Sutherland Strikers 0 Blacktown City 2
A two goal victory on the road, a clean sheet and 5th place in the Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s table would normally be a result to celebrate. Not on Sunday though as Blacktown City suffered a hangover from Thursday evening’s brilliant win and their goals famine was underlined by defender Annabelle Gerard becoming joint top scorer for the season, both goals in fact coming from the penalty spot in a turgid performance as the valiant hosts were finally undone. Paris Kambouris celebrated her first goal from the spot, the defence looked composed and controlled, but despite dominating play for the majority of the game, two refereeing decisions ultimately decided the destination of the points today.
A beaming hot day at this new venue had spectators looking for the scarce shade as kick off approached and the players were already red-faced even before the game got underway. City asserted their intentions, Lara Green going in for a big tackle in the first minute, and a long free kick following a foul on Kambouris tested Sutherland’s young goalkeeper Stacey Ellis who pushed the ball away athletically. This was a strong start from the visiting team, Green getting up the left to win a corner, which was easily cleared. A misplaced clearance though from Evangelina Ferekos was intercepted by Brianna Tinney, and the City striker shot just past the post.
City won corner after corner, Nicola Ciocca and Green making the most of the space up the wings, and the delivery from Tinney was getting closer to the goal, Ellis having to be alert to keep the ball away from the visiting attackers. When Lara Green cut inside and fired in a shot, Ellis pushed away the danger, the ball bounced and Ciocca was left all alone to head the ball over the unfortunate keeper for the opening goal. The assistant’s flag was met with disbelief, Crystal Huang having played Ciocca onside, and City would have to wait for their goal. Let the photos of that incident guide you in forming an opinion of the offside.
Sienna Bell raced through to shoot wide under pressure, Bell was then fouled, allowing Gerard to lift in a dangerous ball that was shepherded wide by Ellis. The defence couldn’t get anywhere with their clearances, and the ball kept coming back, Bell hassling from a goalkick and Ciocca firing a low shot past the post. Frustratingly, Tinney controlled a bouncing ball and fired in a great shot that was parried, but no one had the presence of mind or the striker’s instinct to chase the ball in and the danger was cleared.
City were in the driving seat, but the longer the game remained at 0-0, there was always an element of doubt. Gerard’s backpass was underhit causing goalkeeper Amy Harkin to rush out of her area to clear. A most unusual moment then saw City go close. Olivia de Pourbaix fed Green who raced up the left and played a tempting ball in for Tinney. She reached the ball first and flicked goalwards, the ball hitting the outside of the post and then hitting the wheel of the temporary goal and staying in play amidst confusion, the ball eventually hacked away.
Kambouris halted Mimi Sewell who broke free, her crude challenge awarding a free kick to the home side, but the free kick from Ferekos was straight at Harkin from distance. City continued to hunt, Ciocca firing in a cross that Bell just couldn’t connect with. Green broke free again on the left to lift in a cross for the unmarked Ciocca, right in front, but the header was horrible and the ball ran harmlessly wide. The game was in danger of becoming one for the football purist, the bouncing ball not being controlled and aimless balls being played to no one in particular. This was the anti-venom to Thursday’s stinging victory.
Kambouris tried to mix things up, her long searching ball seeing Niamh Nolan almost reach the ball on the right, and her long free kick when Tinney was fouled on halfway gave Ellis plenty to think about.
Some fantastic hold-up play from Tinney then saw her play in Ciocca, who did well to bundle through two challenges, get the ball on her right foot and with the goal at her mercy, fire wide of the target. An inury break gave the players a chance to rehydrate, the sun beaming down, and that allowed City to regain their composure.
Gerard switched play and Green tricked past her player to fire in a shot from distance that only just whistled over the bar to oohs from the sideline. Nolan passed to Tinney in the area, but she grabbed her defender’s shirt to become the first player in the book. Bell then played a ball over for Nolan to run on to, but her shot lacked power, and the last chance of the half saw Ciocca play in Tinney, who advanced on the keeper but couldn’t get past Ellis, the ball ricocheting out for a goal kick.
Half-time was an opportunity to regroup for the visitors and plot their assault on their hosts in what would have to be a step up in intensity. The home team had been ultra-positive during the first half and were pleased to reach half time with a clean sheet.
A double substitition at half time gave City a spring in their step as the second half started. The half was only two minutes old when Green persisted up the left and let Tinney take over when the ball bounced away from her, and she raced towards goal. Two defenders converged and Tinney was unceremoniously dumped to the ground right in front of the referee, who hesitated for a moment before pointing to the spot. Up stepped Gerard to thrash the ball into the roof of the net, giving Ellis little chance of saving. City had the advantage and they were looking good for more.
Defender de Pourbaix raced on to Hayley Reynolds’ ball to win a corner. Emily Jackson swung in the corner, which was well cleared, but Kambouris was there on the edge of the area. Alas an air swing gave the players and spectators alike a chuckle as the attack broke down. Kambouris was looking for a goal, and combined with Green, but was crowded out. Bell was at her tenacious best, the midfield partnership with Lucia Franulovic giving City the foundation to explore their attacking options.
Ferekos was fouled on the left and took the free-kick herself to remind City that they were still in a contest. Reynolds then raced up the right on a trademark run, her cross flashed in front of Tinney in the centre but made it to Green, who lashed a shot just over the bar, so unlucky. Bell then played in Reynolds who turned brilliantly and shot across the face of goal with no takers in the centre, Nolan intercepted cleverly on the left and let Green lift in a cross into the box where Tinney poked wide under pressure.
Varvara Kypriotis then wowed the crowd with a mazy run, beating three players and powering through two tackles, but her shot was wide. Bell continued to be everywhere, clearing up this time at left back, before Jackson smashed a shot off the bar and Tinney fired over from close range. Kath Spooner-Smith fired in a great cross that was just too high for a City head, Reynolds had moved to the left and cut in to fire a shot well wide, and she shot again from distance soon after, that was comfortably saved by Ellis. De Porbaix picked up a yellow card for a clumsy lunge, and Aurelia Smith was upended on the right when played in by Reynolds. Mel Napoli then raced on to a tidy flick by Reynolds and showed superb composure to drift through two challenges in the penalty area, but Ellis was out to smother at her feet.
Reynolds cut in from the left and fired in another shot that was easily saved this time, and City wondered if they would score again. Of course, they would. With time running out and Sutherland defending for their lives, a ball bounced up and struck an arm inside the penalty area within five metres of the referee. Amidst a big shout from the visiting players, the arm pointed to the spot and the whistle blew, Blacktown had another chance to score from the spot. This time Kambouris stepped up and fired straight at Ellis. However, the Sutherland goalkeeper couldn’t hold it and the ball rolled agonisingly in.
There was one more chance, Jackson feeding Smith on the right and her stinging shot was held by Ellis. The final whistle confirmed the three points for City, but this was in no way convincing from the visitors, and the body language from the players suggested their disappointment at the slender margin of victory.
A fourth win from five games for Blacktown City, excellent form to take into a trio of home games at Landen Stadium starting with the visit of new league leaders Hills United. Sutherland face a daunting trip north to face Central Coast Mariners, but will be buoyed by their defensive performance today. Their unwavering positivity will always give them a good basis to search for their first win of the season.
So, when will Blacktown City click? When will those multiple chances transform into multiple goals? The foundation is there for a very strong team, but that killer instinct is so far elusive. We’re with you all the way girls, time to turn it up a notch!
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