Round 12 of this NPL Women’s season has been and gone, leaving in its wake fixtures marked by dominant performances, consolidated positions and goals. Lots of goals.
This season Beyond 90 will take a look at the big talking points across the league every week, all the way up to the Big Dance in September.
Olympic on the charge
Having impressed early this season, winning four of its first five games and conceding only twice, Sydney Olympic seem to have corrected their progress after a slight stumble in late April & early May. Its miserly defence back in form, Olympic is on a five-game undefeated streak, again relying on its experienced midfield to screen in front of the back four, allowing the central defenders to concentrate on their individual defensive assignments then stepping into midfield.
Angelique Hristodoulou is among the side’s brightest stars this season; having been released by A-League Women side Sydney in 2021, Hristodoulou made just three starts for Western Sydney this season, clocking up 460 minutes in her 10 appearances in red-and-black before returning to Olympic this winter. Despite having featured in just six matches this NPLW campaign, the defensive midfielder has been substituted only once – after 74 minutes against Sydney University – as well as notching five goals and an assist. With the disappointment of the 2022-23 A-League Women season behind her, Hristodoulou looks to have settled back in to NPLW like a warm blanket and will be hoping to push her side onto silverware as the season progresses.
Absolutely no right
A Northern Beaches junior and club legend, Manly United captain Caitlin Jarvie knows better than most the intricate details of Cromer Park. From the stickiness of the newly-laid artificial turf on a match ball to the gaps between the venue’s grandstand and tree-lined fence through which the offshore breeze can whistle towards Dee Why Lagoon, Jarvie’s understanding of her home patch would rival that of any long-time servant of the game.
And it was that knowledge which Jarvie put into sharp focus this week to steal a draw from the jaws of defeat: with her team trailing 1-2 in the 92nd minute against Bankstown City, Jarvie called for the ball deep in midfield, traveling with possession for a second before unleashing a looping shot high above the visitors’ goal. Sailing through the air, the ball suddenly dipped in the wind, falling between goalkeeper Stephanie Grimbilos’ outstretched fingers and the crossbar, sparking scenes of jubilation among the Manly players as they piled atop their captain in wild celebration.
Down to eight
With all bar one Sapphire Cup Round 4 match played over the past fortnight, Football NSW this week revealed the draw for Round 5 of the inaugural competition, set to be played across 13-15 June. The two remaining League One sides Central Coast Mariners and Mt Druitt Town Rangers have been drawn to face tough NPL opposition, with the latter set to host APIA Leichhardt in Sydney’s west, while the former will welcome the winner of Bankstown City vs Northern Tigers to Pluim Park in Lisarow, having progressed thanks to an incredible 5-4 extra-time win against NWS Spirit.
In other matches, 2022 NPLW premiers Sydney University will host last year’s NPLW champions Macarthur Rams in a Charity Shield-style tie in the inner west, while Manly United will face fellow northerners Gladesville Ravens at Cromer Park as the newly-promoted side looks to continue the form shown in its 7-0 victory over the last remaining association team in the competition, Woonona Sharks from Wollongong’s northern suburbs.
Around The Grounds
Sunday 28 May
Gladesville Ravens 5 Emerging Jets 0 at Christie Park
Bulls Academy 4 Blacktown Spartans 0 at Northbridge Oval
Sydney Olympic 0 Sydney University 0 at Peter Moore Field
Manly United 2 Bankstown City Lions 2 at Cromer Park
Macarthur Rams 4 Illawarra Stingrays 0 at Lynwood Park
APIA Leichhardt 3 Northern Tigers 0 at Lambert Park
NWS Spirit 5 Football NSW Institute 0 at Christie Park
Thursday 1 June
Sydney Olympic 2 Northern Tigers 1 at Peter Moore Field
Top Scorers
8 – Brinley Gentle (Emerging Jets), Ashlie Crofts (APIA Leichhardt), Morgan Roberts (NWS Spirit)
6 – Claudia Cholakian (Northern Tigers), Emily Minett (Manly United), Kelli Brown (Macarthur Rams), Leena Khamis (Macarthur Rams), Peta Trimis (Bulls Academy)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | APIA Leichhardt | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 32 |
| 2 | Sydney Olympic | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 23 |
| 3 | NWS Spirit | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 22 |
| 4 | Macarthur Rams | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 21 |
| 5 | Gladesville Ravens | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 21 |
| 6 | Bulls Academy | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 19 |
| 7 | Northern Tigers | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 18 |
| 8 | Bankstown City | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 16 |
| 9 | Football NSW Institute | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 15 |
| 10 | Manly United | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 12 |
| 11 | Sydney University | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 11 |
| 12 | Illawarra Stingrays | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 23 | -13 | 11 |
| 13 | Blacktown Spartans | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 23 | -17 | 7 |
| 14 | Emerging Jets | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 46 | -31 | 1 |
