Last weekend saw a further three matches in the Westfield W League. Impetus editor Ben Gilby reports.

Melbourne City took advantage of previous leaders Western Sydney Wanderers being one of three teams with a bye to replace the New South Wales side at the top of the table after recording an impressive 2-0 win at Brisbane Roar in front of 2,693 fans at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium.

With no game for the past two weeks, some City fans may have been concerned that their side might be rusty, but any fears were dispelled when the Sky Blues took the lead after just six minutes. Yukari Kinga played in Australian international Steph Catley, and her cross was diverted straight into the path of Melbourne City forward Milica Mijatovic by Roar goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, and the Serbian striker couldn’t miss.

Brisbane hit back strongly, with Matildas star Hayley Raso denied three times – first from a header which Lydia Williams saved, then her fierce effort crashed off of the bar and a third effort which failed to trouble Williams.

Melbourne could have settled matters when they awarded a penalty after Aivi Luik was fouled by Katrina Gorry. Steph Catley’s spot kick was comfortably saved by Arnold. However, the second goal finally came when Mijatovic played in Luik who smashed the winner home.

Melbourne Victory took advantage of Brisbane’s defeat to replace them in the top four following a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets in front of an impressive crowd of 4,961 at AAMI Park.

It took just ten minutes for Victory to take the lead thanks to Natasha Dowie’s goal which came at the end of a great build-up. Lia Privitelli played in Darian Jenkins whose cross was flicked on by Rosie Sutton for Dowie to head home.

Melbourne’s lead was doubled fifteen minutes later when Sutton’s header came back off the post and Jenkins prodded the ball in.

Despite Victory continuing to push forward, the only remaining goal of the game went Newcastle’s way. Tara Andrews’ cross rebounded off of Melbourne’s Rosie Sutton into the path of Gema Simon and the Jets left-back’s shot went in off of the post.

The remaining game of the round took place at the Marden Sports Complex where Adelaide United hosted Perth Glory in the battle of the only two sides yet to win a game this season.

Perth started strongly but due to a combination of poor finishing and fine goalkeeping from Sarah Willacy in the United goal, had nothing to show for it.

The South Australians punished Glory for the profligacy when Chelsie Dawber was played in and coolly slotted past Glory keeper Eliza Campbell. Just before half-time, it was 2-0 to Adelaide when Dawber turned creator to play in Mary Fowler who smashed the ball into the corner of the net.

The vast majority of the 565 spectators were in dreamland, but to their credit, Perth came out firing at the start of the second half.

Within seven minutes of the restart they were back in it when Crystal Thomas ran onto a through ball, turned a Reds defender and hit a lovely shot into the top corner.

Perth were going all out for the equaliser and Adelaide almost caught them when Mary Fowler’s effort went narrowly wide and Charlotte Grant hit a shot over the bar.

Just as it looked like Adelaide would earn their first three points of the season, Glory were awarded a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time and up stepped Morgan Andrews to earn Perth a share of the spoils – and leaving both teams still searching for their first wins.

Western Sydney Wanderers, Canberra United and Sydney FC were all not in action. The next round of matches takes place between 9-12^th January with Sydney FC, Adelaide United and Perth Glory all receiving a bye during that weekend.

Latest Westfield W League Table:

Teams in bold qualify for the Finals play-offs.

There’s new leaders in the Westfield W League after the seventh round of matches. Impetus editor Ben Gilby reports.

Western Sydney Wanderers have capped their outstanding start to the season by ending 2019 as W League leaders. Dean Heffernan’s side, who have never previously won more than four games in a season in the club’s history before, recorded their fifth win of this campaign in some style with a 4-0 thumping of Canberra United, taking their goal tally in the last two games to nine with none conceded in the same period.  

After a fairly even start to the game at McKellar Park in the ACT, it was the Black and Reds who took the lead seven minutes before the break and it was seventeen year-old Aussie starlet Kyra Cooney-Cross who looped a header over Canberra keeper Sham Khamis from Erica Holloway’s cross.  

Canberra continued to create chances, but, crucially, they failed to take advantage. The ‘Wander Women’ made them pay in some style. Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan had previously narrowly missed on two occasions, but on 69 minutes there was no denying her as she fired in from the edge of the area.

To the disappointment of the 1,243 crowd, the Parramatta based side added two further goals in a four minute spell. It was their supremely dangerous pair of Kristen Hamilton and Lynn Williams on the scoresheet yet again to ensure their side ended 2019 at the summit.

Melbourne City had the bye and are now second on goal difference from Western Sydney Wanderers.

Sydney FC are third, just a point behind the top two after requiring two late goals to see off winless Adelaide United at Jubilee Stadium.

After well over an hour of nip and tuck, which saw Adelaide create a number of excellent chances – notably for Lais Araujo and Mallory Webber – United’s hopes of gaining an unlikely point out of the game were crushed. Remy Siemsen’s cross took a wicked deflection off of the South Australian’s defender Amber Brooks and flew into the net.

It was the sort of luck that dogs a team struggling at the foot of the league table, and things got worse as the clock moved into stoppage time at the end of the game when a firecracker of a shot from Princess Ibini rocketed in to the delight of the excellent Kogorah crowd of 3,373.

Brisbane Roar took advantage of Canberra’s heavy loss to Western Sydney Wanderers to enter the finals places for the first time this season thanks to a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets at Lions Stadium.

An excellent crowd of 2,189 gathered to welcome home Queensland’s Matildas legend Elise Kellond-Knight, and the Roar started on the front foot with Jets’ keeper Claire Coelho constantly denying the home side – first when she tipped Hayley Raso’s shot past the post and then keeping out Carson Picket’s effort. If those saves weren’t important enough, Coelho then rustled up another four outstanding stops with Raso, Tameka Yallop, Natalie Tathem and Katrina Grey all seeing their efforts kept out.

To add to the Brisbane frustration, it was Newcastle who eventually took the lead, with a textbook counter attack which ended with Tara Andrews smashing a half volley into the net.

Just before the break though, the Queenslanders finally made the breakthrough when Isobel Dalton’s cross was nodded in by Matilda’s legend Claire Polkinghorne.

Despite creating a hatful of opportunities in the second half, Brisbane could only add one further goal, but it was enough to gain the win and a place in the top four when eighteen year-old Hollie Palmer responded quickest to Carson Picket’s shot which came back off of the crossbar. Brisbane made hard work of the win, but now they are in the finals places, they are going to be very tough to shift.

The final match of the round saw Melbourne Victory gain only their second win of the season after returning from Western Australia with a 2-1 win over a Perth Glory side who are experiencing a tough run of results.

Perth started the game positively and Kat Jukic saw a magnificent effort come crashing back off of the post with Victory keeper Casey Dumont beaten all ends up. Another golden opportunity slipped away from Glory after Crystal Thomas’ feeble attempt at a spot kick, which was awarded after she was taken out by Emily Menges.

Melbourne picked themselves off of the canvas and hit Perth with a sucker punch when Amy Jackson’s long range scorcher cannoned off of the crossbar and down into the goal.

Eight minutes into the second half, Melbourne – and Jackson – doubled their tally after a game of penalty box pinball. Natasha Dowie and Rosie Sutton had efforts blocked before Jackson headed the ball in from virtually on the goal line.

Perth responded well to this latest misfortune and got a goal back when Leticia McKenna capitalised on a defensive disaster from Victory’s Emily Menges to fire home off of the post. Try as Perth might, they could not find an equaliser, and it was another tough result to take for a poor Dorrien Gardens crowd of 618.

The next round of matches in the Westfield W League take place between 2^nd and 5^th January. Impetus will have all the news from Round Eight next week.

Latest Westfield W League Table:

Teams in bold qualify for the Finals play-offs.

It was an incredible sixth week of action in the Westfield W League. Impetus editor Ben Gilby reports.

Melbourne City are still unbeaten and top of the W League courtesy of a 1-0 win at home to Perth Glory in front of 600 spectators at ABD Stadium in Broadmeadows, some ten miles outside Victoria’s capital. However, thanks to an astonishing result in Sydney, their grip on first place is more tenuous than previously.

City dominated the encounter against last season’s beaten Grand Finalists, but struggled to make the breakthrough in the face of a superb display from Perth’s defence and goalkeeper Eliza Campbell.

The Sky Blues’ first opportunity came courtesy of Emily van Egmond, whose free-kick went wide. Defensively, the Western Australians were strong and were only seen offensively on the occasional counter attack. They did though have an opportunity through Morgan Andrews who capitalised on a mistake from Ellie Carpenter and hit her shot agonisingly wide.

Melbourne City made the breakthrough on the hour mark. Matildas’ Steph Catley’s free kick rocked the crossbar and New Zealand international Rebekah Stott reacted quickest to bundle the ball home. The hosts could have increased their winning margin, but Ellie Carpenter’s shot from van Egmond’s cutback hit the side netting, and Campbell made a superb save from Scottish star Claire Emslie. City ran out 1-0 winners in front of 600 spectators at ABD Stadium

Whilst Melbourne City stand three points clear at the top, Western Sydney Wanderers could remove them over the Christmas period when they play their game in hand. This is due to a quite staggering 5-0 win for the Wanderers over defending W League champions Sydney FC in front of a delirious home crowd of 2,233 in Parramatta.

The Black and Reds, who have almost recorded more points already in this campaign than they did in the whole of the past two seasons chalked up their first victory over their cross city rivals for five years in real style which lays down a significant marker for the rest of the 2019/20 season.

Western Sydney Wanderers started on fire, and built a two goal lead after just seven minutes. First, Lynn Williams strode purposefully down the right wing and found Kristen Hamilton. She in turn laid it back to Amy Harrison who hit it into the far left hand corner of the net out of the reach of Sydney keeper Audrey Bledsoe.

Shortly less than two minutes later, the home side doubled their lead, with Williams and Hamilton playing another influential role. Williams’ ball to the far post saw Kyra Cooney-Cross have all the time in the world to head home.

Just before the break it was 3-0 with Cooney-Cross firing home a stunning strike. Amy Harrison received great pass from Williams. The scorer of Wanderers’ first goal played it to Cooney-Cross in the middle, just outside the area, and the ball was curled into the far corner.

Kristen Hamilton, who was giving Sydney major headaches all afternoon long, was involved in the fourth when she broke clear and played a ball in. Lynn Williams slid the ball into the net.

Wanderers were rampant and the shell-shocked visitors needed Audrey Bledsoe to make two stunning saves, but even she could not prevent a fifth goal at Bankwest Stadium. It was Lynn Williams who sealed her brace when she rounded Bledsoe and rolled the ball in to joyous scenes amid arguably the greatest result in Western Sydney Wanderers Women’s history.

Adelaide United’s winless start to the campaign continued after a 2-1 loss to fourth placed Canberra United in front of 693 supporters at the Marden Sports Complex.

Despite having the best of the opening exchanges, Adelaide went behind after ten minutes thanks to the record equalling 42^nd W League goal from Canberra hot shot Leena Khamis, who fired a fierce effort from the edge of the area.

The South Australian hosts will rue a host of missed chances to level the score-line. Mary Fowler really should have scored when she rounded the visitors’ keeper but Kahlia Hogg cleared. Chelsie Dawber had another golden opportunity for Adelaide, but Olivia Price saved Canberra. They paid the price for this profligacy when seventeen year-old Canberra midfielder Hayley Taylor-Young crashed home her first ever W League goal after Adelaide failed to clear Camila’s corner.

Adelaide United finally got on the scoresheet in the closing stages through Emily Condon, but it was far too little too late as the home side look in danger of being marooned at the bottom of the table.

The final game of the round took place at Epping Stadium where Melbourne Victory’s disappointing start to the campaign took a positive twist after they ended Brisbane Roar’s excellent run of form after they earned a 0-0 draw in front of 406 spectators. It is important to state that this poor looking crowd figure was impacted by the game being moved to a 10:30am kick-off in order to avoid forecast temperatures of 43^oC (109^oF).

The Queenslanders had the best of the early opportunities as Rylee Baisden and Tameka Yallop were particularly prominent. Roar were also faced by a Melbourne Victory keeper in Casey Dumont (herself a former Brisbane custodian) who was in outstanding form – particularly in denying both Baisden and Hollie Palmer in quick succession. Katrina Gorry spooned another Roar effort over the bar.

After the break, with temperatures hitting the high thirties in centigrade, Melbourne got a foothold in the game, but they had no better luck in front of goal than Brisbane.

The next round of matches in the Westfield W League take place between Boxing Day and 29^th December. Impetus will have all the news from Round Seven on 30^th December.

Latest Westfield W League Table:

Teams in bold qualify for the Finals play-offs.

Impetus editor Ben Gilby reviews the fifth round of action in the Westfield W League as leaders Melbourne City cemented their lead at the top of the table.

It was a perfect weekend for Melbourne City who remain top of the table following victory in their derby day clash with Melbourne Victory at ABD Stadium.

A season’s best crowd of 907 gathered at the stadium in Broadmeadows, nine miles outside of the city centre, but they had to wait until the very end of the cross city clash for the winning goal to go in.

City dominated the game from start to finish, with their Matildas stars Emily van Egmond and Steph Catley particularly impressive. It was only thanks to Casey Dumont repeatedly saving her side that Victory remained on terms with City until the closing stages.

Scottish star Claire Emslie had an early chance for the Sky Blues, but she blazed over before van Egmond forced the first of Dumont’s heroics. The Victory keeper pulled out another save just before the half hour mark when she saved van Egmond’s penalty which was awarded when Teigen Allen handled Ellie Carpenter’s cross.

On the rare occasion that Dumont was beaten, her defence came to her aid when Melbourne Victory defender Janna McCormick blocked Milica Mijatovic’s goalbound shot.

The pressure continued until the penultimate minute when Steph Catley put in a teasing cross and Yukari Kinga, holder of a century of Japanese caps swept home the winner. Melbourne City’s first win over Victory since 2017 ensured that they now stand a point clear at the top of the table. The loss sees last season’s minor premiers much further down the table than they would like to be at this stage of the campaign.

Sydney FC are leading the chasing pack following a comfortable 2-0 win away from home at fellow New South Wales outfit Newcastle Jets in front of a crowd of 2,513 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The men from the Harbour City were determined to get their title defence back on track after suffering their first loss for the campaign last weekend to fellow championship challengers Melbourne City, and they were out of the blocks faster than an Olympic sprinter. With just thirty second gone, Caitlin Forde’s mazy run past four defenders saw her force Newcastle keeper Claire Coelho into a fine save.

Sydney’s Australian internationals continued to pose problems and Chloe Logarzo fired in a powerful effort which Coelho dealt with well. Just prior to the half hour mark, Sydney missed a third opportunity when Teresa Polias’ attempted lob of the Jets keeper from around 25 yards was pushed over her bar by Coelho.

Just three minutes later, the Sky Blues finally took the lead. Angelique Hristodoulou sent over a pin point cross for Remy Siemsen to head home.

Shortly afterwards it was 2-0 following a goalkeeping howler from Coelho whose attempted clearance went straight to Siemsen who controlled the ball and had all the time in the world to roll it into the net.

Coelho made amends for the error by keeping the visitors out during the second stanza. Newcastle Jets had their own chances to hit back after the break, and it was only two fine stops from Sydney stopper Aubrey Bledsoe who palmed Hannah Brewer’s shot around the post and then blocked a long range effort from Libby Copus-Brown, as Sydney left the port city with all three points.

Western Sydney Wanderers, who had the bye remain in third place ahead of their huge cross city derby with Sydney FC this Friday night.

Canberra United stay fourth after they earned a point from their trip across country to Perth Glory at Dorrien Gardens.

Glory’s transitional season after making three Grand Finals in the last five years has been incredibly challenging so far with three straight defeats. This, in conjunction with the loss of Western Australian superstar Sam Kerr from their roster probably goes some way to explain the exceptionally disappointing attendance of just 365 in West Perth.

Canberra had the better of the game and would have left Western Australia disappointed not to have earned all three points. They took the lead after fifteen minutes when Kayleigh Kurtz’s long ball through was met by Simone Charley, with the American hitting a shot home past Eliza Campbell.

United then missed four golden chances to seal victory. First, their star Elise Thorsnes’ shot went narrowly wide before Leena Khamis sent an effort crashing against the angle of bar and post. Perth keeper Eliza Campbell then needed to be at her best to deny both Karly Roestbakken and Camila.

Perth made Canberra pay for those missed opportunities with a sucker punch at the death. Glory earned themselves a corner. Crystal Thomas floated it in and Kim Carroll rose highest to power a header in for her first ever W League goal. It earned Perth their first point of the season.

The final game of the round took place at Lions Stadium where 1,682 watched Brisbane Roar host Adelaide United, who are now the only side in the W League still to earn a point.

The Queenslanders made a red hot start and took the lead just after three and a half minutes. Carlson Pickett played in Rylee Baisden. Her cut back was turned in by the in-form Indiah Page-Riley for the opening goal.

Shortly afterwards, the Roar almost doubled their lead as Tameka Yallop’s curler cannoned back off of the crossbar. Brisbane got the second goal they dearly deserved on twelve minutes when Matildas’ Hayley Raso side footed Rylee Baisden’s cross into the net.

Adelaide finally got a toe hold in the game after twenty-five minutes when Mary Fowler sent a low drive into the bottom corner. She almost levelled matters five minutes later when she spooned an effort over.

The second half was more of an even battle, but it was Adelaide who looked to have rescued what would have been an outstanding point when Mallory Weber levelled when she cut into the box and fired past the despairing dive of Roar keeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Try as the South Australians might, they could not hang on, and with six minutes left, Brisbane grabbed the winner.  Natalie Tatham played through a delightfully accurate ball which split the Adelaide defence and Hayley Raso grabbed her second of the afternoon.

Teams in bold qualify for the Finals play-offs.

The W League does not stop for Christmas, and nor does Impetus’ round up of all the action from Down Under! Don’t miss our piece on Christmas Eve bringing you all the news from Round Six with two further rounds to be played before the end of the New Year bank holiday.

Impetus editor Ben Gilby rounds up all the action from the fourth round of matches in the Westfield W League.

Western Sydney Wanderers’ sensational start to the season continued as they went top of the W League for the first time as their unbeaten run continued with an excellent 1-1 draw away to last season’s premiers Melbourne Victory.

Victory took the game on the road to Marwell, located some ninety-three miles outside of the Victorian state capital, and the vast majority of the disappointing crowd of 443 were celebrating after just eight minutes when Natasha Dowie played the ball in and American Haley Hanson slid in to steer it home.

The Wanderers, whose chances of going from wooden spoonists to table toppers in consecutive seasons dominated the rest of the contest, forcing home keeper Casey Dumont into a string of fine saves to keep the Victory lead intact. The pressure finally told on 62 minutes when Alexandra Huynh played in Lynn Williams and the Parramatta based side’s star player slotted the ball calmly under Dumont to record a highly creditable point.   

Wanderers are only top by goal difference as the only other unbeaten side Melbourne City gained a superb 2-1 win away to reigning champions Sydney FC.

Many have tipped City for a good season, and they showed exactly why by overcoming a seriously tough examination in the Harbour City which more than showed their title credentials in front of a healthy crowd of 2,690.

It took just three minutes for City to go ahead. Milica Mijatovic drove towards the Sydney box and played in Emily van Egmond. The home side’s defence were drawn to a dummy run from Claire Emslie leaving van Egmond in the clear to smash home.

Sydney were stung into action, and Lydia Williams was forced into action to deny Princess Ibini and Remy Siemsen. Five minutes before the break, the home side were level. Matildas star Chloe Logarzo played a delightful ball through to Sofia Huerta, who brought the ball down magnificently, beat Ellie Carpenter before driving home past Williams.

With fifteen minutes left, City sealed the win with a sensational strike. Australian international Ellie Carpenter put in a dangerous cross which was headed clear by Ellie Brush. Unfortunately for Sydney, Brush’s header fell at the feet of Milica Mijatovic who smashed it first time into the top corner to win the battle of the sky blues was won for Melbourne City.

Brisbane Roar earned their first three points of the season with a 2-1 success at Canberra United who remain fourth despite the reverse, their second in a row.

The Roar dominated the game, in front of 1,185 in the nation’s capital, and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. Hayley Raso played a delightful pass through to Brisbane’s all-time record goal scorer Tameka Yallop. Her effort was adjudged to have gone over the line after rebounding down from the crossbar. In any case, Indiah-Paige Riley followed in to make sure.

Canberra had the odd chance to equalise, notably when Camilla put in a tempting cross which Elise Thorsnes couldn’t connect with. Roar made United rue the miss shortly afterwards when Raso got on to the end of Mackenzie Arnold’s clearance kick, went past Leema Khamis and headed home.

Despite their domination, Brisbane could not add to their tally. It was Canberra who managed to add the only remaining goal of the afternoon when Thorsnes took the ball from Roar’s Clare Polkinghorne and fired past Arnold for 2-1.

The final game of the round was at Dorrien Gardens where two sides without a win so far faced off. Last year’s beaten Grand Finalists, Perth Glory saw their difficult start to the campaign continue as they suffered a third successive defeat as Newcastle Jets took the points in Western Australia in front of 604 spectators.

The early stages saw Glory on the front foot, with Shannon May and Caitlin Doeglas wasting opportunities by firing high, wide and none too handsome.

Newcastle were more accurate and took the lead on twenty-three minutes when Nikki Flannery volleyed home Teigan Collister’s cross. Perth wasted several opportunities to draw level, and it was the Jets who led at the break.

Glory were punished further for their profligacy in front of goal when Tara Andrews combined with Gema Simon before hitting a shot which cannoned off of the bar before rolling in.

Perth finally got in on the goal-scoring act thanks to fierce shot from their newly arrived Spanish international Celia Jimenez on fifty-seven minutes. There was plenty of time for Glory to respond, and Julia Sardo could have levelled, but her header was well saved.

Newcastle had one further golden opportunity to seal their win after being awarded a penalty following Hana Lowry’s handball, but Jenna Kingsley’s effort was saved by Eliza Campbell.

Adelaide United had the bye.

Table Round Four

Teams in bold qualify for Finals stage of the season.

Impetus editor Ben Gilby rounds up all the action from the third round of matches from the Westfield W League in Australia.

New South Wales has kept its stranglehold on the W League with Sydney FC and cross city rivals Western Sydney Wanderers still holding one hundred percent win rates at the top of the table.

Sydney FC stay top on goal difference after a comfortable 3-1 win away to Perth Glory in a repeat of last season’s Grand Final. Whilst the Sky Blues have started 2019/20 the way they finished the previous campaign, for the Western Australians it is a season of transition with new, younger players finding their feet in the league. It hasn’t helped that their start to the season has been slightly disjointed as, following their opening day defeat at Canberra United, they had the bye last weekend, and therefore lay bottom with two matches played.

Sydney came out of the blocks like a sprinter and built a 2-0 lead after just six minutes. Remy Siemson cooly chipped the ball over the advancing Perth keeper Eliza Campbell after three minutes. Siemson doubled the score shortly after when she capitalised on some defensive malfunctions. Her shot was partially blocked by Campbell, but the ball rebounded from both posts and rolled in. Despite Perth rallying and creating some opportunities, any hope the home side had of rescuing the game went after 39 minutes when Princess Ibini was fouled in the area and Caitlin Foord stepped up to hit home the penalty.

Caitlin Doeglas got a goal back for Perth after the break, but Sydney still created the better chances with both Foord and fellow Australian international Chloe Logarzo going close. It was a comprehensive victory for the Sky Blues in front of a crowd of 797 at Dorrien Gardens.

Western Sydney Wanderers recorded their third straight win with a sensational 3-1 success at Brisbane Roar.

If anyone thought that Wanderers’ start to the campaign, which has seen them amass more points than in the whole of last season already, was a flash in the pan, then this success in Queensland will surely put them right.

Kristen Hamilton’s superb hat-trick was the difference between the two sides in front of a decent Thursday night crowd of 2,535 at Lions Park. However, it could have been so very different as the Roar started strongly and it took two super saves from Wanderers’ keeper Abby Smith in the opening ten minutes to keep Brisbane out. First, Smith turned away Carson Pickett’s long range strike and later Tameka Yallop’s header was pushed round the post.

Wanderers survived the early scare and began to dominate themselves. American star Lydia Williams, who has been a vital part in everything good the Parramatta based side have done so far, sprinted past the Brisbane defence to play in countrywoman Hamilton for her first after ten minutes. The second goal arrived just before the break, and this time it was three Americans involved in the build up. Sam Staab’s throw was flicked on by Williams and Hamilton couldn’t miss.

Ten minutes into the second half, Brisbane were given a lifeline when Western Sydney’s Erica Halloway made an error in defence which was gobble up by Pickett. She in turn squared the ball to Rylee Baisden who hit home. Any hopes that the Queenslanders had soon vanished as the Wanderers laid siege to the home goal. Williams’ fierce shot cannoned back off of the bar. But it was all over when Williams completed her hat-trick with a sensational goal. Kyra Cooney-Cross backheeled the ball into Williams’ stride. The American turned the defender and fired a scorcher in to complete a superb win.

Melbourne City are third and remain unbeaten, but are two points adrift of the Sydney sides after they narrowly saw off an Adelaide United side who will feel desperately unlucky to still be looking for their first win of the season.

The only goal of the game at John McEwan Reserve came after just eight minutes when Ellie Carpenter crossed for Kyah Simon to slide the ball home. Australian international Aivi Luik could have doubled the home side’s lead, but her long range shot was well saved by Sarah Willacy. City had three further excellent chances before the break to wrap up victory. Scottish international Claire Emslie had a shot saved by Willacy, and Simon hit two shots over the bar.

The second half saw Adelaide create a number of excellent chances, but an inability to convert them, combined with ill-luck – Brooks’ effort ruled to be offside. Melbourne City had further opportunities through Emily van Egmond, Claire Emslie and Ellie Carpenter, but in the end the crowd of 500 had to settle for the one goal.

The final game of the round saw Canberra United move up to fourth with an impressive win at Newcastle Jets in front of an equally impressive crowd of 3,446 at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

The side from the capital city built up a 2-0 lead around the half-hour mark. Ashlie Crofts opened the scoring on 29 minutes, when she followed up Karly Roestbakken’s shot which came crashing off the bar. Simone Charley doubling the advantage just three minutes later when she calmly placed the ball underneath the onrushing Jets keeper Claire Coelho.

Incredibly, there were still two further goals to come before the break – both from the spot by Tara Andrews and both after fouls on Nikki Flannery within five minutes of each other!

The outcome of the game was in doubt to the very end, and with nine minutes left, United grabbed a winner thanks to Elise Thorsnes who finished off a counter-attacking move with a shot into the bottom corner.

Melbourne Victory had the bye, and subsequently drop to fifth place with one win and one loss from their two games so far. Newcastle Jets are now sixth with Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United and Perth Glory still looking for their first points of the season.

Round Four sees a mouth-watering clash between defending champions Sydney FC and many people’s favourites Melbourne City. Elsewhere, Western Sydney Wanderers face a stern test of their credentials with a trip to Melbourne Victory. Brisbane Roar travel to a Canberra United side who have started very well. Either Perth Glory or Newcastle Jets will look to chalk up their first win of the campaign when they face off in Western Australia.