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The Offside Trust: Making Sport Safer For Children

Ben Gilby touched base with The Offside Trust‘s Alan Arber to find out more about the organisation who are supporting survivors of child sexual abuse in sport and are doing everything possible to ensure that sport is safer for the young.

In November 2016, British football was rocked by a series of high-profile revelations regarding child sexual abuse. Several former professional players bravely waived their right to anonymity to speak out about their past abuse.

A number of those involved decided to set up The Offside Trust, an organisation committed to supporting survivors and working to make sport safer for children.

Former professional footballer Steve Walters, who played for clubs including Crewe Alexandra and Northwich Victoria is director of The Offside Trust.

The organisation works with and supports fellow survivors. In addition to Steve, the Offside Trust family includes other ambassadors such as Gary Cliffe (former Manchester City youth player), Dion Raitt (former Peterborough United youth player), Alan Arber (former Norwich City Reserves player), Callum Hancock (Professional boxer) and the late Billy Seymour, who played for Coventry City and Millwall.

The organisation aims to end abuse in sport, so kids can be kids and to support the healing journey for survivors of abuse.

The Offside Trust already has the support of clubs, players and former professionals throughout the sporting world and focus on all sports. The organisation works alongside governing bodies, charities and organisations that deal with safeguarding.

**Above:** The Offside Trust’s stand at one of their Awareness Days. **Photo via:** Alan Arber.

Over the past five years, The Offside Trust has supported and spoken confidentially to over a hundred survivors of abuse, many of whom never disclosed their abuse to anyone previously. Additionally, they have striven to ensure that safeguarding is at the top of the agenda of every sport both nationally and internationally.

Their work has identified inadequacies that exist on numerous levels and are working with relevant organisations to build suitable solutions. Crucially, the organisation has listened to; believed and supported each and every victim and survivor who has contacted them. Pre-Covid, the Trust had been able to organise various support events for survivors, including Offside Trust weekends hosted by Crystal Palace, Everton, Portsmouth, Bristol City and Wolverhampton Wanderers men’s clubs.

In the coming months, The Offside Trust are focusing on directly engaging with and educating young people and parents as key stakeholders in the safeguarding process as well as working alongside internet and technology bodies to campaign around grooming and internet safety. Allied to this, the organisation is working to develop support resources for family, loved ones and supporters of survivors.

One of the ambassadors for The Offside Trust is Alan Arber who uses his role to raise awareness in East Anglia. Alan talked to us about his experiences and the outstanding work he is doing for the organisation.

“One of the big issues I had regarding my abuse was the total lack of support I could access from day one. Myself and my wonderful volunteer Barry Howard developed a strategy to ensure that everyone who needed support in East Anglia knew where to find it and had people to talk to on the bad days – something which I never had until now.”

“We started out by sending a tweet to all the local clubs in the Norfolk area asking if they would like to support our work and allow us to get the word out via the medium of non-league football.”

“I was contacted by Mulbarton Wanderers FC and met the chairman Duane James who agreed that they would support our work. Every Mulbarton team from under sevens through to men’s, ladies and veterans would wear The Offside Trust logo on their shirts and the club put up a sponsored board.”

**Above:** Alan Arber pictured at Mulbarton Wanderers FC who are supporting The Offside Trust. **Photo via:** Alan Arber.

“This created quite a stir and many teams got in touch regarding working with us and many meetings ensued. We introduced the idea of Awareness Days where we would visit clubs to allow people to talk to us face to face and discuss any issues they had.”

“Our first Awareness Day was at Great Yarmouth Town FC and it was an excellent success. We spoke to many people about our work and most importantly one person came forward with abuse issues who we were able to direct to the right support and advice. A bucket collection also raised £100 for the Trust.”

“From this first Awareness Day, we were contacted by many clubs and leagues to ask how they could come on board and one such club was Shrublands FC, a club in Gorleston. I went to meet Andy Hannah the general manager of the club and he invited Shaun Platten to the meeting who was chairman of the Norfolk Suffolk Youth League. So successful was this meeting we were invited to their next meeting and I spoke for the first time publicly about my abuse and what we were doing to raise awareness and offer support to the league.”

“From this small start we really started to pick up pace and phone calls never seemed to stop regarding clubs and leagues wanting to come on board. Darrell Hibbert of East Point Sports has been wonderful in helping us get the correct merchandise which we sell on the Awareness Days to raise funds for our work. We sell mugs, beanie hats, corner flag sets, medical kits, water bottles and our popular Captain’s Respect armbands which has recorded sales of over a hundred. Our aim is for the armbands to be worn worldwide.”

**Above:** The Offside Trust’s Captain’s Respect armbands. Photo via: Alan Arber.

So, from little acorns grew a wonderful and sometimes taxing and stressful array of meetings and awareness days meaning the Trust name was well and truly out there in Norfolk.”

“With a growing number of their clubs on board, I was invited to speak to the Norfolk Sunday League. This was a league I played in for many years so to stand in front of people I knew for over thirty years and detail what had happened to me was somewhat harrowing and caused quite a stir with some members of the committee who knew me personally and had no idea. They asked me to do the League Cup draw at the meeting and we are now working on ideas to get the word out to all Sunday League clubs.”

Our next challenge was to get the largest youth league, the Combined Youth Football League, who have over seven thousand young players on board. I met chairman Darren Iles and within five days they announced that we were their official partner and we are working with them now to look at their safeguarding policies and seeing if we can help them get them even tighter moving forward.”

“In December 2019, we received an approach from Suffolk FA requesting a meeting in early January 2020 to look at working with them moving forward. I met James Morley and from this meeting plans were put in place to work together attending events and cup finals where we could display our Offside Trust stand.”

“The final event that we attended before the coronavirus put life on hold, was a conference held by Norfolk FA at the University of East Anglia which involved various safeguarding officers from across the region, including many local safeguarding officers from clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk.”

“I was asked to close the event with a thirty minute presentation and was given a standing ovation which was truly moving. We were invited to attend the Norfolk Senior Cup Final at Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City FC and to receive an award for our work.”

“The Norfolk FA have named us as their community partners and we will work with them on safeguarding literature. Norwich City FC have donated signed merchandise to us as well, which was fantastic.”

**Above:** The Norfolk FA have named The Offside Trust as an official community partner. **Photo via:** Alan Arber.

“One of the most wonderful occasions since getting involved was a fundraising match played against a team from the Channel Four television programme Hollyoaks. This came about after they included a storyline about abuse in sport. The match was played at Chester FC’s Deva Stadium in front of a thousand people. It was the first time that all the survivors had been on the pitch at the same time. Former players such as Trevor Sinclair, Dele Adebola, Lee Trundle, Rhodri Giggs – Ryan’s brother – and current Tranmere Rovers Women player Chelcee Grimes all gave up their time to play and support the event.”

“It is important to emphasise the success of our Awareness Days. Since January 2019, we have held twenty when we’ve turned up with our stand. At eighteen of those events, people have approached us for help. We are not qualified to support people ourselves, but we are able to signpost people to the correct places for help, whether it be ChildLine, Barnardo’s, Mind or Calm.”

It’s desperately sad that organisations such as The Offside Trust are needed, but the work they are doing and the awareness they are spreading is nothing short of outstanding.

If you, or anyone you know could have experienced any of the issues mentioned in this article, among the groups you could contact are:

The Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours).

NSPCC Football Hotline: 0800 023 2642.

NAPAC (Supporting Recovery From Child Abuse): 0808 801 0331.

The Calm Zone: 0800 585 858.

Male Survivor UK: 0808 800 5005

Childline: 0800 1111.

Survivors@Mcr (Twitter).

@1in6UK (Twitter).

The View From France

Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up all the actions from the sixteenth and seventeenth weeks of action in D1 Arkema, French women’s football’s top flight.

Round Sixteen:

The match between Issy and Paris FC was been cancelled due to Covid19.

Reims won 2-1 at home against Le Havre. Goals from Sonia Ouchène (33) and Melissa Herrera (74) for Reims; Goal from Ashley Clark (41) for Le Havre.

Bordeaux won away from home 2-1 at Fleury. Goals from Inès Jaurena (12) and Ghoutia Karchouni (19) for Bordeaux; Fleury replied with a penalty from Dominika Grabowska.

Soyaux and Guingamp were not able to score and finished 0-0 at Soyaux.

Paris St Germain won away from home against Montpellier 3-0 with goals from Nadia Nadim (24) and Irene Paredes (60 and 65).

Olympique Lyonnais won away from home against Dijon 3-0. The goals from Saki Kumagai (24), Catarina Macario (55) and Melvine Malard (79). Notably, there was a first goal in D1 Arkema for Macario.

In the battle between Paris SG and Lyon for D1 Arkema title, both won 3-0 away from home and Paris SG is still one point ahead of Lyon.

Round Seventeen:

**Above:** Melissa Herrera – two goals for Reims. **Photo:** Linea de Gol.

Paris FC v Fleury and Guingamp v Olympique Lyonnais were cancelled due to Covid19 cases at Paris FC and Lyon.

Bordeaux consolidated its third place in the table by winning 1-0 at home against Issy. Goal from Katja Snoeijs (12).

Dijon continued to secure its place in the middle of the table by winning 2-0 away from home against Le Havre who are last in the table. Goals for Dijon came from Sh’Nia Gordon (18) and Solène Barbance (20).

Reims won away from home against Montpellier 4-0. Goals for Reims from Melissa Herrera (4 and 30), Kessya Busy (63) and Sonia Ouchène (67). Montpellier continue to lose despite a squad of good players and have definitively lost any chance to achieve a Champions League spot by finishing third in the table.

Paris St Germain won at home against Soyaux 7-0. Goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto (10, 61 and 74), Paulina Dudek (40), Formiga (45+1), Grace Geroyo (63) and Kadidiatou Diani (66). It was an impressive game by Paris SG who never gave Soyaux a chance to score. Marie-Antoinette Katoto with her three goals is now in first place in the D1 Arkema scoring charts.

The D1 ARKEMA table now looks like this:

Ruthless Sydney See Off Green Machine

Sydney FC 3-0 Canberra United

Report by Ben Gilby with EXCLUSIVE photos from Kogarah by Kris Goman.

**Above:** Sydney FC celebrate Mackenzie Hawkesby’s opening goal. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Premier Plate winners Sydney FC took their place in the W-League Grand Final against Melbourne Victory after a 3-0 win over Canberra United at Kogarah in front of a good crowd in the Semi-Final earlier today.

With Sydney naming an unchanged starting eleven from their final regular season game against the Victory in midweek all of the pre-game headlines surrounded Canberra United.

The W-League’s all-time leading goal scorer Michelle Heyman was ruled out completely for Canberra United due to a quad injury. She was replaced in the starting line-up by Demi Koulizakis whose only previous W-League goal came seven years ago for Western Sydney Wanderers.

**Above:** Canberra United fans represented in the good crowd at Kogarah. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Despite this, it was Canberra who started on the front foot. With just twenty-seven seconds played, their Kiwi star Paige Satchell escaped down the left and played a dangerous ball in towards Nikki Flannery who couldn’t quite connect and Sydney were let off.

In these opening ten minutes Canberra were profiting from being allowed more time on the ball by their hosts. Conversely, when the Sky Blues were in possession, there was always at least one Lime Green shirt snapping at the heels of their Sydney opponent. The other consequence of this was that Canberra were totally dominating possession.

With twelve minutes gone, Sydney fashioned their first dangerous opportunity. A delightful long ball from Teresa Polias found Rachel Lowe who was one on one with visiting keeper Keeley Richards, but the Canberra custodian came out bravely to gather possession.

**Above:** Canberra United goalkeeper saves bravely at the feet of Sydney FC’s Rachel Lowe. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Sydney earned their first corner shortly afterwards when sixteen year-old defender Jessika Nash put the ball out. Polias’ flag kick was cleared. Lowe then played a clever ball through which Laura Keir did well to prevent falling into Princess Ibini’s path. It did though roll the way of Remy Siemsen who blazed over the bar.

Sydney were finally exerting some consistent pressure and on the quarter of an hour mark they showed the vital importance of turning pressure into goals – something which Canberra failed to do in the early exchanges.

Clare Wheeler was found on the left and played a beautiful ball in to Mackenzie Hawkesby at the back post. Her first time volley flew across Richards and into the net.

After twenty minutes, 21 year-old Bianca Galic released Satchell on the left. Sydney defender Natalie Tobin just couldn’t catch her, but equally, none of Canberra team mates could match Satchell’s pace to get up to support either, consequently the Football Ferns star’s effort was saved by Jada Mathyssen-Whyman.

The side from the national capital were responding well to going behind with Galic playing a particularly prominent role in this period. Nikki Flannery’s run in behind the Sky Blues’ defence saw United awarded a corner.

**Above:** Paige Satchell, whose pace was one of the bright spots for Canberra United in the semi-final. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Canberra were earning back to back corners and throw-ins in the danger zone but could not capitalise.

Instead, it was Sydney who threatened once more. Natalie Tobin got clear along the left and found Siemson who in turn played in Ibini. The Sydney striker got away from Nash and knocked in a low ball towards Rachel Lowe who would have had a tap in if Canberra had not managed to scramble the danger away.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Sydney had another great chance. Siemsen played in Tobin who came up from the back and found herself on the left hand side of the box. She fired in an effort that Richards got down well to save.

**Above:** Natalie Tobin (right) who got in a fierce effort for Sydney FC. **Photo:** Kris Goman,

Seven minutes before the break, Canberra created their best chance so far. Emma Ilijoski released Maher on the left. Polias looked to have cleared the danger and passed to Natasha Prior who clearly wasn’t expecting the ball to come her way and played a panicked ball back towards Mathyssen-Whyman which Flannery intercepted and hit an effort which the Sydney keeper had to deal with at the cost of a corner.

With seconds left of the first half, Canberra keeper Keeley Richards caused a heart-stopping moment for her team when she came out of her box to clear but the ball bounced off of her chest and into the path of Siemsen who couldn’t profit.

The visitors had the bulk of possession in the first half, but could not find the final passes and quality finishing to convert this into goals on the scoreboard. Canberra finished the half having played twice the number of passes that Sydney did and had over two thirds of the possession – yet it was the hosts who were leading 1-0.

Sydney began to get on top as the second half opened. Clare Wheeler got past several defenders in to the box before edging wide and pulling a ball across towards Siemsen who was not able to get a shot away as Kendall Fletcher collided with her own goalkeeper Keeley Richards who needed a prolonged period of medical attention to ensure that she was in a fit state to carry on.

On the hour mark, Satchell released Koulizakis who returned the favour to the New Zealander, but her shot was immediately swallowed up by a group of Sydney defenders and another Canberra opportunity was gone.

Again, Sydney emphasised the importance of taking chances when they come your way shortly afterwards. Nash lost possession and Sydney’s Teresa Polias fed Ibini who played a pass out to Charlotte Mclean. Her ball in found Wheeler who turned and hit a low volley goal wards. The ball deflected off of Lauren Keir and into the net to double the Harbour City side’s lead.

With just under twenty minutes left, the outcome was decided in magnificent style. Sydney gained possession just inside the Canberra half. Ally Green was in space and surged towards goal and unleashed a thunderbolt from almost thirty yards that flew into the top left hand corner.

**Above:** Sydney FC celebrate Ally Green’s thunderbolt which sealed their 3-0 win. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

The remainder of the game rather petered out as Sydney didn’t want to over-exert themselves in order to preserve energy for next weekend. Canberra did fashion one further opportunity with five minutes to go when Laura Hughes got in and fired an effort which referee Isabella Blaess ruled that Jada Mathyssen-Whyman got a hand to and pointed for a corner. The danger was cleared and Sydney were home and hosed.

Sydney’s win sees them make a fourth successive W-League Grand Final and their eighth in total. They have a chance to make amends for last season’s defeat in the decider when they face a #BigBlue showdown against Melbourne Victory at home next Sunday.

Mackenzie Hawkesby, who scored the opening goal said: “It was a good goal. I saw the ball coming and thought I’d make a run and it fell to me. I got a good touch on it, so I was happy with that. We defended really well and did a good job on the counter attack.”

**Above:** Mackenzie Hawkesby, whose opening goal set Sydney on their way. Photo: Kris Goman.

Canberra United have had an excellent season and played some wonderful football at times. They may be left wondering what might have happened if Michelle Heyman, who scored almost half of their goal tally in the regular season had been fit to play. Yet, Sydney finished top of the table for a reason and they have proved that they are capable of taking chances when they come – a sign of a champion team.

Teams: SYDNEY FC: Mathyssen-Whyman, Mclean, Tobin, Prior, Green, Polias, Hawkesby, Wheeler, Lowe, Siemsen, Ibini. Substitutes: Campbell (GK), Toby, Hristodoulou, Ray, Rule.

Scorers: Hawkesby 15, Wheeler 64, Green 73.

CANBERRA UNITED: Richards, Keir, Nash, Fletcher, Ilijoski, Galic, Maher, Hughes, Flannery, Koulizakis, Satchell. Substitutes: Jones (GK), Goldstein, Taylor-Young, Rasschaert, Grove.

Referee: Isabella Blaess.

Attendance: 2,044.

Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.

Bell’s Bullet Sends Boro Into Round Three

Middlesbrough 3-1 Hull City

By Graham Falk

**Above:** Millie Bell celebrates her stunning strike to give Middlesbrough the lead yesterday. **Photo:** @BoroWomen

A 35-yard Millie Bell strike capped off a superb return to action for Middlesbrough Women as they beat Hull City 3-1 in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Second Round.

An early strike from Katie Thompson (20) was cancelled out by Faye Dale (39), Millie Bell (81) and Eve Marshall (88) as the Teesiders ran out clear winners.

Going into the game, Middlesbrough manager Steph Fairless handed Katrena Morrison her first senior start and also selected Emily Marsh, Faye Dale and Savanna Robson in the starting line-up.

In a typically cagey start, Katie Thompson’s over hit free kick almost looped into the Boro top corner, before the Hull winger made no mistake only a minute later, tapping home after Rosie Todd had saved her first effort.

Hull almost went further ahead on 34 when Emily Smith seized on a slack pass, but she fired over from 10 yards out.

It was Faye Dale who would punish Hull moments later as she latched on Katie Wilson’s superb through ball and rounded ‘keeper Abi Wallace to net her first senior goal for the club.

**Above:** Faye Dale, scorer of Middlesbrough’s opening goal. **Photo:** @BoroWomen

If the first half was an even affair, then the second half belonged to Boro. Wing-back Millie Bell going close twice from long range, including a free kick which pinged off the base of the post. It was third time lucky for Bell, however, as she blasted home a 35-yard rocket nine minutes from time to fire Boro into the lead, minutes after a Tigress counter attack saw the pacey Smith hit the outside of the post.

Super sub Eve Marshall would seal it at the death, feeding off Rebecca Olley’s pin point ball to cut inside and fire beyond Wallace in the City net. The win extends Middlesbrough’s season for at least another week, as the team welcome Wem Town to Bedford Terrace in round three next week.

Teams: MIDDLESBROUGH: Todd, Wilson, Marsh, Morrison, Robson, Cassidy, Bell, McQuade, Dixon, Dale, Olley. Substitutes: Newton, Marshall, Hebb, Maxwell, Boyle.

Scorers: Dale 39, Bell 81, Marshall 88.

HULL CITY: Wallace, Pedersen, Jackman, Symington, Pegrum, Tanser, Martin, Bott, Thompson, Smith, Acroyd. Substitutes: Cooke, Oxley, Brannigan, Walby, Westmorland, Padget.

Scorer: Thompson 20.

Dramatic End Leaves Tractor Girls Feeling Blue

Billericay Town 2–1 Ipswich Town

By Ben Gilby

**Above:** Billericay Town celebrate Therese Addison’s winner with two minutes of normal time left. **Photo:** @BTFCWomen

Two goals from Therese Addison, with the second coming just two minutes from the end of normal time, ensured Billericay Town created a minor surprise by defeating their fellow FA Women’s National League Division One London & South-East side Ipswich Town.

Ipswich, who had progressed to the fifth round of the competition last season and earned a trip to FA Women’s Super League side Manchester City in the process, now face a long wait before they can take out their frustrations out on the FA Women’s National League in the new season.

The Tractor Girls threatened early on with Natasha Thomas finding Anna Grey on the left hand side. Her cross rebounded off of the Essex side’s defender Esme Lancaster for a corner which the hosts dealt with.

It took five minutes for Billericay to get out of their own half, but when they did, they threatened Ipswich. An early cross in from Zoe Rushen found Therese Addison, but she was adjudged to be offside before getting a shot away.

Grey continued to threaten down the left, but Lancaster continued to prove she was up to the challenge after putting in a magnificent challenge to clear the danger, when anything less than a perfectly timed tackle would have resulted in a penalty.

The home side got their first shot in on goal thanks to a free kick after Addison was fouled around ten metres inside the Ipswich half. Up stepped Ellie Jeffkins with a shot from extreme long range which bounced wide of the left hand post.

Billericay were more in the game now and were trying to play some easy on the eye triangular passing in the build-up. Unfortunately from one such move, Jay Blackie lost possession to Natasha Thomas who shot from distance and Amy Mullett pushed it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Lucy Egan’s effort came back off of the bar.

Ipswich built the pressure and continued to earn corners at regular intervals.

Sixteen minutes before the break, the Tractor Girls took the lead that their pressure deserved, and it was their stand out player Anna Grey who delivered a sensational goal. She hit an effort from over twenty-five yards which dipped over Mullett and into the net. A classy finish from a classy player.

**Above:** Anna Grey – a superb goal for Ipswich Town. **Photo:** Ipswich Town Women.

Yet, Ipswich’s lead lasted for no more than ninety seconds and it was another absolutely magnificent goal. A free kick for Billericay on the right from Danica Dougal was headed across the box to Therese Addison. She was surrounded by two Ipswich defenders, but turned and hit an instant shot which flew into the net.

The visitors responded well and came close on several occasions. Grey caused more havoc down the left with ten minutes of the half remaining and earned her side their sixth corner of the afternoon. Shortly afterwards, Paige Peake found Grey once more and her low ball in found Thomas, who was less than five yards out from the goal line. It needed a mere tap to go in, yet somehow the Ipswich forward managed to lift the ball over the bar.

With the clock ticking towards the forty-fifth minute, Ipswich thought momentarily that they had regained the lead as Grey’s low ball in from the left was tapped home, but the assistant referee had his flag raised.

With the last kick of the first half, there was another golden opportunity. A free-kick was awarded to Billericay five metres out from the ‘D’ to the left of centre for handball. Addison hit a scorching effort which came off of the top of the right hand post before the half-time whistle went.

The second half began with a bit of a chess-like exchange with the only immediate opportunity coming via Anna Grey who played a ball in which eventually found its way to Lucy Egan who fired an effort from thirty yards over the bar.

Ten minutes into the second period, another long range effort from Therese Addison, this time from almost forty yards, flew just centimetres over the bar.

Billericay continued to press and a free-kick rebounded off of the knee of visiting keeper Lucy Williamson for a corner. A viciously in swinging corner saw Williamson forced to push it out for a second one which the Suffolk women cleared.

As the game entered its last quarter of an hour, chances were few and far between. Ipswich did earn their tenth corner of the game after Grey’s shot was deflected out. The set piece came in and was headed wide by Lucy Egan.

The match looked to be heading towards extra-time, but, with two minutes of normal time left there was a dramatic turn of events.

Amy Mullett’s goal kick was collected by Jay Blackie in midfield. She eventually found substitute Paige Clemenson on the right wing who got free and played a ball across the box. Ipswich had plenty of defenders between the ball and Billericay’s sole attacker Therese Addison, yet somehow a swing and a miss later, the ball fell perfectly for Addison who simply could not fail to score.

**Above:** Therese Addison slots home the winner with two minutes of regulation time left. **Photo:** @BTFCWomen

The drama continued as almost ten minutes of stoppage time was played. Ipswich, as you would expect pressed. Page’s cross was met on the volley by Maddie Biggs but it went just wide of the right hand post.

The Essex side almost saved their visitors when substitute Kerry Stimson’s header back towards goal needed a diving palm round the post by her own keeper Mullett.

Six minutes into stoppage time, Ipswich were awarded a free kick just outside the box after a foul by Lucy Jones who was yellow carded for Billericay. Paige Peake’s free kick curled over.

With almost a hundred minutes played Clemenson got through again and tangled with Grey in the box. The Billericay substitute went down but the referee waved away penalty claims and blew the final whistle.

It was an excellent result for Billericay Town who now go on in the competition. Ipswich Town, after two frustrating seasons which has seen their hopes of promotion into the third tier taken away from them due to coronavirus, now have a long summer ahead of them before competitive action resumes.

**Above:** The Billericay Town squad celebrate together after the game. **Photo:** @BTFCWomen

Teams: BILLERICAY TOWN: 23) Amy Mullett, 3) Ellie Jeffkins, 4) Lucy Jones, 5) Danica Dougal, 6) Courtney Lumley, 7) Jay Blackie, 9) Therese Addison, 10) Robyn Moody, 13) Zoe Rushen, 14) Esme Lancaster, 22) Georgie Morton Substitutes: Alex Baker, Edita Dobreva, Paige Clemenson, Lily Price, Teni Charles, Connie Forman, Freya Fuller, Millie Stacey, Kerry Stimson.

Scorers: Addison 31, 88.

IPSWICH TOWN: 13) Lucy Williamson, 3) Eva Hubbard, 4) Blue Wilson, 6) Lucy Egan, 7) Natasha Thomas, 11) Anna Grey, 15) Molly Sutherland, 17) Sophie Peskett, 19) Abbie Lafayette, 24) Paige Peake, 30) Lucy O’Brien. Substitutes: Sasha Adamson, Georgia Allen, Zoe Barratt, Maddie Biggs, Olivia Billson, Lindsey Cooper, Amanda Crump, Ellie Rossister, Paige Wakefield.

Scorer: Grey 29.

Melbourne’s Victory Seals Grand Final Spot

Brisbane Roar 2-6 Melbourne Victory

By Kieran Yap

**Above:** Lisa De Vanna shows her delight after scoring her first goal of the Semi-Final for Melbourne Victory. **Photo:** @VictoryWLeague

In wet conditions, facing their third opponent in a week and coming off a disappointing defeat to Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory travelled to face Brisbane Roar, the side that had previously embarrassed them 6-0 earlier in the season.

The Semi Final offered Victory a chance for redemption after narrowly losing the premiers to Sydney FC while Brisbane had enjoyed strong form leading into the finals but were without leading scorer Emily Gielnik and captain Clare Polkinghorne. Larissa Crummer made her first start for the Roar to lead the line for the side that had started the year as one of the favorites.

Victory showed no signs of fatigue, pressing aggressively from the first whistle and earning early corners to test the home side’s defense but it was the Roar who had the first meaningful strike on goal.

The busy Mariel Hecher crossed the ball in low from the left and Tameka Yallop met it at full pace, crashing a shot off the crossbar where it bounced behind Gabby Garton in the Victory Goal. She celebrated, convinced the entire ball had crossed the entire line but there was no whistle, play continued and replays were inconclusive.

In response Victory went on the attack, Kyra Cooney-Cross sent in a perfect ball from the right and found Melina Ayres in space in front of goal, she was unable to get a clean shot away and although Catherine Zimmerman came to help bundle the ball home, Georgina Worth was able to scramble to save.

Victory’s next attack was much more clinical, Melina Ayres turned her defender and flicked a pass with the outside of her foot to Lisa De Vanna who took a touch and rifled home off her left. She had been involved in most of the attacks from the kickoff and seemed determined to impact the game. It was a well-worked move by Victory and an in-form Lisa De Vanna spelt trouble for Brisbane.

**Above:** The master at work. Lisa De Vanna celebrates one of her goals against Brisbane Roar. **Photo:** @VictoryWLeague.

Brisbane worked their way back into the game with Mariel Hecher in particular menacing the Melbourne defense, popping up dangerously on both flanks. When the equalizer came it was spectacular and unstoppable, Jamilla Rankin played the ball square to Olivia Chance almost 30 yards from goal. Chance unleashed a rocket of a strike that dipped just over Garton and under the bar to delight and shock the home crowd.

The scores weren’t level for long, Melbourne went straight onto the attack, Kyra Cooney-Cross cruised with the ball around the penalty box, waiting for an opportunity. She slid a pass wide to Catherine Zimmerman who, like De Vanna before her, took a touch and scored off her left from an almost identical position. Victory went in to the break 2-1 up, perhaps lucky to be so but looking dangerous.

Whatever plans Brisbane had were undone early in the second half. Just two minutes in, De Vanna found herself in space on the left and tore towards goal, she drew three defenders to her but got away a shot that Worth could only palm away into the path of Melina Ayres. The young striker was on the spot to finish and give Victory a two goal cushion.

As if aggrieved that she hadn’t scored a second, De Vanna continued to menace The Roar. On the 67^th minute she robbed Tameka Yallop of the ball and danced her way into the penalty area, shifting feet and shimmying to create space to shoot. She send the ball past Worth at the near post with an incredible strike, full of power and direction, rocketing into the top corner. Even her captain Angie Beard looked stunned by the goal it was vintage De Vanna.

Despite the deteriorating score line Brisbane kept pushing, Hecher sent a bullet-like cross into toward Crummer but the excellent Claudia Bunge managed to flick it away, and Yallop pulled one back after another brilliant effort by Chance was tipped onto the bar by Garton. The Matildas midfielder made no mistake this time, forcing the ball over after reaching the rebound. Brisbane had a lifeline.

As the game edged towards 90 minutes there was still time for more drama, after a goalmouth scramble Victory were awarded a mysterious penalty. Even with the benefit of replay it was unclear what it was for. The Brisbane coach Jake Goodship was furious but in any event the penalty was missed after Ayres was forced to re-take it after shooting before the whistle.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory celebrate Lisa De Vanna’s second. **Photo:** @VictoryWLeague.

Up the other end, Brisbane again looked to have scored after Hecher met a low cross and finished well but was judged to have been offside and Yallop whipped in a cross that Crummer directed wide and high after an open header.

The game seemed to increase in pace as it neared the end and Victory’s attack remained hungry, Kyra Cooney-Cross flicked a header wide to Polly Doran who shot low and hard from the right. Worth was able to save it but once again Ayres was first to the ball and she finished emphatically to net her second.

Not content to rest on their lead Victory had one more left in them. Amy Jackson recovered the ball in the attacking third and played it to Ayres feet just inside the box. Ayres steadied and curled a well placed strike around the defenders and the goalkeeper to get her hat-trick and score Victory’s sixth of the Semi Final.

The game ended 6-2, Victory are into the Grand Final and the loss to Sydney looks to be a hiccup at this point rather than a reversal of form. They are at full strength boasting a hard working and creative midfield, a dangerous attack and a back four that have been consistent in both performance and personnel.

Brisbane might be disappointed with how their season has ended but they provided the competition with some great highlights and performances this year. They were unfortunate that the side-effect of their success was to be without their best defender and best striker for the Finals, but that is the sad reality until the W-League becomes a full time professional competition.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s hat-trick hero Melina Ayres. **Photo:** @VictoryVikings

It was an entertaining, at times stressful evening of football that proved that even in the late stages of the competition it is still a league capable of incredible surprises, chaotic fun and exquisite skill.

Teams: BRISBANE ROAR: Worth, Torpey, Rankin, Heatley, Carroll, Dalton, Hecher, Chance, Franco, Crummer, Yallop. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), McQueen, Horsey, Margraf, Freier.

Scorers: Chance 43, Yallop 74.

MELBOURNE VICTORY: Garton, Doran, Beard, Bunge, Morrison, Cooney-Cross, Longo, Jackson, Zimmerman, Ayres, De Vanna. Substitutes: Maizels (GK), Barbieri, Martineau, Privitelli, Eliadis.

Scorers: De Vanna 23, 61. Zimmerman 45. Ayres 47, 87, 90+6.

Referee: Lara Lee.

Attendance: 1,985.

The Swedish Scene

@DandalBs brings us our weekly round-up of all the goings on in the Swedish women’s game. There’s news of the latest Swedish national squad announcement, Swedish Cup news ahead of this weekend’s semi-finals, pre-season friendly action and all the final goings on before the transfer window closed.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

**Above:** Caroline Seger in action for FC Rosengård against Bayern Munich **Photo:** @FCRosengard

FC Rosengård suffered a 1-0 loss at home in the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final tie to Bayern Munich. Lea Schüller scored the only goal after 21 minutes. The Swedes bowed out 4-0 on aggregate.

NATIONAL TEAM NEWS:

Sweden face matches against USA and Poland on 10 and 13 April respectively. Head coach Peter Gerhardsson has named a 25 player squad with the stand out inclusion being the return to the squad of Madelen Janogy.

SWEDISH CUP NEWS:

Group A:

BK Häcken clinched their place in the semi-finals of the competition by comprehensively defeating Linköping 5-2 in the group decider. Häcken’s goalscorers were Zigiotti-Olme (2), Angeldahl (2), Blackstenius. Kanu and Selerud scored for Linköping. Lidkopings FK ended their cup program for this season with a 4-0 loss away to Växjö. Two goals from Woeller plus strikes from, Gotta and Holt Andersen were the difference.

**Above:** Celebrations for BK Häcken for making the Swedish Cup semi-finals. **Photo:** @bkhackenofcl

Group B:

FC Rosengård qualified for the semi-finals after a 3-3 with Kristianstad. Sanders, on her debut, plus Troelsgaard, Bennison did the business for the Champions League Quarter-Finalists who built a 3-0 lead after just half an hour. However, two goals from Åsland plus a strike from Rantala ensured a nervy finish. Alingsås FC United went down 1-0 away to Vittsjö GIK due to a goal from Nyström.

Group C:
Eskilstuna United DFF qualified for the semi-finals after drawing 1-1 against KIF Örebro DFF. Lundin’s goal was the ultimate decider for Eskilstuna, with Oskarsson on the mark for Örebro.. Hammarby’s campaign ended with a 7-1 crushing of Sundsvalls DFF. A hat-trick from Larsson (3) plus two from Jakobsson and a goal from Jansson earned the win. Janogy got a consolation for Sundsvall.

Group D:
Umeå IK FF gained a 3-2 win away to Djurgården in the group decider for the semi-final spot after coming from 2-1 down with five minutes left. Honkanen, Mellouk and Sandström scored for Umeå with Arnardottir and van den Bulk initially looking like having won it for Djurgården. IK Uppsala ended their cup campaign with a 4-0 away to Morön BK. Sarah Mellouk and Henna-Riikka Honkanen both scored from the spot in addition to goals from Pink Herreros Ossorio and Monica Jusu Bah.

Semi-Final Draw:

Umeå IK FF host Eskilstuna United today at 1pm local time with BK Häcken at home to Rosengård tomorrow with kick-off at 3:30pm local time.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:

**Above:** AIK celebrate a goal in their 3-1 friendly win against Bollstanäs. **Photo:** @AIKFotboll

AIK have won both matches they’ve played over the past week. Last weekend they defeated Bollstanäs 3-1 win. Goals by Evelina Finndell, Nora Rönnfors and Linda Hallin earned the Solna based side the win. They followed this up on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Kalmar from the second tier Elitettan. Adelisa Grabus and Honoka Hayashi scored the goals.

Örebro defeated Kristianstad 2-1 on Thursday. Hellstrom and Hoff Persson were on target for Örebro. Rantala scored from the penalty spot for Kristianstad.

In a game played at Sundavall yesterday, Djurgården drew 2-2 with Piteå. Linda Motlhalo and Daniela Zamora scored for Djurgården, with Josefin Johansson and an own goal for Piteå.

NEWS ROUND-UP:

**Above:** Elise Kellond-Knight in action for Hammarby in her previous spell with the club. **Photo:** Aftonbladet.

Hammarby have announced the signing of key Australian international defender Elise Kellond-Knight from Kristianstad. The 30 year-old previously played for the club in 2018 and has signed a three year deal with the Stockholm club. She suffered a serious knee injury early last season and has spent the last nine months in rehab.

Speaking to the club website about her move, Kellond-Knight said: “I am fortunate to once again have the opportunity to play for such a supportive and supported club.”

“I have noticed that Hammarby has integrated the women’s team more into the club and made many positive changes since I was last here. “If we play our cards right, there is no reason why Hammarby should not be able to become a leading club in Damallsvenskan during my time here. I want to be part of the process of helping Hammarby become a team fighting for the league title. As I’ve noticed before, we have the best supporters in the country, so I’d love to see it permeate the whole club.”

“I hope to be back on the pitch before the summer break, but of course that will be up to the staff and especially when the medically responsible decide. Right now I’m in a stage of custom training with the team. But it is not possible to speed up the recovery from an injury like this, and the timing of the comeback will depend on when my body is ready.”

**Above:** Evelina Duljan – an important signing for Växjö. **Photo:** SMP.

Växjö have pulled off the major signing of the hugely talented Evelina Duljan. Duljan joins the club on loan from Kristianstad on a loan until the summer break for the Olympic Games. Duljan has not been satisfied with the playing time she had got at Kristianstad.

Action From Big Blue Premiers Decider

Kris Goman’s EXCLUSIVE action shots from Cromer Park.

**Above:** Kyra Cooney-Cross (right) and Sydney FC captain Teresa Polias compete on the ground. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above:** Contrasting facial expressions. **Photo:** Kris Goman

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s Natalie Martineau (left) and Sydney FC’s Mackenzie Hawkesby with eyes on the prize. **Photo:** Kris Goman

**Above:** Down but not out – Sydney FC’s Ally Green. **Photo:** Kris Goman

**Above:** Claudia Bunge looks to play the ball forward. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above:** Princess Ibini surging forward at Cromer Park. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above:** Determination is etched on the faces as the ball is cleared. Photo: Kris Goman.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s starlet Kyra Cooney-Cross tussles with Princess Ibini. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above:** Kyra Cooney-Cross looks to tease her way through the Sydney defence. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above:** Sydney FC lift the Premiers Plate. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

**Above;** The joy is etched on the face of Sydney FC captain Teresa Polias as she holds the Premiers Plate. **Photo:** Kris Goman

Lisa Topping: The Big Return Is On!

Impetus is proud to sponsor Chorley Women’s Lisa Topping. Ahead of the much hoped for return to action, Ben Gilby spoke to Lisa about a difficult month at the club, which saw the sad passing of one of Chorley Women’s biggest supporters Momma D, who was a much loved figure around the club.

Lisa began our catch-up by letting us know how she’s doing at the moment. “I’m doing well and am keeping everything crossed that we are on the right track to get back to normality. Football is a massive outlet for me so I’m ready to get back with my team mates and play the game we all love.”

The club recently experienced the sad passing of ‘Momma D’. Lisa outlined why she was so special to everyone at Chorley Women.

“Momma D was an amazing, caring person who will be missed by everyone at Chorley. She dedicated so much of her time and energy in to the club, along with her husband Geoff and daughter Janet. Even when Janet’s playing career was over, Momma D would be at training watching – even in the middle of winter – and when it was shooting practice she would be stood at the back of the field retrieving all of the missed shots in the dark where there were no floodlights!”

“She and Geoff travelled all over to away games to watch us play and never missed a thing to do with Chorley. She brought sweets in to the locker room before games, gave pep talks, helped at every fundraising event, gave game debriefs, gave players cut-outs of articles on themselves from the local newspaper and cheered us all on at every game. She was so passionate and caring it’s hard to imagine a Chorley game without her there.”

“Every game we play now will be in honour of her memory. Once we get back together as a team we will discuss what options we have to commemorate her throughout the season and at games. I’m sure there will be some pre-game rituals put in place for every game and celebrations of her life and commitment to the club.”

“She’s the centre of a lot of our Chorley stories so whenever we reminisce she will be remembered. Like when I took a shot and she told me how awful it was, or when she’s got her head torch on searching for miskicked shots in the brambles and when she even interrupted a team talk.”

With coronavirus restrictions starting to ease once more, Lisa updated us on the situation at the moment about training and her own fitness.

“Betti, one of our senior players, has continued to do an excellent job with virtual sessions. I’ve continued to get out and run, cycle or kick a ball on the local park by myself. This has helped keep me in some form of shape but I’m definitely ready to get back with the team and push on together. We thankfully haven’t got long to wait as we will be training in April.”

Despite training starting again, the FA have announced that Chorley’s season in the FA Women’s National League Division One North has been rendered null and void for the second year in a row. I asked Lisa what she felt about the decision:

“This must have been such a hard decision for the FA. Whichever way they decided, clubs and players were going to be disappointed. This time away from the pitch has really made me appreciate the years I have left to play so I’m definitely ready to get going and compete again. We were prepared either way. If we needed to play multiple games a week to catch up we would have but similarly we respect the decision made by the FA and league.”

Some parts of the country have already said they are going to run County based cup games or friendlies. Lisa ended our conversation by updating us on the situation specifically at Chorley.

“Our manager, Ben Gooden and the rest of the management team have been working really hard to get a plan together since hearing the news. He is really proactive so I know he will have plans in motion. I know we are getting some friendlies booked in and I’m sure if there is a cup set up in Lancashire we would enter it. Ben is really keen to keep us all fit, healthy and prepared and ready to go into next season strong. He will make sure we use this extra prep time well.”

Artwork: Graphics by PW.

Sydney Take Premiership Decider

Sydney FC 2-1 Melbourne Victory

Report from Kris Goman at Cromer Park.

**Above:** Sydney FC’s squad celebrate with the Premiers Plate. **Photo:** @SydneyFC

Sydney finally clinch the premiership after ten years in the doldrums. Despite winning the championship three times, the premiership, which is awarded to the team who finish top of the table at the end of the regular W-League season has remained elusive in recent years.

Captain Teresa Polias was actually on the team last time Sydney won the Premiership and it speaks volumes of her longevity as that was in 2011, exactly ten years ago.

The funny thing about this match is that everything is at stake but nothing is at stake. If either team win they would win the Premiership and get a home semi-final which gives a distinct advantage. On the other hand, both teams have safely qualified for the finals series and a loss would not change that. It would just change who they played and where the game would take place.

Sydney are playing without star forward Cortnee Vine who injured her knee last week against Canberra. I spoke to her after the match and she didn’t know yet the extent of the damage but knew it was an MCL injury not an ACL. That still puts her out of the Finals series unfortunately.

Victory are fielding much the same team that demolished Perth Glory on the weekend. When you’re on a good thing, stick to it.

So in this much anticipated match which was originally due to be played a fortnight ago but postponed due to sustained heavy rain, Melbourne Victory kick off and are immediately on the attack. The press down the left through Lisa De Vanna, Angie Beard and Kyra Cooney-Cross is unrelenting but the Sydney defence are standing up to this attack. Sydney are attacking mostly on transition and Mackenzie Hawkesby gets a long ball to Princess Ibini who drives towards the box before passing back to Hawkesby. She takes one touch but pokes it over the crossbar uncontrolled.

Not too long after, Remy Siemsen takes a long range shot outside the box but Gabriela Garton has it in her sights the whole way.

Straight back on the attack De Vanna displays her signature fancy footwork and sidesteps a number of defenders before passing to Cooney-Cross who also takes a long range punt. It’s a bit too high and goes over the crossbar but it was nicely weighted and directed other than height. It certainly shows what she’s capable of.

Almost immediately afterwards Beard takes a shot but it’s straight to Jada Mathyssen-Whyman in the Sydney goal. Victory have come to play, no doubt about that.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s Angie Beard (right) tussles with Sydney FC’s Rachel Lowe. **Photo:** @VictoryWLeague

Victory continue to press. Natalie Tobin and Natasha Prior are standing up to the onslaught but at this stage, it feels like Victory has the upper hand and the bulk of both possession and territory. Cooney-Cross gets another couple of shots in, one is gathered by Mathyssen-Whyman and one deflected by Tobin. Even Princess Ibini finds herself back doing a lot of defensive work.

On a rare Sydney attack, a ball comes into the box to Ibini but she’s not facing goal and can’t turn and the danger is nullified.

A Rachel Lowe intercept sees another incursion to the box for Sydney but results in a free kick just outside the box to be taken by Teresa Polias. Victory establish a large wall. The kick goes just over the wall to the top of the near post and into the back of the net past the outstretched arms of Garton. So sweetly struck for what is unbelievably only Polias’ third goal in her 155 W-league matches.

Victory are not fazed by the goal and continue their attack getting two corners shortly after the goal. They both come to naught.

Hawkesby gets a yellow for a shirt pull on Cooney-Cross. The resulting free kick is cleared but then bounces around outside the box until Prior chooses to clear over the goal line to relieve the pressure with a corner.

There are moments of brilliance from both sides but Victory still seem to have the bulk of possession and territory in the lead up to half time but the Sydney defence stand resolute.

Just before half time Sydney bring the ball into the box and Siemsen gets it back to Hawkesby. Her shot passes Kayla Ann Morrison and Garton pushes it away towards Ibini. Ibini ends up kicking it out as Garton dives and gets a hand to it so it’s a Sydney corner. The corner goes into the side netting in a wasted opportunity.

The second half sees more of the same. There’s a gasp as Garton does a soft clearance that Wheeler intercepts but she can’t control it and it goes straight back out.

**Above:** Teresa Polias celebrates after putting Sydney FC ahead with a stunning free-kick. Photo: @SydneyFC

Things feel a little bit more even in the second half and Sydney get a few more attacking opportunities. In one, Hawkesby passes to Siemsen and she gets a decent shot away only to be called offside. Garton had it covered but it was a better play by Sydney.

A Victory attack with a cross from substitute Catherine Zimmerman cross sees Mathyssen-Whyman stretch up high to grab then drop then retrieve the ball right in front of goal.

A little later Zimmerman receives the ball out on the right and runs Green around before shooting straight to Mathyssen-Whyman.

A Polias ball out to Ibini on the left sees her drive once more into the box and send a ball across an open goal that is missed by everyone.

De Vanna has a shot up the other end after some nice lead up work by Victory but it’s also straight into Mathyssen-Whyman’s arms.

After 71 minutes, Sydney get a penalty when Siemsen is fouled on the left on the box. Ibini steps up to take it and powers it past Garton on the right and this takes the score to 2-0 Sydney, even though it’s not really that reflective of the match, Sydney have taken their chances and Victory just haven’t been able to broach the Sky Blues’ defence despite a concerted effort.

Melina Ayres splatters Ally Green with a boot to the face and gets a yellow for her efforts. It takes a while to get her sorted and back on the field.

In a last second saving of face, Cooney-Cross displays some individual brilliance. Five minutes into stoppage time, the ball comes out to the right from Ayres to Cooney-Cross. She brings it into the box, drags it to her left, wrong foots Green and sends a rocket to the top left corner beating Mathyssen-Wyman. It’s all too little, too late but was definitely the goal of the match, just beautifully struck and showing her total class.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s young starlet Kyra Cooney-Cross (right), scorer of a brilliant late goal, battling it out with Sydney FC’s Clare Wheeler. **Photo:** @VictoryWLeague.

Sydney get the match, the Premiership and the semi-final hosting rights. The trophy is presented to Polias and she brings it over to her team and they hoist it in victory. It was a well-deserved win in the end and marks the end of a fairly dominant season by Sydney where they were table toppers week in, week out.

Victory look on desolate as they really put in a great effort in this match but just couldn’t bring home the bacon.

**Above:** Sydney FC celebrate with the Premiers Plate after the game. **Photo:** @SydneyFC

Teams: SYDNEY FC: Mathyssen-Whyman, Mclean, Green, Prior, Tobin, Polias, Hawkesby, Wheeler, Siemsen, Lowe, Ibini. Substitutes: Campbell (GK), Hristodoulou, Rule, Ray, Toby.

Scorers: Polias 29, Ibini 73.

MELBOURNE VICTORY: Garton, Doran, Beard, Bunge, Morrison, Jackson, Longo, Cooney-Cross, Ayres, Barbieri, De Vanna. Substitutes: Maizels (GK), Martineau, Privitelli, Eliadis, Zimmerman.

Scorer: Cooney-Cross 90+5.

Referee: Casey Reibelt.

Attendance: 1,111.

Westfield W-League Final Table 2020/21:

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Sydney FC	12	9	1	2	26	11	28	+15
Brisbane Roar	12	7	4	1	29	12	25	+17
Melbourne Victory	12	7	2	3	25	14	24	+11
Canberra United	12	6	4	2	21	16	22	+5
Adelaide United	12	7	1	4	22	18	21	+4
Western Sydney Wanderers	12	4	1	7	13	21	13	-8
Melbourne City	12	4	1	7	11	23	13	-12
Newcastle Jets	12	2	1	9	14	21	7	-7
Perth Glory	12	0	1	10	7	32	1	-25

Top four sides qualify for the finals at the end of the regular season.

Semi-Final Fixtures:

Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory: Sunday 4th April, 4pm KO local time (5am UK)

Sydney FC v Canberra United: Monday 5th April, 3pm KO local time (4am UK)

All games live on BT Sport in the UK