Newcastle Jets 0 Sydney FC 1
The blueprint for a successful A-League women’s matchday experience saw Newcastle Jets host near neighbours Sydney FC on a pearler of a day at Sportsground No 2. Just how far women’s football in Australia has come in just two short years was quite evident this afternoon, with the seats full, the beer flowing, the football exciting, some star power, and thousands of happy faces despite a reverse for the home team. The ‘kids on the field initiative’ and the player signing session topped off a marvellous occasion and showed the rest of the league just how it should be done.
Okay, today was a bonus. NPL training and A-League photographing almost got in the way, but the stars aligned and the road trip to Newcastle was confirmed just prior to kick off of the previous night’s game at Allianz. A lover but definitely not a connoisseur of wine, the opportunity was there to pop in to the Hunter Valley en route to pick up something sparkling for Christmas, and it really was a flying visit to Peterson’s Champagne House, but the eye-watering prices in the adjoining chocolate shop made this an incomplete shopping experience. There wasn’t a lot of time to get to Sportsground No 2 for a 4pm kick off, right in the heart of Newcastle, and it may have been a bit rushed to get there, a ute with the plates Tume7h doing laps around the car park looking for a non-existent spot which sent me further afield to find a space.
The stadium is a one-stand affair, with space on three sides to lay out a picnic blanket and trees to provide shade from the elements. This afternoon was warm and muggy, still 15 degrees cooler than yesterday’s stinking conditions, but still sizzling in the hot sun. The marching band was knocking out toe-tapping INXS numbers, Shane had saved a seat at the back of the seating, just behind the mini Cove, who had taken up residence in a familiar spot at the front. There were a lot of people here – thinking back to that game two years ago when Sydney survived an injury time scare, Princess Ibini scored and Nat Tobin hit the bar, there was only a fraction of the crowd that we had here today.
A valiant effort at We Are Sydney by the Sydney FC fans present was rewarded with a fast start by the Sky Blues, but the final pass wasn’t sticking, much like the game not 24-hours earlier in the A-League men. Aideen Keane bent one around the post, and had a great chance on the right but blasted harmlessly wide. Fiona Worts almost profited from a calamity but could only drill her shot into the last defender, and the Jets were on the back foot.
Conditions were definitely hot; it was a surprise to get to 24 minutes and have no drinks break. Ibini loped inside and created herself a shooting chance, but the ball sailed over, Kirsty Fenton went on a dazzling run but overran the ball after beating three players with her pace. Emily Van Egmond showed all the class that a Matildas superstar should show, pivotal to everything Newcastle offered going forward, but in truth it was all Sydney FC. Cass Davis had a wild shot that could have gone anywhere but thankfully went wide. The heat continued to have an effect, it was tough going out there for some. Half time was welcome and Sydney FC had knocked on the door numerous times but found goalkeeper Isobel Nino in top form.
Half time was excellent. Out came the marching band again to give us some modern hits, the Modus micro-brewery gave us a fabulous selection of beers that were quick and easy to buy for $8 a can, and the sausage sizzle was doing a roaring trade, $8 for a Bunnings-quality sausage sanger with a can of soft drink – proper prices for proper food and drink. The half-time heroes entertained the crowd, and one A-Leagues photographer even got his drone out to impress onlookers.
The teams appeared for the second half, Sydney FC having a tight huddle while the Jets showed off with some fitness drills before keeping everyone waiting, including the referee, by belatedly getting into their own lengthy huddle.
The slightly subdued Fiona Worts, who hadn’t found her touch at all today, delayed a shot when played clean through by impressive debutant Madeleine Caspers. She repeated the feat soon after and that was enough to see her afternoon curtailed, and we saw Cortnee Vine and Shae Connors enter the field. A couple of puzzling moments in the second half came from the referee – firstly, a free kick for the Jets was immediately blown as a free kick to Sydney, maybe some sort of encroachment on the wall by a Jets player, then the whistler stopped play and forced Fenton off the field for treatment even though she was back up on her feet after a collision. Van Egmond had already been taken off for some reason, but Newcastle battled on undeterred.
Connors looked lively, but she was foiled by Nino, who grabbed the ball from her feet as she broke through, Connors again raced through, this time twisting past Nino and shooting on goal, but the Jets player was perfectly positioned on the line to head the ball away. Sydney then hit the bar from the edge of the area (don’t ask me who it was!) and it looked like they would fail to score despite having the lion’s share of possession and chances. Charlotte McLean blazed over, Cortnee Vine fired wide. The Jets were dangerous at times, Sarina Bolden was presented with a chance but blazed into the pack of players, and Jada Whyman, whose handling had been impeccable throughout the first half, almost coughed up a chance, but was rescued by her battling teammates. Anything could happen here.
Just as the Jets’ crowd was ramping up the volume, the youngsters leading the way with the chants, Sydney struck. Nino’s clearance was weak, Ibini pounced and bundled through her player, slotting a ball across the box, where an errant touch from the defender beat Nino and Vine was there at the far post to run the ball into the net. There were prolonged celebrations on the field as the whole team ran to congratulate goal maker and goal scorer, and the Sydney fans were in full voice to make sure the goal was properly celebrated in the seats.
The final whistle came soon after, albeit after six minutes of injury time – there was no clock anywhere to be seen, so time was merely a concept – and the Sydney players looked relieved and red-faced after a difficult battle. They had made it very hard for themselves, that is for sure, but the sheer volume of chances had to lead to a goal eventually. All smiles in the Cove, capo Michelle even doing signatures these days (!), and the players came over to celebrate to a chorus of SFC Sing for Sydney FC. Brilliant stuff. That’s what the fans want – interaction, acknowledgement and a two-way love-affair. Oh and happy birthday Robbie.
All of a sudden the gates opened to the field and the swarms of kids ran onto the field, it was like something from a medieval battlefield. The Jets players had already set up their tables for a signing session, the Sydney players didn’t know whether to run for cover or just be enveloped in the crowd. As it turned out, it was such a beautiful scene, the smiling Jets players politely signing all sorts of merch while the Sydney FC players milled around and caught up with friends and family, completely undeterred by the goings on. Local girl Kirsty Fenton worked the field like she was at a party and this was truly a fantastic sight.
The announcement of five minutes to go for the kids on the field would have worried those still patiently queueing for signatures, and that was my cue to leave. I would be confident that every youngster got the signatures they wanted. The media table was still being worked by a lone journalist, frantically tapping out a report on the game as people milled around her, and I was back in the car after a five minute walk and back on the M1 in 20 minutes, direction Sydney, eventually making it back at 8.15pm, thoroughly respectable for a school night.
What can we take away from today? Firstly, this was a truly fantastic A-League women event, attended by many fans, and delivered with a simplicity that should be admired. None of this pouring cans into cups shit, it’s easier to carry cans without spilling, and so much quicker to serve. Simple affordable food staples, a bit of quirky entertainment, and a core of fans who desperately wanted to see women’s football and were not deterred one bit if their team didn’t win. It just worked, and it was excellent. Secondly, Sydney FC have work to do to get back to the levels we have enjoyed over the last few years. The lack of willingness to take on and beat a player was alarming, and at one point Princess Ibini seemed to appear from the trees on the far side – she hadn’t touched the ball for so long. How fitting then, that she was on the spot to fashion the winning goal. Finally, the Australian general public doesn’t deserve the A-League women. This is a quality product, with top names, exciting fixtures and is accessible for everyone; the next time you look at that mountain of washing, you check your weather app for a chance of rain or you decide to kick back for an afternoon nap when there’s a game on in your city, take yourself into a corner and have a word. Get to the next game, shout and scream and join in with the crowd. You’ll never look back.
Thanks Newcastle Jets for a fabulous day.