Central Coast Mariners 1 Blacktown City 0
Round two of the Football NSW League One Women’s brought Blacktown City to a hot and breezy Pluim Park to face much-fancied Central Coast Mariners, and they left with nothing despite a spirited display. An early first-half strike from Rachel Glendenning was enough to separate the two sides, and despite a controversial penalty being awarded midway through the second period for a mystery handball, the home team passed up the opportunity of a second and the game was in the balance right until the final whistle. Blacktown pressed and pressed late in the game, but they were ultimately locked out by a high quality defensive display from the Mariners, who were relieved as the referee brought the game to its conclusion.
A blazing hot day in Lisarow greeted the two teams on Pluim Park field three, kick-off delayed slightly while the previous game ended, and from the opening whistle, kicking into the wind in the first half, City showed their intent. A push in the back from Lara Green on the left straight from kick off was enough to show the Mariners that they would be in for a game here today, and Izzy Saunders almost caught goalkeeper Kyara O’Brien in possession soon after as City started brightly. With Amber Ford the playmaker in the centre of the park for the Mariners, there would be chances to come for the home team, but a glorious opportunity fell Blacktown’s way. Sienna Bell played in Hayley Reynolds on the right, and as O’Brien came out to narrow the angle, Reynolds clipped the ball across the face of the unguarded goal where Green steamed in at the far post, but her shot on the stretch was wild with the goal gaping.
The ball reached the other end when Briana Myers played a searching ball out left for Savannah Lalor, and she delivered a great cross to Glendenning, ghosting in at the far post, to half volley an unorthodox right-foot shot past Anna Ivanovic in the City goal for 1-0. Mariners now had the bit between their teeth, and Amaya Shaw’s good work on the right led to Myers unmarked in front of goal, but the shot screwed off her foot and wide, a great chance gone begging. Mariners continued to threaten up the left hand side, but City had the next chance, as Reynolds and Abby Duggan combined on the right to release Sienna Bell but O’Brien was out swiftly.
Green released Lucia Franulovic on the left to win a corner, Saunders delivering a dangerous cross that was well dealt with by the Mariners defence, but soon after Green stole the ball on the left and teed up Saunders, who took aim and fired home brilliantly from 20 yards, a fantastic strike to silence the home crowd. The offside flag was up though to shut down the muted celebrations, Saunders having come back from an offside position, and the referee signalled a drinks break to diffuse a potentially tense situation with City players looking his way for an explanation.
A route-one move from the Mariners saw Duggan misjudge a long ball and Lalor was clean through. Ivanovic advanced and got an important touch to push the ball into the side-netting. City continued to probe, Reynolds with a mesmerising run, sprinting away down the right, but she ran out of room. Mariners broke upfield and Myers slipped into the area, but Ivanovic was out bravely to block the ball at her feet.
Saunders teed up Bell for a shot from distance, but it lacked power. Green caught Mikayla Standen in possession but she was closed down, before Bell played in Asha Eveniss to win another corner for the visitors. Bell and Annabelle Gerard were unable to get their heads on the ball, but Green played a fantastic one-two with Eveniss, but again the shot lacked any conviction and O’Brien smothered.
There was always danger when Mariners sprung forward with their direct and concise play, and Teagan Jones fed Myers, but her shot was way off target. City finished the half on top, Saunders playing in Green who had just strayed offside, Green and Eveniss worked the triangles, and it was Green who got in a good position, but fired harmlssly wide.
The half-time whistle sounded and Mariners were a goal ahead, but Blacktown looked dangerous going forward, and with the breeze stiffening in City’s favour for the second half, there was plenty to play for.
Reynolds and Green had swapped wings at the start of the second half, and Reynolds raced up the left but was caught offside. Another interception by Green saw her cross for Reynolds, but Lily Thompson took over and her shot was touched wide by O’Brien for a corner.
Thompson miskicked when well placed at the far post, another chance passing City by, but Mariners grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and moved up a gear. Lalor strode up the left and crossed well, before Paris Kambouris was penalised for a trip on Myers on the edge of the area to give the Mariners an opportunity to show their free-kick prowess. Up stepped Andie Chaseling to curl in a shot, but Ivanovic saved comfortably.
Jones fed Lalor, whose ball for Myers was excellent, but her shot was well saved by Ivanovic. Shaw then played in Myers, but Ivanovic was smartly off her line to save. Franulovic was caught trying to run the ball out of play on the Mariners right, and had her pocket picked, but Kambouris was there to turn Glendenning’s cross behind for a corner.
City burst into action up the other end, Bell doing well to keep the ball in on the right, Green crossed for Reynolds, but the shot was tame. All of a sudden, with Gerard struggling to judge a bouncing ball, the referee decided that the ball had hit the defender’s arm. More than that, it was adjudged to have been in the penalty area and, without a single appeal from the home team, bench or spectators, a mystery penalty was awarded for the home team. There was total confusion, a ghost handball that no one had seen, but the referee was adamant. In a moment of justice being served though, Lalor screwed her spot kick well wide and City had survived.
Blacktown’s final ball was letting them down, Thompson with a searching ball that was too long, and then Reynolds showed tricky feet before spoiling it with a mis-hit through ball. Up the other end, a dangerous corner from Shaw was plucked out of the air by Ivanovic, and she held on to the ball as it dropped to the ground, hearts in mouth for a split second.
Reynolds fed Franulovic whose dangerous cross to the near post was just too far for substitute Niamh Nolan. Nolan then showed great feet to set up Mel Napoli who just couldn’t capitalise on her teammate’s skill, the shot blocked. Napoli and Reynolds then got confused with the offside rule, Reynolds leaving the ball for Napoli who was offside, and a glorious position was wasted with Reynolds potentially clean through. The referee signalled drinks again, and we were in for a grandstand finish with the score still poised at 1-0.
Franulovic blazed a shot over when Reynolds’ corner was cleared, before the Mariners had their own great chance, when young Florence Martin found herself clean through, but Bell was strong in the challenge and City scrambled the ball clear.
Franulovic won a free kick in the middle of the park that Gerard launched goalwards, but straight at O’Brien, and that was the last touch for the Mariners goalkeeper as she was replaced by Danielle Bartels. Reynolds was then caught offside as City threatened again, and the visitors threw everything forward in search of the equaliser.
Aurelia Smith’s through ball for Napoli was just too strong, Reynolds crossed dangerously but Standen cleared under pressure. Kambouris did well to close down a breakaway as City went to three at the back, and it was all-out attack from the team in black. A fabulous move from Reynolds saw her cut inside and sting the palms of Bartels, before Napoli did well to steal the ball and feed Reynolds, but this time the shot was screwed wide. City sensed an equaliser, Reynolds embarking on a superb run up the left but the Mariners defence stood firm. Smith played in Napoli down the right whose cross caused panic in the home team’s defence, but the referee’s watch was to frustrate Blacktown, the whistle cutting off the head of steam that was building and condemning them to defeat.
This was top-drawer entertainment at Pluim Park today in stifling conditions. The home side were direct and dangerous whenever they were close to goal, but a strong performance from Anna Ivanovic in the City goal and some tenacious battling in midfield from Sienna Bell gave the visitors a platform, from which Hayley Reynolds almost snatched something from the game in the dying minutes. Central Coast Mariners had been given a scare by Blacktown City, but they had done enough, and their assured defence were relieved to have held on to a clean sheet in a frantic finish.
Positive signs for Blacktown City as they head into a home fixture with South East Phoenix at Landen Stadium next week, while the Mariners are on the road to Mt Druitt Town Rangers, two teams with faultless starts looking to dent each other’s perfect record so far in the 2024 season. Stay tuned for more exciting FNSW League One Women’s Under 20s action next week, see you on the sidelines.
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