn’t take advantage of the assist and headed directly to Newbon from close range.
University finally warmed into the match as the second half wore on, and went inches away from scoring on the hour mark through Cushla Rue after some lovely team play down the left flank from first Emma Ilijoski, then Caspers, Rue and finally Badawiya, whose shot was parried away by Spartans glovewoman Anna Norton, only for Rue to spoon her effort wide of the open goal.
And it was another lapse from Norton that would finally see University break the deadlock, as they capitalised on a poor clearance from defence to regain possession and send the ball along the right flank, eventually finding Badawiya in space atop the Spartans penalty area for her to lash home her fourth goal of the season with 20 minutes to play.
With the scorers finally troubled University went in search of a second, and would find it 11 minutes later through another brilliant attack down the wing, and with Spartans defenders flooding back to break up the play Caspers calmly dropped into space near the penalty spot and tucked home a low cross to register her first goal in four games.
Sydney University 2 (Badawiya 71’ Caspers 82’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Sydney University: Courtney Newbon; Emma Ilijoski, Taren King, Ashley Irwin, Gabrielle Peak (Ashley Dribbus 80’), Annabel Martin; Tara Baudana (Cushla Rue 46’), Hannah Jones, Sarah Morgan; Rola Badawiya, Holly Caspers (Kate Stanbridge 85’).
Subs not used: Nadine Knight, Stephanie Augoustis.
Yellow cards: Ashley Irwin 60’
Blacktown Spartans: Annabel Norton; Tanya Borazio, Annabelle Dazcko, Keisha Allan, Jessika Nash; Hana Lowry (Maja Markovski 46’), Abbey Lemon (Naomi Chinnama 46’), Alyssa Rose; Rosie Galea, Ashlie Crofts, Bryleeh Henry (Jordan Jasnos 61’).
Subs not used: Kate Duffy, Makayla Kent.
Yellow cards: None
Around the Grounds
NWS Spirit 2 Blacktown Spartans 1 at Christie Park – Wednesday
APIA Leichhardt 3 Football NSW Institute 0 at Lambert Park – Thursday
Bankstown City 1 Macarthur Rams 0 at Jensen Park
Northern Tigers 7 Emerging Jets 0 at North Turramurra Recreation Area
Manly United 3 Football NSW Institute 3 at Cromer Park
NWS Spirit 1 APIA Leichhardt 3 at Christie Park
Sydney Olympic 0 Illawarra Stingrays 0 at Belmore Sports Ground
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Northern Tigers | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 12 | +17 | 25 |
| Sydney University | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 24 |
| APIA Leichhardt | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 14 | +11 | 23 |
| Sydney Olympic | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11 | +12 | 18 |
| Macarthur Rams | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 13 | +4 | 17 |
| Blacktown Spartans | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 17 |
| Manly United | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 16 |
| Bankstown City | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 18 | +0 | 15 |
| Illawarra Stingrays | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 12 |
| NWS Spirit | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 31 | -13 | 10 |
| Football NSW Institute | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 8 |
| Emerging Jets | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 44 | -36 | 1 |
Read more of our NSW NPL coverage here.
