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Kris Goman’s EXCLUSIVE action shots from Cromer Park.
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.
Impetus is proud to sponsor Chorley Women’s Lisa Topping. Ahead of the much hoped for return to action, Ben Gilby spoke to Lisa about a difficult month at the club, which saw the sad passing of one of Chorley Women’s biggest supporters Momma D, who was a much loved figure around the club.
Lisa began our catch-up by letting us know how she’s doing at the moment. “I’m doing well and am keeping everything crossed that we are on the right track to get back to normality. Football is a massive outlet for me so I’m ready to get back with my team mates and play the game we all love.”
The club recently experienced the sad passing of ‘Momma D’. Lisa outlined why she was so special to everyone at Chorley Women.
“Momma D was an amazing, caring person who will be missed by everyone at Chorley. She dedicated so much of her time and energy in to the club, along with her husband Geoff and daughter Janet. Even when Janet’s playing career was over, Momma D would be at training watching – even in the middle of winter – and when it was shooting practice she would be stood at the back of the field retrieving all of the missed shots in the dark where there were no floodlights!”
“She and Geoff travelled all over to away games to watch us play and never missed a thing to do with Chorley. She brought sweets in to the locker room before games, gave pep talks, helped at every fundraising event, gave game debriefs, gave players cut-outs of articles on themselves from the local newspaper and cheered us all on at every game. She was so passionate and caring it’s hard to imagine a Chorley game without her there.”
“Every game we play now will be in honour of her memory. Once we get back together as a team we will discuss what options we have to commemorate her throughout the season and at games. I’m sure there will be some pre-game rituals put in place for every game and celebrations of her life and commitment to the club.”
“She’s the centre of a lot of our Chorley stories so whenever we reminisce she will be remembered. Like when I took a shot and she told me how awful it was, or when she’s got her head torch on searching for miskicked shots in the brambles and when she even interrupted a team talk.”
With coronavirus restrictions starting to ease once more, Lisa updated us on the situation at the moment about training and her own fitness.
“Betti, one of our senior players, has continued to do an excellent job with virtual sessions. I’ve continued to get out and run, cycle or kick a ball on the local park by myself. This has helped keep me in some form of shape but I’m definitely ready to get back with the team and push on together. We thankfully haven’t got long to wait as we will be training in April.”
Despite training starting again, the FA have announced that Chorley’s season in the FA Women’s National League Division One North has been rendered null and void for the second year in a row. I asked Lisa what she felt about the decision:
“This must have been such a hard decision for the FA. Whichever way they decided, clubs and players were going to be disappointed. This time away from the pitch has really made me appreciate the years I have left to play so I’m definitely ready to get going and compete again. We were prepared either way. If we needed to play multiple games a week to catch up we would have but similarly we respect the decision made by the FA and league.”
Some parts of the country have already said they are going to run County based cup games or friendlies. Lisa ended our conversation by updating us on the situation specifically at Chorley.
“Our manager, Ben Gooden and the rest of the management team have been working really hard to get a plan together since hearing the news. He is really proactive so I know he will have plans in motion. I know we are getting some friendlies booked in and I’m sure if there is a cup set up in Lancashire we would enter it. Ben is really keen to keep us all fit, healthy and prepared and ready to go into next season strong. He will make sure we use this extra prep time well.”
Sydney FC 2-1 Melbourne Victory
Report from Kris Goman at Cromer Park.
Sydney finally clinch the premiership after ten years in the doldrums. Despite winning the championship three times, the premiership, which is awarded to the team who finish top of the table at the end of the regular W-League season has remained elusive in recent years.
Captain Teresa Polias was actually on the team last time Sydney won the Premiership and it speaks volumes of her longevity as that was in 2011, exactly ten years ago.
The funny thing about this match is that everything is at stake but nothing is at stake. If either team win they would win the Premiership and get a home semi-final which gives a distinct advantage. On the other hand, both teams have safely qualified for the finals series and a loss would not change that. It would just change who they played and where the game would take place.
Sydney are playing without star forward Cortnee Vine who injured her knee last week against Canberra. I spoke to her after the match and she didn’t know yet the extent of the damage but knew it was an MCL injury not an ACL. That still puts her out of the Finals series unfortunately.
Victory are fielding much the same team that demolished Perth Glory on the weekend. When you’re on a good thing, stick to it.
So in this much anticipated match which was originally due to be played a fortnight ago but postponed due to sustained heavy rain, Melbourne Victory kick off and are immediately on the attack. The press down the left through Lisa De Vanna, Angie Beard and Kyra Cooney-Cross is unrelenting but the Sydney defence are standing up to this attack. Sydney are attacking mostly on transition and Mackenzie Hawkesby gets a long ball to Princess Ibini who drives towards the box before passing back to Hawkesby. She takes one touch but pokes it over the crossbar uncontrolled.
Not too long after, Remy Siemsen takes a long range shot outside the box but Gabriela Garton has it in her sights the whole way.
Straight back on the attack De Vanna displays her signature fancy footwork and sidesteps a number of defenders before passing to Cooney-Cross who also takes a long range punt. It’s a bit too high and goes over the crossbar but it was nicely weighted and directed other than height. It certainly shows what she’s capable of.
Almost immediately afterwards Beard takes a shot but it’s straight to Jada Mathyssen-Whyman in the Sydney goal. Victory have come to play, no doubt about that.
Victory continue to press. Natalie Tobin and Natasha Prior are standing up to the onslaught but at this stage, it feels like Victory has the upper hand and the bulk of both possession and territory. Cooney-Cross gets another couple of shots in, one is gathered by Mathyssen-Whyman and one deflected by Tobin. Even Princess Ibini finds herself back doing a lot of defensive work.
On a rare Sydney attack, a ball comes into the box to Ibini but she’s not facing goal and can’t turn and the danger is nullified.
A Rachel Lowe intercept sees another incursion to the box for Sydney but results in a free kick just outside the box to be taken by Teresa Polias. Victory establish a large wall. The kick goes just over the wall to the top of the near post and into the back of the net past the outstretched arms of Garton. So sweetly struck for what is unbelievably only Polias’ third goal in her 155 W-league matches.
Victory are not fazed by the goal and continue their attack getting two corners shortly after the goal. They both come to naught.
Hawkesby gets a yellow for a shirt pull on Cooney-Cross. The resulting free kick is cleared but then bounces around outside the box until Prior chooses to clear over the goal line to relieve the pressure with a corner.
There are moments of brilliance from both sides but Victory still seem to have the bulk of possession and territory in the lead up to half time but the Sydney defence stand resolute.
Just before half time Sydney bring the ball into the box and Siemsen gets it back to Hawkesby. Her shot passes Kayla Ann Morrison and Garton pushes it away towards Ibini. Ibini ends up kicking it out as Garton dives and gets a hand to it so it’s a Sydney corner. The corner goes into the side netting in a wasted opportunity.
The second half sees more of the same. There’s a gasp as Garton does a soft clearance that Wheeler intercepts but she can’t control it and it goes straight back out.
Things feel a little bit more even in the second half and Sydney get a few more attacking opportunities. In one, Hawkesby passes to Siemsen and she gets a decent shot away only to be called offside. Garton had it covered but it was a better play by Sydney.
A Victory attack with a cross from substitute Catherine Zimmerman cross sees Mathyssen-Whyman stretch up high to grab then drop then retrieve the ball right in front of goal.
A little later Zimmerman receives the ball out on the right and runs Green around before shooting straight to Mathyssen-Whyman.
A Polias ball out to Ibini on the left sees her drive once more into the box and send a ball across an open goal that is missed by everyone.
De Vanna has a shot up the other end after some nice lead up work by Victory but it’s also straight into Mathyssen-Whyman’s arms.
After 71 minutes, Sydney get a penalty when Siemsen is fouled on the left on the box. Ibini steps up to take it and powers it past Garton on the right and this takes the score to 2-0 Sydney, even though it’s not really that reflective of the match, Sydney have taken their chances and Victory just haven’t been able to broach the Sky Blues’ defence despite a concerted effort.
Melina Ayres splatters Ally Green with a boot to the face and gets a yellow for her efforts. It takes a while to get her sorted and back on the field.
In a last second saving of face, Cooney-Cross displays some individual brilliance. Five minutes into stoppage time, the ball comes out to the right from Ayres to Cooney-Cross. She brings it into the box, drags it to her left, wrong foots Green and sends a rocket to the top left corner beating Mathyssen-Wyman. It’s all too little, too late but was definitely the goal of the match, just beautifully struck and showing her total class.
Sydney get the match, the Premiership and the semi-final hosting rights. The trophy is presented to Polias and she brings it over to her team and they hoist it in victory. It was a well-deserved win in the end and marks the end of a fairly dominant season by Sydney where they were table toppers week in, week out.
Victory look on desolate as they really put in a great effort in this match but just couldn’t bring home the bacon.
Teams: SYDNEY FC: Mathyssen-Whyman, Mclean, Green, Prior, Tobin, Polias, Hawkesby, Wheeler, Siemsen, Lowe, Ibini. Substitutes: Campbell (GK), Hristodoulou, Rule, Ray, Toby.
Scorers: Polias 29, Ibini 73.
MELBOURNE VICTORY: Garton, Doran, Beard, Bunge, Morrison, Jackson, Longo, Cooney-Cross, Ayres, Barbieri, De Vanna. Substitutes: Maizels (GK), Martineau, Privitelli, Eliadis, Zimmerman.
Scorer: Cooney-Cross 90+5.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: 1,111.
Westfield W-League Final Table 2020/21:
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD | |
| Sydney FC | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 28 | +15 |
| Brisbane Roar | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 25 | +17 |
| Melbourne Victory | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 14 | 24 | +11 |
| Canberra United | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 22 | +5 |
| Adelaide United | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 18 | 21 | +4 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 13 | -8 |
| Melbourne City | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 13 | -12 |
| Newcastle Jets | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 7 | -7 |
| Perth Glory | 12 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 32 | 1 | -25 |
Top four sides qualify for the finals at the end of the regular season.
Semi-Final Fixtures:
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory: Sunday 4th April, 4pm KO local time (5am UK)
Sydney FC v Canberra United: Monday 5th April, 3pm KO local time (4am UK)
All games live on BT Sport in the UK
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 reports on a major new signing for Helston AFC Women – which is a clear statement of the club’s aims to play at a higher level sooner rather than later…
Today is transfer deadline day for registering players to compete in the Cornwall Women’s Football League and Helston Athletic Women have secured the major signing of 29 year-old central midfielder Keri-Ann Moxom from Callington Town.
Helston manager Paul Parfitt said: “I am pleased to have made this key signing in such a timely manner. Keri-Ann played for Helston then progressed to Callington as they were two leagues higher and matched her ambitions. She now sees that ambition is at Helston with the squad I have built since joining the club last year and I am finally pleased to be able to work with her after four years of watching her play and admiring her ability. She is a fantastic individual and a big name player in the Cornish women’s game – her mum used to play for Arsenal Ladies when she was younger also.”
“It is testament to the current squad and our team ambitions that Keri-Ann has decided to leave Callington and join a team currently two leagues below. Keri-Ann is a fantastic player and a big personality both on and off the pitch, we have had a very successful start to life as Helston Women and I am further impressed that Keri-Ann is joining us now to help us obtain further success and silverware and be part of that journey.”
“That commitment alongside all our existing players who want exactly the same success and put the work in every week bodes for a very exciting time for women’s football at the club and in West Cornwall in particular.”
“We are focussed on building on our early development and the thought of being able to add Keri-Ann to a midfield already boasting Dani White, Kim Yould, Georgia Lane, Alice Rae and so on offers superb and unrivalled options for me as the manager.”
“It is our desire at Helston to field both a First Team and Development Team next season and capturing the signature of Keri-Ann Moxom alongside our other most recent addition; Eve-Charlotte Moore from Bideford/Illogan combined with optimising the youth talent coming through at the club shows our intention not only to field two teams but to field two competitive teams capable of challenging for silverware on all levels.”
“Whilst Keri-Ann represents our ambitions on the pitch, off the pitch with the Development side we are also mentoring two existing squad members who will take Player/Coach roles next season.”
Speaking about her move back to Helston, Keri-Ann Moxom said:
“It will be nice to be back playing with some of the girls I really grew up playing football with and I would love for my Mum to watch me again as she used to watch me every weekend, but since playing further away she hasn’t been able to support me. I look forward to helping the team getting to the level they deserve to be at.”
“The decisive factors in joining Helston is the aim to win promotion to the South-West Women’s Football League and being much closer to home. I want keep playing the best football I can for as long as I can! I would love to see promotion once if not twice and definitely some silverware.”
“Of course there are a few friendly faces which I am looking forward to be back working with as it were, but I just love how the club is run in general, it definitely aided in my decision to make the move.”
Keri-Ann also shared the details of her footballing journey up to now: “I started playing for my first team when I was twelve years-old for Falmouth United. I used to play with the boys a lot on our estate, and it was one of my friend’s dads who used to coach Falmouth Boys, he invited me to training and introduced me to their girls’ team. My Mum used to give up a lot of her time to drive me to training sessions, sometimes three times a week when I played at county/regional level. I managed to be selected for England U15s when I just turned 15, and I remember my Mum taking so much time off work and paying for travel so that I could attend camps and sessions all over the country.”
Keri-Ann’s mother hasn’t just had a major role on her career due to her transporting her all over the country for football – her influence comes from her own footballing career.
“She used to play for Arsenal Ladies when she was younger and has always been my number one fan. I owe everything to her really, as well as the many coaches I had between the ages of 14-24.”
Keri-Ann’s arrival at Helston has created great excitement as the club chairman Paul Hendy highlights: “Very occasionally you know one of your managers has secured the signing of a very talented and special player. Upon hearing Keri was again going to play for Helston was one of those moments. She returns to a squad which is full of potential with an exciting season on the horizon”.
At Impetus we’ll be following Helston’s progress when their matches re-start in the very near future.
Majella Card is a well-known fan of women’s football in Australia due to her work with the Matildas Active Support and Brisbane’s Roar Corps supporters group. Ben Gilby spoke to her ahead of the Queensland side’s Finals campaign.
We opened our conversation by exploring the history of the Roar’s women’s football side.
“Brisbane Roar started life as the Queensland Roar in 2008 as one of the foundation teams of the W-League – the club changed names to Brisbane Roar in 2009. We have a really proud history at the club, having taken the Premiership and Championship double in the inaugural season as the first of three total Premierships and two Championships in the league’s history. We have been really fortunate to have so many wonderful players kit up for us, including Nadine Angerer when she was FIFA World Player of the Year! We’ve had a host of Matildas players, none more noteworthy than Clare Polkinghorne who had been with us from the very beginning until the end of the regular season this year when she went to Sweden. She is a legend of the club. We haven’t lifted any silverware since our Premiership in 2017/18, but hoping to change that this season.”
With Majella a key member of the Roar Corps fans group, I was keen to know what a typical match day looked like from their perspective.
“A Roar home game is always a really fun experience. Game day involves getting to the ground early and setting up banners and the active area before the game. For the past couple of seasons we have played games between Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe to the north of Brisbane or Lions Stadium in the west of the city. Whichever venue, many fans drop into the clubs attached to the ground to catch up and have a meal and a few beverages before the game. We have a really diverse and raucous crowd at games and The Roar Corps aim keep up and making noise for the full game with chants and fun banter. I’m usually on one of the drums during games and never have much of a voice remaining when the whistle blows! One of the great things about W-League is also the time the players take to speak with fans after the games. COVID restrictions have put a bit of a dampener on getting autographs recently, but we’ve been so grateful to still be able to attend games. There is always a line-up of kids (and adults!) waiting to say hi to players after the game and they are really generous with their time.”
This season has been substantially different in the W-League, initially due to the coronavirus pandemic, which made life, particularly at the beginning of the campaign very difficult.
“Several players starting the season shortly after fourteen days of hotel quarantine wasn’t ideal for us,” says Majella. “Uncertainty around the schedule and who and when you might be playing in the upcoming weeks must also disrupt plans – but all teams had to deal with that. From a fan perspective I’ve been disappointed having two away trips cancelled because of border closures and fixture changes, but I was lucky enough to get down to see the Roar’s win against Sydney which was a really fun trip. Overall I think we have been really fortunate being able to get the games completed like we have, and especially being able to have fans in the stands. In the grand scheme of things I’m really grateful for all of the work people have done behind the scenes so we can have a safe and fun season for everyone.
Brisbane Roar were among the favourites for the W-League title this season and there was great surprise therefore when they opened the campaign with four successive draws. Majella wasn’t too concerned however.
“It was very frustrating, impatiently waiting for the goals to come that I knew the team were capable of. The first game against Melbourne City in particular was hard to take as we were totally dominant, but I had to put it down to rustiness of the new season and an amazing performance from their keeper Teagan Micah to deny us. However throughout all of the four draws I was always really happy with our defence. Two legends in Clare Polkinghorne and Kim Carroll were rocks at the back, and then our young fullbacks Wini Heatley and Jamilla Rankin were also looking really strong. So while some of the missed shots were getting frustrating, we had a really solid foundation and I felt that getting the confidence in front of goals was only a matter of time. That 6-0 win against Melbourne Victory to start our winning streak was one helluva stress release!”
As Majella hinted once Brisbane grabbed their first win, success just kept on coming: “I think the run was started due to a combination of things. Probably confidence in front of goal, getting minutes into the legs of players and, yeah, gelling as a team. It’s no coincidence that the winning streak coincided with Emily Gielnik starting to slot the goals away. I think Emily can be a real confidence player so finally getting a goal to salvage a draw against Newcastle must have given her a boost for the following games. Tameka Yallop was coming back from an extended break and starting her family, so while she had been working really hard in those early games as she always does, I think those extra game minutes to get her touch back was also a factor. While much had been made of the number of Matildas we have, there has also been a lot of change from last season and the team has taken time to settle and get used to playing with each other. Younger players like Rankin and Heatley stepping up into regular starting roles, Mariel Hecher playing her first W-League season after starring in the NPLW in Queensland, and New Zealand international Liv Chance also playing W-League for the first time. Having that time to gel in training and learning to execute in games just seemed to take a little longer than we had hoped, but they are looking very good now.”
Like so many of the other W-League sides, it is the young generation of Roar stars that have caught the eye of Majella this season: “Matildas aside, three players have really stood out for me. Our two full backs, Wini Heatley and Jamilla Rankin have been really great this season. They both bring so much in defence and attack on the wings – it’s been great to see them both step up to own those starting positions, they are certainly stars of the future. Liv Chance has also been an amazing addition to our midfield. She is such a crafty player and her passing has really been key to opening up our attack. She will be a crucial part of our run into finals.”
As with the vast majority of Australian women’s football fans, the emergence of the youngsters this season has been a major part of making the campaign so enjoyable.
“It has been great seeing local talent get more game time across the league in all teams. Adelaide are seeing the benefit of investing in their local talent this season. Sydney FC have had a relatively stable squad of players and have been able to draw on some of the best talent in the NPLW NSW. At Brisbane, we have benefitted from those Matildas who have come home from Europe choosing to play at home and also some of the best from the local Queensland competition stepping up. Certainly we’ve seen a bit of a drop in quality after losing some Matildas and imports, but I think teams that invest in supporting local pathways and making their club a supportive and high quality place to play will always set themselves up for success. The teams that will be heavyweights into the future will be those who can attract and keep their best local talent and also attract interstate players with club set-ups that are appealing for player development.”
With Brisbane having such a successful season leading up to the Finals, I wanted to ask Majella what she thinks the club need to do to ensure they make a Grand final this year.
“Consistency and continuing to play good team football. A big strength for us has been our depth and having strong players across the park and not relying on a small number of players to run the show. We have attacking threats from multiple avenues and maintaining our solid defence will put the Roar in a good position.”
Yet Brisbane’s finals hopes have taken a twist with the loss of two key players, Clare Polkinghorne and Emily Gielnik to Sweden at the end of the regular season. I wondered how Majella assessed the consequences of this.
“Their presence, experience and class cannot be easily replaced. Polkinghorne has been a rock in defence and has been outstanding yet again this season, and losing the (likely) Golden Boot winner in Emily Gielnik is a worry for our team that has struggled at times to put the ball in the back of the net. But it is also a great opportunity for some of our emerging players to step up in a semi-final.”
“Looking at the wider squad, we have cover in those positions, and a number of players like Izzy Dalton, Wini Heatley and Kaitlyn Torpey who can move position as needed. I would expect to see Torpey get some more game time in the finals and she is a great player to be able to bring in to a bigger role.”
We ended by looking ahead to the future of the W-League both in Brisbane and more widely in Australia: “The Roar have been fortunate this year having some really high quality Matildas players come back to play for us, but that may not be the case in future years. Queensland has always been a great talent pool for footballers so there will always be good talent to draw from locally. A challenge will be keeping that local talent in Brisbane when other clubs are competing for the best in Australia as well. As I mentioned before, one of the biggest factors will be ensuring the club provides a supportive environment for players so the Roar can keep and attract the best players in the league.”
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.
Adelaide United have had the greatest season in their W-League history coming agonisingly close to qualifying for the Finals for the first time and breaking the competition’s regular season attendance record. Ben Gilby spoke to the club’s Head of Women’s Football, Ivan Karlovic about progress in South Australia.
BEN GILBY: Can you tell us a bit about the journey that women’s football has had at Adelaide United?
IVAN KARLOVIC: The last four years has seen the Adelaide United Football Club take over the W-League licence from Football SA (the governing body of the game in the state of South Australia) and in that time, they have heavily invested in trying to improve the program and the resources associated with the women’s program.”
What have been the keys to the incredible season that the club have had in the W-League this year?
I think a lot of our younger players have now established themselves as experienced W-League players over the last three or four years and the continuity of our squad. We’ve probably had the smallest turnover from a playing group from last season which has helped, particularly in the current climate.
The club have had the opportunities to make the Finals in the past but never quite made it. This year you won more games than ever in the W-League and came agonisingly close to playing Finals football. What were the keys behind the successes of 2021?
I think off the field we’re progressing in the right direction and every year we’re continuing to add more value and add more resources and top quality staff to the program and the same on the field. We’re certainly heading in the right direction. It’s one of those things that just takes time. It’s been a number of years. You get a group of young players and start to develop them and give them more experience and this group will continue to evolve and develop in seasons beyond.
Adrian Stenta has come in as Head Coach this season, what qualities has he brought to the role?
Adrian is passionate and understands the game really well. He has a fantastic relationship with all of the players and staff. The continuity of him stepping up from the assistant coach role means he knows the players, he knows how the program operates. He’s been there for the last two years and it makes that transition so much easier and it has been shown in the quality of the results that the team have been producing.
There’s an exciting mix of young players and some overseas stars in the squad at the moment. Can you outline the pathway for young girls in South Australia that can end with a place in the Adelaide United first team?
A lot of girls will start out playing with their junior clubs and there’s the programs and pathways through Football SA. We’ve aligned ourselves and will continue to work with Football SA and the NTC (National Training Centre – based in each of the states) program. They will train with our main group to give them that experience from a young age and hopefully they develop into W-League players. Every year the NPLW (elite level state leagues for women players) is increasing in quality and the level which only makes it better for our W-League side. There are plenty of opportunities for the young players these days.
Adding to that, what are the extent of Adelaide United’s links with the SA NPLW?
We work closely with all of the clubs and the coaches. Firstly to ensure that all of the W-League players that are playing in the NPLW are getting the level of training that they need to maintain the standard for the W-League. We have Michele Lastella who is the NTC Women’s Head Coach forming part of our coaching team which basically links our program with the NTC in terms of the message that we are delivering to players. Michele is aware of that and can relay it to the younger players coming through the programs.
The three overseas players – Mallory Weber, Maria Jose Rojas and Maruschka Waldus bring a great deal to the team. How did they come to join Adelaide United?
‘Cote’ (Maria Jose Rojas) is very familiar with South Australia having played and lived here previously. With her it was about timing. She’s been overseas over the past few years and came back to Adelaide in January and started training with the side at the end of last season but we couldn’t sign her due to foreign rulings. ‘Cote’ has been a leading goal scorer in the NPLW here in South Australia for a number of years.
Mallory came to us last year and was last season’s Club Champion. At the end of last season she spoke to me and was very keen on coming back to play for Adelaide United this year, so she really enjoyed her time which speaks volumes of the program that we’ve produced here with overseas players wanting to come back.
Maruschka, similar with ‘Cote’, was a timing thing. We tried to get her last year, but we couldn’t quite make it work with her club overseas. When the opportunity came to get her this year, we didn’t hesitate and she has added some extreme value to the side and a lot of experience and voice to a young group.
There has recently been the departure of Dylan Holmes, who has had an outstanding season, to play Champions League football for newly formed BK Hacken in Sweden. How do you view that whole situation?
It speaks volumes of what we’ve tried to create here at Adelaide United and the program and what we stand for as a club. Dylan has come in and done really well over the last few years having first played for us in 2014 as a teenager and has developed greatly, working really hard – not just when she is here, but in the off season. She’s a fantastic professional and a fantastic person off the field. For us, Dylan getting this opportunity is exciting, it’s something we want to provide that platform for our younger players – to be able to do what Dylan is doing of being able to realise dreams and one day being able to go and play in Europe.
How have you viewed the W-League this season – particularly with the lower number of international players and Matildas taking part this time round?
Yeah, look, I don’t think it is being disrespectful but the level has dropped off a bit and that’s only normal when you lose so many Matildas and quality international players. But what it has done is given a lot of young players opportunities that they would not have been able to get in the past and we’ve seen some break out seasons from players across the league and that will only help the national team moving forward and the league in general.
How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted Adelaide United?
I don’t think it has impacted on us greatly because our side was predominantly local and locally based over the past few years. We’ve worked hard to develop our local players, so from our point of view I don’t think it has affected us at all because our squad has strengthened in the period whereas other teams have lost international players whether it be overseas players or Matildas. The way our club is structured and our philosophy, it didn’t affect us.
How do you see the club’s short to medium term future in the W-League – say over the next five years?
Immediately it is the need to make Finals. I think we are the only W-League club never to have played Finals football, so that was a huge target of ours. We want to provide a platform for young and predominantly South Australian players to be able to step up and play in the W-League and hopefully push on to opportunities overseas and represent their country.
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.
Impetus is delighted to welcome new contributor Ciarán Duffy of Post to Post Sport who will be providing us with a weekly round-up of all the goings on in the Irish Women’s National League. The new season started at the weekend, and here’s a full round-up of the action so far.
Ireland’s top level of domestic senior women’s football kicked off this weekend. Nine teams compete at this level: Athlone Town, Bohemians, Cork City, DLR Waves, Galway, Peamount United, Shelbourne, Treaty United and Wexford Youths. Peamount United are reigning champions having won the league the last two seasons, and completed a league and cup double last season. The winners of the league qualify for the Champions League preliminary round. Four games took place this weekend with DLR Waves being idle for the first round.
Bohs Blow Away Treaty To Top The League
The opening game of the season took place at Dalymount Park, traditional the home of the Bohemians men’s team. In the last meeting between these two sides they produced a goal fest, with Treaty winning 5-4.
It took just seven minutes to get our first goal of the year, Bronagh Kane made good use of her team pressuring an opposition kick-out to put Bohs ahead. It only took 37 seconds for Kane to add another, with Bohs putting the Limerick side under pressure straight from the kick off. 2-0 up, the home side would double their lead in the remainder of the second half, first through a Naima Chemaou volley in a move that started from a throw-in. Then with 8 minutes to go in the first half captain Sophie Watters finished off the back of a freekick. Treaty would get one back before halftime through Aoife Cronin, who got on the end of Rebecca Horgan’s cross. Bohs would lead 4-1 at halftime.
Early in the second half the Bohs defence failed to clear a Treaty corner and Shannon Parbat got another back for Treaty to cut the deficit to two goals. Treaty continued to mount pressure but the introduction of Aoife Robinson at the hour mark gave the home side some energy. She made an immediate impact, winning the ball deepin the Treaty half and finding a teammate, then receiving it back and curling a shot into the top-right corner having been on the field for just over thirty seconds. Robinson would head home another late in the game off a freekick.
FT Bohemians 6-2 Treaty United
Peamount Snatch Victory Late To Begin Title Defence With A Win
An 87th minute wonder-strike ensured Peamount made a winning start to their quest for a 3rd WNL title in a row. In a fixture that tends to be a higher-scoring affair it was a cagey afternoon between two traditional super powers in the league.
Peamount had the first clear cut chance with Megan Smyth-Lynch creating a scoring opportunity for last years top scorer Aine O’Gorman. Wexford were on the back foot, but nearly took the lead with a counter attack, but Niamh Reid-Burke was excellent in the Peamount goal, with the keeper recently having announced her international retirement. Wexford had another opportunity late in the half through Ciara Rossiter, her shot going just wide.
The second half saw chances at a premium with the conditions worsening. The wind was strong, limiting both teams to half chances. There was drama late on as Reid-Burke saved a penalty off Wexford captain Kylie Murphy. Peamount went up the other end two minutes later and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle hit a looping shot which gave the keeper no chance to score what would ultimately be the winner. Peamount were able to hold on to seal the win.
FT Wexford Youths 0-1 Peamount United
Galway & Cork Play Out A 6-Goal Thriller
A frantic first half saw five goals exchanged as Galway and Cork ultimately shared the spoils. Shauna Fox captained Galway for the first time.
Rachel Kearns got a hat-trick in the first half to send Galway in ahead, although Cork made them work for it. Kearns got her first two on the 15th and 22nd minutes to put Galway very much in control. Cork pegged them back with a strike from Ireland underage star Lauren Egbuloniu on the half-hour mark, before Ireland senior international Eabha O’Mahony levelled things up with the game heading towards half time. Kearns struck back immediately to ensure Galway went in 3-2 up.
Slevin missed a penalty for the home side as they looked to stretch their lead. Cork would get a point from the game with a late wonder strike from Becky Cassin. It is well worth checking out this goal on the club Twitter feed – it is astonishing! (1) Cork City FC Women on Twitter: “New season, same Becky Cassin. 🤷🏻♀️ #CCFC84 https://t.co/IdpajnImaz” / Twitter
FT Galway 3-3 Cork City
Shels Get Title Bid Off To A Winning Start
Shelbourne went to Athlone on Saturday knowing they’d be expected to pick up three points, but also knowing it wouldn’t be easy. The away side had finished runners-up in the previous two league campaigns, coming agonisingly close on both occasions.
Athlone made the Dublin side work for everything, and at half-time it was scoreless. In the 2nd half just passed the hour mark, Pearl Slattery scored from 30 yards to give Shels the lead. Alex Kavanagh would make it 0-2 shortly after. That would be enough for Shelbourne to take all 3 points.
FT Athlone 0-2 Shelbourne
Table After Round 1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GF | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Bohemians | 1 | 1 | 6 | +4 | 3 |
| 2 | Shelbourne | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Peamount | 1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 4 | Galway | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Cork | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DLR Waves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Wexford | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 8 | Athlone | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| 9 | Treaty | 1 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
Next Weeks Fixtures
Saturday 3rd April
Cork v Shelbourne (14:00)
Galway v Bohemians (14:00)
DLR Waves v Wexford Youths (18:00)
Athlone v Treaty (19:00)
To find out more information about Ciarán Duffy and all our contributors, visit: About our Contributors (wordpress.com)
Brisbane Roar 3–0 Newcastle Jets
By Ben Gilby
In front of a large and vocal crowd at Lions Stadium, the Roar gained the victory that they needed to ensure a home semi-final next weekend.
Brisbane were determined to send off key players Clare Polkinghorne and Emily Gielnik who were off to Sweden with Vittsjö GIK after this game, and they produced a dominant performance to ensure that they got their wish.
The first chance came after just 21 seconds when the Jets’ Tara Andrews got away along the left and cut in. She slipped as she hit an effort goal wards, but Georgina Worth did well to hold it.
Four minutes in and Roar got their first shot away. Kim Carroll played a cross in from the left for Mariel Hecher. The Brazilian born striker didn’t quite connect with her volley attempt and Claire Coehlo held it well in the Jets goal.
The Jets’ promising start continued as they earned a corner a minute later after Rhianna Pollicina found some space down the right and won a corner. She whipped in the flag kick which saw Lauren Allan’s header come crashing back off of the cross bar. Andrews’ followed up led to a scramble which ended with Worth diving on the ball.
The see-saw nature of the opening ten minutes saw Brisbane have the next chance when Tameka Yallop found Isobel Dalton. The Barnsley born, former Nottingham Forest player has been in great form for the Roar this season and her ball in found the head of Gielnik, but Coelho saved.
Another chance came the way of the hosts when Gema Simon shoved Hecher in the back just outside of the box on the right hand side. Dalton’s free kick didn’t concern the Jets defence.
Brisbane were now taking control as the game neared the quarter hour mark. They earned another free-kick on the right hand side when Pollicina fouled Yallop. Dalton’s curling ball in was met by the head of Gielnik who brought a wonderful diving save from Coelho.
Less than sixty seconds later, Coelho was called into action once more. Hecher gained possession on the left hand side of the box and squared to Gielnik. The Matilda got away from Andrews and Taren King before hitting an effort on the turn which Coelho had to palm over the bar.
The Roar’s domination continued. Kaitlyn Torpey played in Yallop down the left with the latter trying to force a shot in from a tight angle on the left which went into the side netting.
With twenty-eight minutes gone, Gielnik found Dalton on the edge of the box and the Yorkshire born defensive midfielder hit an effort narrowly wide of the left hand post. Immediately afterwards, Hecher popped up on the right and squared for Yallop whose effort hit the right hand post and rolled wide.
Jets had a rare opportunity on the half-hour when Rhianna Pollicina got away from Kim Carroll in the midfield and played a ball towards Sunny Franco who was coming in from the right but she couldn’t quite time her run right to connect correctly.
Three minutes later there was a major scramble in the Jets’ six yard box from Jamilla Rankin’s dangerous in swinging corner. Carroll, Torpey and Polkinghorne were all in on Coelho but the Newcastle custodian dived on the ball.
The chances continued to come for the Roar. Five minutes before the half-time whistle, they forced a corner which Hecher took. Coelho palmed it away towards the right, but it quickly came in again towards the back post from Yallop. Gielnik headed back across the box and Torpey couldn’t miss grabbing her first W-League goal. Jets claimed Gielnik was offside, but referee Georgia Ghirardello waved away their protests.
Olivia Chance played a long ball out to Gielnik on the left, but Coelho gathered her effort comfortably.
Just before the break, Polkinghorne released Hecher along the right. She played a quick one-two with Gielnik just inside the box with Hecher’s resulting shot being saved.
Brisbane would be disappointed that their utter dominance had only resulted in a 1-0 lead at the break.
They set about putting that right just two minutes into the re-start when Emily Gielnik scored on her final appearance for the Roar this season. She met Mariel Hecher’s corner with a delightful glancing back header that left Claire Coelho with no chance.
Hecher came close once more as Brisbane continued to turn the screw when her long range power blaster smashed off of the bar.
The Brazilian finally got the goal that her endeavours deserved with ten minutes left when substitute Leticia McKenna’s corner was met by Polkinghorne’s head and Hecher redirected it into the Jets net.
At one stage this season, Brisbane looked red hot favourites to clinch not just top spot but a Grand Final success too. Crucially, they have claimed a home semi-final, but any hopes of progression now must come without two of the brightest stars of their season in Clare Polkinghorne and Emily Gielnik. If the Queenslanders lift the W-League trophy a fortnight today, they will certainly have earned it.
For the Jets, it was the last game of a frustrating season. One which has not seen them earn the results and the ladder position that some of their performances have deserved.
Teams: BRISBANE ROAR: Worth, Heatley, Rankin, Polkinghorne, Carroll, Dalton, Hecher, Chance, Torpey, Gielnik, Yallop. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), Crummer, Horsey, Margraf, McKenna.
Scorers: Torpey 41, Gielnik 47, Hecher 81.
NEWCASTLE JETS: Coelho, Tamplin, Simon, King, Jaber, O’Brien, Pollicina, Davis, Andrews, Allan, Franco. Substitutes: Simonsen (GK), Bass, Petratos, Harding, House.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: 1,895.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD | |
| Brisbane Roar | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 25 | +17 |
| Sydney FC | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 10 | 24 | +14 |
| Melbourne Victory | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 24 | +12 |
| Canberra United | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 22 | +5 |
| Adelaide United | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 18 | 21 | +4 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 13 | -8 |
| Melbourne City | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 13 | -12 |
| Newcastle Jets | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 7 | -7 |
| Perth Glory | 12 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 32 | 1 | -25 |
Top four sides qualify for the finals at the end of the regular season.
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.
Melbourne Victory 6–0 Perth Glory
By Kieran Yap
It was another round of mini finals in the Dub this weekend when Melbourne Victory hosting Perth in search of a win to secure their finals place.
They named an unchanged line-up against a Glory side that had held them to a one-goal win two weeks ago and Perth were hoping to improve on that performance to send Kat Jukic off in style in her retirement game.
The opening stages of the match were closely contested with all the pressure on the home side and Perth looked to have an early goal to celebrate when Hana Lowry bundled the ball into the back of the net. Unfortunately for the visitors the young midfielder had been judged to have fouled Gabby Garton and the goal was contentiously disallowed.
Victory soon clicked into gear, Lisa De Vanna ran onto a long ball behind the defence and looked to be clear in on goal before losing her footing and Annalie Longo threatened on multiple occasions, getting on to the end of crosses from De Vanna and Amy Jackson but unable to beat Lily Alfeld in the Perth goal.
Kyra Cooney-Cross was next to be denied by the goalkeeper with a curling left foot strike from distance tipped over the bar, Glory were holding on, but it looked like the floodgates were straining.
The opening goal came soon after, Angie Beard tore past her opponent on the left flank and whipped in a low cross that was met emphatically by Melina Ayres in the six-yard box, Alfeld had no chance at stopping the goal, the pace on the cross and the timing of Ayres run was perfect, the finish might have been the easiest part though it was very well taken.
Ayres doubled her tally minutes later when De Vanna’s shot from deep was spilled by Alfeld, the striker reacted quickest and got to the ball before any defender to slide it under the scrambling goalkeeper to make it 2-0 before half time.
The onslaught continued in the second forty-five, Kyra Cooney-Cross won a corner with persistence on the left and swung the ball into the six yard box where Claudia Bunge leapt to head to ball into the net, it was 3-0 and Victory were in cruise control.
To their credit, as they have done all season, Glory did not take a backwards step, they kept trying to score and keep the ball with no inclination to park the bus, they had come to play football and Hana Lowry typified that attitude with a stinging shot on target that Gabby Garton was equal to. If Perth can keep getting Lowry into scoring positions or facing goal with the ball more often she could do a lot of damage to teams next season.
Victory had no intention of resting on their lead and the returning Catherine Zimmerman made it 4-0 after Cooney-Cross’s first time shot bounced off the crossbar and the American recruit was able to control it and slide it home.
On the hour mark the dominant Cooney-Cross scored one for herself, the ball dropped to her just inside the penalty area, with a sumptuous first touch she cushioned it down with her left foot and with her second she shifted it into space with her right, she finished into the bottom corner to make it 5-0 with a well-placed finish beyond Alfeld.
Victory and especially Cooney-Cross were not yet finished, on the seventy-sixth minute, she raced onto a long ball on the left wing and with no teammates in the middle she charged straight at goal. As she neared the target Alfeld stood her ground, forcing Cooney-Cross into a decision, she elected to go with raw power this time and hit the ball with fury right over Alfeld’s head, crashing it into the net. She struck it venomously, like the ball had somehow personally offended her and wheeled away all smiles in celebration. It was 6-0 and the rising star had two goals and two assists.
Cooney-Cross was the dominant player in an imperious display by Melbourne Victory, as the game neared the end it looked like the only way to stop her at full flight was by simply grabbing her shirt but the whole Victory team was in frightening form and even the usually demanding Jeff Hopkins looked to be having fun when Natalie Martineau narrowly missed a chance to score when her header hit the post following another Cooney-Cross delivery.
The game ended 6-0 and Melbourne jumped from fifth to seconf on the table with a chance to finish top of the league with a win in their final match. This game was a warning to the rest of the competition and they look to be hitting their best form at the right time.
Perth Glory have endured probably the most difficult season in W-League history, due to their geographical isolation and the restrictions due to COVID-19 they were unable to play games early in the season and their hastily assembled squad struggled to find rhythm. Despite this they began every game attempting to win or at least take the game to the opposition. There are some quality young players in their line-up and they were unlucky to lose Gemma Craine to injury so early in their campaign. They should be admired for the way they approached the year and hopefully with better preparation and minus a pandemic they can look forward to a better 2022.
Victory play Sydney FC in just three days in what could be the biggest game of the season so far as a premier decider and a potential grand final preview. It will be a titanic encounter and a wonderful way to end the W-League regular rounds.
Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY: Garton, Doran, Beard, Bunge, Morrison, Jackson, Barbieri, Longo, Ayres, Cooney-Cross, De Vanna. Substitutes: Maizels (GK), Martineau, Privitelli, Eliadis, Zimmerman.
Scorers: Ayres 21, 35. Bunge 48. Zimmerman 53. Cooney-Cross 60, 76.
PERTH GLORY: Alfeld, De La Harpe, Rigby, Anton, Wallhead, Steinmetz, Lowry, Morgan, Jukic, McKenna, Charalambous. Substitutes: Bennett (GK), Carroll, Doeglas, Moreno, Tabain.
Referee: Rebecca Mackie.
Attendance: 508.
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.
Canberra United 0–0 Sydney FC
Match report and EXCLUSIVE photos by Kris Goman at Viking Park.
Friday night football at Viking Park in Canberra will figure out who’s going to the finals and who’s staying home. This is a key match for both teams. If Sydney win, it will clinch the premiership. If Canberra United win, it guarantees them a place in the final series so there’s plenty at stake for both teams.
Canberra have never lost at Viking Park and it’s pretty certain they don’t want to start now. The combinations and permutations of the possible outcomes of the last round matches means the finals are still well open and impossible to predict.
What unfolds is a war without a victor. There are plenty of battles and minor skirmishes that are fought and won. Ground is gained and lost but the battlements are never conquered and each goal remains unsullied by the passage of the opposition’s ball. It unfolds thus:
Sydney kick off and the game is pretty even and all over the field until Satchell drives down the right towards Ally Green and then passes to Maher on her left at the top of the box. Grace Maher snaps a shot away but Jada Mathyssen-Wyman has it under control despite Michelle Heyman hovering.
When Canberra sends a ball back to Keeley Richards to reset, the clearance goes straight to Remy Siemsen. She passes to Wheeler who lobs the ball over Richards and it bounces into goal but Wheeler is offside so it doesn’t count. This was a great attack by Sydney and very unlucky for Wheeler who was just caught offside by the defence stepping up to Siemsen.
The action switched to the other end shortly afterwards. Natasha Prior sends a ball back to Mathyssen-Whyman. The Sydney keeper looked to be ready for it but her first touch sent the ball a few metres in front of her and Heyman came up a bit faster than she expected. The ball went out for a goal kick and Mathyssen-Whyman wasn’t happy with Prior despite really caused the problem herself.
Back at the other end, some smart passing from Princess Ibini to Siemsen to Teresa Polias to Mackenzie Hawkesby around the top of the box sees a lob from Hawkesby bounce to the keeper. Richards is prone on the ground but loses possession briefly and Polias comes in to get the rebound just as she gathers it back but it sends Polias toppling over her to avoid kicking her.
Probably the best attack of the game is created by a great ball through by Paige Satchell out to Nikki Flannery on the left wing who immediate sent it back to Bianca Galic who drives to the box. The ball bouncing out of the tackle is picked up by Hughes who manages to get it out to Heyman who is unmarked on the right in the box. She gets a completely clear shot on goal and pounds it above the head of Mathyssen-Whyman. But the Sydney keeper gets her hand to it and tips it over the goal safely.
Canberra continue to show a bit more initiative when Maher picks up a Satchell pass and takes a long range shot from about 10 metres from the top of the box. It just skims the crossbar but looked very dangerous.
Polias intercepts and chips a ball for Siemsen but Siemsen is marginally offside and she wouldn’t have beaten Richards to it anyway.
After a Canberra free kick is cleared, Vine brings the ball up most of the field in an inspired run. She gets it to Siemsen who is mobbed but gets it back to Hawkesby who passes out to Ibini on the left and is in the clear. The defence rush to cover but she’s able to get it onto her right foot and take a decent shot at goal. It’s just over the crossbar and sails clear.
Courtnee Vine goes down in the top right corner after landing heavily on her knee. She gets treatment and is taken off and comes back on to only go down again in a bit of pain by the looks of things. She’s walking OK but something’s obviously not right. She is replaced by Taylor Ray in the 36th minute. A good six minutes after the original injury.
Ray has an immediate impact when she gets a pass away to Siemsen in the clear and facing the right direction. Siemsen takes a good shot but is leaning back just a touch and the ball is over the crossbar. Sydney’s on target shots are severely lacking at the moment and Richards hasn’t really been tested yet.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Keir sends a beautifully weighted long ball to Heyman in the box to head towards goal. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough on it and Mathyssen-Whyman picked it up easily and the half-time whistle goes.
A reasonably even first half, but Canberra’s chances looked more exciting and dangerous. Most of their shots were on target and Mathyssen-Whyman had to make a couple of difficult saves. Richards at the other end has been rarely tested.
Straight back into it in the second half and Canberra get an unrealised chance when Heyman receives the ball and passes to Maher on the right. She runs onto it in the clear but instead of shooting, controls the ball, which gives Sydney time to recover and surround her. She ends up passing to Laura Hughes while Heyman stands in the box with her arms outstretched. Hughes shoots to the top left corner to make Mathyssen-Whyman stretch but stretch she does and it’s safely in the gloves.
Fighting straight back again, Fletcher passes to Galic from halfway and then she gets it back to Maher. Maher is not making the same mistake this time and crosses to Heyman on her favoured left foot. Heyman does a diving header and the ball ricochets off the right goal post.
In the clearance, Sydney gets the ball to Charlotte Mclean out on the right. Siemsen is at the top of the box with her back to goal and heads it down and back to Hawkesby whose shot is blocked by Fletcher. Fletcher has been doing a lot of hard work like this throughout the match and nullifying a lot of the Sydney attack before it can start.
A few minutes later, the second best Canberra opportunity presented itself when Lauren Keir lobbed a wonderful ball over the Sydney defence for Heyman to run onto. Heyman is completely in the clear with Mathyssen-Whyman coming out of goal to her. The ball is bouncing and Heyman sensibly tries to chip it over the fast closing Wyman. She succeeds in this but it’s just wide of goal and goes out instead of in the net.
Moments later Sydney are back on the attack. The ball comes out to McLean on the right and she crosses back to the centre of the pitch to Ibini who is running onto the ball at speed. At the same time Kendall Fletcher has anticipated where the ball will land and is waiting for it. Ibini collides with Fletcher, knocks her to the ground then lands on top of her. Fletcher is winded and takes her time to recover and get back up.
Just after 60 minutes, Sydney starts a press and are in and around the box for an extended period. It becomes frustrating when Siemsen is in the box and gets the ball on two occasions but has her back to goal and passes back out of the box instead of turning and shooting. It feels like she’s on defensive duties for Canberra. Taylor Ray is doing all the work here, running around, sending the ball through ingeniously only to have it returned to her. Eventually Wheeler lobs it and Ibini jumps up to try to head it but its a little high to control it properly and it’s out to the left of goal.
Just after the hour mark, Satchell runs the ball through the midfield. She’s been making good ground all evening and has been one of the standouts on the field. Natasha Prior’s slide tackle on her is cleared to Maher who strikes. It lands at the feet of Mathyssen-Whyman and she’s able to pick it up with no troubles.
Both Siemsen and Fletcher cramp up at 74 minutes in. Flannery is helping Siemsen stretch out.
Sydney launch another attack through Ray who passes to Ibini, who gets it out Lowe on the right. She flicks it back to Ibini who brings it up the centre and slides a great pass through to Siemsen but Siemsen is offside and her rather soft shot was well anticipated and controlled by Richards.
A little one-two by Wheeler and Lowe sees Wheeler dribble the ball upfield through the centre. Siemsen is to her left but about ten metres out from the box she takes a long range shot. It’s on target but straight into the waiting arms of Richards.
When Maher takes a run towards goal, she passes out to Flannery on the left who returns it to Maher when she has few options. Maher kicks it towards the box and Tobin heads it down to the feet of the waiting Heyman. She flicks it right, across to Taylor-Young. Her return pass to Heyman is intercepted by Prior, who had been particularly solid in defence all night. The clearance goes to Koulizakis who decides to shoot. There’s a lot of power but all in the wrong direction as the shot goes skyward and well clear of the goal.
Canberra launch another attack that sees substitute Demi Koulizakis trying to shoot and being foiled before Heyman receives a throw in, turns and snaps a shot off low to the near post. There’s some fire in it and it bounces out of Mathyssen-Whyman hands but she recovers and pulls it in.
Canberra get a very late corner but it’s cleared by Prior as three extra minutes of time are announced. The tension is building and the crowd is chanting for Canberra. Canberra seem happy to take the point and Sydney probably won’t complain about it either so both teams are all about their defence at the moment as either team letting a goal in will ruin their party.
Canberra are taking it to the corner at this stage to protect that point. Whilst in the corner, Canberra concede a foul and then Flannery gets a yellow for complaining about it and wasting time. The final whistle goes and Canberra celebrate like they won. And really they did as they only needed a point to make the finals and it’s a fresh start from there. A nil all draw makes it less clear for Sydney as to whether they get the premiership or not. They were always in the finals but they are going to need to step up from the performance of this match if they want to make the Grand Final.
Both teams were very solid in defence but Sydney’s attack was wanting. Siemsen looked disconnected and seemed to be facing the wrong way and sending balls backwards rather than forwards most of the game. Ibini was more involved than she often is but dropped back a bit so had more work in defence in the midfield to do but when she came up she was often threatening. Ray was good in making ground and getting passes though.
For Canberra, Heyman got some very good shots in and made Mathyssen-Whyman earn her keep. Maher also looked dangerous on many occasions and the Canberra shots on goal were seven compared to one for Sydney. And that’s probably the key statistic of the match as most others were pretty even.
Kendall Fletcher got player of the match but it could have just as easily have been Natasha Prior for Sydney as it was the defence of both teams that was most important. Satchell also had a great game and a lot of impact.
So now we wait on the results of the last two games of this final round and the delayed match from the previous round between Sydney and Melbourne Victory to know exactly who will contest the finals and where.
Teams: CANBERRA UNITED: Richards, Keir, Ilijoski, Nash, Fletcher, Galic, Maher, Hughes, Heyman, Flannery, Satchell. Substitutes: Jones (GK), Grove, Foletta, Koulizakis, Taylor-Young.
SYDNEY FC: Mathyssen-Whyman, Mclean, Green, Tobin, Prior, Polias, Wheeler, Hawkesby, Siemsen, Ibini, Vine. Substitutes: Offer (GK) Hristodoulou, Lowe, Ray, Toby.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: 1,411.
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.
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