A-League Women Weekly Awards

Each week during the home and away season, Impetus’ writing and photography team covering the A-League Women will nominate a player, coach, and event of the week. We’ll keep a tally of the player and coach votes as the weeks go by, and just before the Finals, will announce our winners for 2022/23 (30/1/23).

Player of the Week

Above: Madison Haley (right) took two votes from our contributors for this week’s Player of the Week. Photo: Sydney FC.

BEN GILBY: Madison Haley pulled the strings in imperious style for Sydney FC in their superb 6-3 win at Melbourne Victory as they completed the double over the side who beat them in the last two Grand Finals.

DENISE DUFFY: Shea Connors. The Brisbane Roar star used her speed, dribbling ability, and general positioning to deconstruct the Wellington Phoenix back line. She flew by Mackenzie Barry in the 15th minute and put it in the back of the net. Then in the just before the half hour, she drew a foul and a red card against Wellington Phoenix’s Kate Taylor. The resulting penalty kick was completed by teammate Katrina Gorry. Overall, an outstanding day for the American.

JONATHAN TAY: Princess Ibini got the plaudits for her hat trick, but Madison Haley was player of the match for me in Sydney FC’s 6-3 thrashing of Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue. Though she had a penalty saved, Haley picked up a goal and an assist, and was an unstoppable force for all of Victory’s backline. The American’s strength allayed with an ability to quickly process the play in front of her makes for a powerful combination, as she continues to impress in her debut A-League season. 

RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Hannah Keane. With two great goals scored, especially her second goal of the match which all but decided the result against Canberra United for Western United, Keane showed yet again why she has been one of the best players this season in the A-League Women. As well as that, she extended her lead even more for the Golden Boot in the A-League Women to now nine goals and three ahead of Sydney FC’s Madison Haley.

BEN CAREY: Cortnee Vine. Her impact in the Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory match was immense. Her explosive speed and dynamic movement was sensational and allowed her to score a goal and provide two assists! A true team player. Massive shout out to Princess Ibini as well for achieving her first hat trick of the season, she was in truly imperious form.

Coach of the Week:

Above: Wellington Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence was rewarded with three votes this week. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.

BEN GILBY: Natalie Lawrence. Her team took almost 24 hours to get to Brisbane, spending hours stranded in an airport. They then went 2-0 down and had a key player sent off. Yet they came back to lead 3-2 and took a draw. That’s sensational motivation in anyone’s book. The Phoenix are starting to show what many expected from them before the season started.

DENISE DUFFY: Natalie Lawrence. Her team had to shift into a back three and stay motivated down two goals to zero with just 10 players. Through the brutal heat at an away venue, they pushed back hard and made a momentous comeback. When Grace Wisnewski hit a banger from just outside the box in the 77th minute, she shared her goal celebration with coach Lawrence, a sign that the Wellington Phoenix are still motivated as a unit despite being at the bottom of the table.

JONATHAN TAY: Sydney FC and Ante Juric completed the double against reigning champions Melbourne Victory with Thursday’s dominant 6-3 win at AAMI Park. It won’t take away the sting of the last two Grand Final losses, but the emphatic nature of both of the Sky Blues’ wins over Victory showed the levels of performance Juric has taken his side to. Their relentless attack, particularly on the counter, continues to mark them out as a favourite for the title this season. 

RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Mark Torcaso. What Torcaso has done in his very first season as a head coach in the A-League Women has been truly great with Western currently on the top of the ladder in the league with 10 matches played and have been arguably the best team so far this season. The performance that his side showed against Canberra United, especially in the first half showed exactly why they are in the position they are in, with their passages of play, the way that they took their chances at goal, and how they played as a collective whole all being paramount towards the final result in the match.

BEN CAREY: Natalie Lawrence. I still have no idea how on earth she pulled her team, Wellington Phoenix, out of the hole they were in against Brisbane Roar. Down a player and two goals in the first 30 minutes, her team staged the comeback of the season so far to force a draw (and very nearly steal all three points). Incredible effort.

Event of the Week:

Above: Paige Satchell in possession during Wellington Phoenix’s sensational trip to Brisbane Roar. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.

BEN GILBY: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix. One word – “wow”.

DENISE DUFFY: Lack of cameras. In the closing minutes of a 3-3 tie in one of the most riveting matches of the season, Mickey Roberston scored. Or did she? There were no good camera angles of it. Fans were left scratching their heads. There were consultations between the referee and the assistant. She was deemed offside. Not enough cameras and deficient production quality remains at the top of my list for improvements for this league.

JONATHAN TAY: Wellington Phoenix overcame a red card, a two-goal deficit, and the hot Brisbane weather to earn a remarkable comeback 3-3 draw against the Roar. The Phoenix showed tremendous resilience to battle back from a 2-0 hole and Kate Taylor’s 27th-minute dismissal, in stark contrast to a dangerously complacent Brisbane side. Wellington almost emerged victorious late in the chaotic contest with Michaela Robertson’s 93rd minute effort ruled offside. Post-match, Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence said, “The heart, determination and fight of this group was shown. When you look at the character, I can’t be anything but proud of the whole group.”

RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Wellington Phoenix’s comeback against Brisbane Roar. To come back from 2-0 down is impressive enough in itself but to do that whilst having just 10 players for the majority of the match and very nearly winning is another thing altogether.

BEN CAREY: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix. Six goals. A red card. A goal-line clearance. Three shots hitting the woodwork in the last 20 minutes. A defender scoring from more than 30 yards. This match had everything. It was a chaotic and absolutely engrossing rollercoaster ride. 

Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.

Scottish Weekend Review

from Tom Freeman (30/1/23)

Above: Dryburgh Athletic celebrate in their excellent 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Photo: Jill Runcie / Sportpix.

SWF Championship

Dryburgh Athletic have moved off the foot of the Scottish Women’s Championship for the first time this season with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Highlanders cancelled out Sophie Aitken’s opener early in the second half but Dryburgh captain Laura Boag put the Dundee side back in front and striker Alma Codegoni sealed the three points with a third towards the final whistle.

Speaking to club media afterwards, defender Kiah Irvine said: “I think we played really well against a tough team and defended really well too.”

Elsewhere, league leaders Livingston won by the same scoreline against Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh,  with goals from captain Natasha Frew, Ashley Elizabeth, and Jess Murphy. Lauren Hall had equalised before halftime for the capital side, but Livingston came back strongly in the second half.

Ayr United continued their good form and held onto their top-half place with a one-all draw against Rossvale in Ayr, while Renfrew took maximum points from the Renfrewshire derby against Morton with a 3-1 victory to consolidate second, SammyJo Smith grabbing a hat-trick against the local rivals and doubling her league goal tally for the season.

Table From: SWF Championship

SWF League One

Leaders FC Edinburgh won 3-1 against Airdrie Ladies, while a Kayleigh Traynor hat-trick secured a 3-0 victory for Westdyke away to Giffnock SC. It wasn’t enough to catch Falkirk in second, however, as the Bairns demolished bottom-side Gleniffer Thistle at home. Top scorer Suzanne Wyatt scored seven goals in a 19-0 victory to ensure a difficult first game for new Gleniffer boss Gregg McSwiggan.

Grampian Ladies also looked impressive to win comprehensively in Dundee, while a hat trick for Kelly Ross secured a victory for St Mirren over BSC Glasgow, Sam McManus scoring her ninth of the season in return for the hosts.

Table From: SWF League One.

Regional Biffa SWFL

Above: Action from Kilwinning (blue) against Annan Athletic in the Biffa SWFL South. Photo: Alan Campbell.

There were victories for Alloa, Harmony Row, Drumchapel United, and Motherwell Development in the West League, while Livingston Development made it three wins in three in the East with an impressive 5-0 demolition of Dunfermline Athletic. An 11-goal thriller in the Biffa SWFL South saw brand new team Flip the Mindset beat Nithsdale Wanderers 7-4. 

Tables from: Biffa SWFL.

Brave Dons go down battling

AFC Wimbledon 1-5 Charlton Athletic

by George Jones – AFC Wimbledon.

Above: AFC Wimbledon celebrate after Ashlee Hincks’ strike yesterday. Photo: Emily Topping.

Ashlee Hincks scored the ultimate consolation goal as AFC Wimbledon saw their FA Cup run come to an end at the fourth round stage.

Championship side Charlton Athletic emerged as deserved 5-1 winners on the day, with the two-division gap between the sides proving to be decisive.

The Dons got off to a poor start, falling 2-0 behind inside the first 15 minutes. Charlton’s first came through a tidy bit of play on the edge of the area that was capped by a powerful finish from Frida Ayisi after being fed by Simpkins, before Kiera Skeels headed home a second from a corner.

Up the other end, Hincks forced the visiting keeper Rogers into a good save before Ellie Dorey’s shot went narrowly over the bar. However, it was the visitors who increased their lead as they scored from outside the box from Angela Addison after Wimbledon won an initial header.  

The second half saw more of the same as the Addicks’ Beth Roe tucked home a fantastic solo goal for the fourth, before another corner brought about a fifth from Melissa Johnson who finished from close range after a corner.

However, the most memorable goal of the game came for the Dons as Hincks produced yet another stunning effort from inside the centre circle that flew over Rogers’ head in the Charlton goal.  

After the game AFC Wimbledon manager, Kevin Foster said: “We always knew it was going to be a tough game. Charlton are a very good side and the quality they posses was there to see today. We gave it our best shot. The best bit about it was that the girls kept on going and got a goal for their efforts.  

Ashlee Hincks said: “We are extremely proud, we had a tough game against a Championship side that are flying in that league so it was always going to be difficult. They are full time but I think we gave a good account of ourselves and should be really proud.”

The Dons are back in league action next Sunday as they travel to Actonians.

Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Brooks, Mann (Taylor), Highman, Plewa (Sampson), Hincks, Donovan (Stow), Bath (Siber) Billingham, Dorey (Lockett).

Scorer: Hincks 81′.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC: Rogers, N’Dow, Johnson, Simpkins, Ayisi, Addison, Skeels, Rutherford, Roe, Henson, Ross. Substitutes: Gray, Soper, Follis, Bruton, Hennessy, Logan, Roche, Bashford, O’Rourke.

Scorers: Ayisi 7′, Skeels 10′, Addison 32′, Roe 55′, Johnson 71′.

Attendance: 238.

Durham v Crystal Palace photo gallery

Matt Appleby was at Maiden Castle to capture the best of the action as Durham faced Crystal Palace in an all-Championship FA Cup Fourth Round tie (30/1/23).

Above: Lily Crosthwaite jumps for joy after scoring the final goal in Durham’s 3-0 win. Photo: Matt Appleby.

Durham 3-0 Crystal Palace

MATT APPLEBY’S PHOTO GALLERY FROM MAIDEN CASTLE:

Teams: DURHAM: McAloon, Briggs, Lambert, Wilson, Robson, Hepple, Hardy, Salicki, Ayre, Noonan, Clarke. Substitutes: Saunders, Farrugia, Galloway, Crosthwaite, Bradley, Christon, Greenwood.

Scorers: Lambert 10′, Clarke 15′, Crossthwaite 90′.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Kitching, Johnson, Waldie, Riley, Doran, Philbey, Arthur, Gibbons, Haines, Bailey-Gayle, Hughes. Substitutes: Everett, Peplow, Sharpe, Dean, Blanchard, Negri, Olding, Guyatt.

Attendance: 436.

Phoenix rising and Roar after dramatic clash

Brisbane Roar 3-3 Wellington Phoenix

by Ben Carey (29/1/23)

Above: Paige Satchell tries to work her way past the Brisbane Roar defence. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.

Wellington Phoenix staged one of the comebacks of the season against Brisbane Roar on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Natalie Lawrence’s team suffered some early setbacks but weathered the storm to close out the match in an exciting 3-3 draw against the home team.

The match started off in a fairly scrappy fashion, with neither team holding too much possession. Brisbane Roar was definitely the side that was more proactive, and both Larissa Crummer and Katrina Gorry found themselves with half chances within the first 10 minutes.

Brisbane wouldn’t need to wait too long until those half chances turned into the real deal. In the 15th minute, Kajsa Lind hit a wonderful long ball to the far-left side of the pitch, which was expertly headed on by Hollie Palmer towards Shea Connors, who had perfectly timed her run past the Wellington defensive line. Connors used her pace to get into the box quickly before she could be shut down, and she went one on one with Brianna Edwards in goal, managing to outfox her to score her first goal for the season.

Just over 10 minutes later, Connors found herself in a dangerous position again. She was running at goal with only the keeper left to beat. Kate Taylor, the Wellington defender was running beside her and took her down, spectacularly, just outside of the penalty box. However, it was deemed that Taylor was the last defender and as such she was shown a red card, much to the dismay of the Wellington fans. The resulting free kick was taken by Gorry, who hit a rocket into the back of the net, edging the Roar ahead 2-0.

After losing Taylor, the Phoenix didn’t hang their heads in defeat. They calmly regrouped and continue playing positive and attacking football. They readjusted their formation, keeping three at the back instead of the usual four, and shuffled the midfield and front line around so that they could stay on the offensive.

In the 33rd minute, an incredible free kick by Michaela Foster, from at least 30 yards out, beat the entire Brisbane defensive line and Hensley Hancuff in goal to halve the deficit. Quite a way to score your first goal in the A-League Women!

In the last 10 minutes before half time, the Roar had a number of chances on goal, all of which involved Indiah-Paige Riley, the most promising of which came just before the stroke of half time. There was a very promising build-up in which Riley ran towards the goal, passed off to Crummer who took a shot, beating the keeper, but it was cleared off the line by Grace Wisnewski. The clearance fell to Connors, but her follow up attempt was headed just wide of the goal by a Wellington defender.

The second half started off relatively uneventful, especially compared to the first half. But the action began to ramp up again after the hour mark. Another long-range, high curling shot from Foster looked destined for the back of the Brisbane net, however Hancuff pulled off a magnificent diving save to deny it. But just over five minutes later, the Brisbane defence was caught sleeping, and they were unable to shut down the attack of Wellington midfielder, Emily Clegg, who scored to level the game up at 2-2.

10 minutes later, Wellington Phoenix scored again. The Brisbane defensive structure was all out of sorts and a defensive header landed straight at the feet of Wisnewski, who slotted it in the back of the net to put Wellington in the lead for the very first time. If anyone thought that the New Zealand side was going to be weakened by the Queensland heat, they were wrong.

In the last 20 minutes of regulation time, the Roar hit the woodwork on three separate occasions, much to the frustration of the local crowd, who felt the win that seemed so inevitable an hour before was being snatched away from beneath them. But in the dying minutes of regular time, Crummer found herself in the box, beat a few Wellington defenders and chipped a ball over Edwards in goal to even the score up 3-3. The crowd went absolutely wild.

But there was still time for one more piece of drama in the dying minutes of stoppage time. Claudia Cicco, of the Wellington Phoenix, played a through ball to Michaela Robertson, who beat the Brisbane defence and scored. However, it was immediately disallowed because she had strayed offside. But a goal had been announced over the loudspeaker and the Wellington supporters were chanting, so it took a little while for the crowd to figure out what had happened.

All in all, it was a very exciting and action-packed match for the spectators. A frustrating draw for Brisbane though, who had the match on a silver platter, but let it slip away.

A solid first half of attacking football, the Roar failed to press enough and convert on their chances in the closing stages of the game. That said, Connors pulled out her best performance of the season so far, scoring the first goal of the match and drawing the foul that lead to the second goal. She also hit a number of good crosses throughout the match that could have easily lead to goals.

Gorry was exceptional in the midfield, pulling the strings, always involved in the build-up of attacks. She scored a goal of her own, and took several more shots on target, two of which hit the woodwork. Norrie, Palmer, and Crummer also put in great shifts for the Roar.

Wellington Phoenix well and truly showed their fighting spirit and their never say die attitude. After going down a player and two goals within the first half hour, they rose up from the metaphorical flames, reborn anew. The impact of Wisnewski was immense.

The newly capped Football Fern was everywhere in the match, she made two blocks in the 18-yard-box, a goal line clearance, and scored the goal that put Wellington ahead. Foster and Barry also performed very well, repelling as many of the Brisbane attacks as possible. Finally, Clegg proved herself to be Wellington’s secret weapon, scoring in back-to-back matches. She is the first player to achieve that for the Phoenix this season.

Speaking after the game, Wellington Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence said: “Three points was probably on the cards for us today, but I think if you said to me you’d finish 3-3 when you’re two-nil down after 30 minutes with 10 players I’d probably rip your hand off.”

“The heart, determination and fight of this group was shown. The fact we were two-nil down and then we took it to 3-2. When you look at the character, I can’t be anything but proud of the whole group. Huge, huge credit to the players for how hard they worked in pretty brutal heat.”

As well as the deficit on the scoreboard, the sending off of Taylor, Nix had to contend with exceptionally hot conditions and almost of travelling to Brisbane via Christchurch. “We could use all of these things as an excuse, and we didn’t today,” Lawrence admitted. “That just shows the character of everyone and how we don’t let this stuff get to us. We control what we can and that’s how we play on the field.”

Brisbane Roar will take on Adelaide United at home next weekend and Wellington Phoenix will have two weeks off before facing Western Sydney Wanderers on 12th February.

Teams: BRISBANE ROAR (4-4-2): Hancuff, Kramer, Lind, Rankin, Rasschaert, Norrie, Connors, Gorry, Palmer, Riley, Crummer. Substitutes: Shuttleworth, McQueen, Levin, Kruger, Freier.

Scorers: Connors 15’, Gorry 28’, Crummer 86’.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-2-3-1): Edwards, Foster, Taylor, Barry, Van der Meer, Wisnewski, Knott, Clegg, Hassett, Satchell, Pritchard. Substitutes: Candy, Vosper, Cicco, Gomez, Robertson.

Scorers: Foster 33’, Clegg 66’, Wisnewski 78’.

Referee: Kelly Jones.

Attendance: 753.

Artwork by: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.

Pollicina goal defeats Adelaide United

Melbourne City 1-0 Adelaide United

By Jonathan Tay (29/1/23)

Above: Rhianna Pollicina celebrates after scoring Melbourne City’s winner. Photo: Keep Up.

Melbourne City completed the double over an out-of-sorts Adelaide United at AAMI Park, easing to a 1-0 win on Sunday. Rhianna Pollicina’s 55th-minute tally proved the difference in a match that was far more one-sided than the final scoreline suggested. 

Adelaide were coming off of a dismal run of just one point over their last five games, which included their 3-0 loss to Melbourne City in the reverse fixture of this match. They were desperate to keep within touching distance of finals places, having fallen five points behind fourth-place Melbourne Victory. 

City meanwhile stuck with the same 3-4-3 formation as in their controlled win against Western Sydney last week – Leticia McKenna coming in as one of the two central midfield pivots, in place of the injured Karly Roestbakken. 

Above: Leticia McKenna (left) looks to close down Adelaide United’s Nanako Sasaki. Photo: Adelaide United.

The home side dominated the majority of possession and were particularly dangerous in transition, forward Bryleeh Henry often a speedy outlet in wide areas. McKenna also impressed throughout the game with her creativity and composure. The Western Australian set up Kaitlyn Torpey for an early chance with an accurate floated cross, which was sliced off-target.

Adelaide’s Chelsie Dawber countered with a 13th-minute strike straight into City keeper Sally James’ arms, before Melbourne left wingback Julia Grosso came closest to a first-half opener; her curled right-footed shot hitting the crossbar, before Rhianna Pollicina hammered a subsequent effort right at keeper Annalee Grove.

Those same two players combined for City’s deserved goal early in the second half; Grosso slipping a pass through to Pollicina inside the 18-yard box, with the attacking midfielder able to turn and fire home via a deflection for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Above: Hannah Wilkinson joins Rhianna Pollicina’s celebrations. Photo: Melbourne City.

City were able to test Grove more frequently, with Pollicina twice and striker Hannah Wilkinson forcing the Reds’ keeper into action. Adelaide on the other hand were left to live off scraps, with Dawber and her misfiring fellow forward Fiona Worts cutting frustrated figures all evening long. 

City looked far more likely to score a second than Adelaide to equalise, and Grosso, Wilkinson and substitute Caitlin Karic all had fantastic opportunities where they should have done better to deliver a more comfortable scoreline for the Melbournians.

Nevertheless, City saw out the remainder of the match with little resistance, keeping up the pressure on A-League ladder-leaders Western United. For Adelaide, time to find answers to their loss of form is beginning to run out, as a clearer divide begins to take shape between the top four and the rest of the competition.

Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (3-4-3): James, Chinnama, Checker, Bowen; Torpey, McKenna, Davidson, Grosso; Pollicina, Henry, Wilkinson. Substitutes: Hrehoresin (GK), Blissett, Galic, Malone, Karic.

Scorer: Pollicina 55’.

ADELAIDE UNITED (4-3-3): Grove, I. Hodgson, McCormick, Waldus, Hayward; Sasaki, Barbieri, Holmes; Dawber, Murray Worts. Substitutes: Wilson (GK), E. Hodgson; Westland, Bowler, Coorey.

Referee: Lara Lee.

Attendance: 595.

Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.

Taylor and Man City eye up silverware

Johnathan Stack reports from Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor‘s media conference ahead of their FA Cup tie with Championship side Sheffield United later today (29/1/23).

Above: Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor is looking for his team to go one better than last season as the FA Cup gets underway for WSL sides this weekend. Photo: Manchester City.

Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor has told the media that he is hoping that his team can add a fourth FA Cup triumph to their trophy cabinet this season ahead of their fourth-round tie against Sheffield United.

City has since gone on to finish as a semi-finalist and runners-up in the two most recent tournaments.

Speaking to the press at City Football Academy, Taylor said: “It’s always an aim for us [to win the FA Cup]. I think some people or teams might look at certain competitions as more important than others,” he said.

“We accept that the league is the competition you really want to win because you have to be faultless and it’s often the marker of a good team.

Above: Manchester City’s Mary Fowler in training this week. Photo: Manchester City.

Taylor went on further to add “In cup competitions, you can win six to eight games and it’s not necessarily the best team who wins, but you have to be consistent in those games.

“You have to work a lot with the League Cup (Conti Cup) as an example to get that real opportunity. It’s the same with the FA Cup, you get down to the nitty-gritty from around the quarter-final stages.

“The last two or three years our record in the FA Cup record has been really good. It’s a great competition and one that’s still admired by supporters and players. It means a lot to them.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s game City will be without Demi Stokes and Esme Morgan just as they were on Wednesday for their 6-0 Conti Cup triumph over Bristol City.

Manchester City play Sheffield United at the Academy Stadium today at 1pm (UK time).

The Price is right for Wanderers

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 Newcastle Jets

Report by Johnathan Stack, EXCLUSIVE pitchside photos from Kris Goman at Wanderers Football Park (28/1/23).

Above: Olivia Price celebrates her winning goal for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Western Sydney Wanderers moved into the top six of the Liberty A-League courtesy of a scrappy 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets.

A deflected strike from Olivia Price was enough to down the Jets at a very hot and humid Wanderers Football Park on Saturday evening.

Above: High-flying aerial action in the penalty box earlier today. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

The resurgent Wanderers, who are four games unbeaten at home, are now within seven points of the top four.

In a very tight game, where both sides had the same number of chances it was always going to be close.

Both sides lacked urgency in midfield early on and it looked like if there were any goals, they were going to have to come from set pieces.

But in the 36th minute, Sophie Harding played the ball to midfielder Olivia Price and the Wanderers made good on their first proper chance into the final third.

Above: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate Olivia Price’s goal. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Price’s strike deflected off Jets defender Taren King, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the ball went past goalkeeper Georgina Worth.

The goal lifted the Wanderers, but it was the Jets who had the better of the second-half chances and Newcastle missed two golden opportunities to equalise.

Ash Brodigan pounced on a cross from the left wing but mistimed her shot, hitting it over the bar. Later, substitute Adriana Konjarski failed to execute a one-on-one with Jordyn Bloomer, her strike bouncing off the goalkeeper’s hands.

Wanderers were able to see out the win and climb up to sixth in the table, Newcastle, however, has conceded a total of 10 goals in three consecutive losses and could finish the weekend rock bottom if Wellington Phoenix beat Brisbane Roar on Sunday.

Above: Olivia Price (8) reacts after seeing an effort hit the post. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Next up for Wanderers are champions Melbourne Victory at CB Smith while Newcastle play Canberra United at No2 Sportsground.

Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-3-1-2): Bloomer, Apostolakis, Hunt, Ferris, Matos, Gordon, Harrison, Steinmetz, Price, Harding, Bolden. Substitutes: Caceres, Chlastáková, Gallagher, Hristodoulou, Khamis (GK).

Scorer: Price 36′.

NEWCASTLE JETS (4-2-3-1): Worth, Clough, King, Garnier, Allan, Agnew, Davis, Griffith, Brodigan, Johnson, Andrews. Substitutes: Allen, Coelho (GK), Konjarski, Puxty, Stapleford.

Referee: Isabella Blaess.

Attendance: 326.

Kris Goman’s EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from Wanderers Football Park:

Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Site.

Canberra handed second successive thrashing by leaders Western United

Canberra United 0-5 Western United

by Ryan Miller-Woods (28/1/23)

Above: Western United celebrate after yet another goal at McKellar Park today. Photo: Keep Up

Western United put on a truly dominant performance against Canberra United at McKellar Park to send the home team to their second 5-0 defeat in as many matches.

A brace by A-League Women Golden Boot leader Hannah Keane as well as goals from Danielle Steer, Melissa Taranto, and Sydney Cummings all in the first half put the match to bed before the second half had even begun.

For Canberra, it was a day to forget for them as they have now conceded 10 goals in two matches. While they had a few moments in the game that may have amounted to something more, they were never really in the contest.

The scoring opened after just four minutes when Angie Beard out-challenged Canberra’s Sasha Grove from the ball allowing Western United’s new arrival to cross into the box for Danielle Steer to head the ball into the bottom left corner for her first goal in the A-League Women.

Within eight minutes, the visitors doubled their lead when Keane’s cross found Steer. She chested the ball down directly towards the path of Melissa Taranto in the box who controlled the ball and slotted it into the back of the net to double Western United’s lead in the match.

Above: Melissa Taranto (second left) celebrates her goal that put Western United 2-0 up. Photo: Keep Up.

It got worse just before the half-hour mark as Canberra’s Sasha Grove misguided her backpass that was intended for goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln but instead went to Hannah Keane who with Lincoln well off her line and away from goal, was gifted a golden opportunity to lift the ball over Lincoln for 3-0.

Shortly afterwards, Canberra had their best chance of the match as Chengsu Wu provided a pass for Michelle Heyman who controlled the ball with the outside of her boot before running into the box with her eventual shot at goal being saved by Western keeper Hillary Beall and out for a corner.

Six minutes before the break, Melissa Taranto played a beautiful through ball from around halfway for Keane who outmuscled Ellie Brush on the outside of the box to advance and hit a shot going under the legs of Lincoln and into the back of the net.

Directly from a Western corner by Adriana Taranto, the ball was passed to Tyla-Jay Vlajnic who then crossed the ball into the box which seemingly crossed the line but wasn’t awarded. However, not long after that in the same sequence, Western United had better luck as Sydney Cummings’ close-range shot went into the bottom left corner for Western’s fifth goal of the match in the 42nd minute.

There were far fewer chances after the break. Western was very close to having scored a sixth goal with a great play by them allowed for an open goal with Vlajnic’s shot on an angle subsequently hitting the side netting in the 62nd minute.

Canberra had a rare opportunity with 20 minutes to go when Vlajnic’s failed clearance allowed for the ball to go up in the air and when it came back down found first found Heyman and then Vesna Milivojevic with her shot at goal was saved by Beall.

Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): Lincoln, Ilijoski, Hughes, Brush, Grove, Maher, Taylor-Young, Faulknor, Milivojevic, Heyman. Substitutes: Murray, Jale, Christopherson, Middleton, Segavcic.

WESTERN UNITED (4-1-4-1): Beall, Medwin, Cummings, Cerne, Beard, Sawicki, M. Taranto, A. Taranto, Steer, Keane, Vlajnic. Substitutes: Dall’Oste, Dakic, Robers, Johnson, Sinclair

Scorers: Steer 4’, M. Taranto 13’, Keane 28’,39’. Cummings 42’

Referee: Rebecca Durcau.

Attendance: 970.

Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.

Leicester City’s Aussie recruits can make a difference

By Kieran Yap (27/1/23)

Above: Courtney Nevin on international duty. Photo: Football Australia

Leicester City’s push for survival in the FAWSL has seen them sign two Australian internationals. Here is what fans can expect from Remy Siemsen and Courtney Nevin.

Australia had just lost 3-0 to the USA. Starting in central defence was an 18-year-old Courtney Nevin and a 17 year old Jessika Nash. A stomach bug and injuries had swept through the camp, and manager Tony Gustavsson opted for the inexperienced pair. The reigning world champions tore them apart almost instantly.

A few days later, after one full day of training, Nevin was trusted to start again in central defence. She had previously been a relatively surprising inclusion in the Tokyo Olympics squad. Although she was one of Western Sydney Wanderers’s most consistent performers, the club did not make much impact on the season leading into the games.

It was that second match against the USA where Nevin emerged as a serious international level football. It was a much more gritty game than the first one. While there was improvement across the entire squad, Nevin’s role at centre-back was essential to the 1-1 draw. She won a number of crucial duels including against a full-pace Lynn Williams.

Above: Courtney Nevin (left) celebrating a goal for Hammarby during the 2022 Damallsvenskan season. Photo: Hammarby.

Her improvement in the space of those few days is typical of her career. Nevin just keeps stepping up and meeting the next challenge. She often exceeds expectations, and the question changed long ago from “how good is she,” to “how good she can get?”

She had represented Australia at all age levels and offers the national team depth that they did not have before.

Nevin is a left-back by trade. She has established herself as a genuine option in central defence or full-back for the national team but has played most of her career out wide.

She is deceptively quick and able to take players on in wide areas. Her left foot can deliver quality crosses or long passes from deep. Early in her time in Sweden with Hammarby, she used it to score from a free kick. It is something Australian fans are also familiar with.

Before moving to Europe, Nevin spent a season with Melbourne Victory. In a campaign badly affected by defensive injuries, Nevin played an almost flawless season as Victory won a second consecutive Grand Final. She had big boots to fill in replacing club legend Angie Beard and only earned more fans by doing so.

Nevin is still young, but at just 20 she has won domestic trophies, been part of an Olympic squad that finished fourth, and become a mainstay in a national team that will co-host the World Cup this year.

She is constantly improving, and becoming a better individual player. Courtney Nevin is one of Australia’s brightest prospects and will provide Leicester with defensive commitment and an attacking outlet from fullback or set pieces. She is a rising star, who has risen to meet every challenge so far in her career.

Above: Remy Siemsen gets a shot away for Sydney FC in the 2022 A-League Women Grand Final against Melbourne Victory. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Remy Siemsen arrives at Leicester City to offer hope to a team that has only scored five goals this season.

Siemsen’s rise has been hard-earned. She was a teenage prodigy in the NSW NPL, and adjusted quickly to the then W-League with 10 goals in her first Sydney FC season. After trying her luck in the second tier of the USA, she returned to Australia and encountered her first and only goalless season as a professional with Western Sydney Wanderers.

After her eventual transfer across town to Sydney FC, she has been on an upward trajectory. In her last two seasons in sky blue, Siemsen scored 19 goals over 40 matches. A brief return before her transfer to Leicester City resulted in another two in four games.

Siemsen’s record is one of consistent goalscoring wherever she has played. Her time at California Storm and AIK in Sweden are both considered to be lower points of her career, but she still found the net at both clubs.

Siemsen’s finishing is her most obvious asset. She is dangerous from anywhere around the penalty box and is capable of finding the top corner in spectacular fashion.

An underappreciated aspect of her game is her ability to open up space for other forwards. At Sydney FC, Siemsen’s movement was vital to bringing fellow Matildas Cortnee Vine and Princess Ibini into the action. She can link play, perform as a decoy or lead the line as a centre forward.

But no matter what her role, she always finds the back of the net. Leicester fans should not expect another Sam Kerr or Caitlin Foord. Siemsen is not as searingly fast as the other two high profile Australian strikers in England.

She is a very clever forward with excellent movement and classy finishing.

Leicester City have not created too many chances this season, but Siemsen can be trusted to make the most of what comes her way.

They have signed a striker on the edge of the national team, who has looked to challenge herself outside of her comfort zone. Like Nevin, Remy Siemsen is looking to find out how good she can be and force her way into a World Cup squad.

She has the motivation, talent, and track record to make an impact in the FAWSL.

Above: Remy Siemsen pictured after her international debut for Australia. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.