Inter Lions 1 Blacktown City 3
The new-look Inter Lions and Blacktown City NPL U20 squads faced off on Sunday in testing conditions at Majors Bay as the visitors overcame an onslaught to power to an impressive win. In hot, humid conditions, a rocket from Brianna Tinney saw City take the lead after a period of pressure, but the 1-0 half-time lead lasted only moments into the second period when Sarah Bownas equalised for the home side. Inter looked to turn the screw, but the visiting City regained their composure to take command, and goals from Sam Cole and Hayley Reynolds secured a statement win to begin the 2024 pre-season with a step in the right direction.
Shooting with the slight breeze in the first half, City were on the front foot almost immediately. The Inter defence looked calm and assured in front of goalkeeper Jemma Horley, but the outlet to midfield was proving difficult to find. Niamh Nolan almost intercepted in the opening exchanges, before Emily Jackson had the first chance, but her shot lacked any power. The industrious Sienna Bell then fired in a low shot, but straight at the goalkeeper, and Izzy Saunders was foiled by the quick thinking of Emma Chiew as City pressed.
Inter were slow to attack, although Claudia Janus almost capitalised on a City mistake but she was crowded out quickly. Reynolds almost played in Saunders, a last ditch tackle denying her the chance of a run on goal, and Bell crossed from the right only for a defender to get a toe in to deny Saunders again. The first drinks break of the afternoon was welcome, the players already beaming from their efforts in the hot sun.
City continued their heavy pressure, Nolan fired in a shot that was straight at the goalkeeper, before Saunders was fed by Jackson and her shot was saved by Horley, the rebound grabbed quickly by the busy shot-stopper. Inter’s Cleo Gavagna was hassling well in midfield to make things happen, but Jackson fed Reynolds and her shot was touched wide for a corner. Saunders’ corner was deflected high by a defender, bouncing off the bar for a second corner and the ball eventually fell for Saunders who fired in a shot that flashed just over the bar.
Tinney scampered up the left to swing in a teasing cross, but the frustration continued for the City front-line as Horley made the save and the scores remained level going into the second drinks break of the half.
A forceful run by Abby Duggan on the City right saw Jackson played through, but she couldn’t control the pass, and there was a momentum swing as Inter enjoyed a period of possession, Bownas and Janus making in-roads up the left-hand side. Just as Inter thought they had weathered the storm, City found new outlets, Tinney racing down the left to cross well, and soon after, when she found herself in space within striking distance, she took a step and unleashed a fierce shot from fully 25 yards that flew over Horley and into the net for a sensational opening goal. What a hit, and the celebrations were merited for a moment of magic that brought the game to life.
Nolan was clearly brought down for a stonewall penalty a minute later, the referee with his eye elsewhere when the challenge was made, and Inter survived, and the half ended with Lucia Franulovic racing up the left to cross, but again the lack of numbers in the box meant that Horley could intercept easily.
A single goal advantage at the break was scant reward for the possession and the shots, and the players were glad to take refuge from the oppressive conditions in the shade of the changing rooms.
Inter Lions came out flying in the second half and were level within a minute of the restart. The half-time soul-searching paid dividends almost immediately. A hesitant City defence allowed Janus to feed Annabelle Banfield, and her expert cross from the right was spilled by goalkeeper Ash McIntyre allowing Bownas to finish into the gaping goal for 1-1. Mira Thomas then played Bownas clean through but she had gone early, the assistant’s flag quick to go up to foil the attack, before a carbon copy of the goal saw Janus force the ball out wide to Banfield, and Janus raced to meet the delightful cross only for McIntyre to make amends with a point-blank stop right in front. It was all Inter, and the alarm bells were ringing in the City dugout.
Good hassling by Cole on the left won a corner for the visitors, and Nolan did well to intercept and fire in a shot, but it was straight at Horley. Good battling by Jackson saw an inviting cross whipped in but there were no takers, and Cole raced through only to stand on the ball and hit the ground spectacularly, the referee unmoved as play continued. This was now a very even game and the first break of the second half was welcome to allow City to regroup and focus on the task ahead.
Inter played out from the back with style, Horley to Sinead Fisher, in to Gavagna and then long, that seemed to be the key to unlocking the City defence. Chiew played in Bownas, Aurelia Smith having to concede a corner. The corner was dealt with easily, and play went up the other end where Saunders went on a mazy run that brought a good save from Horley.
The game seemed to be slipping away from City though, and another tentative moment from McIntyre and some pedestrian defence forced Lara Green to hack the ball behind with Janus in close proximity. Gavagna’s corners were dangerous, but the visiting defence was dominant in the air, and only a wayward shot from close in front prevented Inter from taking the lead. Emilia Jaglica then fed Bownas but she ran out of room to find the shot.
All of a sudden City sprung on the attack and with the ball worked up the left and inside, a superb ball found Cole racing through on the right, and her low shot arrowed into the net for 2-1. There was confusion as the Inter players tried to convince the officials that the ball had gone through the side-netting, but the ball had clearly gone in and eventually the goal was awarded as the Inter Lions defenders shaped to restart with a goal kick. City now had the impetus, and a crunching tackle by midfield enforcer Bell led into the final drinks break of the game.
A wild clearance from Ellen McCartney handed a corner to City and Saunders’ corner found the head of Smith, but she could only head it high into the air. Courtney Kitching battled well to win another corner, but this time it was too long. Could City hang on for the win? Well, they went one better. A cheap free kick was conceded in midfield and Blacktown sent their defenders forward to add some steel in the penalty area. Saunders swung in a teasing ball from the free-kick, Horley could only help the ball up high under pressure, and as the ball fell, with Smith and Reynolds racing in to challenge, the hip of Reynolds sent the ball into the net and City had the vital goal to settle the contest. The dubious goals panel may decide that the goal did in fact go to Saunders, but Reynolds got the final touch.
Janus continued to battle well down the Inter right, but it was all too late. City had secured the win in this first pre-season fixture of 2024. The conditions were not conducive to fast flowing football and the drinks breaks did disrupt the natural flow of the contest, but we are thankful that we got a game at all today.
City will be pleased with the victory, although quite rightly concerned by the slow start to the second half that almost saw them trailing, after totally dominating the first half. We have a month of games ahead of us before the real action begins, and an even sterner test awaits next Sunday when Blacktown City travel to face local rivals and NPL1 heavyweights Blacktown Spartans at the home of Western Sydney Wanderers. Look forward to seeing you all there!
Note : Thanks for reading. This is a weekly report that brings you NPL football action not normally covered by any media outlet. If you like it, share it and let people from the opposing team know about it. The quality of the photos this week is poor. Not sure what happened, but there is a blur about most of them that matches the blur in my eyes after being in the sun all afternoon! Stand by for more pre-season action next weekend.