The FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup is underway and with the Young Matildas once again flying the Australian flag, NPL Women’s NSW carries on, with a batch of fresh faces earning a start across the competition and hoping to impress as the finals draw near.
This week’s Match of the Round takes us to the sandstone surrounds of Sydney University as the table-topping Students host a topsy-turvy Sydney Olympic.
Sydney University vs Sydney Olympic
Sydney University has extended its winning streak to eight matches with a hard-fought 1-0 home victory against Sydney Olympic at Sydney University Football Ground on Sunday night.
An incredible second-half goal from wing-back Ashley Dribbus was all that separated the teams, both of which were without key players due to the Young Matildas’ travails at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup this month.
University were the faster of the two teams out of the starting blocks, and their diamond midfield was causing more than a handful of problems in the opening minute, allowing Holly Caspers to whip a low cross beyond a sea of bodies in the Olympic penalty area, only for it to dribble beyond the half-dozen or so players in attendance.
The Students were again able to pick their way through the Olympic defence on 24 minutes as Rola Badawiya flicked Taren King’s scything pass on towards the flying Caspers, whose effort was thwarted by the ever-vigilant Jada Whyman.
Whyman was again forced to be at her best on the half-hour, adjusting her feet swiftly enough to throw two strong fists down at the front post to foil Badawiya’s effort from a seemingly-impossible angle.
University should have taken the lead from the resulting corner, first through a back-post effort from Emma Ilijoski, before skipper King scorned a gilt-edged chance as she headed wide from the six-yard box.
Having controlled the majority of the first 45 minutes, University set about doing the same after the break, and were rewarded shortly thereafter by a brilliant effort from young wing-back Dribbus.
Having beaten her marker with a sharp cut-back onto her left, Dribbus drilled what appeared to be a deliberate effort on goal from next to the right corner flag, catching Whyman unawares and notching her first NPL Womens NSW goal in the 52nd minute.
Trailing by a single goal, Olympic set about restoring parity and were close to finding a reward seven minutes later – not once, but twice – as fleet-footed striker Cortnee Vine broke the University offside trap but couldn’t connect with a shot on goal before goalkeeper Courtney Newbon’s block found Claudia Cholakian who again spurned the chance.
Vine again had a wondrous chance to equalise with four minutes of the 90 remaining, latching onto Georgia Manos’ well-controlled pass into the University area, only to send her shot skywards and consign her side to its fifth defeat of the season.
Sydney University 1 (Dribbus 53’)
Sydney Olympic 0
Sydney University: Courtney Newbon; Emma Ilijoski, Taren King (Stephanie Augoustis 51′), Gabrielle Peak, Ashley Dribbus; Frances Lechner, Holly Duncan (Emily Jensen 81′), Maxine Peak, Sarah Morgan; Rola Badawiya, Holly Caspers (Tayla Cvetkovski 90’+2).
Unused subs: Kate Stanbridge, Nadine Knight.
Yellow cards: G Peak 14′
Sydney Olympic: Jada Whyman; Ebony McCue-Shore, Charlotte McLean, Angelique Hristodoulou; Georgia Koutzoumis, Bella Voisey-Youldon, Megan Grew, Georgia Manos; Claudia Cholakian, Cortnee Vine, Gisella Pipino
Unused subs: Kate Woosnam, Priya Sciuriaga, Kate Anthonisz, Eden Holmes, Angelina Mastoris, Yasmin Mehmed
Yellow cards: Nil.
Around the Grounds
Emerging Jets 0 Blacktown Spartans 2 at Lake Macquarie RFF
Illawarra Stingrays 2 Macarthur Rams 3 at JJ Kelly Park
NWS Spirit 1 Bankstown City 2 at Christie Park
APIA Leichhardt 1 Manly United 3 at Lambert Park
Northern Tigers 3 Football NSW Institute 1 at North Turramurra Rec Area (Tuesday)
Emerging Jets 1 Macarthur Rams 7 at Lake Macquarie RFF (Wednesday)
Sydney Olympic 1 Manly United 2 at Valentine Sports Park (Thursday)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney University | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 6 | +20 | 42 |
| Northern Tigers | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 20 | +20 | 34 |
| Macarthur Rams | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 22 | +14 | 31 |
| Manly United | 18 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 28 |
| APIA Leichhardt | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 28 |
| Sydney Olympic | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 24 |
| Bankstown City | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 23 | +1 | 24 |
| Blacktown Spartans | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 25 | -4 | 21 |
| Illawarra Stingrays | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 20 |
| NWS Spirit | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 16 |
| Football NSW Institute | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 11 |
| Emerging Jets | 18 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 67 | -54 | 1 |
