Sydney University overcame a stubborn Emerging Jets outfit to register its first win of the season with a 2-0 victory on Monday evening at Sydney University Football Ground.
Second-half goals from Holly Caspers and Holly Duncan were enough to secure the points for the Students, though the result was soured by a serious injury to midfielder Bianca Galić.
The Jets were almost cursed with the worst start to the match imaginable after Brinley Gentle carelessly legged Galić inside the penalty area, but the Students’ claim for a spot kick was waved away and the resulting set piece on the corner of the box was sent into the adjacent roundhouse by the visitors.
Without A-League Women’s representatives Taren King, Annabel Martin and Rachel Lowe, University looked out of sorts in the opening exchanges, struggling to play through midfield and around a packed Jets defence.
That task became significantly more difficult halfway through the first 45 when Galić collapsed clutching her knee, replaced by former Canberra United teammate Emma Ilijoski and forcing a reshuffle in midfield.
The visitors were themselves dealt a blow with 10 minutes of the first half remaining as industrious midfielder Evie Horgan slumped to the ground behind play, halting proceedings as she was first attended to on the pitch and then helped from the field, with Emma Dundas coming on in her stead.
Whether that change in personnel affected the Jets’ defensive ranks after the break remains subjective, but what had previously been a well-organised block was eventually split open just before the hour mark by Caspers, whose run onto a perfect through-ball from midfield found her one-on-one with Susanna Behne-Smith, slotting her shot beyond the Jets stopper to open the scoring.
Moments later the Students would have had a second if not for Behne-Smith’s brilliance, who somehow managed to claw Zoe Bartley’s header away from the goal line to save her side going behind even further.
Fifteen minutes from time though the Novocastrians would pay the full price for lax marking at set pieces, and it was Duncan who would profit from their sparseness around the ball, latching onto a half-cleared corner to rifle home and double the lead.
That finish sealed the result for University, and while coach Emily Husband would be happy for the three points, she would be beyond disappointed to lose Galić to a long-term injury. For Jets manager Scott McCarter however, a solid 60-65 minute performance gives him plenty to build on, and while the severity of Claire Adams’ injury remains to be seen, he can be happy with his young charges’ first outing of the season.
Sydney University 2 (Caspers 57’, Duncan 76’)
Emerging Jets 0
Sydney University: Courtney Newbon; Brianna Oliverio, Ashley Irwin, Sarah Morgan, Gabrielle Peak; Hannah Jones, Bianca Galić (Emma Ilijoski 23’ (Ashley Dribbus 87’)), Zoe Bartley; Holly Duncan (Tara Baudana 80’), Maxine Peak, Holly Caspers (Georgia Pollitt 87’).
Unused sub: Georgia Borić
Yellow cards: Sarah Morgan 90’+2
Emerging Jets: Susanna Behne-Smith; Chloe Walandouw, Zoe Karipidis, Evie Horgan (Emma Dundas 42’), Ella Murray; Josie Allan, Emma O’Hagan (Isahbella Threlfo 66’), Lara Gooch; Yasmin Popović, Brinley Gentle, Claire Adams (Zoe Daly 45’+6).
Unused sub: Grace Kingett
Yellow cards: Brinley Gentle 3’, Josie Allan 85’
Around The Grounds
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Bankstown City 2 Illawarra Stingrays 1 at Jensen Park
Macarthur Rams 6 NWS Spirit 1 at Lynwood Park
Manly United 3 Sydney Olympic 0 at Cromer Park
Blacktown Spartans 1 Football NSW Institute 0 at Blacktown Football Park
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