Above: Thetford Town’s Abbie Corbyn in possession closely shadowed by a Sprowston player. Photo: Darrell Allen.
Thetford Town returned back to Mundford Road for their first home game in the Norfolk Women and Girls League since 30th January.
Sprowston were the visitors who came into the game in form following a stand-out 3-2 win at Bungay the previous Sunday.
It was the visitors who started brightest through Katie Fray’s great run-through, but Rachel Lynch, returning to the Thetford lineup after a lengthy injury lay off was there to intercept.
There were further chances for Sprowston through Oshea Winter and Keira Braithwaite but Thetford bodies were put on the line to clear the danger.
Thetford had been appealing for assistance to aid them with a goalkeeping crisis on social media. Friendly face Jess Knight was between the sticks this week and put in a highly committed and commendable shift.
A mistake in the Town defence saw Kate Morris through, but she placed her shot wide of goal as Sprowston continued to squander their early chances in the contest.
Above: Summer Eccles on debut for Thetford Town. Photo: Darrell Allen.
Summer Eccles making her Thetford Town debut following her transfer from Norwich City was looking lively in midfield as the hosts looked to get a foothold in the contest.
A Boulton cross came to nothing and Klimcke and Corbyn were linking well but nothing was coming off for Thetford.
Sprowston had more chances but continued to find Rachel Lynch in the way of every forward move.
Chances at both ends followed with Katie Morris looking lively for Sprowston all afternoon but Lynch defended well.
Morris continued to threaten for Sprowston but Courtney Musgrove was there at right back to hack the ball away from danger in an inspired performance in a position which is not her usual role in the team.
The half ended with Charlotte Howard firing over the bar and Rebecca White did the same with a free-kick as the two teams went in level at the break.
Above: Thetford Town’s Mia Banbury (right) in action against Sprowston. Photo: Darrell Allen.
It was Sprowston who started the second 45 minutes liveliest and the ball was played across to Katie Morris who tapped it in to give the visitors the lead four minutes into the second half.
Sprowston almost increased their advantage but found Jess Knight coming out to make a vital intervention.
They had a further golden opportunity but Morris skied a chance and certain goal wide to miss the goal and the chance to wrap the game up.
The visitors paid the price for this profligacy when Thetford Town equalized on 73 minutes. The ball was played to captain Boulton on the right side who fired a thunderous shot into the top corner. A great move and finish to level the scores.
Just as it looked like the points were going to be shared, Sophie Rose got in behind and did well to finish into the bottom corner past the onrushing Town keeper Knight to give Sprowston the lead with just two minutes remaining.
Thetford put the pressure on in the remaining minutes in pursuit of an equalizer but a Lynch shot into the keeper’s arms was the best it got in the closing stages and Sprowston took the points home to Broadland.
Above: Jess Knight who put in an impressive performance on her first appearance in goal for Thetford Town. Photo: Darrell Allen.
This was a fully committed and determined performance from the Thetford squad against a confident Sprowston. The visitors had the best chances but good defensive displays from Lynch, Musgrove, and Knight in goal gave Thetford a chance.
Boulton’s equalizer was a thing of beauty and when you are on a poor run of results, luck is just not with you and an unfortunate 88th-minute goal saw Town get nothing for their efforts.
Sprowston continue their good form and Thetford will be looking for a confidence-boosting win when they travel to Thorpe St. Andrew on Sunday but that will be a very tough away day.
Kieran Yapanalyzes yesterday’s A-League Women Grand Final and the influential role that Amy Jackson has on her Melbourne Victory team(28/3/22).
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate after winning the A-League Women Grand Final. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
There are some things that are more noticeable when you watch Melbourne Victory up close. The way that Casey Dumont commands her area and positions herself before any danger arrives, the moments Alex Chidiac throws in little stepovers and shimmies to make fractions more time, and the influence that Amy Jackson has on the team.
The Victory active support have a song dedicated to Jackson. Sung to the tune of Dolly Parton’s “Joeline” the faithful have anointed her as “The heart of the team.” When she scored the opening goal in the Grand Final against Sydney FC they looked like they celebrated just that little bit harder because it was her.
Amy Jackson has been essential to the last two championship-winning sides. She was not a starter last season but stepped in when Nat Tatham was injured in round one. The Victory midfield required no adjustment. She kept the side functioning with minimal fuss but maximum class.
This season has seen slightly more fuss. Few players have had a more dramatic campaign than Amy Jackson. When Kayla Morrison succumbed to a knee injury in round one, Jackson, the veteran midfielder, had to drop back into defence.
It was not her favoured role and one she took some time to adjust to. Melbourne City tried to exploit that in the first derby of the year. Long balls over the top to Hannah Wilkinson caused instant problems for the makeshift defence. Jackson looked uncomfortable faced with what would turn into an elite strike force.
However, with Victory 2-1 and City with the momentum, she slid desperately to stop Holly McNamara as the young star was goal bound.
Jackson received a red card but had rescued the win. It turned out to be a crucial three points for Victory in a season where every result, every contest counted on the road to another trophy.
Jeff Hopkins was in no hurry to sign any centre-back. He waited until the right one became available. Brooke Hendrix was a godsend and for one glorious half against Western Sydney, Jackson was released into her natural midfield habitat.
She looked re-energized and unshackled as Victory galloped to a 5-0 win in a commanding performance. Jackson’s presence freed up Kyra Cooney-Cross to have her most dominant match of the season.
Above: Celebratory scenes after the final whistle in the A-League Women’s Grand Final yesterday. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
That was not to last, but it was a taste of what Victory’s best football looked like. A few days later, Victory faced Sydney FC, and Jackson was shifted back to defence with Claudia Bunge called up to the Football Ferns.
Victory escaped with a late draw in the 2-2 contest. But Jackson injured her calf muscle, a symptom of the unforgiving schedule perhaps.
Victory made it to the finals on goal difference. It was four winless games without Amy Jackson on the field.
When she returned, it was to complete a full-strength Victory side. Hendrix and Bunge were in defence, Jackson was back where she does her best work, as a central midfielder. Against Adelaide United in the elimination final, she screened the back four and kept the ball moving.
In the preliminary final against Melbourne City, she was again excellent as Victory cruised to a 3-1 against a side that beat them 5-1 earlier in the season.
In the final, she scored the first goal to set Victory on their way to a second consecutive championship. Her season was one of compromise, suspension, injury, and recovery. But on the big day, she was able to seize the moment.
There are no passengers in a championship-winning squad, but Jackson this season has been a midfielder, a defender, and finally a goal scorer for her club. Few players have been more instrumental or selfless.
Jackson’s presence could have benefits in years to come, the mentorship of Victory’s young midfielders like Alana Murphy will certainly pay dividends for Jeff Hopkins. He has the master and the apprentice in the line-up.
Football chants are hyperbolic by nature, but in this case, it could not be more fitting. Amy Jackson is the heart of the team.
Above: Northern Redbacks celebrate with the NPL WA Women’s Night Series Cup aftercoming from 2-0 down after 14 minutes to defeat Balcatta Etna. Photo: Fotoenzo.
In their final game as a standalone club, Northern Redbacks came from 2-0 down to holders Balcatta Etna to win their fifth Night Series Cup at A&D Litis Stadium in Leederville.
On her 270th appearance, Carla Bennett put in a superb personal performance for the Redbacks to deservedly win the Tracy Wheeler Medal for Player of the Match – but with a quarter of an hour gone it looked anything but a likely win for Carlos Vega Mena’s team.
Balcatta took an early lead with barely three minutes on the clock when Monique Prinsloo was found on the right. The ball came back for Kimberley McCartney who lifted a cross in from the far right-hand side which looped into the far corner of the net.
Redbacks responded well with Bennett finding Olivia Wood who sidefooted an effort goalwards which came off the left-hand post.
The cup holders looked threatening on the counter-attack and doubled their lead with 14 minutes played when Shivani Battaglia’s short goal kick went towards McCartney who headed forward. Andrea Teixeira played a low pass back which was too wide to find Battaglia and agonizingly rolled into her own goal.
Despite being 2-0 on the scoreboard, it was the Redbacks who were having the best of the possession and territory. Bennett was a constant thorn in the Balcatta side.
Redbacks got back into the encounter with 28 minutes played. Wood found the ever-dangerous Larissa Walsh on the left, the ball was eventually recycled to Shawn Bilham who hit a low effort from outside the box. Balcatta keeper Gabby Dal Busco appeared to have dived too early and the ball bounced over her into the net. It remained 2-1 at the break.
The second half was all Redbacks. Renee Leota, who represented New Zealand in the 2008 Olympic Games, was becoming increasingly influential. Her pass to Wood ten minutes into the second half was well saved by Balcatta custodian Dal Busco.
Redbacks began to rack up the corners. From one ball in from the right, Walsh narrowly missed making contact with Dal Busco beaten. There were further opportunities with Jacinta Coleman and Bennett consistently linking up well.
It took until the 68th minute for Balcatta to get a shot on goal through Cass Harvey, but it only served to inspire the Redbacks who won a free-kick out on the left. Bennett played a ball in low for Walsh but Dal Busco gathered.
With just under 15 minutes left, Redbacks finally got the equalizer they richly deserved. Bilham found Leota who let fly with a long-range effort which Dal Busco did well to push away for a corner. The resulting set-piece found Leota who hit a volley which again was pushed away for a corner. This time the flag-kick came into the mix and after a pinball scramble in the six-yard box, Quyen Done looked to have had the final touch to force the ball over the line.
Balcatta were holding on for dear life now. They had one major scare to survive four minutes into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes when Bennett’s free-kick 15 metres into their half was headed on by Wood for Leota to hit a shot which Dal Busco pushed out for a corner.
Redbacks started extra-time on the front foot, and within three minutes hit the front for the first time all evening. Leota’s through ball found Walsh beautifully who rolled the ball home comfortably to put her team 3-2 up.
The remaining play was largely an even arm-wrestle with both sides creating half-chances, but matters were finally decided with two minutes left. After a period of Balcatta pressure, Walsh gained possession to the left of centre and found Bennett who lifted a shot from outside the box and bounced into the net. Fittingly, it was the club’s all-time record appearance holder who scored the final goal in the club’s standalone history and secured their last trophy under the Redbacks banner.
Above: Northern Redbacks’ Carla Bennett being presented with the Tracy Wheeler Medal as Player of the Match. Photo: Fotoenzo.
It was just reward for a dominant performance over the 120 minutes by Northern Redbacks and a fitting end to Western Australia’s most successful ever all-female club’s history.
They will kick-off the new NPL WA Women’s season under the merged banner of Perth RedStar. With more talent coming into their side including Kim Carroll, they will be going all out to take out silverware from the very start of their new era.
Balcatta Etna have assembled a strong squad ahead of the NPL WA Women’s big kick-off next weekend and will be looking to make up for this disappointment over the coming months.
Earlier today, both the Junior Matildas and ParaMatildas released important news ahead of training camps and World Cups (28/3/22).
Above: Action from a previous Junior Matildas training camp from March 2021. Photo: Football Australia.
Junior Matildas Head Coach Rae Dower has called up 22 promising young footballers as the Commonwealth Bank Junior Matildas return to action with their first training camp of 2022.
Held at the Australian Institute of Sport, the camp also marks the first activity of the junior national team in 12 months following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and signifies the continued return of Australia’s youth national teams.
While Dower and her team have remained connected with the next cycle of players through a comprehensive online program, she expressed her delight in finally coming together as a group.
“It’s been a very long two years and I am proud of how we have engaged with the players over that timeframe. However, there is nothing like connecting in person, and we are excited to return to the pitch with these players,” said Dower.
“We have some incredibly talented up-and-coming players and the staff and I are really looking forward to seeing what they can produce this week. This training camp and the ones to follow in 2022 are vital for our youth programs. The ongoing development of this next generation of players and our ability to scout, guide, and nurture them is crucial to building depth in our National Team program.”
“I am extremely grateful to the hardworking coaches, program staff, and Technical Directors across the country who have kept the players motivated and assisted in their continued development over these last two years.”
Consisting of players born in 2005 only, the 22-player squad will involve players from ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.
Above: A previous Junior Matildas camp. Photo: Football Australia
Due to the strict COVID-19 protocols, this camp will not feature any players from Western Australia; however, they will be in contention for subsequent training camps.
“For a lot of players this week, it will be their first National Team assembly. So, my message to them will be to come and soak up as much as they can and take as much as possible away from the experience.”
“If it can ignite a spark within them to go back and consistently work hard in their own environments, then opportunities like this will continue to come their way.”
“We want them to bring the best version of themself to the camp and put their own ‘flavour’ into trainings and matches, that’s what has given them this opportunity in the first place. I really urge them to play with that authenticity and to play without fear.”
The players arrived in Canberra today with the training camp scheduled to run until this Friday, 1 April.
Young Matildas Training Squad
Name
Position
Member Federation/Club
Kate BONERTZ-BENN
Defender
Football Tas / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Holly BONERTZ-BENN
Midfielder
Football Tas / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Libby DAVY
Goalkeeper
Football SA /SA National Training Centre
Jynaya DOS SANTOS
Forward
Football NSW / FNSW Institute
Anabelle GHABACH
Midfielder
Football NSW / FNSW Institute
Charlie GIBSON
Defender
Football QLD / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Lara GOOCH
Midfielder
Northern NSW / Newcastle Jets
Erin GORDON
Defender
Football NSW / FNSW Institute
Aimee HALL
Goalkeeper
Football NSW / FNSW Institute
Madeline HOWARD
Forward
Northern NSW / Adamstown Rosebuds
Caitlin KARIC
Forward
Football Victoria / Melbourne City FC
Zoe KARIPIDIS
Defender
Northern NSW / Newcastle Jets
Aimee LONGHURST
Forward
Football NSW / Sydney University
Megan MIFSUD
Defender
Football NSW / FNSW Institute
Mackenzie NIELSEN
Defender
Football QLD / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Sarah O’DONOGHUE
Midfielder
Football QLD / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Ella O’GRADY
Forward
Football QLD / FQ-Queensland Academy of Sport
Nikita PERRY
Forward
Capital Football / Canberra United Academy
Bessie RIETHMULLER
Forward
Capital Football / Sydney University
Harriet SHUTTLEWORTH
Goalkeeper
Northern NSW / UNSW
Chloe WALANDOUW
Defender
Northern NSW / Newcastle Jets
Hayley WELLINGTON
Defender
Football SA / SA National Training Centre
Above: Members of the ParaMatildas squad pictured earlier this month. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia
Meanwhile, the ParaMatildas have discovered their opponents in the first-ever IFCPF Women’s World Cup which takes place between 7th-18th May in Barcelona.
They have been placed in a pool that features Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Recently appointed ParaMatildas head coach, Kelly Stirton is aware of the historic moment coming for the ParaMatildas in May.
“It is going to be a very competitive World Cup with five nations competing for the historic first world title,” Stirton said. “We will be coming up against some world-class athletes, but I know our players can match it with the rest of the world and that’s my job to ensure they are mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared.”
“Now the World Cup teams have been finalised and positions have been secured, we can shift our attention to how we will play our game and how we can break down the other four teams. It is important that our players are not just physically fit but mentally as well. The World Cup is the biggest event in the football calendar, and we are there to represent Australia to the best of our abilities.”
The ParaMatildas are Australia’s national team for footballers with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and symptoms of stroke and are ranked number four in the world.
They will commence their next phase of preparations for the world championships with camps at the Australian Institute of Sport later this week.
Above: Action from the game yesterday between Harlow Town and AFC Wimbledon. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
AFC Wimbledon were held to a 0-0 draw away to Harlow Town on Sunday in the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East.
The Dons went into the game full of confidence after a performance to be proud of saw them draw with league leaders Hashtag United last weekend despite illness severely depleting their ranks.
Wimbledon got off to a good start when Katie Stanley forced the home keeper into action inside the first two minutes. The Harlow custodian was again forced into action a few minutes later as Angel Fowler got on the end of Megan Stow’s cross.
The Dons continued to build on the early pressure as a fine move involving Kelly Highman and Katie Stanley before Jessica Lewry’s shot was deflected away by the Harlow keeper. However, after a good first 20 minutes, Wimbledon began to fade as the physical nature of the game began to take its toll as the first half ended goalless.
The second half was a disappointing one from the Dons as they never really got going again after the restart. The physical nature of the game was starting to make a bigger impact on both teams with Dons head of medical Steph Cantelo fresh from helping out with the men’s first team the day before, being called on several times with multiple players struggling.
There were some positives in the second half as Ashlee Hincks made her return from injury for the final 30 minutes after having a spell out injured for the last couple of weeks. As the game was coming to a close the Dons were forced to bring off Gloria Siber due to injury and the only unused sub was goalkeeper Lauren Allen which meant that Allen had to come on and play upfront for the final few minutes. The final chance of the game fell to her but she was not able to get on to the end of Megan Stow’s cross.
Above: Lauren Allen – AFC Wimbledon’s sub goalkeeper came on as a striker due to injuries. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
After the game Dons player Kelly Highman said “It was really frustrating to be honest. You know, we had quite a few chances today, and to be fair to Harlow, so did they but we could have easily taken three points and we obviously didn’t.”
AFC Wimbledon first team coach Andy May reflected: “It was a difficult day in the office, we probably just… well there’s no probably, we were not at our best today. We created some good chances, good clear-cut chances but it just felt like one of those days if I am being honest.”
AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Billingham, Fowler, Highman, Sampson, Stow, Childerhouse, Stanley, Siber, Lewry. Substitutes: Allen (GK – but used as an outfield player), Mann, Sargent, Hincks, Taylor.
Report By Ben Gilby – EXCLUSIVE photos from pitchside at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium from Kris Goman (27/3/22)
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate theirGrand Final win over Sydney FC today. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus
Despite Sydney FC dominating the vast majority of the Grand Final, it was Melbourne Victory who crucially took their chances to retain their A-League Women’s Champions crown in front of a vocal crowd of over 5,000 at Kogarah.
Melbourne Victory have now become only the second team to win back-to-back Grand Finals in the competition’s history, following their cross-city rivals Melbourne City, who won three in a row from 2016 to 2018. Victory’s win also means that only Sydney’s Grand Final victory of 2019 breaks the Melbourne pair’s stranglehold on Grand Final wins which goes back to 2014.
Both teams went into the decider with the same squad as played in their previous Finals match, but Sydney made two changes to their starting line-up from last week’s Preliminary Final win over Melbourne City. Cortnee Vine came in to start for Paige Satchell with teenager Sarah Hunter also stepping up for Rachel Lowe who joined Satchell on the bench.
Above: Princess Ibini (left) – who had a hugely influential Grand Final. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Sydney were on top from the start. With just 40 seconds on the clock, Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont’s attempted clearance only found Princess Ibini on the left. Her effort was deflected narrowly wide of the near post for a corner. Hawkesby’s flag-kick went to the back post towards Hunter who earned a second consecutive corner. This time, Dumont had to backpedal furiously, with a clearance only going as far as Nat Tobin who headed narrowly over.
Victory mounted their first cohesive attack with 11 minutes on the clock and earned a corner on the right. Alex Chidiac’s set-piece swung in viciously towards the back post and needed Ally Green to volley it away first time on the line with goalkeeper Jada Whyman left clutching at thin air under heavy traffic.
The thrilling start continued as Sydney responded instantly. Ibini found Remy Siemsen on the right outside her who cut in and fired in an effort which Dumont pushed away for a corner. Cortnee Vine was available slightly to Siemsen’s right, but whether Impetus‘ A-League Women Player of the Year would have had any better luck is now a moot point.
Above: Remy Siemsen fires in an effort for Sydney FC in the Grand Final. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Just after the half-hour mark, Ibini showed her the threat again as the forward broke through before playing a one-two with Hawkesby but it was saved by Dumont’s feet with the ball rebounding back towards the line before finally being cleared by Brooke Hendrix at the cost of a corner.
Ibini was involved once more afterwards when a disastrous clearance from Dumont went straight to her just outside the box. The 22-year-old found Siemsen who was offside when slotting the ball into the net.
There was one final chance for Sydney as the clock ticked towards 45 minutes. A long ball from the right found Hawkesby unmarked in the middle of the box and her goalbound header was superbly tipped over by Dumont. The midfielder took the resulting corner which curled over everyone and came off the base of the far post before being scrambled away.
Above: The smiling assassin – Sydney FC’s Mackenzie Hawkesby. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Whilst Sydney ended the opening half significantly ahead on the possession and territory count, they were unable to translate it to a scoreboard lead. With the star-studded attack that Melbourne Victory possessed, the home team knew in the back of their minds that their opponents would have a spell at some point. It would come down to the team that took the chances that came their way.
Within three minutes of the re-start, Victory made the hosts pay. Melina Ayres won a corner from Nat Tobin. Courtney Nevin played it outside the box to Kyra Cooney-Cross who floated in an effort that was deflected back to her. The second attempt was a lofted ball towards the back post that was headed in by Amy Jackson.
Sydney responded strongly with Ibini and Hawkesby threatening and forcing crucial saves from Dumont.
The game which had always had a physical edge to it from the moment of Hunter’s death stare early on, became increasingly hard-fought as frustrations began to show in terms of reactions.
Try as Sydney might, it was Victory who had the ability to turn a rare offensive sortie into a goal once more as they doubled their advantage with 64 minutes played. Lia Privitelli fired in a low cross from the right which was sliced by Tobin and fell perfectly Ayres whose effort came off Charlize Rule’s arm and bounced into the path of Catherine Zimmerman to fire under Jada Whyman for 2-0.
Yet within moments, Sydney finally had the ball in the net. Hawkesby’s corner on the left was met by the head of Rule. Dumont parried into the path of Vine who fired home.
Above: Eyes on the prize. The Melbourne Victory defence look on. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Melina Ayres then caused a major heart palpitation for Sydney keeper Whyman when she lifted a cross in which bounced high and needed to be palmed away for a corner. The resulting flag-kick from Nevin curled in and came cannoning back off of the crossbar.
Victory had another opportunity when they closed in on Whyman from Nevin’s latest corner. Under pressure, the Sydney goalkeeper punched the ball into her own net, but a free-kick was awarded.
Into the last ten minutes, the rain began to pour down and Sydney continued to push for an equalizer that would be the least they deserved on the balance of play. They could not find one. The Harbour City side had seven shots on target to Victory’s two, but it was the Melbourne side’s greater ability to turn those into goals that decided this encounter.
Above: Scenes of joy at the final whistle for Melbourne Victory. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Victory captain Lia Privitelli spoke after the game, said: “I couldn’t be prouder. We’ve had a tough season, but we did it. Sydney were out here for revenge but we were out to retain it. I couldn’t be prouder of this team,
Her Sydney counterpart Nat Tobin was devastated: “One word – disappointing. We remained calm the whole time. We had the experience of coming from behind in the semi and when Cortnee (Vine) scored the goal to come back I thought ‘here we go’, but it didn’t work out. There’s not much more we can do better than win a Grand Final, and we need to do that now.”
Sydney FC head coach Ante Juric said: “It’s heart-breaking, the girls are devastated. They always pick themselves up. If you put everything into something and you lose, that’s still winning, and I truly believe that, because sometimes the score-line doesn’t reflect what actually happened. But that’s just life. They (our players) know they put everything into it and deserved to win, but we didn’t.”
Above: The sheer joy shows on Melbourne Victory faces. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Those with only a passing interest in the competition will look at the same two teams meeting in the Grand Final for the second season with the same outcome. Yet this season’s A-League Women has been far more than “same old”. It ignores the outstanding development at both Adelaide United and Perth Glory – two teams who are only going to get even better next season.
It’s important to remember that Melbourne Victory only qualified for the Finals due to having a superior goal difference from Perth Glory. They had to do it the hard way, winning three straight games away from home. It’s reward for a tough campaign that saw Jeff Hopkins’ side have to overcome injury issues and a spell of seven games in 23 days. They got their full-strength team back at the right time and gained the ultimate prize as a result.
Sydney FC had an outstanding season. For much of it, they were completely unplayable and easily the best team in the competition. They will need to channel the pain of another heartbreaking loss in the Grand Final. If they can keep the bulk of the squad together again and work closely on lessons learned from three consecutive defeats in the deciding game of the season, they will come back even more powerfully.
Kris Goman’s EXCLUSIVE Photo Gallery From Pitchside:
Impetus’ Kris Goman, who has been watching Sydney FC for us regularly during the A-League Women seasonreviews their superb season and outlines why, for her, they will win tomorrow’s A-League Women Grand Final(26/3/22).
Above: Sydney FC celebrate in their incredible Semi-Final match with Melbourne City – they will be hoping to be doing so again on Sunday. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Well, here we are, a day before the last match of the season and it’s ending the same way it did last year. Hopefully not exactly the same way but the same two teams at the same oval. I honestly thought it would be Sydney and Melbourne City so credit where it’s due to Victory for making it back here.
This season Sydney have been a force to be reckoned with. Absolutely dominating. One loss for the season, two draws, and eleven wins from 14 hard-fought matches. They also broke the shut-out record along the way. Only six goals conceded and 36 scored for a goal difference of 30. The next closest was Melbourne City with 18. The stats speak for themselves.
But what they don’t describe is the incredible camaraderie of the team. This team has gelled like no other. The bulk of the team have been playing together for a long time now. They are young, they are well-drilled, they know what they are capable of and where they are going to be. They can rely on each other and the coach and understand what’s expected.
Despite long-time stalwart, Teresa Polias taking the season off to have a baby and losing Ellie Brush to an ACL injury before the season even started, Sydney have incredible depth. When you’ve got forwards the calibre of Cote Rojas, Paige Satchell, and Cortnee Vine coming off the bench, you know there’s going to be goals.
There are goal-scoring machines in Vine, Siemsen, and Rojas. Princess Ibini and Mackenzie Hawkesby will have a crack given any opportunity and even defenders like Ally Green and Sarah Hunter will get in there and score when you’re least expecting it.
Above: Cortnee Vine (left) taking on Emma Checker of Melbourne City in the Semi-Final. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
The midfielders are providing both assists and goals. Impetus’ A-League Women Player of the Year Cortnee Vine has the most goals in the team with eight but the goal-scoring has been shared around and there have been ten different goal scorers during the season. Everyone is dangerous in the box and outside it.
While a lot of the attacking focus has been on Vine, who can seemingly split the opposition’s defence apart at will, Rojas has many tricks up her sleeve and can dazzle with her footwork and ball management skills. At the same time, Satchell is a bit overlooked and is as tenacious as they come and while she hasn’t been prolific in her goal-scoring, her runs to the box have been a thing of joy to watch.
As well as having arguably the best attack, Sydney also has the arguably best defence. Jada Whyman had eight consecutive shutouts this season. A record-breaking run for the A-League Women. In front of her are great defenders in Ally Green, Nat Tobin, Charlize Rule, and Charlotte Mclean, with backups of Jessika Nash and Sarah Hunter. These women don’t give up. They get in front of their players and they fight for the ball. They work seamlessly with the midfielders to drive forward and they are all pacey and can get back and recover ground quickly when required.
The midfield of Mackenzie Hawkesby, Taylor Ray, and Rachel Lowe is probably the most solid and versatile in the competition. They link the defence and attack, capable of doing both, capable of assists, capable of goals, capable of running their hearts out – just very capable.
The x-factor here though is that Sydney want this. Obviously, Victory want it too but Sydney have a point to prove after losing to Victory last year in the closest grand final ever. Kyra Cooney-Cross scoring an Olympico in the dying seconds of the injury time of the extra time was one for the ages. The match was literally seconds from a penalty shoot-out and that loss is a powerful driver.
Sydney and Victory have only played each other once this season and that was a 2-2 draw. Sydney certainly won’t be taking Victory for granted but revenge is a very powerful emotion. Sydney don’t want to watch Victory hoist the silverware in front of their home supporters. Sarah Hunter alone has invited 150 of her family and friends to watch this spectacular.
Sydney have the home ground advantage and the advantage of a week off to rest, recover, train, and strategize. Sydney won the double in 2009 and will be making sure they do it again this season. With four premierships to their name and three Championships, a win on Sunday would make it four and four which has never been done before. If I bet, which I don’t and don’t condone, I’d be putting my money on Sydney FC.
This is the third article in our six days of Grand Final coverage on Impetus.Kieran Yap and Kris Goman have spotlighted both finalists, Ben Gilby will report on the Grand Final, with Kris Goman pitchside providing EXCLUSIVE photos from the game. Next week, don’t miss Kieran Yap’s Grand Final analysis.On Wednesday, we brought you the pre-Grand Final media events from both clubs – it can be read here: https://impetusfootball.org/2022/03/23/a-league-grand-final-the-view-from-sydney-fc-melbourne-victory/
Above: The hugely respected figure of Tom Sermanni unveiled as Western Sydney Wanderers’ first Head of Women’s Football. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers today made the significant announcement that the hugely respected Tom Sermanni has been appointed as the club’s inaugural Head of Women’s Football.
Sermanni will oversee the Wanderers’ Liberty A-League Women side, development programs such as the Future Wander Women program, and develop the club’s recruitment strategy.
Sermanni’s career has spanned the globe having coached women’s football at all levels including the national teams of Australia, United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
Sermanni has had two stints coaching the Matildas, from 1994-97 and again from 2005-2012, leading the side to a maiden continental title when he coached the Matildas to claim the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
At a club level, Sermanni was head coach at National Women’s Soccer league sides New York Power and Orlando Pride, as well as being the assistant at San Jose CyberRays and Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Sermanni has been awarded a number of accolades, leading his side to be crowned with the OFC Women’s Championship in 1994, AFF Women’s Championship in 2008, AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2010, The Algarve Cup in 2013, OFC Women’s Nations Cup in 2018.
Above: Tom Sermanni, pictured in 2011 when he was head coach of the Matildas. Photo: Robert Cianflone – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images.
Individually, he was named the AFC Coach of the Year in 2007 and the ACT Sport Hall of Fame in 2012.
Western Sydney Wanderers General Manager Scott Hudson praised the appointment of Sermanni.
“We are proud to have Tom at the helm, overseeing our women’s programs at the Western Sydney Wanderers,” said Hudson.
“Tom has an extensive resume working with some of the giants of women’s football both internationally and domestically, and we welcome his knowledge, experience, and passion as we lead into our next decade of football. We look forward to seeing Tom help build the foundations for our future.”
Sermanni himself said he was delighted to help contribute to the Wanderers women’s football program.
“I’m excited, I look forward to being back involved in the game again. This is a great opportunity to try and build up and contribute to the women’s element of the club. Western Sydney is a hotbed for football and hopefully, we can really build a strong women’s space here.
“I’ve been talking to people at the club for a while and the club is very ambitious. It is very ambitious to build its women’s program from the A-League Women all the way down and it really wants to make the women’s program a significant part of the club.”
Above: Tom Sermanni pictured today at Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
The role will mark the Wanderers’ very first appointment of a Head of Women’s Football with Sermanni hoping to lay the foundations for generations to come.
“That’s what appeals to me. A project where you can actually start things out, start to build things. This is something that I really enjoy doing and the club is very ambitious in this space and hopefully, I can help contribute to that,” explained Sermanni.
“I want to work on lots of things. If I put a list together, I’m very hands-on and a very practical person. I want to get in there and get things done, it goes all way from helping strengthen and develop A-League Women’s team to actually looking at the future of the club.
“Hopefully, we get our club set-up in the women’s space the same as the men’s space where there is an Academy and pathway for young girls in Western Sydney to come all the way through from a young age, to actually then play in the A-League Women’s team and hopefully then go on to play for the Matildas.”
Sermanni also said he was looking forward to creating a new culture and environment leading into the new decade of the club.
“Players ultimately want to play somewhere where they feel that they belong, a culture of a club is all about people,” said Sermanni.
“Culture is about the people that work within the club and what your expectations are for the people that run the club, filtering that down to the expectations of the players that are coming through.
“We need to create an environment where players and staff want to be here, and that’s ultimately it.
“If you create that environment, then you start to build on that and that’s really critical.”
Sunday is not just the A-League Women Grand Final. In Western Australia, the pre-season Night Series Cup Final takes place between the Northern Redbacks and Balcatta Etna and there will be two pieces of history made(25/3/22).
Above: Balcatta Etna lift last year’s NPL WA Women’s Night Series Final after beating Murdoch University Melville. Photo: Football West.
Sunday’s NPL WA Women’s Night Series Final at the E&D Litis Stadium between the Northern Redbacks and Balcatta Etna will see Western Australia’s most famous female-only club play their last match in their current guise.
After the game, the Redbacks will play under the merged banner of Perth RedStar which consists of themselves and the men’s ECU Joondalup club.
The club, formed in 1991 as Morley Windmills were the inaugural WANPL WA Grand Final winners in 2020. Prior to the establishment of the Women’s NPL in the state, Northern Redbacks had won 15 Premier League Championships. Nine state league cups were also held aloft. The Redbacks also had the outstanding achievement of winning the Inter-State Challenge Cup in 2013 by defeating Adelaide City.
Above: Action from the group stage clash between Northern Redbacks and Balcatta Etna on the opening night of this year’s NPL WA Night Series competition. Photo: Fotoenzo.
The club have also produced three Matildas, countless Perth Glory players, and international players for Wales, Northern Ireland, and Zambia.
However, the Redbacks have always been about far more than its senior team. They fielded a total of seven teams down to U14s and have experienced huge success. Age group league championships were won and a U16 side represented the club at the World Youth Cup in Sweden – the first WA-based team to ever do so.
With facilities and finances becoming an issue for Northern Redbacks they accepted the offer of the merger under the new banner of Perth RedStar.
Redbacks will be aiming to conclude their stand-alone history with another piece of silverware, but they will face a tough battle against defending cup holders Balcatta Etna.
Balcatta, part of the WA Women’s State Premier since 2007 and were champions of the state Women’s Premier League in 2018. Inaugural members of the WA NPL Women’s, the club have a history of providing tough opposition to the Redbacks in what is likely to be a close and high-quality final.
Above: Chloe Smith (left), Caleigh Ormerod (centre), and Libby Caldwell (right) will form the first all-female officiating team for a First XI Football West final on Sunday. Photo: Football West.
The other piece of history will come in the form of the officials selected for the game. For the first time in a first XI Football West competition final, all three officials on duty will be female.
Caleigh Ormerod will be the referee, with Libby Caldwell and Chloe Smith as her assistants.
Football West Referee Coorinator Dave Avison said the appointments were on merit and the result of a concentrated effort to bring through more female referees.
“Congratulations to the three officials who have performed excellently and have earned being given a high-profile match like this,” Avison said.
“Football West has made a conscious effort to attract more females to the ranks of referees over the past five or so years and this is reflected in the larger pool of female officials that we are seeing.
“There has been greater investment and we are starting to see the results. Female-only referee courses also help.
“Another factor has been the launch of the NPLWA – Women’s competition. Not only does this mean more games but it has increased greatly the profile of the women’s game and made it more appealing. The same goes for refereeing these matches.”
Football West’s next female-only referee course is on Saturday 21 May at Gibbney Reserve, Maylands. The course will run from 8.45am to 4.30pm. To register CLICK HERE
Balcatta Etna v Northern Redbacks will be available to watch live and on-demand on NPL TVthis Sunday – click here: https://npl.tv/
Impetus’ Kieran Yap has closely followed Melbourne Victory’s fortunes this season. Ahead of their Grand Final against Sydney FC on Sunday, hereviews a challenging campaign that now looks to have all come good at the right time (24/3/22).
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate after clinching their Grand Final place with a win over cross-city rivals Melbourne City in last weekend’s Preliminary Final. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
This is exactly where I expected this team to be, but not how I thought the season would go.
As people often remind me, before Round One of the A-League Women, I predicted that Melbourne Victory would navigate the season undefeated.
The great Casey Dumont was back, American superstar Lynn Williams was here for a short time and Courtney Nevin had signed for the season. Victory had strengthened from the previous championship-winning campaign. Melina Ayres was following from a breakout season and there were whispers that Alex Chidiac was possibly signing.
When you put all these facts together, can you blame me for thinking Jeff Hopkins had assembled a team that could manage 14 games without a loss?
Above: Lynn Williams – an important presence in the early stages of the season for the club. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
Of course, my Melbourne Victory (Women’s team) fandom blinded me to any frailties in the squad. But in my defence on paper, this line-up inspired confidence.
My bold prediction came undone in the first half of the first game. I was standing behind the goal when Kayla Morrison went down. The popular captain and PFA team of the season centre-back was chasing down her own clearance from a corner. The fans were still applauding her perfectly timed leap when she fell while running in a straight line and under no contact.
We all tried to talk ourselves into believing the best-case scenario. She didn’t twist, she walked off without a stretcher, and she was wandering around after the match. To paraphrase the Victory Viking’s mascot, “She’s still good, she’s still good.”
But she wasn’t. The championship-winning defender had torn her ACL, and suddenly Victory had a problem. There was no clear backup centre-back in the squad.
Hopkins had the option of moving Nevin to centre-back. She had excelled there for the Matildas against the USA in a 1-1 draw and it looked the easiest solution. Instead, he opted to keep Nevin wide, not switch formation and shift Amy Jackson to defence.
16-year-old Alana Murphy was trusted with midfield duties, and she became one of the finds of the season. Jackson showed with a matchwinning foul against City that she had the determination and sacrificial nature that could hold the fort even if she was played well out of position.
Above: Kyra Cooney-Cross – her natural desire to attack was modified during Victory’s injury-enforced reshuffle. Photo: Football Australia.
Kyra Cooney-Cross was shackled into a more disciplined role as an almost defensive midfielder. Her natural, showstopping game was put on hold for the sake of the team for now.
Lynn Williams justified her short contract with essential contributions against Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar. Without her, it is unlikely that Victory would have made the top four in the end.
New captain Lia Privitelli played wherever she was needed, left-back, midfield, or forward. She was in career-best form. Chidiac adjusted instantly and was pivotal in keeping Victory moving forward during games.
Victory had adjusted. Hopes of an undefeated season were dashed by Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar but they had lost against the same opponents in an almost identical sequence last season. They were still going well.
Then COVID hit. Victory had an enforced mid-season break. The whole league did at some point, but when the powers that be made the decision to cram as many matches into February as possible, Victory found themselves playing seven games in 23 days.
They were exhausted. You could tell what they wanted to do, the first 20 minutes of each game showed that they were well drilled and had the talent. But fatigue started to quickly set in as the games piled up. They looked visibly aching as they walked off the field. A 3-0 loss to an Adelaide United side that needed the win to guarantee Finals was the point where they looked physically spent.
Above: The hugely influential Lia Privitelli pictured celebrating at the start of the season against Adelaide United. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
Still, they got the points. A new defender has been signed in the form of American Brooke Hendrix, and she made an instant impression. It is to Jeff Hopkins’ and the clubs’ eternal credit that they did not panic without Morrison. They did not rush to replace her with any centre-back. They waited, scouted, and held on until the right option became available.
Personally, I would have loaned a COVID-stranded Claudia Mihocic from Perth Glory. But once she got on the field for them it was obvious that Perth would have been mad to give up the impressive defender to a finals rival, it was simply my dream.
Hendrix was the right choice. She immediately improved the shape of the team and was essential when Claudia Bunge was called away to the New Zealand squad.
Victory entered the Finals with a near full-strength side, with a proper week of recovery and planning for the first time in over a month, and they were about to welcome back Melina Ayres to the starting line-up.
We as fans have been waiting for Ayres return like it was some sort of Biblical fable, “Things will be OK when Melina gets here… just wait and see, when Melina returns everything will change!”
The faithful were not disappointed. Two goals in two finals have justified the reverence the striker is held in behind the AAMI Park goals.
Above: Melina Ayres’ return was a huge boost for the club. Photo: A-League Women.
Ayres is back and firing, Jackson is once again roaming her natural habitat and the defence is once again looking pretty solid.
Chidiac has just played the game of her life against City in the preliminary final. They have knocked off many pundits’ and my favourite for the title, Adelaide United and everybody is fit.
They have done things the hard way, but they are ready for this moment. Sydney are a frightening outfit with ridiculous depth. Arguably their fifth choice attacker is Paige Satchell, an Olympian and New Zealand international. In Sarah Hunter and Maria Rojas they have genuine game-changers on the bench.
They are in a better position than they were when they lost to Melbourne Victory in last season’s Grand Final. Courtney Vine did not play that day and Princess Ibini went off injured. They have also had a full weekend to rest and strategize.
Sydney FC has the best defensive record, a dominant midfield, and a killer strike force, but Victory is not here by fluke.
Despite one of the most challenging seasons in their history as a club or individuals, they are right where they planned to be at this moment.
One more win will turn this remarkable season into a legendary success.
This is the second article in our six days of Grand Final coverage on Impetus.Kieran Yap and Kris Goman will be spotlighting both finalists, Ben Gilby will be reporting on the Grand Final, with Kris Goman pitchside providing EXCLUSIVE photos from the game. Next week, don’t miss Kieran Yap’s Grand Final analysis.Yesterday, we brought you the pre- Grand Final media events from both clubs – it can be read here: https://impetusfootball.org/2022/03/23/a-league-grand-final-the-view-from-sydney-fc-melbourne-victory/
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