Hieda hits the winner for Western

Western United 1-0 Adelaide 

By Jonathon Hagger 21/1/24

Above: Jaclyn Sawicki (left) and Stacey Papadopoulos (right) combine to stop Adelaides Dylan Holmes.Photo: Western United.

The Western United teams first true ‘home game’ against Adelaide United was played on a warm Sunday afternoon in front of vocal home support at City Vista Recreation Reserve. A lovely 19 degrees and a beautiful prepared pitch, provided the perfect setting for a competitive football match. 

The match started without much to note as being of great interest. Each team struggled to gain ascendancy over the other. Adelaide’s defensive structure held out repeated efforts by Western to create scoring opportunities. While at the other end of the pitch, Adelaide were unable to break through the strong lines of Westerns defenders thereby creating a stalemate. . 

It was off the back of some beautiful midfield passing in the 25th minute that Westerns forward, Hieda, found herself in a position to shoot for goal. While Adelaide defenders were doing their best to close down the attack, ultimately it was the goalpost that saved the day as the ball ricocheted away from the goal before being safely dispatched out of play. 

In an immediate counter offensive play, Adelaide player Mariah Lee found herself again in space in the right hand side. She coolly slotted a pass along the pitch into where an Adelaide forward should have been but with no one to receive the ball Western we’re easily able to shut down the danger. 

In an absolutely brilliant moment of football magic, Dylan Holmes corner kick cleanly sailed into the Western goal. Mysteriously while Adelaide were celebrating the well deserved goal, it was waved off by the referee. The score line remained 0-0. 

The 41st minute was the first real opportunity for either team to score from open play as Hodgson, of Adelaide, pounced on a through ball that placed her in space behind Westerns defenders and one on one with Hilary Beal, Westerns goalkeeper. Hodgsons shot was gracefully padded away by Beall. 

Half time 0-0. 

The half time break gave both teams the opportunity to reset and reevaluate their tactics. The first five minutes of the second half were played with much more vigour than the entire first half. Both Adelaide and United had shots on target however both teams goalkeepers were up to the challenge. 

The first goal came in the 51st minute as Adelaide were unable to defend off a throw in which saw Hieda with the ball at her feet with a clear line of sight to the goal. Hieda easily directed the ball in the opposite direction that the Adelaide keeper was travelling. Western 1-0 Adelaide. 

Going behind by a goal was the wake up call that fired up the Adelaide players. The passing became cleaner, players started connecting with each other better and a desire to win set in. However having a desire to score and actually achit aren’t the same thing. Westerns sustained pressure on the Adelaide backfield stifled any momentum they were trying to generate. 

The 80th minute was lit up by a wonderful offensive surge by Adelaide with Hodgson delivering a cross to Dawber who ran the perfect line into open space in the Western goal area. Western were thanking their lucky stars as their star goalkeeper, Beall, managed to stop Dawber’s shot and managed to not to give away a penalty. 

The game concluded after five minutes of extra time with Western United securing a 1-0 win. Even though Adelaide dominated the game statistically, it was their inability to execute when in scoring positions that ultimately cost them the match. 

What we learned – 

  • Western United are not the dominant team that they were in 2023 however they are not to be underestimated. Sitting third on the A-League table they will likely be finals contenders, 
  • Depaige Adelaide having only a few wins so far this season meaning they’re sitting at the bottom of the table, they’re a team who can test all the best teams. 

Teams:
Western United: Beall (GK), Vlajnic, Maher, Cerne, Papadopoulos, Taranto, Roberts, Taranto, Hieda, Logarzo, Demis-Sawicki. Substitutes: Dakic, Dall’Oste, Keane, Prakash, Sardo.

Scorer: Hieda 52’

Adelaide United: Grove (GK), Tolland, Tonkin, Waldus, Hodgson, Holmes, Sasaki, Blake, Dawber, Lee, Hodgson. Substitutes: Wilson, Holtz, Jancevski, Morgan, Mullan.

Referee: Bec Mackie 

Attendance: TBC.

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Sydney FC’s youth hold off the Jets in Leichardt

Sydney FC 2-1 Newcastle Jets

By Callum Logie (21/01/24).

Above: Madeleine Caspers celebrates scoring against the Newcastle Jets. Photo: Sydney FC

A very hot Leichardt Oval in Sydney hosted Sydney FC’s clash with the Newcastle Jets without coach Gary Van Egmond.

Sydney FC came into the game off a very memorable 1-2 home defeat thanks to some last gasp heroics from the Central Coast Mariners. The Newcastle Jets on the other hand came in after a controversial 2-1 victory over the Brisbane Roar which made for an intriguing clash between the two teams.

Sydney FC made a few changes with Cortnee Vine making her first start of 2024 for Sydney FC. Shay Hollman and Madeleine Caspers also got starts in the midfield as the team looks to turn around their fortunes. Indiana Dos Santos also got the start on the wing with Princess Ibini moving to the centre forward role.

The Newcastle Jets also made a few changes with Melina Ayres getting the start up front. The more attacking formation for the Jets meant that they played with three at the back, as Josie Wilson joined Natasha Prior and Claudia Cicco as the back three. 

The match started with some solid possession for Sydney FC. They went for a ground passing approach in the early minutes which Newcastle held strong against, the most notable chance being a tame Vine effort across goal which was held comfortably by Isobel Nino. 

At the 10 minute mark, the first clear-cut chance came off the back of a Jets corner. It was however the subsequent breakaway as Charlotte McClean lobbed a clearance that Cortnee Vine ran onto. An early through ball released Mackenzie Hawkesby who rounded the keeper but this gave Libby Copus-Brown time to track back and clear the ball away as the last defender. 

Two minutes later, Hawkesby was caught offside after running slightly too early onto a Vine through ball. Hawkesby directed the ball past Isobel Nino but the flag denied Sydney FC the opening goal of the contest. 

These missed chances proved to be the undoing of Sydney FC as Sarina Bolden netted her seventh goal of the season with a well hit header off a beautifully weighted cross from Lauren Allan. A clinical breakaway from the Jets made it 1-0 to the visitors.

https://twitter.com/aleaguewomen/status/1748972096913650046/photo/1

In the following 15 minutes, a determined Vine was peppering Nino’s goal with a series of efforts including an attempted lob from the right wing and a cut inside that struck the outside of the post before deflecting out. 

After the second drinks break at 32 minutes, Mindy Barbieri forced a good save out of Jada Mathyssen Whyman as her long-range boot tested Whyman who dove low to her right to make the save. Besides the goal, this was Newcastle’s only impactful attack of the half. 

Hawkesby struck a well driven effort from outside the box which was held well by Isobel Nino at the 45 minute mark. This lead to another quick move forward for the Jets which Ayres curled over the bar from outside the box. 

Cortnee Vine hit the woodwork again at 47 minutes as a terrific weighted ball over sent her in on goal. Indiana Dos Santos sprinted in to strike the rebound which was bravely cleared away by a very impressive Claudia Cicco. 

Early in the second half, Sydney FC won a corner. Kate Hawkesby’s floated delivery to the far post led to a well-struck Tori Tumeth header which flew just off target. 

Indiana Dos Santos from the left wing managed to get an excellent cross to the far post which found Vine for her third effort striking the post. Vine’s tenacity did not waver though as she got back onto the rebound and lobbed the ball back across which 16 year-old Caspers nodded home from two yards. The 16 year-old was ecstatic for her first senior goal with the club as Sydney FC found their equaliser at 53 minutes.

Sydney’s change of approach in the second half was to integrate more wing play on both sides to prevent from Vine becoming isolated with multiple defenders. Vine and Hawkesby regularly made breaks forward and the midfield three for Sydney FC worked very hard to continue creating chances.

At the other end, Newcastle won two consecutive free kicks, the second of which was just outside the box. Mindy Barbieri struck the crossbar with her direct effort from the free kick which nearly put the Jets right back in front within 10 minutes of the equaliser. 

After 65 minutes in 35C plus temperatures, the heat was starting to have an impact on the players as passes forward weren’t ran onto as sharply as they had been earlier in the game and the level of pressing from each side was not quite as high as in the first half. 

At 82 minutes, Davis had a half chance for the Jets which went over the bar after a back heel from Bolden allowed Davis a clear look at goal from the edge of the box. Despite the heat, the game remained physical throughout the contest, both teams desperate to get the edge in possession.

The rest of the contest remained tight and tense but a ball chipped forward by Kirsty Fenton released 17 year-old substitute Zara Kruger, who was able to strike a terrific half volley past an oncoming Nino to seal a 96thminute winner. This marked the first time since round 6 that Sydney FC scored multiple goals in a match and two teenage midfielders were able to strike in a hugely important win for the Sky Blues.

Teams:

SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Tumeth, J.Thompson, McLean, Fenton, Hollman, Caspers, Hawkesby, Vine, Ibini, I. Dos Santos. Substitutes: Franco, Chauvet, Kruger, J. Dos Santos, Keane. 

Scorers: Caspers 53’, Kruger 96′.

NEWCASTLE JETS (3-1-4-2): Nino, Wilson, Prior, Cicco, Baumann, Davis, Copus-Brown, Allan, Barbieri, Bolden, Ayres. Substitutes: Rochaix, Hammond, Gooch, Karipidis, Hoban

Scorers: Bolden 16′.

Referee: Caitlin Williams

Attendance: TBC

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It’s the Morgan and Jordan show, as the goalkeepers define the day in Perth

Perth Glory 0-0 Brisbane Roar

By Kieran Yap 20/1/24

Above: Quinley Quezada tries to break free for Perth Glory

Despite a number of good chances on both sides, having two of the league’s best goalkeepers at either end meant that  the draw between Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar was a fitting result.

Glory went into this game sitting second on the ladder but needing a win. Alex Epakis’s side had won just once in the last five games, but have also conceded just three times in that run. After a strong start to the season, wins have been harder to come by, although performances have not dipped. That defensive record has contributed to Glory having only lost three times so far this season. It is an enviable position, and against the visiting Roar they needed every bit of luck and skill to avoid a fourth.

The Roar came to town with boasting an in-form Mia Corbin and Tameka Yallop. The former Parma striker has six goal to her name so far, while the Matildas great has recently found her fitness and form after an interrupted start to the season.

Up the other end, Glory’s attack was spearheaded as usual by Millie Farrow. The English attacker has so far been one of the signings of the season and her electric pace, combined with inventive dribbling make her a difficult match up for any team.

Ordinarily, the prospect of two effervescent attacks going up against each other would be reason to expect goals. However, this match had Jordan Silkowitz up one end, and Morgan Aquino at the other. The Goal’s Against column on the table does not tell the whole story, these are two of the best goalkeepers in the league right now, and both put on a show at Macedonia Park.

Brisbane had the better chances of the first half. Hollie Palmer tried her luck from long range, before a Yallop effort skimmed wide of the post. The Roar playmaker appealed for a handball, but on viewing the replay it appeared that Claudia Mihocic would have been very unlucky to have conceded a penalty from that.

Quinley Quezada came close to opening the scoring for Perth. Her curling effort looked destined for the top corner but did not dip in time, although it was close enough to have Silkowitz scrambling.

Yallop created what was the best chande up until that point. After cutting inside from the left, she looked certain to score, but Aquino was well positioned to gather the low shot. Roar looked to have taken the lead after a set piece was bundled over from close range, but referee Mikayla Ryan was right on the spot and immediately blew for a foul before Brisbane could start to celebrate.

The action peaked right on half time, one minute Isobel Dalton had a great chance to put Perth Glory ahead, but was stopped by Silkowitz, then almost immediately after Natasha Rigby handled the ball in the penalty area. Up stepped Brisbane captain Ayesha Norrie to deliver the 45th minute spot kick.

It was Norrie’s chance to send the visitors into the break 1-0 up, but Aquino is in hard to beat form and dove well to bat the effort away. It was just the latest in a growing list of Aquino highlights this season, at just 22 years old, she has emerged as one of Australia’s brightest goalkeeping prospects, comfortably alongside the likes of Jada Whyman, Annalee Grove and Chloe Lincoln. Her performances this season have meant that Sally James has struggled for opportunities and is having a season comparable to Casey Dumont’s at Melbourne Victory last year.

The chances continued in the second half. Sharn Freier blazed over with the goal at her mercy and Georgia Cassidy set up an attack for the home side with a terrific long ball that was snuffed out by desperate Brisbane defending.

The home side’s best opportunity for the match came when Farrow beat Silkowitz to a long ball and rounded the onrushing goalkeeper. Her touch took her wide of the goal, but her eventual close range shot was unable to be both on target and beat a lunging Holly McQueen who came sliding in to Brisbane’s rescue.

Farrow had one last chance to win the match after creating space for herself in the box, but her left footed shot from less than 10 yards out well blocked by the impassible Silkowitz.

Both sides will be disappointed with a 0-0 result, Roar looked to have dominated play but were unable to finish off their many promising attacks, Glory would have expected to win at home and had the opportunities to do so. This match was decided by the goalkeepers and you could toss a coin to decide who was best afield.

The bigger picture is that things appear to be clicking for Brisbane. Against most other sides they would have scored at least twice and they set up their midfield and strikers to try and take use Perth’s ability to play out from deep against them.

On the other side, Glory’s season is by now means off the rails, but they now have one win in six games, and although the toll of the travel schedule will eventually appear in a Perth season, they need to be winning their home games, and are playing well enough to do so. This was an opportunity missed.

They are not the only side struggling to find a cutting edge in front of goal this season, but they are interesting in that they had it and have seemingly lost it, at least temporarily. However, the chances are being made, multiple players are stepping up to create them (this was an excellent display of deep playmaking by Georgia Cassidy) and they should be able to find the net with regularity again soon.

Teams:

Perth Glory 4-3-3: Aquino (GK), Rigby, Mihocic, Cowart, Anton, Dalton, Lowry, Cassidy, Quezada, Jale, Farrow. Substitutes: Phonsongkham, Sakalis, Lawrence, James, Johnston.

Brisbane Roar 4-3-3: Silkowitz (GK), De La Harpe, Cuthbert, McCormick, McQueen, Palmer, Norrie, Yallop, Stephenson, Corbin, Freier. Substitutes: Kirkup, Levin, Davies, Richards, Thompson

Referee: Mikayla Ryan

Attendance: 1205

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City score twice and survive late Phoenix resurgence

Melbourne City 2-1 Wellington Phoenix

By Emma Burke 20/1/24

Above: Kaitlyn Torpey. Photo: Melbourne City.

Melbourne City have survived a late scare against Wellington Phoenix to win 2-1 at their first competitive fixture at the City Football Academy Field. 

The first half saw both sides with a handful of chances on goal, but neither were able to make anything stick.

Early in the second half, City were able to find their first goal of the afternoon. Julia Grosso after utilising her footwork to work around multiple Phoenix defenders. Unable to get any power on her shot after turning, her ball spilled over into the path of Rhianna Pollicina. Pollicina made no mistake in shooting across the face of goal and into the far corner. 

Wellington came close to equalising through Michaela Foster, whose shot from the top of the box was taken directly on target. City goalkeeper Lisyanne Proulx pulled off a truly remarkable one-handed save to send the shot over the bar and preserve City’s clean sheet. 

Emina Ekic then extended the lead for Melbourne City, after receiving the ball from young star Daniela Galic and sending two defenders to the shops, fired on goal, leaving Wellington keeper Rylee Foster beaten for the second time this afternoon.

Wellington brought themselves back into the game when Venezuelan international Mariana Speckmaier made good use of a poorly cleared ball in the box.

The Phoenix were doing everything they could to find an equaliser in the final minutes of the game, their efforts assisted by Emina Ekic being sent off after collecting her second yellow card, which saw her leave the pitch immediately and will see her sidelined for City’s game next week against cross-town rivals Western United.

It wasn’t meant to be for Wellington as City managed to play through the last 15 minutes of regular time and six minutes of stoppage time without conceding a second goal allowing them to come away with all three points.

Melbourne City (3-1-4-2): Proulx, Grosso, Stott, Roestbakken, Otto, Pollicina, Hughes, Galic, Torpey, Wilkinson, Ekic Substitutes: Henry, Davidson, L. McKenna, Chinnama, Barbieri

Scorers: Pollicina 51’, Ekic 74’

Wellington Phoenix (4-3-3): R. Foster, M. Foster, Lake, Barry, Davidson, Longo, Taylor, Main, Cox, Breslin, Speckmaier Substitutes: Errington, Whinham, Jaber, McMeeken, Edwards

Scorers: Speckmaier 78’


Referee: Isabella Libri

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Victory return to winning ways against Canberra United

Canberra United 2-3 Melbourne Victory

By Ryan Miller-Woods 20/1/24

Above: Alex Chidiac celebrates her goal for Melbourne Victory. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne Victory ncontinued their undefeated streak against Canberra United to 10 matches that dates back to 2017 but most importantly have their first win since December 16th with a dramatic 3-2 win at McKellar Park.

Canberra opened the scoring in the fifth minute bthanks to Holly Murray who dispossessed Rachel Lowe then provided a beautifully floated cross for Michelle Heyman. The Canberra captain seized her moment and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner for her eighth goal of the season and 102nd in the A-League Women. Tte goal put her back into third all-time for most goals scored in the A-League era (Men’s and Women’s).

Thirteen minutes later, Victory equalised thanks to a great through ball by Kayla Morrison that found Lowe who lobbed the ball over Canberra’s goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln for her Lowe’s seventh goal of the season. Less than a minute later, Victory came close to taking the lead with two chances by Lia Privitelli and Lowe respectively but were denied by Lincoln’s great goalkeeping.

Just after the half-hour mark, Canberra were quite unlucky to have not been given a penalty after Deven Jackson made a great run into the box and was brought down by Tori Hansen.

Melbourne took the lead in stoppage time via Sara D’Appolonia who crossed the ball into the box. After a slight scramble with Canberra’s Murray it fell to Alex Chidiac who put enough power on it for her first goal of the season.

Even though certain statistics would understandably have had Melbourne in the lead, Canberra still would have been frustrated to have been behind just before the first half concluded given how well they played during the half.

Six minutes into the second half, Victory had a good opportunity to hav double their lead via a great pass by Lowe for D’Appolonia in the box but Lincoln made a great block to prevent Melbourne scoring.

In the 70th minute, Canberra equalised. Sasha Grove laid the ball off for Ruby Nathan who crossed the ball into the box for Sophia Christopherson. Her header was initially saved by Courtney Newbon but the ball went directly into the path of Heyman who once again seized the opportunity to bring up her 103rd goal.

It was Heyman’s second goal of the match but was also her ninth of the season which then put her equal with her teammate Vesna Milivojevic in the A-League Women’s Golden Boot.

A minute later, Victory came close to re-taking the lead as D’Appolonia provided a cross in the box for McKenzie Weinert who blazed her shot well over the bar.

Further chances kept coming between both sides as the match headed into stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Canberra came agonisingly close to scoring with a great link-up play between Maria Jose Rojas and Heyman in the box but was denied by some great goalkeeping by Newbon.

Two minutes later, Victory scored the winner via Emily Gielnik as her shot from outside the box went over Lincoln and into the top left corner for her first goal of the season. Absolute heartbreak for Canberra but pure delight for Melbourne and a great goal from the returning striker.

Teams: Canberra United (4-4-2): Lincoln, Clough, Clark, Bertolissio, S. Grove, Milivojevic, Stanic-Floody, Murray, Flannery, Heyman, Jackson. Substitutes: Majstorovic, Piazza, Rojas, Nathan, Christopherson.

Scorers: Heyman 5’, 70’.

Melbourne Victory (4-4-2): Newbon, Rankin, Morrison, Hansen, Checker, Weinert, Murphy, D’Appolonia, Privitelli, Lowe, Chidiac. Substitutes: Candy, Gielnik, Okino, Zois, Curtis.

Scorers: Lowe 18’, Chidiac 45+1’, Gielnik 90+3’.

Referee: Isabella Mossin.

Attendance: TBC.

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Norfolk Weekend Wrap

By Darrell Allen 18/1/24

Action from the abandoned match between Cambridge United and Norwich City. Credit – Lindsay Cook

FA Women’s National League Division One South East

An injury late in the game caused the match between Norwich City and Cambridge United to be abandoned with the Canaries leading 3-2 thanks to goals from Ellie Smith, Natasha Snelling and Hope Strauss. Alysha Stojko-Down scored both goals for Cambridge United. However, a serious injury to Cambridge United’s Brooklyn Cheal-Ferris led to the abandonment.

Eastern Region Premier Division

King’s Lynn Town were well beaten 7-0 at home by Barking. Barking’s goals came via a hat-trick for Laura Bunton and one each for Ammarah Ali, Kiera Colthart and Daisy Cook.

It was a disappointing day for Wroxham as they suffered their second consecutive defeat in 2024 getting beaten 1-0 at home by Royston Town. Emma Slater scored the only goal of the game.

King’s Lynn Town captain Gabrielle Cobb (Blue) in action vs Barking on Sunday. Credit – Tim Smith

Norfolk Women’s Cup Third Round

Thetford Town and Dussindale & Hellesdon drew 0-0 in the battle of two Norfolk Tier Six at Mundford Road and it needed penalties to separate them. Penalties from Chelsea Brister, Rachel Bussey and Victoria Leyer saw Dussindale & Hellesdon progress to the Quarter Finals with a 3-2 shootout victory. 

Tier Six Fakenham Town were 9-1 winners over Tier Seven Costessey Sports. Costessey Sports had taken the lead through Tallie Chilleystone but a brace each from Chloe Gravett and Holly Walker plus goals from Sophie Lubbock, Vicky Lubbock, Maddie Smith, Olivia Baker and Shelley Words saw the visitors claim a comfortable win. 

Mulbarton Wanderers, also from Tier Six progressed comfortably against Tier Seven opposition with a 5-0 win at the University of East Anglia with five different goalscorers finding the net: Rebekah Lake, Laura Hedtke, Sophie Jermy, Poppy Loveland and Alanta Griffith all scored to help Mulbarton Wanderers reach the Quarter Final. The club are aiming to reach their fourth consecutive Norfolk Women’s Cup Final. 

Poppy Loveland scored the opening goal in MulbartonWanderers 5-0 win at University of East Anglia. Credit – Ben Cunningham

Sprowston from Tier Seven were 4-2 winners over Tier Eight FC Viking Valkyries. Lois Wright scored twice, with Holly Whayman and Phoebe Green scoring the other goals. Kayleigh Ellwood-Shaw and Ruby Pocock scored for FC Viking Valkyries. 

Elsewhere, Caister ran out 4-0 winners on the road at StalhamTown in another Tier Seven vs Tier Eight clash. Molly Sims (2), Megan Bartlett and Beatriz Silva all scored for the Lifeboat Women

Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One 

Mulbarton Wanderers Development hit the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Long Stratton thanks to a goal from Megan Anderton. 

In the day’s only other Tier Seven game King’s Lynn Soccer Club were 4-1 winners over North Walsham Town thanks to a hat-trick from Jordan Turner and one from Ellena Bennington. Lucy Taylor scored for North Walsham Town.

Action from the match between Long Stratton and Mulbarton Wanderers Development. Credit – Maria Sosnina

Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two

Leaders Bure Valley were 1-0 winners at South Walsham Lingwood thanks to a goal from Romily Mclaggen.

In a big game between two other title contenders Mundfordended Beccles Town’s unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win at The Glebe, goals from Bethany Seymour and Lauren Roberts gave Mundford the three important points. 

Great Yarmouth Town were 2-0 winners at Red Rose, thanks to goals from Lily Chusonis and Chloe Hall. 

Shrublands also won 2-0 by beating Freethorpe. Hannah Halfnight and Rachel Adams were on the scoresheet. 

Sian Steward and Gabrielle Harris scored a brace each as Horsford Hurricanes beat Martham 4-0.

Horsford Harriers won away 2-1 at Waveney. Both Harriers’ goals came from Mia Starling whilst Waveney found the net with an own goal.

Bure Valley (Green and white) stayed on top of Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two with a 1-0 victory at South Walsham Lingwood on Sunday. Credit – Shay Porter

Norfolk Women and Girls League 7’s Division One, 

Mulbarton Wanderers were 5-1 winners at Left Field thanks to a hat-trick from Joanne Hooper and a brace from Alice Ladbrooke. Joanne Baxter scored for Left Field. 

Two hat-tricks, one each for Leanne Warnes and Rebecca Humphreys saw Rockland United win 6-0 away at Horsford FC.

Waveney were 2-0 winners over Loddon United with goals from Angela Colbridge and Ellie Gooderham. 

Dussindale and Hellesdon shared the points with Taverham in a 0-0 draw. 

Norfolk Women and Girls League 7’s Division Two 

Hockering were 2-0 winners over the University of East Anglia thanks to a brace from Summer Davies. 

The games between FC Viking Valkyries and Yarmouth FC and the contest between Cawston and Aylsham were both postponed.

Mundford (Red/Black) secured an important 2-0 win over Beccles Town Development in Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two on Sunday. Credit – Darren Gilham

Mariners clinch dramatic stoppage time win over Sydney

Sydney FC 1–2 Central Coast Mariners (17/01/24)

By Ben Carey

Above: Jada Whyman dives to try to save Wurigumula’s strike on goals. Photo: Sydney FC.

A rainy Wednesday night at Leichhardt Oval was the stage for the most dramatic and chaotic match of the season so far. The Central Coast Mariners pulled off an incredible win deep into stoppage time against the home side, Sydney FC. It was their first win against the Sky Blues since October 2009.

The first 20 or so minutes were a bit cagey, both sides testing each other out, but it’s fair to say that the Mariners had the better of the chances during the early phase of the match. Around the half hour mark, Sydney started creating a few more chances through the likes of Mackenzie Hawkesby and Kirsty Fenton, however Mariners keeper and A-League legend, Casey Dumont, was equal to each attempt on her goals.

The momentum soon swung back towards the Mariners though, and with a sprinkle of luck they scored their first goal of the campaign against Sydney. In the 34th minute, after a throw in, the Mariners lobbed a ball into Sydney’s box and the defenders were unable to clear it. American international, Jazmin Wardlow,attempted a low and quick cross inside the six-yard box. The ball was not going in, but unfortunately, it ricocheted off Charlotte Mclean’s foot and past Jada Whyman into the goals.

Sydney kept their heads held high and started to create more and more goal scoring opportunities, but Dumont and the Mariners defence were solid, and shut down every attempt. The first half finished off with the Central Coast in the lead, but only by a hair.

A few big changes were made at half time. Sydney brought on Matildas star and Unite Round match winner, Cortnee Vine, to increase their attacking threat. Meanwhile, the Mariners took off Dumont, who was in a lot of discomfort at the end of the first half. In her place they brought on experienced goalkeeper, Sarah Langman.

Initially, the second half felt much the same as the first, with the Mariners dominating possession and picking apart Sydney’s defence with quick passing and dynamic movement. However,Sydney FC slowly wrestled back control of the match, thanks in part to Vine’s pace and creativity. On the stroke of the hour, Vine picked out Hawkesby with an incredible pass through about three defenders, but Hawkesby just couldn’t finish it.

In the final 20 minutes of the match about five matches worth of chaos unfolded. Just before the 80-minute mark, Langman cameout of the 18-yard box to shut down an attack by Abbey Lemon but made a late challenge and brough the attacker down. Langman, who had allegedly just received a yellow card for time wasting, received another yellow and got sent off the pitch. This was a huge problem for the Mariners because she was already their backup keeper. Central Coast now had to survive the last 10 minutes plus stoppage with an outfield player in the goals. Defender, Ashley Irwin, stepped up and took on the responsibility. 

The free kick resulting from Langman’s foul was floated in to test Irwin (the makeshift keeper) and it was an awkward ball. After a scrap in the box, Tori Tumeth was able to slot the ball in behind the keeper. However, much to the dismay of Sydney fans, the goal was quickly disallowed for a foul on Irwin. 

A dramatic eight-minute stoppage time began after regular time expired. Just two minutes in, Hawkesby took an amazing free kick from about 40 yards out. It was a high, driven shot that caused the outfield keeper all sorts of trouble. Understandably, she could not hold onto it and spilled it into the goals. Hawkesby to Sydney’s rescue.

What looked certain to now be a dramatic draw took yet another couple of crazy turns right at the end of stoppage time. In the seventh minute of stoppage, after a Mariners corner, a handball was called against Tumeth after a scramble in the box. Chinese international, Wurigumula, stepped up to take it. She struck it well into the bottom left corner of the goals, but Whyman anticipated it and saved it. But the ball had so much force behind it that she couldn’t hold onto it, and Wurigumula put away the follow up, and moments later the full-time whistle blew. 

The whole thing was eerily reminiscent of Sydney FC’s dramatic 2022 semifinal clash with Melbourne City where Sydney staged a dramatic comeback in extra time against Melbourne City who lost their keeper, Melissa Barbieri, to a red card. This feels like the league play version of that.

Sydney will be bitterly disappointed with the result, but there are still many positives to take from the match. Whyman was exceptional in goals. Fenton put in a hell of a shift in the backline. And Hawkesby returned to top form late in the match, after a rusty couple of weeks back in the A-League. What was missing was firepower in the front line. Vine and Lemon did well, but it was too little too late. 

The Mariners on the other hand put in a great team performance across the board (including some help from the 12th player Lady Luck). Wardlow was particularly solid in the backline. Irwin out in a good 70 minutes in the backline beside Wardlow, beforesurviving a short but eventful 20 minutes in goals. And Wurigumula was not only in fine form all night, but she scoredthe goal that gave the Mariners three valuable points against one of the best teams to ever play the competition.

Sydney FC will next face Newcastle Jets on Sunday. Central Coast Mariners will play Western Sydney Wanderers later on that day. 

Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, Mclean, Tumeth, Hawkesby, Ray, Kruger, Ibini, J. Dos Santos, Keane. Substitutes: Black, Chauvet, I. Dos Santos, Lemon, Vine.

Scorers: Hawkesby 90+2’.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (5–3–2): Dumont, Martin, Karambasis, Irwin, Wardlow, Badawiya, Quilligan, Hayward, Galic, Wurigumula, Evans. Substitutes: Langman, Bryson, Gomez, Karrys-Stahl, Trimis.

Scorers: Mclean (OG) 34’, Wurigumula 90+9’.

Referee: Bec Mackie

Attendance: TBC.

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A-League Women Weekly Awards

Members of the Impetus team of contributors covering the competition unveil their choices of player, coach, and event of the week. We’ll keep a tally of all the votes and just before Finals, reveal which player and coach have received the most votes across the season to be named the Impetus A-League Women Player and Coach of the Season 10/1/24

Player of the week

Ben Carey

Vesna Milivojevic. Once again she has hit top form at the perfect time. An exquisite cross to set up a header from Heyman, and an even better goal of her own just over 10 minutes later. She’s on another level entirely.

Kieran Yap

Peta Trimis was brilliant for Central Coast against Wellington Phoenix. She was aggressive and creative in attack, finished her goal well and almost sealed the game with another strong run and pass late in the game. Dynamic stuff from the Young Matilda.

Coach of the week

Ben Carey

Robbie Hooker. He led his side, Western Sydney Wanderers, to a historic win over league leaders, Melbourne City. What a resurgence his team is having.

Kieran Yap

Robbie Hooker for me too. His team was once again very well organised against a Melbourne City side that would have been favourites. The Wanderers goal might’ve seemed fortunate but they set the trap for City and executed it perfectly.

Moment of the week

Ben Carey

Michelle Heyman scoring her 100th ALW goal. What an incredible achievement for a legend of the game.

Kieran Yap

Princess Ibini’s assist for Cortnee Vine was art, Cass Davis’s backheel for Sarina Bolden was glorious and Peta Trimis’s goal was very nice, but it’s obviously Michelle Heyman this week.

It’s the moment of the week, the season, probably of the decade. 100 goals is historic.

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Rising ballers: under-19s lionesses to look out for this year

By Rachel Gore 20/1/24

Above The England Young Lionesses. Photo: Football Association

In November the England women’s under-19s finished their 2023 season with triumph at the Algarve Cup. 

The squad came away from this camp in Portugal undefeated with the players having showcased their talent on an international stage. 

The 25-player squad is full of young stars who impress when playing for both their clubs and their country.

Here are four of these talented players to look out for during the second half of the season. 

Freya Godfrey

Freya Godfrey is one of the more experienced members of the under-19s England squad having made her WSL debutplaying for Arsenal in May of 2023.

The attacking midfielder spent much of the 22/23 season playing for Ipswich Town under dual registration with Arsenal. She excelled on the pitch and even scored the winner in the team’s last match of the season. 

At the beginning of this season Godfrey went on loan toCharlton Athletic, who finished the 2023 portion of the season second in the Barclays Women’s Championship table. 

Godfrey not only impresses when playing for her club, but also when she takes to the pitch for England. During the Algarve Cup she played a huge role in the team’s success.

In their first game against Portugal, Godfrey scored England’s second goal 65 minutes into the match. This allowed England to come away with a draw.

After leading the team out in their second game, Godfrey worked her way onto the score sheet once more. Only 30 minutes into the match she scored against Sweden – a contribution towards the team’s 5-1 victory. 

The under-19s final match against the Netherlands, was Godfrey’s final opportunity to showcase her skill on this camp. She scored once again, the third goal of the game leading the girls to come out with a 3-3 draw and leave Portugal undefeated. 

As Freya Godfrey headed back to finish 2023 at Charlton Athletic it became clear to all that she’s one to watch, her presence on the pitch cannot go unnoticed.

Alexia Potter

Alexia (Lexi) Potter became the youngest-ever professional female player in England when she signed a professional contract with Chelsea in September at the age of 17. This signing came before she joined Crystal Palace on loan for the remained of the 23/24 season. 

Only 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute during Palace’s 14th November game against Lewes, Potter scored her first professional goal. Her entrance onto the pitch changed the game, when she came on the score was 1-1 but in the end, Palace came away victorious, winning 3-2.

Potter is a go-to captain when she plays for England, leading the under-17s to the semi-finals of the UEFA Euros in the summer and also captaining the under-19s during their first game of the Algarve Cup.

In the U19s most recent game against the Netherlands it was Lexi Potter’s corner that led to Godfrey’s goal. 

Potter’s come through the ranks of Chelsea’s academy and it seems like she will be a big part of their future when she returns after her season on loan at Crystal Palace. 

Ava Baker

Ava Baker made her professional debut for Leicester in January of 2022, just three days after she turned 16 years old. A couple of months later, in May, came her first WSL performance at Leicester’s final home match of the 22/23 season. 

Since then, Baker has become a crucial part of the Leicester City squad, playing in many of their matches. The teenager is gaining weekly experience in the WSL, playing against some of the best and most experienced players in the world. 

Baker has become a regular feature in the England youth teams having played in all three matches of the recent Algarve Cup. 

A product of Leicester City’s academy, it’s looking like Baker will go down in the club’s history book, and there’s no doubt we’ll see her in the senior Lionesses squad if she continues to play the way that she has been.

Ria Bose

Unlike the players we have already looked at, Ria Bose is yet to make her professional debut. However, the young Chelsea defender excels on the pitch.

Having recently come back from an ACL injury Bose has performed impressively, making exceptional tackles and blocks during games. 

During the Algarve Cup Bose started in two of the matches, coming on as a substitute in the other. 

Her impact on the pitch is huge, as is her presence on social media. The young baller has over 500,000 followers on TikTok and over 200,000 on Instagram. On these social media platforms, she posts about life as an academy player, at times going live during the girl’s downtime on England camps. 

Bose is a player that fans are growing to love and her performance on the pitch is evidence of the bright future she has ahead of her. 

What’s next for the under-19 England squad?

The under-19s will soon play in round two of qualification for next summer’s UEFA Women’s Under-19 EURO. 

After three victories, nine goals, and only one conceded goal at round one of these qualifications, the Young Lionesses have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

The future of these players is bright, whether they’re currently playing in academies, the Championship or the WSL, their performances highlight the talent of young girls.

Look out for these girls, it seems like they’re going to be a big part of Lionesses’ squads of the future.

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Michelle Heyman’s 100th goal puts her in a league of her own

By Kieran Yap. Photography by Ryan Miller-Woods

Above: Michelle Heyman with Canberra United. Photo Ryan Miller-Woods for Impetus71

Michelle Heyman’s hundredth A-League Women’s goal was a moment fans across the league could celebrate.

Neither Canberra United or Adelaide United have been in flying form this season. Based on recent results, this was not a blockbuster game, but there was a real buzz around Leichhardt Oval on Saturday. Of all the games packed into Unite Round, this was the one to see, and much of that was down to one player, Michelle Heyman.

Heyman entered the round with 99 goals to her name in the A-League Women. She was already the leagues record goalscorer having beaten Sam Kerr’s 70. Records are made to be broken, but being the first to achieve something is eternal.

There was no logical or statistical reason to expect that Saturday would be the day. It could just as easily been in the weeks before when she selflessly teed up Nikki Flannery for a tap in, and the storybook finish would have been the following week in front of an adoring home crowd. Yet it felt like everyone in attendance knew it would happen.

It would probably have been more fitting for this game to have landed on a McKellar Park fixture for Canberra United, but Unite Round for all its teething problems offered fans from around the league to show up in support of a league legend and witness history being made.

Sometimes there’s just a feeling about a football match, a vibe before a ball is even kicked. Sometimes people know that something special is in the air, and fans from across the league sat in expectation.

Things were not looking good for Heyman or Canberra in the opening half. Adelaide had the majority of possession and created more scoring chances. But when they went ahead early in the second half, it seemed to only make Heyman’s 100th feel more inevitable. Now she HAD to score, not for herself, but because her team needed her to. There would surely be no stopping her.

When the goal came, it had all of her trademarks, the predatory instinct to take advantage of a defenders poor touch, the street-ball like way that she flicked it past them, and the acceleration that can take her beyond players 10 years her junior.

By the time that she broke clear, the finish was a formality, and she tucked it beyond Annalee Grove with confidence. The crowd erupted, streamers and Heyman face masks launched into the air. We had just seen history.

For a moment, Heyman celebrated the goal by herself, but once Flannery reached her the jubilation was kicked up another notch. Ever the team player, she took this moment to soak up what she had achieved, and took time to run to the bench for more high-fives.

There had been some confusion in the previous weeks. What looked at first like an Alana Cerne own goal against Western United had been official credited to Heyman, she removed any doubt by scoring almost immediately after. The crowd quickly changed their chants demanding “101” to “102.”

That third goal never came for Heyman, but Canberra went on to win 3-1 and give their captain a day to remember. This was simply one of the best occasions in the history of “The Dub.” It was one where fans from across the league could celebrate a player that few could directly cheer every week, but admired all the same.

Heyman’s level of adulation feels rare in the A-League Women community. Other players have been loved beyond team allegiances, but that has usually been the result of Matildas performances, like Cortnee Vine, or Sam Kerr. 

Heyman is an accomplished international footballer, but revered across the country for what she has done for the local game.

She has been here almost since the very beginning and delighted opposition fans despite the unavoidable inclination to fear what she will do to their team’s ladder position.

It is like showing up to watch your team play against Michael Jordan back in his era. You obviously want your side to win, but you also want her to do something that you can brag about seeing. Michelle Heyman is an “I was there when…” athlete.

When Australia plays Brazil, the ideal outcome for a spectator is to win 3-1 but for Marta to score a wonder goal. The same goes for A-League Women’s fans when Heyman’s Canberra United come to town.

But lets put that 100 goal achievement in glorious perspective. The entire W-League season was only 12 weeks long for much of her career. In her first season it was only 10 weeks long. 2023/24 is the first time there has been a full home and away season.

Since 2009, due mostly to the minimal season length she has only hit double figures four times. Two of those seasons occurred since her comeback in 2020/21. Heyman has only won the Golden Boot twice, both times more than 10 years ago, yet has always remained in contention.

Simply put, she has consistent to an unparalleled level in the A-League Women. There were only two seasons (2018/19, and 2012/13) where her scoring ratio dropped below one for every two games. this hundred goal tally has not been reached by a few outstanding seasons, but from year upon year of being among the best players in the competition.

Since her return from a 12 month sabbatical away from the game, she has scored 10 goals in 12 games, nine in 14, and 12 in 18. This season, despite Canberra’s form and her deeper position on the pitch, she still has seven goals in 11 games. Heyman has always been elite, she won two Julie Dolan medals ten years apart, and she does not seem to be slowing down in any observable way.

It is not just the numbers, it is the way that she plays. She is inventive, explosive and often uncontainable. Her first game back from retirement, she scored a three against Adelaide United, including a ridiculous close-range chip.

This is a player that is always watchable, and consistently produces the goods. In front of goal it often looks like the world slows down around her. We are all on Michelle Heyman time when she is preparing to shoot.

She now stands alone as the greatest striker that the domestic women’s league has ever seen.

Where she sits in the list of all time great Australian footballers is a discussion for the sad day when she eventually hangs up the boots for good. But her name is guaranteed to be on the shortlist.

If you were at Leichhardt Oval you witnessed greatness achieve history. Michelle Heyman is the benchmark, she has earned this latest record by producing 14 years of consistent unrivalled excellence. It is a privilege to watch her play and it was an amazing feeling to see her hundredth goal amongst an army of adoring fans.

Even in a team game, sometimes you just have to sit back and applaud a remarkable individual.

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