Above: Just perfect! Emily Condon shows how delighted she is to have scored the goal that lifts Adelaide United into the top three. Photo: @AUFCWomen
Adelaide United returned to the top three of the W-League with an important win over a Canberra United side who have now won only one of their last four games.
The last time these sides met it was a thrilling 4-3 win to Canberra, on that day Michelle Heyman scored a hatrick and entered the field this week needing only one goal to equal Sam Kerr’s W-League scoring record.
She would get her first opportunity early in the match, she ran onto a long ball behind the Adelaide defense and into a one-on-one with the first gamer and goalkeeper Annalee Grove. A goal looked likely but Matilda McNamara raced back and applied just enough pressure to hurry the shot which Grove saved well.
It would prove a costly miss with Adelaide taking the lead minutes later. A floated ball in by Emily Hodgson was met at the back post by Chelsie Dawber who met it cleanly and cushioned a volley into the back of the net, the pass was perfectly curled in behind the defenders and the finish was sublime leaving Keely Richards with no chance to save it.
Above: Adelaide United celebrate Chelsie Dawber’s opener. Photo: @AUFCWomen
Heyman had another chance to score when Kendall Fletcher slipped a defense splitting pass into her path, Grove rushed off her line to cut down the angle and the prodded shot flew just wide of the far post. Heyman looked certain to score and shocked to miss but the teenage goalkeeper had done very well to cover for her defence.
Adelaide were dominating general play but Canberra had created the most clear-cut chances and in the dying minutes of the first half they finally converted one to equalize. Heyman dropped deep, collected the ball in her own half and playing a long pass to Paige Satchell. The New Zealand winger surged into the penalty area and finished at the near post confidently.
Buoyed by the goal, Canberra began the second half on the front foot, attacking, pressuring and forcing Adelaide into counter-attacks, unlike the first half though, clear-cut chances were hard to come by, when Adelaide were presented with one Emily Condon had no trouble converting it.
A pass out from the back was intercepted and played quickly to Condon around 10 yards from goal. She paused, picked her spot and curled it around her marker and beyond Richards to restore Adelaide’s lead. It was a wonderful composed finish from a player that has been in brilliant form this season.
Above: Adelaide United celebrate a hugely important win. Photo: @AUFCWomen
With Canberra surging forward in search of another goal, Rojas was mostly left isolated up front, this is usually a frustrating thing for strikers, on the basis of this game it might actually be Maria Rojas’ favorite position. She delighted in receiving the ball under pressure, turning in tight spaces and twisting defenders until help arrived or a chance opened up. In a brilliant few minutes she set up Dawber whose shot across goal flew just wide, shot after a solo run that Richards did very well to stop and set up Dawber again after racing down the middle of the ground.
Canberra were being well beaten but Paige Satchell again threatened to restore parity with a powerful dipping shot from just outside the area that beat Grove but not the crossbar it was a reminder that the game was still in the balance.
Adelaide should have been further ahead this point in the game and perhaps their best chance came when Richards played the ball directly to Rojas, the Chilean deserved a goal for her work rate and skill in this match but tried to lift the ball over the keeper who caught it easily.
Rojas remained Canberra’s tormenter, playing in Georgina Campagnale whose shot flew wide and Charlotte Grant tried to join the attacking wave with a run and left foot shot that Richards saved at the near post.
Canberra didn’t give up and kept pressing for a goal, Jessika Nash was playing brave, attacking passes from defense to the midfield and the substitute Laura Hughes was busy after replacing Grace Maher. Michelle Heyman played a perfect pass across the box to Hayley Taylor-Young who took a touch and fired the ball at goal only for Grove again to come to the rescue. The debutant rushed off her line and saved, tipping the ball over the bar, the resulting corner yielded no result.
When the final whistle blew Canberra could feel unlucky not to equalize late but Adelaide would have been disappointed to not put the result beyond all doubt earlier. It was an exciting end to the weekend’s football featuring two sides determined to score, Heyman fans will have to wait at least one more week for her to reach her milestone and Adelaide continue to impress on the march to their first finals campaign.
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.
Brisbane Roar continued their seven match unbeaten start to the W-League season with a 2-1 win at Marconi Stadium against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Above: Two goal Emily Gielnik in action for Brisbane Roar against Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Kris Goman.
The Queenslanders have travelled to the emerald city for a long weekend to play both Sydney teams. In the current climate it’s good to get these things done while you can, plus it probably saves on travel expenses and gives better rest between the games. So it’s a big win win for Brisbane before they even start playing.
Courtney Nevin isn’t playing tonight for the home side and isn’t a substitute either. Apparently coach Dean Heffernan is resting her this match and it’s her birthday tomorrow. This results in a reshuffle of the usual team and Yeoman-Dale has moved to left back from the forwards to replace her.
Georgina Worth is out for Brisbane with a knee issue and so Morgan Aquino is making her debut in goal for the Roar. Katrina Gorry is out and we won’t be seeing her playing again this year due to the happy reason of her being pregnant rather than having an injury. Although, like an ACL injury, it will probably take her out for a year so she won’t be going to the Olympics, opening a spot for a young contender.
Wanderers are kicking off playing in 4-3-3 formation and Brisbane are 4-4-2.
The match starts pretty rough with a few tackles sending various playing flying before Emily Gielnik takes a shot from the far left of the box that’s straight to Sarah Willacy. Sarah Hunter, two goal hero for Wanderers in their last match seems to be being cheered on by the rest of her Year 12 cohort at Pymble Ladies College every time she gets the ball in this match. I guess a few more schoolmates have come along to support her after her stunning game last week. It’s great to see and adds to the atmosphere at Marconi.
Thirteen minutes in, Teigan Collister makes a break down the right for the Wanderers. Her cross is cleared back to Libby Copus-Brown who sends a lovely long ball through to Leena Khamis in the box in front of goal. She chips it to the top right of goal as two defenders arrive and it’s in for her long awaited first goal of the season as the Wanderers take an early lead.
Brisbane are immediately back on the attack and make a few excursions into the box including a corner that comes to naught. Then a cross comes over from the left and is punched out by Willacy. Isobel Dalton comes flying in from outside the box and sends a low one towards goal that lands at the feet of Emily Gielnik who turns and is able to put it to the top right bin of the goal for the equaliser just two and a half minutes later.
We’re up and down the field a few times with Collister continually making good runs down the right for Wanderers. At one stage Khamis takes a long range shot on goal but she puts far too much into it and it is on a trajectory to the moon rather than goal.
Similarly for the Roar, Mariel Hecher is making good inroads down their right, occasionally foiled by Georgia Yeoman-Dale. At one point Gielnik is at the top of the box and passes back to Olivia Chance who takes a lovely strike but it just clears the top post.
Above: Georgia Yeoman-Dale of Western Sydney Wanderers trying to escape from Brisbane Roar’s Olivia Chance. Photo: Kris Goman.
A fine pass back from Collister finds no one in a fairly empty box and a chance goes begging for the Wanderers.
Hecher then receives the ball just outside the box. Yeoman-Dale fronts up to her. She has one foot just inside the box. Hecher flicks the ball up to the right and it hits Yeoman-Dale’s hand and a penalty is awarded. Pretty bad luck on Yeo-Da’s part as there’s no way she could have avoided it and she was only just partially in the box. In fact whether her hand was in the box could be debated but it certainly did deflect the path of the ball.
Gielnik steps up to take the penalty with thirty-one minutes played. It’s a fairly slow shot but she sends Willacy to the right and the ball to the left so it’s in easy. As well as putting the Roar in front, this also puts Gielnik level with Canberra United’s Michelle Heyman in the race for the Golden Boot on six goals each.
Just a minute later, Gielnik gets the opportunity for another clear strike on goal but sends it quite wide to the right this time. Straight after, Tameka Yallop is on the ball and brings it down to the goal line. Her cross is brought down but she has it back almost immediately to take a shot but it’s also well wide to the right.
Above: Emily Gielnik slots the ball past a despairing Sarah Willacy. Photo: Kris Goman.
Wanderers get a corner and it comes in right in front of the box. Khamis jumps but doesn’t quite connect but it deflects off Kim Carroll’s lower shoulder. There are calls for a hand ball but in this case, I think the call is right.
Just before half time Jamilla Rankin sends a beautiful cross to the front of goal but it’s cleared safely by a Caitlin Cooper header then brought down the midfield by Julie Russell to pass for a similarly lovely cross by Collister. It goes to Khamis who draws Morgan Aquino and the ball is headed to the left in front of an open goal. Chloe Middleton rushes on to it but her volley can’t be controlled as defenders rush in and it goes up over the net to miss the equaliser.
Two minutes of extra time are announced. A Brisbane attack sees Middleton chop at Yallop and earn herself a yellow and a free kick for Brisbane at the top left of the box. Gielnik will take it, looking for her hat-trick no doubt. As expected, she goes for goal. It’s low and to the right but Willacy is all over it despite an unmarked Polkinghorne rushing onto her. The half time whistle goes and it’s looking pretty even after 45 minutes.
Early in the second half, Wanderers get into the box and Russell is on the left and open when she gets the ball from a cross from Danika Matos. Her shot is a half volley that goes high.
Ten minutes later, Russell gets another shot on goal as she brings it into the box, side stepping a couple of Brisbane players and shoots across the goal and it narrowly misses the top far corner.
Wanderers are immediately on the attack and Brisbane don’t clear it out when they regain possession. Hunter gets it across to Rosie Galea at the top of the box who shoots with some free space in front of her. It’s wide to the left but it looked dangerous and Wanderers are pressing hard right now.
It’s now Brisbane’s turn to attack and Yallop brings the ball through the midfield before passing to Chance on the left who crosses to the goal mouth. Kaitlyn Torpey comes in for it and both Yeoman-Dale and Willacy are there. Willacy gets above and punches it away safely but collects Torpey in her wake who goes down in front of goal. She’s back up after some treatment but it looked like a heavy fall.
Above: Brisbane Roar’s Kim Carroll poised to hit a pass. Photo: Kris Goman.
Wanderers push again and it’s stuck in the right corner for a couple of throw-ins before Galea flicks it across to Khamis unmarked in the middle of the box. She turns and shoots but Aquino has it covered in some good goal keeping.
Wanderers seem to have the upper hand at the moment and have three shots to Brisbane’s none after 20 minutes of the second half.
In a switch, Hecher gets a run down the left and her cross is kicked out by Matos for a corner. The corner is low and goes through a few people before finding its way to the back of the box to Yallop. She shoots but it’s deflected and goes up high to be gathered by Willacy safely.
A careless distribution by Aquino goes straight to Collister. Khamis is clear in front of goal but the lob is intercepted and doesn’t reach Khamis. In the rush for the ball, Rankin is knocked over and Collister gives away a free kick after a wasted opportunity.
A transition sees Leticia McKenna offside. It’s straight back up the other end again and Russell brings it into the box on the left, kicks it back from the goal line and it’s tipped into the air by Aquino and then headed by Hunter across the goal. It hits the right goalpost and bounces back into play and it’s cleared by Rankin in a very close call.
The Roar attack again and McKenna gets a shot from the top of the box that skims the top post.
It’s straight back up the other end though and Galea extracts a foul on the right of the box from Rankin. Galea to take the kick. She goes for goal to the top right bin and Polkinghorne heads it out to the left. Not sure it had enough on it to get in but it was an audacious move. The resulting corner lands right in front of goal and is headed up and into the arms of Aquino by Cooper. Khamis has been knocked over in the foreground and complains about it but there’s no action on it.
Above: Caitlin Cooper and Leena Khamis compete at a corner. Photo: Kris Goman.
In yet another transition, Gielnik somehow manages to get up from being knocked over in the box to get down to the other end to receive a through ball in the box. Willacy comes right out to deflect it across the goal. Torpey is there to pick it up but her shot goes straight to Matos covering who kicks it out for a corner.
The short corner is crossed by Rankin then punched away by Willacy. The clearance comes back in but this time is snatched by Willacy.
The game has become very transitional now and it’s Brisbane’s turn for a crack. After some play around the box Dalton has a shot over the heads of everyone but there’s not enough on it and it bounces to the feet of Willacy who scoops it up.
Once more back down the other end and this time Henry gets a shot that hits the crossbar. She looks to be offside but it’s not called.
With five minutes to go, a nice ball to Gielnik sees her take a run down the right but her pass back into the box is ineffectual and is cut off and cleared by Matos. It then goes out wide to Hecher but her cross goes to no one and goes out in acres of space on the right of goal. She should have really taken a shot then.
In a slightly desperate effort, Hunter passes to Collister who takes a shot from a long way out. It’s not on target and goes out to the right. The previously well organised Wanderers have morphed to a bit of a shambles as desperation for the equaliser sets in. They need to settle again to be more effective and patient.
In a much better move, the clearance from Aquino goes to Matos who places the ball back to Galea who tips it over right in front of Khamis who runs onto it in the box. She races with Aquino to the ball but Aquino throws herself on top of it before Khamis can connect.
There’s another push by the Wanderers and a couple of incursions are foiled until Yeoman-Dale takes it down the left and crosses to Khamis in the box. A little back heel is cleared by Polkinghorne to Matos who has a crack but she’s a long way out and it was never going in. There’s a minute left.
Above: Sarah Hunter, Western Sydney Wanderers’ teenage star shields the ball from Brisbane Roar’s Australian International Tameka Yallop. Photo: Kris Goman.
The clearance is to Cooper who brings it up but it goes out. Wanderers throw in. Yeoman-Dale takes it. Khamis flicks it into the box and Galea sends it back out to Hunter. She passes back to Copus-Brown who sends it back into the box with interest. Khamis picks it up, turns and strikes. It’s on target but Aquino dives and pushes it out with one hand, saving the day for the Roar.
There’s a corner with 5 seconds to go. Khamis heads it over the goal and full time is called much to the relief of Brisbane.
So disappointing for the Wanderers not to equaliser or even win in the second half. They really did dominate although the stats aren’t really showing that. Possession was 48% WSW 52% Roar, territory 47% WSW 53% Roar, corners 4 for Brisbane and 3 for the Wanderers and shots 13 for Brisbane and 11 for the Wanderers which I find hard to believe after the second half. Shots on target were Brisbane 7, Wanderers 3, balls into area Brisbane 25, Wanderers 24 and saves Wanderers 5, Brisbane 2.
Speaking after the game, Leena Khamis agrees that Western Sydney Wanderers were very unlucky and deserved a point at least and big-upped the save by Morgan Aquino, which is nice.
Emily Gielnik gets Player of the Match which I don’t really agree with. Yes, she got two goals and the first was a cracker but the second was a penalty and she had very little impact on the second half. I realise goal scorers often get this award but I think the defenders stepped up, particularly in the second half.
Polkinghorne saved the day many times and Aquino really saved the day, right at the end and was very solid, except for a couple of dubious distributions. Jenkins also had a very solid game both in attack and defence. Khamis, Collister, Yeoman-Dale and even Galea coming on as a sub late in the game all were worthy contenders. But I don’t make these decisions.
So Brisbane have Sydney to play next and I think they need to ask a few questions. Wanderers played well today, perhaps their best match of the season, despite losing. They are mostly a young team with a couple of veterans but were able to take it to Brisbane today. Sydney is also a young team but have a lot more experience playing together. Given the Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar match will be another top of the table bout, it will say a lot about the state of the W-League. I worry a bit that Brisbane are stacked with Matildas yet haven’t been able to perform as expected. Yes, they haven’t lost yet but they’ve drawn four times and didn’t dominate today against a team at the bottom of the table. Their only convincing win was against Melbourne Victory. Anyway, it should be a very interesting match on Sunday.
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.
Ben Gilby spoke to AFC Portchester Ladies manager Mark Dugan about how the club, presently in the Third Division of the Hampshire County Women’s Football League (tier nine) re-joined senior football in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and have the organisation, desire and belief to move up the pyramid.
Mark opened our conversation by highlighting the journey that women’s football has been on in the village of Portchester, situated four miles from Portsmouth.
Above: AFC Portchester in possession against AFC Bedhampton Village. Photovia: Mark Dugan
“Originally the team were known as Fleetlands Ladies back in 2011 through to 2015 before moving across to AFC Portchester and forming a girls/ladies section. The ladies competed in the Hampshire County Women’s League Division Three, won that and the second division before having our final year in league one when team unfortunately disbanded. That said, I stayed and took the then under 12 team through to under 16s and reformed the senior in the summer of 2020 to give our girls a pathway. We had planned with the club to reform next season but had plenty of interest to push a year earlier.”
Given everything that has been going on off the pitch over the past twelve months, 2020 was a really tough year to re-launch a senior women’s football club, as Mark recognises: “It’s been a real challenge for the club in fairness. Our club consists of thirty-seven teams including the youth set up and trying to keep spirits high with such activities as Zoom training going, quizzes to keep the players engaged has been a challenge. The club itself has tried to help the local community in this awful time and set up a food hub where donations were dropped off, sorted and delivered out to the many volunteers we had. Tough times but thankful for such dedicated people in and around the club.”
Other than coronavirus, the biggest challenge that AFC Portchester face is one familiar to every grassroots club: “The club is big, and relies on sponsors and partners for income along with youth contributions. Our sponsors and partners have stood fast and supported us, which really helped. The youth contributions were quite rightly frozen during the lockdowns which obviously affects revenue, but the main club loss was our annual youth tournament which brings in one of our biggest youth contributions. With regard senior side hospitality is everything and losing that has really hurt us! However, we’ve managed, albeit suspending plans to undertake summer repairs and uplifts around stadium.”
One positive for the club in this period has been the links with the men’s side of AFC Portchester, as Mark explains: “The club ethos around the ladies and girls has been fantastic and promote and support us fully. My role at the club as football development officer has really helped the link and something on my blueprint to oversee and ensure continued growth. I’m currently the men’s under 23s manager and youth link so we really have one club here.”
With the club competing in the Hampshire County Women’s Football League Division Three, I asked Mark to assess the division: “As a new team with both the newly introduced (but experienced) players signed supplemented by the under 17s stepping up into women’s football, we didn’t know what to expect. From the early signs we’ve played teams at different stages of their journeys, some have really young squads, others older and more organised, so each week presents challenges for us to overcome. The league itself though is bigger this year than it has been for a number of years so going in to Division Three of Four was a risk but one worth taking.”
Above: AFC Portchester Ladies 2020/21. Photovia: Mark Dugan
Going into the Christmas period, AFC Portchester Ladies were top of the league and unbeaten: “Promotion is definitely something we want to achieve, equally though it’s a firm belief to ensure a player pathway at the same time,” Mark says.
“Longer term, the club’s aim is to climb the pyramid of course, but want to first establish the team and make our way through the Hampshire County Women’s League. In doing this we’ll always be open as a community club to bring any player wanting football but also utilising the younger players coming through our youth set up. Ultimately we want to achieve Southern Region status (tier six and above), but in doing so also continue to plan for the future thereafter.”
Despite the senior side only reforming in the summer, AFC Portchester have an excellent player pathway in place from girls to senior football: “The pathway is in place, we have club phase leads in place within the youth set up who look after both 6-12 years and 13-16 years who actively work with coach in both player and coach development. The club currently have teams from under 9 through to under 17s girls and look to create further teams annually.”
As with all other clubs, it is the tireless work of volunteers off of the pitch that keeps things in good stead on the pitch. Mark highlights the fact that: “There are so many great people within the club! There are too many to mention really. However, our Chairman Paul Kelly must be mentioned for 24 years of continual commitment and hours upon hours of work to make the club what it is today.”
We ended our chat by looking at where Mark would like the club to be in five years time: “I want to see the ladies thrive and enjoy their football. Long term and we believe achievable, is playing Southern Region football so tiers five and six for sure.”
Above: AFC Portchester in action against AFC Bedhampton Village and afterwards with the banner of the club’s Arancione supporters group. Photo via: Mark Dugan.
@DandalBs brings us our regular Saturday morning round-up of all the week’s news from the Swedish women’s game. This week, there’s the selection of Sweden’s squad for forthcoming international friendlies, pre-season match news and transfer updates.
Above: Amanda Nildén – called up to the Sweden squad for the forthcoming internationals against Malta and Austria. Photo: Photo: Adam Ihse/TT and Eskilstuna United.
Peter Gerhandsson has selected the squad for the forthcoming camp in Malta which includes friendlies against Austria as well as their island hosts. Chelsea trio Zećira Mušović, Jonna Andersson and Magdalena Eriksson were originally included, but due to travel restrictions, they have been told that they will not be able to enter Malta due to issues with allowing people from the UK onto the island nation due to coronavirus rates. They have been replaced in the squad by Emma Holmgren, Amanda Nildén (both of Eskilstuna United) and BK Häcken’s Emma Kullberg.
PRE-SEASON GAME NEWS:
In last weekend’s games, Elitettan (second tier) Bjonnapojkarna defeated Damsallvenskan side Djurgården in the first Stockholm Challenge match after 2-2 at full time and 18 penalty kicks. The other Stockholm Challenge match ended with a 2-0 win for Hammarby over AIK after goals from Madelen Janogy and Emilia Larsson. The two winners meet in the final today with AIK taking on rivals Djurgården in the third/fourth place play-off.
Above: Pauline Hammarlund after scoring BK Häcken’s first ever goal. Photo: Expressen.
BK Häcken won their first match since formation with a 2-1 success over Linköping thanks to goals from Pauline Hammarlund and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. Therese Simonsson scored for Linköping.
Örebro defeated Kalmar 2-1. Karin Lundin and 17 year-old trialist Lisa Frisk scored for the home side.
Piteå and Umeå drew 0-0.
In a game played on Thursday, Rosengård defeated Eskilstuna United at home 2-0. Goals from Jelena Čanković and Mimmi Larsson earned the win. This was probably Rosengård’s last warm-up match before their two-legged UEFA Women’s Champions League round of sixteen tie early March against still unknown opposition..
NEWS IN BRIEF:
Kristianstad’s 23 year-old midfielder Sofia Hagman has departed for Swedish-coached Apollon Ladies FC in Cyprus.
Above: Bri Folds signs for Fortuna Hjörring. Photo: Nordsoeposten
Bri Folds has departed Göteborg/Häcken and moved to Danish top club Fortuna Hjörring.
Örebro recent signing, 18 year-old midfielder Cassandra Larsson has injured a knee in training and will be out for most if not all of the coming season. The squad is thin and she will need to be replaced.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset updates us on France’s international schedule and provides some important news from the Olympique Lyonnais club.
After the withdrawal of Iceland team following that of Norway last week and the impossibility to find two other nations to compete with, the planned France tournament has been cancelled. The tournament will be replaced by two friendly games against Switzerland the only remaining team. The games will take place at Metz on February 17, 2021 and February 20, 2021.
On the Olympique Lyonnais side, there has been the renewal of a contract. Amandine Henry has signed a two year extension and should stay with Lyon up to June 2023.
Above: From left to right: Jean-Luc Vasseur (coach), Amandine Henry and Jean-Michel Aulas (President). Photo: @Damien LG from OL website.
After the extending the deals of Sarah Bouhaddi and Dzsenifer Marozsan this summer of an up to June 2023 and those of Ada Hegerberg and Griedge Mbock up to June 2024 recently, Lyon continue to secure its main players while preparing the future with new high-level young players like Damaris Egurrola (up to June 2023) and Catarina Macario (up to June 2024) who signed last month.
Ben Gilby caught up with Chorley Women’s Lisa Topping, who Impetus are proud to sponsor, for our second monthly chat. Here, we catch up with what Lisa has been up to since the New Year Lockdown.
Lisa began by explaining how she’s been doing and keeping active in the continuing difficult times: “I’m doing well despite the circumstances we are still facing. I have a really close family who work really hard to stay in touch virtually despite lockdowns and social distancing so I have family quizzes and such to look forward to. I’m also able to keep busy with little house projects and walking the dogs.”
Above: Lisa in action for Chorley previously. Photovia: Lisa Topping
In terms of how Chorley’s team are keeping in touch, it seems like there’s been plenty of creative activities going on: “We have weekly fitness sessions over Zoom led by one of our senior players, Betti Worth, who is fantastic at pulling together fun and engaging, football specific workouts. She is a really great fitness coach who has massively stepped up during this time to support the team. We also have a team WhatsApp group so there is always banter in there as well as little weekly challenges, such as keep-ups or a football skill. We also have club meetings where we all check in and keep up to date with where we need to be. Ben Gooden and the rest of the management staff are really great at keeping everyone connected.”
In terms of how Lisa is passing her time personally, “Apart from working, I’m passing my time during lockdown by doing plenty of dog walking, watching Netflix, and picking up some house DIY projects. I do like to watch football on TV. I regularly link up the FA Player onto the TV from my laptop or phone and binge back-to-back games. I enjoy watching sport in general – I grew up with it constantly being on the TV at the weekend where my Dad would point out tactical play in the football games. We also commonly watched tennis tournaments, F1 racing, rugby and horse racing. I’ve never really developed allegiance for a football team – I just enjoy watching a good game. I particularly enjoy watching big name games or rivalry clashes such as Liverpool v Everton or Manchester United v Manchester City.”
“On a more active note, now that we have slightly longer, lighter days I’m looking forward to getting back on my road bike on top of the running I currently do to try and stay fit in preparation for the season. I’ve joined Strava Clubs and challenges to keep motivated and maintain my running whilst training is on pause and then I grab my boots and a ball and head to the local park on my own on the weekend.”
Of course, all the home fitness work cannot make up for the loss of game playing sharpness. This is something that Lisa is already keeping in mind: “Once football is back and up and running, one of my short-term targets is to get back to game speed as quickly possible. Despite all the running and fitness during this time, the sharpness and mental focus will be something that needs to be quickly recovered.”
Whether or not there will be any football to be played before the summer is still in question. The Football Association recently circulated a survey to clubs with regards on how best to end the season – pausing until it is safe to play again or end the season now and rank clubs by a points-per-game basis. In Lisa’s opinion, “the FA are in a really tough position on this. Whichever decision they make, someone isn’t going to agree with it. I feel it’s a big weigh up of maintaining safety of those involved, taking into account club finances and being realistic with expectations. There are pros and cons with each approach that has been suggested and I’m glad it isn’t me having to make the decision!
Above: Lisa Topping (far right back row with thumb up) with a group of Euxton Girls players. Photo via: Michael Taylor.
“Euxton Girls is a fantastic local club who were integral in my football career. They really grew my love for the game and gave me a place to play football with other girls. Before that I only had options to play in the boy’s teams or train alone with my Dad. I remember feeling so happy when I got to train and play in an environment with other girls who had a love for the game and compete in a girls’ league. It was at that point that I felt I fitted in for being a girl who liked football.”
“We had a fantastic team including Holly Bradshaw, who is now the British Record Holder for the Pole Vault, Danielle Gibbons, who went on to be a goalkeeper for Liverpool FC and of course Nicola Barker who is still central in the Euxton Girls set up and develops young players coming through. The coaching staff there were, and still are, passionate, committed and put player development first. For example, I remember loving sessions delivered by Diane Moss when I was only fourteen and she is still there now driving the club forward.”
At the present time, myself and club captain, Laura Walker, would go and attend some of the Wildcat Sessions hosted by Euxton Girls and Diane on a Friday evening. Laura is a brilliant role model and really supports the local community whilst representing Chorley Women FC. When my time playing is up, I’d love to give back more to the club and get further involved in the coaching side with them.”
We look forward to catching up with Lisa again in March.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up all the news from the women’s game in France. This week he informs us what went on in the fourteenth week of action in D1 Arkema, and highlights the latest squad selection for the French national team.
Paris St. Germain won 5-0 away from home at Fleury. PSG are still league leaders, one point ahead of Lyon. Goals from Sandy Baltimore (24, 62), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (61), Kadidiatou Diani (69 penalty) and Irene Paredes (90+1). It was an easy game for PSG, who played seriously and do not let any chance go to Fleury.
Olympique Lyonnais won at home 2-1 against Montpellier. Goals for Lyon from Amandine Henry (4) and Elisa De Almeida (40, own goal following a shot by Sakina Karchaoui); Montpellier’s goal came from Clarisse Le Bihan (6). Once again it was a difficult game for Lyon, which was not able to assert its game on the opposition. Even if Wendie Renard, their captain, was suspended due to three yellow cards, that does not explain everything. We saw also the debut of Catarina Macario who produced an encouraging debut but still needs to improve.
Above: Catarina Macario made her debut for Olympique Lyonnais. Photo: Damien LG.
Soyaux won away from home at Issy 1-0 with a goal from Laura Bourgoin (22). After 10 games without a victory, this is very good result for Soyaux against one of their direct rivals for staying in D1 next year. Soyaux and Issy were tied at 7 points with 1 game in hand for Issy; now Issy still have 1 game in hand but Soyaux are 3 points ahead of them and furthermore with a better goal average.
Guingamp by winning away from home against Le Havre 1–0, continues to slowly secure its place in the middle of the table. The only goal of the game was scored for Guingamp by Faustine Robert (76). Le Havre, who are still not able to win even at home, stay bottom of the table.
Two games were postponed due to Covid19: Dijon – Bordeaux and Reims – Paris FC.
The D1 ARKEMA table now looks like this:
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
GD
Paris St. Germain
14
13
1
0
57
2
40
+ 55
Olympique Lyonnais
14
13
0
1
50
5
39
+ 45
Bordeaux
13
8
2
3
32
14
26
+ 18
Montpellier
14
6
2
6
17
22
20
– 5
Guingamp
14
6
1
7
20
23
19
– 3
Fleury
13
5
4
4
11
21
19
– 10
Paris FC
13
5
3
5
21
22
18
– 1
Dijon
12
5
1
6
15
22
16
– 7
Reims
13
3
2
8
17
30
11
– 13
Soyaux
14
3
1
10
10
29
10
– 19
Issy
13
2
1
10
8
54
7
– 46
Le Havre
13
1
2
10
10
24
5
– 14
As a Lyon fan, I start to worry about the future in this season, not only in D1 Arkema championships but also in UEFA Women Champion League. In D1 Arkema, Paris SG won their games pretty easily and have now a goal difference of 55, 10 goals in front of Lyon. If Lyon does not improve their game soon, it will be very difficult for them to win against Paris SG even at home and they will be far from favourites in UWCL.
International News:
Above: Sakina Karchaoui – selected again for France. Photo: @Sakinakarchaoui.
This morning Corinne Diacre gave her list of players for the second Tournoi de France organized to prepare for the next European Championships. This tournament will take place in February from Wednesday 17 to Tuesday 23 at Metz and Sedan in the North East of France. For this first rendezvous of the year, France (3rd at FIFA ranking) will play against 3 other teams: Iceland (16th), Switzerland (19th) and a third team which will replace Norway who cannot be there for Covid19 reasons.
Games schedule:
17.02.2021, 19:00, Metz: To be determined – Switzerland
17.02.2021, 21 :10, Sedan: France – Iceland
20.02.2021, 19:00, Sedan: Iceland – To be determined
20.02.2021, 21 :10, Metz: France- Switzerland
23.02.2021, 19 :00, Sedan: Iceland- Switzerland
23.02.2021, 21:10, Metz: France-To be determined
Three main players are missing in this squad due to injury: Amandine Henry (Lyon), Griedge Mbock (Lyon) and Viviane Asseyi (Bayern Munich). Sarah Bouhaddi is not in this list too. Three players are in the list for the first time: Mylène Chavas (Dijon Goalkeeper), Constance Picaud (Le Havre Goalkeeper) and Ella Palis (Bordeaux Midfielder). We can remark also that two players having very good performances with their teams are not selected either: Kheira Hamraoui (Barcelona Midfielder) and Aurélie Kaci (Real Madrid Midfielder).
Goalkeepers: Mylène Chavas, Solène Durand, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Constance Picaud Defenders: Estelle Cascarino, Elisa De Almeida, Sakina Karchaoui, Perle Morroni, Eve Périsset, Wendie Renard, Marion Torrent, Aïssatou Toukara. Midfielders: Charlotte Bilbault, Julie Dufour, Grace Geyoro, Oriane Jean-François, Léa Khelifi, Amel Majri, Ella Palis, Sandie Toletti. Strikers: Sandy Baltimore, Delphine Cascarino, Kadidiatou Diani, Valérie Gauvin, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Eugénie Le Sommer, Clara Matéo.
Sydney FC moved seven points clear at the top of the Westfield W-League after a comprehensive 4-0 win over second placed Canberra United, who were previously unbeaten.
Above: Remy Siemsen, scorer of a brace for Sydney FC sends another effort goalwards against Canberra United. Photo: Kris Goman.
It’s Teresa Polias’ 150th game in the W-league, the first player to do so. Incredible really when you consider how short each season is. It really is an achievement. Another record on the line is the all-time leading goal scorer. Michelle Heyman is currently sitting at 69 goals, one behind Sam Kerr’s all-time record of 70. It looks set to be smashed and, despite being a Sydney fan, I’m hoping it’s today so I can witness it.
This is the top of the table clash. Sydney have been victorious in all their matches so far. Canberra have played five but have won three and drawn two. Still expecting this to be close with both teams in form. Sydney will have the home ground advantage of course at Kogarah Oval.
Both Sydney and Canberra are playing 4-3-3 today and the visitors kick off. The opening exchanges consist of a battle in the mid field with both team’s defence standing strong and keeping back any incursion to the final thirds until a foul gives Sydney a free kick.
Polias takes it and its headed straight back out by Canberra. Heyman gets a ball through the centre but is relieved of it by Charlotte Mclean before she can enter the box.
Canberra string together a few passes. Kendall Fletcher passes to Grace Maher who takes a shot which is headed on and provides the perfect opportunity for Heyman to run onto it in the box. Ally Green is right beside her though and bumps her off the ball so she can’t make a decent connection and it’s gathered by Jada Mathyssen-Whyman. It’s down the other end quickly and Princess Ibini sends a ball across from the left. Mackenzie Hawkesby is not quite quick enough to connect to what would have been a dead cert. Sydney apply a lot of pressure to stay in their attacking third and are rewarded with a number of throw ins. The pressure is building with a couple of runs into the box but no shots on goal yet.
Then a corner is given to Sydney, to be taken by Polias. It lands in front of the goal for a couple of headers before it’s cleared to the left side-line.
Another wave from Sydney sees Remy Siemsen on the right evading two defenders and getting a shot away but Keeley Richards collects it safely. It’s straight back the other end for a solo effort by Nikki Flannery but her shot is under powered and goes straight to Mathyssen-Whyman.
Sydney weave down the right with a number of connected passes and a cross goes into the hand of Fletcher for a free kick near the top of the box on the right. Everyone lines up along the top of the box. Somehow everyone misses the ball in and it floats out to the left chased by Ibini. She darts between defenders to bring it in and passes back from the goal line. It goes past Siemsen and is kicked up by the Canberra defence to Hawkesby’s chest. It bounces off her chest and she volleys it in past two defenders for the first goal. 1-0 Sydney at 16 minutes in. Hawkesby runs off with her tongue out in celebration, chased by her teammates who eventually catch her for a group hug.
Above: Mackenzie Hawkesby connects for her goal which put Sydney FC 1-0 up. Photo: Kris Goman.
After a dominating ten minutes, Canberra get back into the play a bit and there’s a lot more midfield action. The defence is holding strong until Green brings the ball down the left flank and her cross is kneed out uncontrolled by Jessika Nash. The resulting corner sees the ball in and out of the box a few times until a shot by Natalie Tobin is pushed out at with a stretch by Richards for another corner.
The corner is defended well by Canberra and we’re back to a midfield battle. The rest of the half plays out with a couple of build ups by Canberra foiled by Sydney, unrelenting pressure by Sydney including a number of corners but the Canberra defence standing ultimately solid.
There’s one beautiful run down the left by Cortnee Vine from a Green pass but her pass across goal sees no one connect and is out for a goal kick. The Green / Vine connection is formidable. They are both in top form and can cause havoc at will it seems.
The next distribution by Richards is sent directly to Ibini’s thigh and she nearly scores from this mistake.
At half time there’s a substitution and Taylor-Young is off and Satchell is on for Canberra. Canberra come back rejuvenated and get some possession. They look good when they have the ball and I like their passing game. They just can’t seem to breach the Sydney defence though and it’s not long before we find Ibini running into the box and passing to Clare Wheeler for a shot on goal. It’s deflected out and Sydney have their first corner of the second half.
The corner comes across and is headed straight out the other side by Maher for another corner from the opposite post. Next corner is punched up by Richards then headed onto the top of the net by Vine. Shortly after Canberra get a rare corner but the lob is grabbed out of the air by Wyman. Canberra can’t win a trick today.
Above: Cortnee Vine gets above the Canberra United defence. Photo: Kris Goman.
The next Sydney corner is close but eventually cleared. There is some movement around the box and a couple of blocked shots until Ibini gets a clear position at the top of the box. Her shot is deflected by Richards who is on the ground. Siemsen rushes in to kick it and it hits the top of the bar and rebounds straight down and bounces back while Siemsen rushes in and points to the goal line. Paige Satchell is able to take the ball away down the right flank towards goal. Heyman can’t connect with her cross and the Sydney defence recover to keep it out. The replay shows the ball from Siemsen clearly went in with a massive spin that bounced it back out again but the ball clearly crossed the line. The crowd rumbles when the replay is shown. The lack of VAR has cost Sydney a goal there. Siemsen is trying to argue the point with the ref who is not having it. She might regret that decision when she watches the match back later.
Play continues with Canberra on the attack but once again the Sydney defence proves impenetrable until Siemsen can take a run up field. There’s some passing around the top of the box then Canberra takes back control.
Wheeler stops a foray into the box and once again Sydney are on the attack. This time it’s up the right side and the ball ends up with Vine. She brings it into the box, shoots and it just goes under the diving arm of Richards but shaves the left post to go out in a very near miss.
At 64 minutes Siemsen gets the ball about ten metres from the top of the box. She passes right to Hawkesby who flicks it back to Vine who has positioned herself just inside the box. She controls the ball and takes a snap shot that beats the keeper on the right of goal. It hits the back of the net and Sydney are redeemed and it’s 2-0. Cortnee Vine’s confidence is soaring. If she doesn’t make the Matildas squad for the Olympics, I’ll be very surprised and disappointed. I hope boss Tony Gustavsson is watching this match.
Canberra respond to adversity aggression with Flannery bringing the ball into the box and taking a shot that crossed the face of goal unchallenged.
That doesn’t last long and the ball is shortly back up with Sydney and there’s a corner to be taken from the left. It goes to the back post and Siemsen heads it. It’s grabbed and punched back down by Richards and kicked by Laura Hughes. The kick goes straight to Siemsen who pounds it through the tangle of legs and into goal and is finally vindicated with a recognised goal. She’s pretty happy about it as the score increases to 3-0 Sydney at 72 minutes.
In a similar restart, Canberra have another corner after the kick-off. It’s cleared by a Allira Toby volley. Another ball towards the Canberra goal is cut off before Heyman can get to it. The Canberra icon has had very little involvement so far in this match and is struggling to make an impact.
Above: Michelle Heyman – a tough day at the office for Canberra United’s icon. Photo: Kris Goman.
At 75 minutes, Sydney get a corner on the right. It comes to the back post and Siemsen heads it in for her second of the match and fourth of the season. Sydney go up 4-0.
It’s looking embarrassing now and Sydney are showing their class with Canberra unable to match it. Given this is a top of the table clash, Sydney look to have the Premiership stitched up at this stage. Brisbane may have some better answers next week but Canberra are floundering.
With eight minutes left, a ball comes straight up the field into the box for Toby to run at. Her kick connects at the same time the keeper does and Richards goes down as does Toby in their clash. Richards seems to have come off the worst and needs some treatment. Looks like the contact was in the thigh.
A late slide tackle on Keir by Siemsen gets her a yellow card and Canberra a free kick near the right side-line in their half. It’s initially taken short but for some reason is called back. Next time it goes to the maddening crowd. It’s headed over and to a waiting Rachael Goldstein who kicks through to Mathyssen-Whyman who has gathered it up without any problems.
Above: Remy Siemsen slides in on Canberra United’s Lauren Keir to earn a yellow card. Photo: Kris Goman.
A Canberra corner is cleared up field and Vine gets hold of it. In a solo run she avoids a defender and shoots. It’s deflected by Lauren Keir for a corner.
The corner is well managed by the Canberra defence. Richards makes a couple more saves from long shots before the end of the match. A final push by Canberra comes to naught. Sydney is victorious 4-0.
The stats come up at the end and very surprisingly Sydney’s possession is 49%. The tale is told in the territory though and that’s 59% for Sydney with 13 corners to Canberra’s 3 and 16 shots to Canberra’s 6. Shots on target: Sydney 9, Canberra 2 and balls into area: Sydney 42, Canberra 15.
Vine is the player of the match after her goal, innumerable penetrating runs and performance in defence. Well deserved.
This really was a dominating performance by Sydney and puts them well clear at the top of the table after six wins from six matches. It’s also Canberra’s first defeat of the season so the mood may be a little sombre on the bus trip back to Canberra.
Top four sides qualify for the finals at the end of the regular season.
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.
Ben Gilby speaks to Helston Athletic’s Sasha Sparkes, who is quite probably the greatest woman goal scorer that you may not have heard of.
Sasha Sparkes is a player with a quite phenomenal scoring record for Helston Athletic. A tally of 135 goals in 42 games of which this season 32 goals have been scored in just 12 games. Sasha is one player that is worthy of huge respect.
We started our conversation with the Cornish hotshot telling me about her background: “I come from a big happy family! I was born June 24th 1991 in Truro. We lived in Penryn and then moved to Falmouth when I was four. I’ve lived in Falmouth ever since. Falmouth for me is more than just a base, it’s the definition of home. It really is a beautiful place to live. I consider myself very lucky that I am only a two minute drive away from the beaches.”
Sasha moved on to fill us in on her footballing story: “I’ve been playing football since I was about 10 years old. I have my Dad to thank for that. He has always been very passionate about Smara (my twin sister) and myself playing the sport. We have always been quite sporty since we were little. We lived across the road from a field and any chance my dad wasn’t working he would take us over to the field and practice our basics. Kicking, dribbling, all of the stuff needed that I use today. It was in that field where we got spotted from a manager from Falmouth Town Girls U12’s.”
“We weren’t long with Falmouth Town U12’s as our friends played for Falmouth United U12’s, inevitably being young we wanted to play with our friends. Our manager Steve Oliver was a fantastic coach. It was there that we won the league four seasons on the trot. We were unstoppable. After that, for a couple of seasons, football kind of just halted. Back then there wasn’t really much of a transition from U14’s to U16’s. My friends and I played for the school team but not many games were organised so we found ourselves back in the field where it all started playing BUTT slaps or World Cup.”
“I finally turned 16 and I was introduced to the ladies game. What a difference! Seven a side to eleven a side. Thirty minute halves to forty-five minute halves. It was a huge transition but one that I welcomed. I played for Penryn Ladies for a couple of seasons and we did well, but like most ladies teams after a while the team folded. It was there that I had a phone call from Neil Phillips, a manager that played a massive role in the player I am today. He asked me to join Falmouth Town Ladies as he had a good set up with lots of decent players signing on. I signed on, worked hard and that team was one of the best teams I have ever played for. Neil worked us hard at training, hours and hours of hill sprints, bleep tests and two touch football. At the time I hated the training but the team he created and the fitness, skill and stamina of all on the pitch was truly noticeable against other teams. It was here I was partnered with Katy Barker up the top and what a truly awesome partnership we had. It was either one or the other for league top goal scorer through the seasons, we didn’t mind who got it as long as it was someone from our team.”
“I can’t remember which way around it was, but between Falmouth Town Ladies and Truro City Ladies we became 1st and 2nd in the league and were promoted to Premier Division. With players going off to university and other reasons, Neil took the chance to merge the two clubs together at Truro City. It was very hard putting the two together as we all played differently. It didn’t take long though before we started gelling as a team and our first season in the Premier Division we became league runners up. What a great finish after being promoted. It was then where players decided the travel wasn’t worth the next division. Being all the way down in Cornwall and being hundreds of miles away from top teams its hard finding committed players to travel on a Sunday.”
“I had a season out after that and that’s when Helston Ladies was formed by Stu Massey and with the help of Charlotte Sparkes-Bond. Helston had great facilities and a great pitch. Steve Massey was always helping to run the line for us and supporting us in any way that he could. Stu drove us to success and we became League Cup Winners and League runners-up. For whatever reasons, Helston then decided to fold and I had a season out. As any player would say I hung up my boots, everyone knows it’s never for very long.”
Above: Sasha Sparkes – a Cornish footballing hero. Photo: Harry Price.
“My sister signed for Illogan Ladies and I would go to support them. It didn’t take very long for myself to miss football and I signed for a few games. My heart was still with Helston and its set up, so when I got a message from Paul Parfitt that he was setting the women’s team back up, we had a chat over coffee and I liked the plans he had for the team. I signed for the team and that brings us up to present day.”
We then moved onto Sasha’s incredible goal scoring record. For her, part of the story is down to circumstances: “Helston lost the battle to enter a higher league when the club was first set up. The appeal caught attention from Richard and Warren from Cornwall FA who supported Helston with their case, but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. This then meant we had to enter the Cornwall Women’s Football League (CWFL) at the bottom of the football tier. I’m an experienced player and have been playing for 18 years and found my experience within that league beneficial to these statistics. My role as a striker is to put the ball in the back of the net, regardless of the team and the ability in front of me. That being said, I score against everyone I’ve played against regardless of their perceived level, teams such as Illogan, FXU, Saltash and Marine Academy Plymouth in the FA Cup. I have the ability to score at all levels.”
Like any good striker though, Sasha recognises that she is only as good as the structure of the club she is part of and the players who surround her: “The set up I have at Helston is like no other team I have played for. It’s honestly incredible the facilities and coaching that is offered at Helston. Firstly the manager Paul Parfitt puts the women first in everything he does. He makes sure the morale in the team is up, organises all the matches, the training, all of the social media posts, picks the team every week and liaising with our coach Martyn Pennington who is also a massive part of Helston. Paul and Martyn are a great team who work so well together. They make the smooth running of the club look very easy and behind the scenes I see how much effort they both put in and it reflects on the team. They personally give me constructive criticism after every match which I look forward to in order to improve my game, without it I wouldn’t learn to be a better player.”
“On the pitch, I’m only as good as the service I receive, which is bloody brilliant. I honestly play with the nicest bunch of women who know exactly how I play. Without my team mates I wouldn’t be able to get to the stats I have today.”
The obvious next question to ask though is, with such an incredible goal scoring record and goals-to-game ratio, does Sparkes have any desire to play at a higher level?
“I’m very happy with where I am at with Helston Women,” Sasha replies, “Our goals are to win this league and get promoted and then win the league after that. This plan is near enough in the distant future but not so far we can’t reach it. I believe a back to back promotion is a sufficient challenge for myself and Helston Women as a club as a starting point. This season we did very well in the FA Cup and we played FA Women’s National League side Southampton FC Women at home – what a tie that was – I hope next season we can go through the rounds and at least make the First Proper Round of the FA Cup.”
Above: Sasha in action for Helston against FA Women’s National League side Southampton in the FA Cup this season. Photo: Matt Friday.
Earlier in our conversation, Sasha mentioned playing football with her twin sister Smara as a child. The pair are still going strong together today at Helston: “I absolutely love playing with my twin. All of my success with football I have shared with her. We have quite the trophy hoard! Smara is quite modest and doesn’t actually know how much of a good player she is, I think that’s a great quality to have, she doesn’t need to boast as her football does the talking.”
“She’s played sweeper for many years and I trust her back there with any challenges she faces! Smara is one of the most technically gifted players in the team and her main strength is her faultless ability when she has a ball at her feet. She is one of the best sweepers I have ever come across along with Tyler Mathews from Callington Ladies. When they played together at Truro City they were a force to be reckoned with.”
With Sasha well into her eighteenth year playing the game, I wondered what was the greatest challenge she has faced in that time? “My biggest challenge I would say for myself would be the transition from U16’s to Ladies football. It was a massive thing to do and adapt to the adult game. Luckily U16’s in this day don’t have to worry too much about it. I think there is now a great stepping stone for the girls especially at Helston Women where next season we look to set up a development squad to introduce the adult game to them.”
So far we have heard what an impressive and ambitions club Helston Athletic are, but I wondered what specifically makes them so forward looking and what they are aiming for in the next few seasons.
“Our club ambition of the team is to win the Cornwall League, then take promotion and win the South-West Women’s Football League (SWWFL), progress further in the FA Cup next season and win a County Cup in the next few seasons. This we hope will then create a platform for the best local players to come to us, meaning they will not have to travel to other clubs to meet the expectations. I would love to play alongside Keri-Ann Moxom again, but she felt the need to travel to fulfil her ambitions of playing in the SWWFL. I believe when Helston gets promoted this season in to the SWWFL we will have the very best infrastructure that meets the needs of the very best local players as well as retaining the current players by matching their personal desires and pushing them to their targets. The ambition of Paul Parfitt and Paul Hendy is to turn Helston in to a powerhouse for women’s football in Cornwall. It is extremely exciting and inspiring to be part of, let alone captain the team!”
Whilst Cornwall has not quite suffered as badly as some other areas in the coronavirus pandemic, there have still been a number of restrictions imposed in the area. Sasha explains how it has impacted on the club: “It has had a massive impact on grassroots sports, but apart from the most recent lockdowns we still managed play some matches previous to that. All of the rules and regulations were adhered too and it wasn’t the same as what I’m used to but I was just glad that we could be together as a team and still play football. Lockdown 2.0 was hard as we just came together as a team and really gelled together and then we were told there would be a four week lockdown and grassroots football would be suspended. But our manager Paul Parfitt set us the ‘Lockdown Challenge’. Paul challenged us all to run at least 1km a day and with that he would donate to the Helston and Lizard Foodbank for every player that completed the challenge. Paul Hendy our chairman and Sandra Bell personally matched this also by donating a Christmas hamper to the foodbank for every player who completed it. We ended up running 400km which is a great effort by all.”
We ended the conversation by exploring what makes Sasha tick as a person. In terms of her own sporting heroes, despite having been an unashamed Red, her real hero can be found in Cornwall.
“To be honest with you, I used to be a glorified Liverpool fan and used to follow players back in 2010 when the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso played (world great players). But for me my footballing hero is a bit closer to home. My dad, as cliché as that sounds. He was a great player when he was younger. I hear many of stories about how good of a player he was. He’s taught me everything I know and has always been there for me and Smara, the cold Sunday mornings, the summer football tournaments, the football night’s out and presentations, Cornwall trials and the training sessions. He hasn’t missed one of our games, and believe me that is a lot of games! I owe a lot of my football success to him.”
Off the pitch, life for Sasha revolves around her job and partner Ellie: “I’ve worked in the cash office for Tesco’s for just over 10 years and I love my job. I have the perfect work hours and having the weekends off means I can still play football without having to get it covered. When I’m not at work or playing football I’m normally in the gym or out running. I’ve always liked to take care of myself. Having a partner who also likes to do them things is a bonus also. Our cheat days are Saturdays so we always like to find a new restaurant that we haven’t been to around Cornwall and get ourselves a well-deserved coffee and cake.”
The conversation concluded by looking at the goals that Sasha is setting herself for on and off the pitch over the coming few years.
“Well in five years’ time I shall be 34, and not sure I will be as agile as I am now. My plan in the future personally is to start a family with my partner Ellie. There will be a time that I hang up my boots and stop playing the sport. Before I do, there are a lot of achievements left that I would like to contribute too. Ellie also plays for the team and is a great centre back. I’m worried for her little head with how many headers she connects too. We will absolutely be there on the side line cheering on Helston Women and supporting them in any way that we can.”
Western Sydney Wanderers ended a run of losses after gaining a draw against Adelaide United at Marconi Stadium.
Above: Seventeen year-old Western Sydney Wanderers starlet Sarah Hunter grabbed her first two W-League goals in only her third game. Photo: Kris Goman,
When they say Western Sydney, they really mean Western Sydney. Marconi stadium is a long way from the City of Sydney – forty kilometres from my house in the inner west. This is actually my favorite stadium despite the long drive. There’s plenty of parking, plenty of seating, an old school tuck shop and it’s usually not too crowded which I like. It’s also a stadium that, when there’s not a global pandemic, it’s easy to meet the players afterwards and get autographs and photos. And it’s the Wander Women’s home ground.
Adelaide United are playing in their yellow and red away uniform which makes it look like they work at a multi-national fast food chain. Mac attack coming up. Unusually for a women’s soccer team, most of the South Australian side seem quite tall, with the exception of Rojas. They must have the tallest average of all the teams in the W-League by a long shot.
Wanderers are playing 4-3-1-2 and Adelaide are playing 4-3-3. Wanderers kick off, lose possession immediately and are pushed back. They get possession back and drive forward and eventually Leena Khamis takes a shot from outside the box that goes straight to the keeper. She hasn’t scored this season yet and questions need to be asked about this soon. Wanderers are keeping quite a high line and exerting some early pressure.
In this match, possession it more like ping pong. It’s back and forth, passes are badly directed and it’s usually more than one touch to bring the ball under control. For the W-League to get better, the passing game really needs to improve.
Nikola Orgill sends a cross into the box which is headed by Sarah Hunter over to Khamis. It arrives a bit high for Khamis to control and her aerial kick goes wide to the right.
Above: Leena Khamis strains to reach a header against Adelaide United. Photo: Kris Goman.
Hunter then passes to Georgia Yeoman-Dale at the top of the box and she dribbles the ball to the left of goal and sends a cross right across the front of goal but there’s no one there to tap it in and an opportunity goes begging.
Adelaide make a couple of forays into the Wanderers half but they result in long shots into Willacy’s arms.
A ball bounces into the box for Yeoman-Dale (Yeo-Da) to take a shot on her left foot but it’s just wide to the right and sails out harmlessly. Looks like she copped an elbow to the nose soon after and it’s bleeding a bit so play stops for that to be attended to. A long ball from Maria Jose Rojas comes through the centre for Chelsie Dawber to run onto and Adelaide are taking more control. Orgill manages to draw a foul to stop the run. Shortly after, Dawber makes another run into the box that’s foiled by a slide tackle from Caitlin Cooper.
Down the other end, Danika Matos sends a great ball across to Khamis but the header goes well wide to the right of the box. Following up, Yeo-Da gets a free kick from a foul on the right hand side of the box. The ball goes to the far post but Khamis can’t control the header, which admittedly wasn’t in a great position, and it bounces over the goal line.
We’re thirty minutes in and Wanderers look to be the better side with more possession and more chances but Adelaide have looked dangerous on transition.
Speaking of transitions, at thirty-three minutes in, a lob comes in to Dawber from the right and Sarah Willacy is right off her line to meet the oncoming attack. Dawber flicks it up and Willacy gets a hand to it but it’s not enough to deflect the power or direction and the ball hits the back of the net for Adelaide.
Almost immediate after the kick-off, Chloe Middleton gets a shot on goal after a miss-kick by Matilda McNamara but it’s wide to the left. On another transition play for Adelaide, Dawber sends a long ball from the left to Mallory Weber in the box but Willacy beats her to it and has it safely.
Charlotte Grant kicks off an attack for Adelaide with a nice run and pass into the box that is cleared but goes straight back to Adelaide. Grant gets the ball again on the right of the box and has a little battle with Yeoman-Dale before passing back to Dawber who also manages to avoid Yeo-Da. She crosses a beautiful pass to the feet of Rojas at the top of the box who slips it past Willacy towards the left post. It’s in the net but Rojas is offside so it doesn’t count. I replayed this a few times as the broadcast replay made it look like she wasn’t offside but she definitely was when the ball was kicked so good call. Nice play though.
Above: Charlotte Grant trying to find a way through for Adelaide United. Photo: Kris Goman.
Another good play by Adelaide sees the ball moving around the box culminating in a header by Weber that skims the top post. Adelaide have stepped it up now.
Three minutes before the break, Yeoman-Dale gets the ball on the right flank. She beats Grant and brings it into the box for the cross. Near the goal line she flicks it back in front of goal. Hunter runs onto it and directs it to the far post and it beats a stretching Sian Fryer-McLaren and Isabel Hodgson’s feet for her first goal in the W-League. She’s obviously got a few friends in the crowd as there’s a lot of excited screaming. We’re level at 1-1 now.
Above: Wanderers celebrate their equalising goal before half-time. Photo: Kris Goman.
From the kick-off, Wanderers are back with possession after Russell, the Irish international, intercepts a poor pass and gets it across to Yeo-Da, centred at the top of the box. She leans back too much and has skied a sitter.
With a minute of stoppage time, the Wanderers get a free kick after Russell is slightly injured in a heavy tackle. The ball goes to the right of the box but is harmlessly out over the goal line in a wasted opportunity before the interval.
Wanderers are applying the pressure early in the second half and Khamis gets a penetrating run down the left but her back pass is squandered. Western Sydney get a free kick just out from the top of the box after a heavy tackle on Khamis by Maruschka Waldus. Adelaide sets up a five person wall. Yeo-Da to take it. It clears the wall but she’s had too many Weetbix this morning and it keeps going over the top bar.
A Wanderers short corner is cleared by Adelaide but on the way down the other half, Dawber gets an elbow from Orgill and is straight down clutching her throat. It will take her a little while to recover from that and it looks very uncomfortable. Surprisingly there’s no foul and play is restarted from a throw in. Rojas gets a run into the box but is surrounded by three defenders who relieve her of the ball. She’s technically so good but can’t overcome those numbers.
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United battle it out for possession at a corner. Photo: Kris Goman.
Back at the other end Russell slides a lovely pass to Hunter who’s threatening a second goal but McNamara blocks the shot and it’s out for a corner. Nevin takes it and it’s to the far post but is cleared out of the box. From a throw-in, both Russell and Khamis get a shot but both are blocked and Fryer-McLaren scoops it up. I’d half like to start calling her Fry-Mac but it doesn’t have the same ring to it and it’s just too redolent of the previously mentioned fast food chain. Big Mac might be more appropriate given her height.
Possession is currently 60 – 40 in favour of Western Sydney and it feels that way with Adelaide very dependent on transitions. But it is working for them.
A nice attacking run comes from a clearance from Fryer-McLaren direct to Hunter who turns it around and passes to Russell who sends a lovely ball through to Matos who runs onto it in the box. Her cross is spectacularly blocked by Waldus who stops Khamis from scoring an almost definite goal. Khamis clutches her head in dismay but later jokes about it with Waldus as they line up for the resulting corner.
Hunter takes the corner and it’s perfectly sent to Khamis’ head at the back of the box. The header is on target but straight to Fryer-McLaren’s safe hands.
Weber’s got some fancy footwork as she slips past a couple of Wanderers to bring the ball down the left. She sends it forward to Rojas who crosses in the box but she’s offside again, in what was a threatening run.
Fiona Worts comes on for United and gets employed immediately in a couple of runs down the left before it’s passed across to Grant on the right. There’s some play near the right corner flag before it goes out for an Adelaide corner. Almost everyone is directly in front of a very crowded goal for this. Inexplicably it goes to the back of the box and is headed away by Yeoman-Dale. Georgia Campagnale sends it straight back in. It’s picked up by Waldus. She gets it out wide and a cross then comes in to Dylan Holmes who takes a high strike off her chest and belts it past Willacy to take Adelaide into the lead again.
After the restart, Adelaide could have got a match clinching third when Rojas is through, but Willacy is quick off her line and gets there first and clears it emphatically.
Shortly after, Nevis makes a break down the left and gets a pass to Teigan Collister but she can’t connect and Fryer-McLaren gathers it up.
It’s straight back up the other end and Rojas is causing more mischief before playing to Condon in the box. Her shot goes high.
Wanderers break back immediately and Collister is off down the right hand side. She crosses back to Hunter who is always following up and in the right spot at the right time and she slots it under the arm of Fryer-McLaren as she jumps sideways and it rolls into goal. Grant takes a desperate lunge to try to save it but ends up prone in the goal with a cramp which Fryer-McLaren helps her to stretch out. 2-2 and we’re level again at 78 minutes. The seventeen year-old Hunter grabs the ball out of goal and runs back towards the centre with her celebrating teammates in hot pursuit.
Adelaide are back on the attack with another Rojas crusade. It’s blocked out for a corner by Orgill this time and clearly no one is giving up. The corner comes to nothing at the near post.
Copus-Brown cops a yellow for holding Dawber and bringing her down. The free kick goes over to the right from the left side but eventually it’s out on the sideline for an Adelaide throw in.
A long ball down the middle finds Rojas in a tussle with Orgill. Orgill goes over and Wanderers gets a free kick but it doesn’t really look like it was Rojas’ fault. Cooper comes through to cover and Rojas isn’t happy about it and there’s a bit of pushing and shoving between the two. Love a bit of South American passion.
Above: Libby Copus-Brown tries to get away for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Kris Goman.
The ball goes up to the Wanderers end and there’s a couple of well- connected passes between Copus-Brown and Hunter. The teenager takes another shot, looking for her hat-trick, but it’s not on target this time and sails clear of the goal.
Both teams get a couple more runs into goal including one from Worts with a nice cross that is into empty space followed by a floater from Khamis straight to the keeper.
Rojas gets into the box yet again and passes back to Dawber but her shot is deflected out by Matos for a corner. That play looked genuinely threatening and we’re in the last minutes of a drawn game so the tension is high. Once again, absolutely everybody is in front of goal. This time the ball lands in the middle of the whirlpool. Waldus gets a head to it and it bounces straight up and Galea manages to clear out to the right side-line. Adelaide is applying all the pressure right now and Waldus gets another crack but sends it high over the goal.
Into stoppage time, Collister gets another wonderful cross from the right directly in front of goal but Galea can’t do anything with it under this pressure. Adelaide transition again and Worts is on the left in the clear. She gets it to Dawber who passes back to her at the top of the box. Her shot is just to the right of the post as she tries to curl it, in a pretty close call.
Some sloppy passing by both teams sees two chances squandered before Worts gets it on the right, passes to Campagnale who gets it across to Rojas who is unmarked and onside. She turns and shoots but Willacy has come out, made herself big and deflects the shot in a match saving move. She’s earned her pay today with that save alone. The game ends with extended ping pong in the midfield and we’re drawn two all at full time.
Above: Maria Jose Rojas caught the eye once more for Adelaide United. Photo: Kris Goman,
Hunter is player of the match with her first two W-League goals in just her third game. Apart from the goals, she was very solid in defence and all over the park backing up with ferocity. It’s a good call for this award and well deserved for a young player. I watch afterwards and she’s swamped by her friends from the stands that are understandably excited for her. She’s embarrassed by the attention but is lapping it up.
ADELAIDE UNITED: Fryer-McLaren, Grant, I. Hodgson, McNamara, Walder, Campagnale, Holmes, Condon, Rojas, Dawber, Webber. Substitutes: Grove (GK), E. Hodgson, Hogg, Worts.
Scorers: Dawber 33. Holmes 71.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: 415.
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