SA NPLW Wrap Round 16

Match of the Round: ADELAIDE CITY v SALISBURY INTER:

Third-placed Adelaide City clashed with second-placed Inter on Saturday night in what promised to be an entertaining spectacle for those in attendance.

City’s hopes of finishing top of the table once again in 2021 took a major hit last weekend, as they were unable to break down ladder leaders West and eventually fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Inter are on cloud nine after claiming the first major piece of silverware in their history following a 3-1 triumph over Metro in the Cup Final, with star forward Cote Rojas scoring twice (including an exquisite, chipped finish) and Emily Condon adding a third.

City knew that victory would take them to within three points of Inter, albeit with an extra game played, but victory to Inter would stretch the gap out to nine points and keep Inter within touching distance of West.

In the end, the result saw the establishment of a significant gap between the top two and the rest with Inter running out 2-0 winners in wet conditions.

After a goalless first half, a corner from the right bounced across the six-yard box, City failed to clear and it fell to Cote Rojas on the back post, who fired home with ease.

The black and blues sealed the win with their second goal eleven minutes from time. Rojas controlled a pass and played it out left to Erin Hood, who curled a low shot around a defender and into the net.

ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY v METRO UNITED:

Round 16 kicked off on Friday night at VALO Football Centre with this encounter.

Adelaide University enjoyed a weekend off from WNPL action with their scheduled opponents Inter contesting the WNPL and WSL Cup Final, so they went into this game keen to continue where they left off with their 2-2 draw against Adelaide City.

Metro entered this fixture with fire in their bellies after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Inter in the Cup Final last weekend, with Vanessa Reed’s scruffy opener not proving to be enough to get them over the line.

Uni looked to be continuing their improved NPL run when they took the lead after 20 minutes thanks to Margarita Fitzharris, who received a low cross from Velvet Klass on the left, beat a defender and fired past Metro keeper Melanie Comyns.

Laura Stockdale hit a superb equaliser on 66 minutes when she received a looped ball through on the left and, from an acute angle fired a cross-shot into the net. It ended 1-1, which effectively does neither side any favours in the league standings.

FULHAM UNITED v FOOTBALL SA NTC:

Also on Friday night at VALO was this clash between bottom side Fulham United and the talented NTC side.

Fulham were also given the opportunity to put their feet up last weekend but can’t afford to take it too easy after their 5-1 hammering at the hands of West Adelaide a fortnight ago kept them firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

NTC were unlucky to only come away from their match against Comets with a point, as they rattled both the inside of the post and the underside of the crossbar in the last 15 minutes to eventually settle for a 0-0 draw.

Fulham kept their hopes of moving off the foot of the table alive by claiming their second win of the campaign – and indeed their second win in their last three NPL games – with two goals in a ten minute second half spell.

First, they took advantage of some below-par defending from NTC who had a number of opportunities to clear the danger but failed, with the consequence that Natasha Vella’s low shot squirmed into the net to give Fulham the lead.

Fiona Worts claimed the win with thirteen minutes to go in some style, when she received a ball from the right, controlled and fired into the top of the net to seal a great victory.

This loss for NTC puts a major dent in their finals hopes, but it could have been a lot worse as Metro United and Adelaide Comets, who are pursuing them, failed to win.

WEST ADELAIDE v ADELAIDE COMETS:

The final game of the round took place at TK Shutter Reserve on Saturday evening.

West Adelaide, the league’s most consistent side this season, took on an Adelaide Comets side looking to string wins together and mount an assault on the top four.

Harriet Burnett scored the only goal of West’s match against Adelaide City last weekend to earn a crucial 1-0 away win, pouncing on a spilled ball by the keeper to slot home and send them 11 points clear of third with six rounds to go.

Comets were saved by the frame of the goal on more than one occasion last weekend against NTC, but settled for an important point that kept them within four points of NTC, who occupy the last finals spot.

It was another routine win for the league leaders with the outcome clear from the start. Christie Hillyer put West ahead after just 64 seconds when a typically dominant run from Nicole Tilley on her 200th SA NPLW appearance saw her cut in and shoot. Comets keeper Claudia Jenkins parried the ball into the path of Hillyer who couldn’t miss.

Mawa Sumaoro doubled Hellas’s advantage after seventeen minutes as she ran through the centre, hit the ball under Jenkins who rushed out of her area, and then gave it a finishing touch just centimetres from the line.

Tilley’s memorable afternoon was celebrated in style when she found the net after 53 minutes to wrap up the 3-0 win. The goal came when she received possession on the right flank and from a ridiculously tight angle, fired in yet another sensational goal. As Beyond 90’s interview with Nicole last week stated: Nicole Tilley: She Doesn’t Score Tap-Ins.

West Adelaide remains five points clear at the top from Salisbury Inter, albeit having played one game more.

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