Sydney University 4 Blacktown City 0
Blacktown City got their pre-season campaign underway in blistering sunshine on Sunday and were soundly beaten in the shadows of Sydney Airport at Tempe Reserve. In a game split into four quarters to allow the players respite from the torrid summer conditions, we had to wait until just before the end of the first period for Asha Sutton to prod home to give Sydney University a deserved lead. Sienna Beram coolly slotted home a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, and a tap in from Nina Gibian made it three early in the final quarter. A late deflected shot from Riley Carr wrong-footed City’s hero of the day, goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie, and that fourth goal gave the scoreline a more realistic feel in a dominant display by the hosts. Positive signs for the visitors, unlikely to face opposition of this level in the coming year, this was the perfect way to set the scene for the 2025 season.
Blacktown City love a pre-season challenge, having taken on Gladesville Ravens and Newcastle Jets last year at this embryonic early stage, and there was no tougher challenge than Sydney University away in the lead-up to Christmas. Spectators were hidden under umbrellas and took shelter underneath the trees as the hot temperatures were enhanced by the hot playing surface of this new artificial field in South Sydney. The first hit-out for both brand-new Under-18 squads saw the teams switch ends to begin the game, Sydney Uni attacking the Cooks River end, and immediately on the offensive.
Jacinta Knowles and Sharlene Ferreira showed early skill to give City’s defence a lot to do, goalkeeper MacKenzie smartly out to smother an early chance. A long ball towards Sutton saw Mackenzie race out of her penalty area but the offside flag was up. Sienna Bell’s meaty tackle on the sideline got City firing for the challenge, but when Sutton was played in, Olivia Sleap did well to close down the angle and the shot was well dealt with by Mackenzie.
Only 15 minutes had gone, and already we had seen a number of shots on goal from the home team, Knowles again firing in a shot from distance that Mackenzie got down well to. A corner that was only half cleared landed at the feet of Carr, and she fired in a shot, but straight into the waiting arms of Mackenzie. At the other end, livewire midfield enforcer Angelica Conate was brought down in midfield in a dangerous position, but Uni comfortably dealt with the danger, although Bell dug out a shot that Olive Kirby watched past the post. Signs of life for the City attack, but the onslaught continued.
There was more than a hint of handball as Ferreira controlled a looping ball on the left. She turned inside and weaved majestically through three players before curling a shot goalwards, Mackenzie flinging herself to her left to tip the ball onto the post. The pressure was relentless, both City fullbacks with their hands full, and they finally cracked just before the first drinks break. A corner from the left was played short, Ferreira got the ball back and played a long cross that looked to evade everyone. Carr reached out and somehow hooked the ball back in, Mackenzie made the save down low, and Sutton was there to pounce from close range with a poacher’s finish for 1-0.
Play restarted and immediately Uni went in for the kill. Knowles hung up a beautiful cross for Carr, but her free header flashed wide. City were struggling to get out, and Sutton fired in another shot from distance, which Mackenzie dealt with easily. Beram was given too much space and shot, Mackenzie getting down low to smother, before Sutton lifted the ball cleverly over her defender, but Emily Jackson was quickest to head the ball clear for City. Conate brought down her player in front of the referee on the edge of the area, Beram sizing up the opportunity, but the free-kick was floated harmlessly over the bar. Charlotte Woolnough shot from the edge of the area, Mackenzie equal to it, and Mikayla Shore rose highest from a Beram corner, but the header was fielded well by Mackenzie.
Enterprising play by Mikayla Gadd on the right almost found Zoe Thompson at the far post as City looked for an unlikely equaliser, and a long-range shot from Jackson was comfortably saved by Kirby. The half looked to be heading to a close with the score still locked frustratingly at 1-0, when Shore burst through, pursued by Gadd. After resisting the close attention of her marker, Shore turned in the area and was dumped to the floor, the referee having no hesitation to award the penalty. Hands were on hips, and following in the penalty was optional, as Beram picked her spot and Uni went into the break two goals to the good and coasting to victory.
Grace Cho-Triganza and Ferreira combined at the start of the second half, Courtney Kitching doing well to block the shot, and Shore spun well to fire sraight at Mackenzie as the home side forced City back. Beram was left in acres of space on the right as the play opened up, but her shot was wide of the goal, before birthday girl Lara Green won a 50/50 challenge in the area and raced off up the left before being caught by two panicked defenders as she threatened to go all the way to goal.
City were finding possession hard to maintain, and Shore fired another shot in that Mackenzie saved well down low. Woolnough and Carr then inter-linked and Mackenzie was again forced into a fine save, and Sutton fired in a shot from distance that Mackenzie plucked out of the air with incredible poise.
Green was again the source of much attacking intent for the visitors, Evi Papafilopoulos penalised for a handball as the attack eventually broke down. Knowles treated the watching crowd, baking in the sizzling sun, to a series of stepovers up the right, Green quite rightly bringing her down for a free kick. Beram’s set piece just evaded everyone and the post and the players grabbed their final water break with the score still at 2-0.
The final period was a minute old when Sutton realised how much space she was in and raced unchallenged into the box, bundled through the final defender and fired towards goal. Mackenzie again made the save, but the ball fell invitingly for Gibian who rifled the loose ball into the roof of the net for 3-0. This was all about survival now for City, and Mackenzie was pressured by Gibian who almost got lucky as the ball ricocheted off her and just went past the post. Woolnough shot from outside the area, Mackenzie again showing excellent handling to hold the ball, and the chances kept coming, City only brielfy getting the ball into the Uni half for a moment’s respite.
A cross from the left from Knowles found Carr right in front, but she leaned back and fired over, her head in her hands in disgust as a great chance was spurned. Beram was set free on the right, but Mackenzie was equal to the shot, and City looked to have weathered the storm with only moments remaining. The goalscoring though wasn’t over, and Carr set off on a powerful run, Aurelia Smith lunging in to block the shot, but the ball took a wicked deflection to send Mackenzie the wrong way. She still got a hand to it, but the ball rolled in to complete the scoring and give the scoreboard a more realistic look.
Red-faced players shook hands with smiles of relief at the end of an entertaining 90 minutes. This had been defence vs attack for the most part, and we will need to wait until the next pre-season game to see how the Blacktown City forward line looks with a little possession and attacking intent. For Uni, this was a good reminder why they are highly regarded in the top tier of women’s football in NSW, and they should fare well in the inaugural under 18s competition in 2025.
Stay tuned for more action from Blacktown City Under 18s as the season ramps up from January. The season begins in early March, and there is plenty of work to be done before then.
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