Blacktown City 2 South East Phoenix 0
Round 3 of the Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s season brought South East Phoenix all the way from Nowra to play Blacktown City in the North West of Sydney, and the home team tasted sweet victory for the first time. A confident finish from Issy Saunders set Blacktown away right on the stroke of half time after having the best chances of the first period, and a second poacher’s goal from Niamh Nolan settled the result with ten minutes to play. A commanding performance from visiting goalkeeper Lauren Trenerry prevented the slender scoreline from snowballing, but City claimed their first win of the 2024 season and a first clean sheet.
A week of turmoil at the club, with a major personnel change in the coaching staff, brought Blacktown City to the point where three points were vital to kick-start their campaign. Coach Jake Gomez was determined that his young team would be good enough to secure the win today, and the conditions could not have been more conducive to playing quality football, the hot summery conditions of the season so far replaced with beautiful cloud and a hint of rain on a pleasant autumn day at Landen Stadium. Sam Cole came into the starting line-up, returning from injury, while Lily Thompson was called up for first team duty and missed out. The team that took Central Coast Mariners all the way last week looked strong on paper, but unproven.
Lara Green showed Blacktown’s intent from the kick off, racing down the left to ruffle the Phoenix feathers, but when Paris Kambouris flattened Lena Hennequin on the right to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position, that capped off a surprisingly low-quality first five minutes of scrappy play. Abbey Nolan-Hodges’ free kick was easily dealt with by Amy Harkin in the City goal, and the home team broke, Green and Cole combining well on the left, Saunders forcing a corner. Trenerry claimed the foul by Hayley Reynolds when the corner was swung in; a mis-hit clearance from the visiting goalkeeper was then interceoted by Sienna Bell, but Reynolds’ cross was wayward.
Another free-kick on the right for the visiting Phoenix saw Isabella McConville swing in a cross that Harkin batted away, and City were off on the counter attack. Reynolds raced out from the back but her ball to release Saunders for a run on goal was intercepted and the chance was gone. A long ball from Annabelle Gerard then caused panic in the visiting defence, goalkeeper Trenerry scurrying back to prevent the corner or worse, the backpass having wrong-footed her completely. A throw-in was controlled beautifully by Asha Eveniss, who found Reynolds, but the shot was deflected wide, and Trenerry claimed the corner, rising highest to secure Saunders’ corner kick.
A break by Samantha Murphy was then foiled by the quick-thinking Nolan who tracked her run up the left, and South East Phoenix won another free-kick on the left; Kirra Jackson’s clever short free-kick saw the ball played in to Zinah Hasan in space in the penalty area, but the flag was swiftly up to deny the chance of a shot on goal. Bell was fouled on the City left, the referee choosing to come back when there was no advantage, and Saunders fired in a ball that was easy for Trenerry. Reynolds and Bell then combined on the right, but the ball as just too strong for Reynolds. Gerard and Green got their wires crossed in defence, the bouncing ball evading both of them, but Green raced back to clean up the mess.
City were shooting from range by now, Reynolds firing one in that Trenerry saved easily, and Saunders showed tricky feet to make space, but the stinging shot was straight at the visiting goalkeeper once again. There were echoes of the opening day when City peppered the goal all game for scant reward, but at the midway point of the first half, the home team were turning the screw.
Gerard strode forward and played in Green on the left, who fired in an enticing cross to the near post, where Saunders connected but the ball went the wrong side of the post. Green then fed Reynolds, but the cross frustratingly hit the side netting, and Eveniss and Reynolds played a wonderful one-two only for Reynolds to run the ball out.
Up the other end, Ellie Moffat played in Hennequin, but her dangerous cross was cleared, but there was little respite for McConville and Mariah Heperi-Clark in the heart of the Phoenix defence. Bell won the ball in midfield and fed Reynolds, clean through this time, but her shot was drilled wide. Cole moved to the right and forced Jackson to concede another needless corner. Cole took the cross in the mid-riff from the corner, leaving her doubled in pain, and Trenerry claimed the ball well.
The half ended with intense pressure from the home side. Nolan kept a ball in while everyone else stopped, but her cross was easy for Trenerry, Saunders teed up a snapshot for herself which Trenerry beat away, Trenerry diving at her feet to prevent a goal on the rebound. Bell played the ball down the left, Eveniss cut inside and her shot was well saved. When Cole forced yet another corner thanks to a mis-kick, Reynolds and Bell went for the ball, Bell eventually stabbing a difficult bouncing chance just past the post.
With seconds remaining of the half, Reynolds jinked pas her player and slipped in Saunders, and her pace saw her get to the ball well before Trenerry and she tucked the ball low past the advancing keeper to score the opening goal. The relief was palpable and the half-time whistle blew as the players were congratulating each other for finally taking the lead right on the break.
Trenerry appeared to be carrying an injury coming into the second half, but she was able to deal with anything that City threw at her. Green’s one-two with Reynolds won a corner, Saunders firing it in. Bell rose but Trenerry saved. City were getting frustrated at their crossing, Nolan and Reynolds wasting good positions, and frustrated by the offside flag, Reynolds played in by Eveniss but well offside.
Saunders then release Eveniss, who cut in past her player and shot, Trenerry equal to it, and Cole then jinked down the right, cut in and delivered a delicate cross that bounced off the top of the bar and away for a goalkick. It was Cole again causing the problems soon after when she fired wide, and then she knocked the wind out of Nolan-Hodges with a thumping shot from point-blank range.
The moment of the match so far saw Saunders, on the right and with a defender closing in, flick the ball one side of her marker and run around the other, leaving the defender for dead, her endeavour winning another corner. Saunders was hobbling so Reynolds took the corner, but could only hit the ball straight out of play. Kambouris and Green combined to win another corner, Saunders floating in another dangerous cross, but the shot-shy City front-line couldn’t get anything on it. Bell then played in Reynolds, who advanced on goal, but the shot was saved.
Brianna Tinney fed Reynolds who had strayed offside, and Tinney found a great touch soon after to get her shot away under pressure, but Trenerry saved. City were dominating, looking composed at the back and when in control in midfield, but at 1-0, the lead looked flimsy.
Reynolds then played provider, slipping a pass to Green for a run on goal, but her shot lacked conviction and Trenerry saved low down. Emily Jackson was thrust into the action, starting to pull the strings in midfield, and Bell found herself with acres of space with the goalkeeper off her line, and lifted a shot goalwards, but Trenerry had back-pedalled sufficiently to be untroubled. The luck seemed to be on the visitors side again when a low cross from Green from the left was deflected goalwards by Heperi-Clark, Trenerry changing direction to save brilliantly at the near post.
Tinney forced a corner which was half-cleared only to Lucia Franulovic, and her shot was blocked, Gerard almost getting on to the rebound in the melee. The second goal finally arrived to lift the tension on the City bench. Cole did well to get into the box and she had time to measure a low fizzing cross that evaded Trenerry and found the incoming Nolan at the far post, who touched the ball almost apologetically into the empty net for a devilishly simple goal.
The game was surely won now. Nolan did well up the right and Cole’s shot was well saved. Franulovic then gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, but superb cover from Bell spared her blushes. A long raking ball from Gerard then released Aurelia Smith on the right, but she had caught the crossing disease, and the ball went behind without causing any trouble to Trenerry’s goal.
The final whistle sounded, and Blacktown City tasted victory for the first time this season. It was bittersweet; having carved out an incredible number of chances, they could only finish two of them, and while coach Gomez congratulated his players, he admitted that it was definitely not their peak performance. The players disappeared into the sheds to belt out the Matildas’ victory song. This certainly is a ‘grand old team to play for’, but we are still looking forward to the forwards clicking and delivering the avalanche of goals that their swift and exciting football is suggesting.
City return to Landen Stadium next week to take on strugglers Inter Lions – could this be the opportunity they need to put together a complete striking performance from their forward line? Or is this destined to be a season of missed chances? The encouraging thing is that the chances are being created, but now is the time to put them away. South East Phoenix continue their difficult start to the season with a trip to Camden Tigers; they did show resolve and plenty of heart today, and anything can happen in the early stages of the season, as teams suss each other out. Catch you next week for another intriguing game of football from the beating heart of North West Sydney.
Great to see so many fans at Landen Stadium for this round 3 fixture, mums, dads and siblings choosing to spend their Sunday afternoon watching quality women’s football. Please like and share if you clicked here from social media, and let’s put Blacktown City on the map.