Blacktown City 1 Nepean 1
The first day of the 2024 NPL League One Women’s Under 20s season brought Nepean to Landen Stadium to take on hosts Blacktown City, both teams with a completely new look from the previous season, and the team from St Mary’s left with a point after weathering a fierce City storm. Following a frustrating first half when City failed to convert a host of chances, Hayley Reynolds raced through to open the scoring with a low finish, and in the hot conditions, the home side looked odds on to wrap up the game. With time running out and players tiring in the beaming sun, substitute Liliana Alba raced on to a searching through ball to tuck home a dramatic equaliser for Nepean, rescuing a point as the game ended in stalemate.
A mini heatwave struck Blacktown on Sunday, temperatures rising unexpectedly well into the 30s, and buoyed by the Under 16s late success, Blacktown City’s Under 20s team came into the game with high expectations, despite their shaky pre-season form. The striking blue hair of Annabel Femia for the visitors was a splash of colour, and a defence containing Arlo Hamel and Alisha Gatt knew that they would have a busy afternoon keeping City’s lively attack in check.
Lara Green’s enterprise on the left had the crowd sitting up after a slow start to the game, before the first clear chance fell to City, Lily Thompson showing exquisite control on the byline to cross for Reynolds, but she was unable to connect right in front and the ball flashed across goal to safety. A darting run by Reynolds then saw her stride away down the right, pulling back a cross for the in-coming Sienna Bell, and her first time shot was deflected away for a corner.
From the corner, expertly delivered by Izzy Saunders, Thompson rose well and looped a header onto the top of the bar, City sensing that their dominance could be turned into goals. Reynolds shot from distance, but there was no power in the shot, and then Green brought the best out of the visitors’ goalkeeper Evangelina Papalia, the agile shot-stopper pushing the stinging shot away for yet another corner.
Captain Annie Gerard met the corner on the volley, but the ball was well wide, then defensive partner Paris Kambouris released Abby Duggan, who again tested Papalia with a low shot.
A key moment midway through the half saw Bell play a through ball for Saunders to run on to; with Papalia committed and racing out to try and intercept, Saunders’ pace saw her win the race and she touched the ball past the goalkeeper, took a touch to steady herself, and rolled the ball towards the empty net. The roaring crowd in the main stand suddenly held its collective breath as the ball struck the inside of the post, the defence scrambling back to clear for a corner and Saunders holding her head in her hands. There was plenty of time to reflect on what had just happened as the referee ordered a drinks break, and when play resumed, the home side were hesitant. Goalkeeper Anna Ivanovic cleared straight to Kathleen Kennedy, but the Nepean striker couldn’t get any power behind the shot and Ivanovic breathed a sigh of relief.
A throw-in from Green on the left then found Saunders. Her shot was well saved by Papalia, Reynolds followed up with the shot that struck the bar and the Nepean goalkeeper grabbed the rebound gratefully. Nepean had another chance soon after, Aaliyah McKenzie beat two players in midfield to feed namesake Aaliyah Kennedy, who rode a challenge and fired in a dangrous cross, but City scrambled well to clear.
Reynolds raced through once more to test Papalia, and Gerard fired in a shot from fully 40 yards that didn’t trouble the Nepean goal. The frustration was mounting, and Bell fed Reynolds, her cross met by Thompson whose shot was skied over the bar. Reynolds continued to be a threat on the right and the corner delivery of Saunders was superb, but still City couldn’t find their way to goal. More good work from Green saw Asha Eveniss crack in a shot that Papalia saved, Gerard leapt to head on goal but was off target, and City pressed and pressed.
When Green intercepted a wayward goalkick, she fed Saunders and the shot was deflected straight at Papalia, the Nepean keeper smothering the ball. The half ended with Bell flattening Jessica Taylor, dishing out the same treatment she had received earlier in the half, and the final action saw Bell smash in a low shot which Papalia saved as the half-time whistle sounded.
Straight from the kick off, City were back on the attack. Gerard fired a long ball forward and Niamh Nolan forced a corner. That led to a half chance for Thompson, but her shot lacked any conviction, and Nolan fired in a similar shot that had no power. All of a sudden there was panic in th City defence. Taylor played in Kennedy to win a corner, but the corner from Hamel was easily cleared.
Thompson fed Reynolds who raced clear, but her shot was straight at Papalia, Saunders then fed Reynolds again who bore down on goal once more, and again her shot was aimed straight into the keeper’s arms. At the other end, Rachel Fry and Kennedy combined, but Kennedy’s cross was mishit and Ivanovic claimed the loose ball. The moment that had been rehearsed many times over in the preceding 55 minutes then arrived. Excellent work by Kambouris found Saunders, and she worked the ball through to Reynolds, who raced on to the through ball, beat her defender, and finished low to the keeper’s right for an excellent opening goal. The relief was palpable. Surely we’d see more goals, with Blacktown dominating, and Bell immediately found Green in space out on the left, who advanced but fired wide.
A harsh free kick conceded by Bell then saw Hamel find Kennedy, and her flick on was dealt with by Ivanovic. The game was opening up now, the play swinging from end to end. Saunders fed Reynolds on the right and her dangerous cross was smothered by Papalia. Hamal then played in Kennedy, but Ivanovic was there to clear the danger. City were forced into a change when midfield enforcer Bell couldn’t continue, and straight away Nepean had their best chance, Alba racing through only to be denied by Ivanovic, saving with her legs.
Substitute Mel Napoli raced to keep in a long through ball, doing brilliantly to rescue the lost cause, but City could not capitalise, and Napoli again had a chance to break through, but this time her touch was heavy, the slick synthetic surface allowing the ball to roll harmlessly out of play. Another raid up the right saw Duggan do well to win a corner. Saunders flashed in a cross that Reynolds turned into the net from close range to excited cheers, but the assistant referee already had the flag up to signal the ball out of play.
With a further drinks break required to refresh some weary legs, Blacktown clung on to their 1-0 lead and continued to press. Reynolds did well to feed Napoli who forced a corner. Another clever set piece from Saunders saw the ball fall to Thompson at the far post who fired wide.
The game was reaching boiling point. Thompson found Reynolds out on the right, and her drilled cross was well saved by Papali. Nepean then had a glorious chance themselves, Femia feeding Kennedy, who was clean through on goal, but she shot early and straight at Ivanovic. Another corner was won by City on the right, and this time, for variation, Saunders went short to Kambouris, whose shot was well saved.
Fry then threatened to waltz through the whole City defence, until Kath Spooner-Smith cleared the danger, and this see-sawing game continued, Ivanovic delaying her pass and causing heart palpitations on the bench. There was definitely more action to come before the end of this exciting encounter, and it was no surprise when Nepean grabbed the all-important equaliser. A through ball in midfield evaded a host of outstretched legs to find Alba and this time she advanced on goal and slipped a low shot under Ivanovic to wheel away in delight, duly mobbed by her thrilled teammates whose patience and resolve had been truly tested. The game was now in the balance, Blacktown rocked, Nepean with a fresh head of steam.
Reynolds intercepted a ball on the right to tee up substitute Zoe Thompson and the young star shot just wide. Nepean were looking dangerous, but Duggan was the next to charge on goal, eventually losing control and crumpling to the floor under heavy pressure, coach Jake Gomez finally tipping the referee over the edge with his protests, earning a yellow card for his hopeful penalty claim.
There was still time for Saunders to feed Emilie Chandran, but the ball was just too strong, and with the final attack of the game, with the referee already looking at his watch, Reynolds raided down the right and her cross was deflected into the path of Zoe Thompson, who spun smartly and connected, the ball rolling goalwards and half cleared, but before we knew who would get to the loose ball, the final whistle sounded, and an incredible game of football was ended in controversial circumstances.
City coach Gomez was upbeat after the game, delighted with the way his team had created numerous chances, and bossed the game defensively; the flipside was that they had failed to capitalise on their dominance and this should have been three points banked. It certainly was true that, with a true finisher in the line-up, they could and should have won handsomely, but the entertainment for the bumper crowd was top-notch, and the next game at Landen Stadium will hopefully attract even more attention for this exciting young team.
For Nepean, they entertain League One newcomers Bankstown next Sunday, while Blacktown City travel to Pluim Park for a rematch of their difficult pre-season game with Central Coast Mariners. The early signs are that City will be good value this season, and with the Mariners squad laced with proven talent, this should be another fabulous game of football. See you Sunday.
Thanks for reading. Any corrections to names of players, please let me know. Marrying the teamsheet to the actual action proved to be quite difficult this time!