Marconi Stallions 1 Bankstown City 2
As football matches go, this Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s game will not be hung in an art gallery, but Blacktown City’s come-from-behind win at a freezing cold and blustery Marconi Stadium will still live in the memories of everyone who played in it. An exquisite finish from Rebecca Norman had the hosts in the driving seat at the break, but the change-around at half-time and the persistence of the strong windy conditions gave the visitors a second-half opportunity to out-score their opponents. A sweeping finish from Brianna Tinney and an outrageously speculative free-kick from Issy Saunders confirmed City’s mastery of the difficult conditions, and gave the frozen spectators something to warm their souls on a bitterly cold afternoon in Western Sydney.
A late switch to the main stadium gave the Under 20s a taste of the big time, Marconi Stadium having been graced by such greats as Mark Schwarzer, Frank Farina, Heather Garriock and Alanna Kennedy. The home team and the referees were kept waiting as the City players finished their preparations, and the game got underway in bright sunshine but a punishing swirling wind. The very first move from the kick off saw Saunders released on the left by Annabelle Gerard’s long pass, but she opted against taking on her player. Marconi countered soon after when Angelique Skapetis raced up the right past Lara Green and delivered a dangerous cross, but Lily Thompson was there to coolly bring the ball out of defence for the visitors.
Norman was showing tricky feet on the right for the home team, and she combined with Caitlin Cook to deliver a cross to Suzannah Alam who couldn’t prevent the ball rolling out for a goal kick. Suddenly Hayley Reynolds was freed on the right for Blacktown, but Angelica Manago was there to make a telling tackle as the speedy winger threatened to burst through on goal. Saunders fashioned the first shooting chance, firing wide from the left, before Green won the ball and fed Emily Jackson; her ball through for Reynolds was exquisite but the shot was less so, straight at Danielle Greaney in the Marconi goal.
A superb spin and shot from Sania Sahib kept City goalkeeper Emma Kociper on her toes as the ball flashed wide, before City went on the attack. Saunders beat her defender to cross, but the ball held up in the wind and was easy fodder for Greaney. Thompson then fed Reynolds in the middle of the park, who took a touch inside and let rip from distance, but the shot was well wide of the mark. Both teams were finding the going tough in the powerful wind, the ability to string poasses together hampered by the gusts. A cheap free kick was conceded by Manago, adjudged to have brought down Jackson on the right edge of the area. Saunders swung in a cross, and three City players went for it, Gerard so close to connecting at the far post.
Aurelia Smith’s quick throw-in then saw Jackson go around her defender, but the cross hit the side-netting, before Saunders touched a deft ball through for Reynolds, but the offside flag was up quickly to halt her progress. Some clever skill by Sam Wickremeratne then saw the ball cut all the way back to Green, but her audacious 40-yard effort was easily saved by Greaney.
Some battling work by Bell was rewarded with her shirt being pulled as City continued to hold out, but the deadlock was broken soon after. Wickremeratne turned into trouble and coughed up possession, Norman found a yard of space on the right and looped a superb shot over Kociper to give Marconi a vital lead. Marconi looked good for more as Sahib was left all alone to cut inside from the left, but the heavy pressure as she moved in on goal saw the shot go past the post. Saunders kept the home defence busy on the City left, Alam with a great tackle, and when Jackson slipped in Reynolds, Greaney was out quickly to smother. The half ended in confusion, Saunders winning a corner, but the lack of a scoreboard and the difficulty getting communication across the field saw the half-time whistle prevent the corner from being taken.
With the wind unrelenting, and the crowd shivering in the cold stands, City knew what they had to do. But it was Marconi who started the second half with intent, Skapetis beating Bell and Gerard up the right, but Abby Duggan was there to clear the danger. City looked dangerous soon after as Tinney and Reynolds earned a corner. The resulting cross from Jackson was cleared and when Niamh Nolan picked up the loose ball, she played in Jackson who fired in a dangerous ball, which Tinney met with a glancing header that bounced just the wrong side of the post.
Bell was fouled on the City left, Saunders teeing up a shot, but this time it was wayward, the range-finder clearing the bar handsomely. Reynolds was then fouled in a similar position after a flowing move had City back on the attack, and this time Saunders’ shot was on target. Greaney spilled the shot, Jackson and Tinney pounced for the rebound, but the Marconi goalkeeper miraculously pushed the ball across goal and out for a corner when it looked impossible for City not to score.
Another tricky moment for Greaney saw her push away another Saunders shot, Tinney scrambled to try and apply the finish before Jackson fired the shot over the bar. A superb turn by Jackson then saw her wriggle free of her player and hit the byline, but she was quickly shepherded away from goal by the tenacious Marconi defence. Just as the visitors were thinking that they would never get back on level terms, they struck with a delicious goal. Duggan took control and fired a ball out right for Saunders, who clipped the ball towards Jackson, but instead the ball fell perfectly for Tinney on the run, and she swept the ball majestically into the net, giving Greaney no chance. Simple and effective, and City were on the hunt for a second straight away. Nolan’s ball in from the right was half-cleared and Saunders fired high over the bar, looking to the skies for inspiration.
The threat of Skapetis continued as she blazed past Gerard on the burst, but Duggan was quick to intervene and clear under pressure. Sahib then twisted and turned to create space, but was eventually shut down, before Bell was scythed down, Amira Shalak the first player into the book. Saunders then threatened to weave through on a mazy run, but the ball ran away from her, before Nolan was chopped down on the right. Was this in range for another Saunders effort? Despite being 40 yards out, the answer was a definite yes, and the City striker lashed the ball goalwards, Greaney unable to follow the flight of the ball, and the ball dropped through her hands and into the net for a freak goal. It typified the conditions on the day, the ball swirling in the wind, but Greaney will still be disappointed to have conceded from such a distance.
Tinney then played in Saunders, but she was adjudged to have fouled her defender. At the other end, it was Skapetis again the tormentor as she raced past Gerard, but Duggan was quick to snuff out the danger.
It was Blacktown who looked the most likely to score again. Jackson had two bites at a corner, Marina Batar heading the ball behind under heavy pressure. The corners continued, a shot from Zoe Thompson blocked for yet another, and in the ensuing scramble, Lucia Franulovic fired a wayward shot well past the post, shaking her head to herself as she retreated. The final chance fell to Mel Napoli, cutting inside as Blacktown threatened, but her shot was well blocked.
There was time for another instalment in the Duggan vs Skapetis duel, Duggan doing well to clear the ball, before the referee brought the game to its conclusion, City having come from behind to take the three points on a day definitely not meant for quality football.
The win lifted Blacktown City up to the lofty heights of sixth spot in the table, pending other results, and was a testament to the persistence of the team, defending doggedly for the first difficult 45 minutes before going on the attack in the second. A trip to similarly shot-shy Bankstown City next Sunday is unlikely to yield much in the way of goals, and for Marconi, it’s a difficult trip to high-flying Mt Druitt Town Rangers as they continue their mini-league battle with Camden Tigers to see who finishes 9th in the table.
Today the weather won and football was definitely not the winner. A blustery ice-cold afternoon on an otherwise picture-perfect winter’s day made the going tough for these teams, but City took their chances and will be delighted with the way they turned the game in their favour after the break. Stay tuned for more exciting football from the Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s as the 2024 season enters the home straight.
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