Newcastle Jets 1 Sydney FC 0
Our return to the terraces to support Sydney FC Women, following last weekend’s hiatus when we finally won a game, was further proof that we are indeed the jinx. Once again, the urgency to compete in this thoroughly winnable game was only evident in the final ten minutes, when it was all too late and the game management of the Jets’ players was a sight to behold to run down the final moments. Another kick in the teeth for the fans, who still cling to the title of Champions despite knowing that finals football is not coming to Moore Park this year. What has gone wrong this season for Sydney FC?
A 4.30pm kick off at Sportsground No 2 in the middle of Newcastle, and our aim to be on the road by 1.30pm from the far north western suburbs of Sydney was about right. Coming through some rain on the way, we feared the worst, but we arrived to patches of sunshine and perfect conditions for football. The configuration of this stadium allows the general public and the media pack to mingle, and the temptation of a Bunnings-style sausage sandwich was too much to resist from the indoor barbeque. The local Modus beer bar, a welcome feature of past visits to this compact venue, was running late and was only just setting up for the day.
A decent crowd was forming, the Jets’ seemingly solo drummer in the middle of the stand, undercover in case of rain, while the Sydney FC Cove positioned themselves towards the Hunter end, exposed to the elements, ready to give it their all in the continued absence of capo MMTV. Our fantastic Euro capo for the day, and her eager drummer, respected the International Women’s Day line-up prior to the game and let the legendary INXS intro music play before leading the massive bank of Sydney Cove in the traditional We Are Sydney. The players were acutely aware that they had the full support of the travelling fans, so it was a particularly discouraging start to the game with Sydney reverting to the football that has seen them plummet to the foot of the A-League ladder so spectacularly this season.
There was only one team in it for most of the first half, Sydney FC, for all their obvious talent and neat footwork, were simply outmuscled. Beth Mason-Jones was called on to make two full-length saves to repel the Jets, and they were dangerous every time they came forward, Josie Allen having a field day down the left and sudden superstar Sophie Hoban making life tough on the other flank. The Cove sang, unrelenting and undeterred, but it was no surprise when Sydney finally went behind, and Mason-Jones couldn’t save the day this time, palming away a header, but Sheridan Gallagher was on the spot to turn the ball in.
Princess Ibini did tee up a shot from distance at the far end which was blocked, and she was at least putting herself into challenges, and Caley Tallon-Henniker made in-roads up the right, but there was no penetration and the once-dominant Sky Blues were made to look like Marty Sheargold’s year 10 girls by the more determined and more hungry Jets players.
Just as it was a surprise to see the Sydney FC non-playing squad members sitting in Bay 6 with the general public, it was also a surprise to see Shea Connors readying herself at the break to replace the only real threat Ibini. We saw an instant change in mood. Connors chased everything and hassled her defender out of the ball at one point to set up Mackenzie Hawkesby, but the shot was well over. For all the endeavour that Connors showed, her ungainly touch undid all the good work, coughing up possession after she had won the ball. The Cove was loving her energy though, and when Tori Tumeth went in and won a strong tackle, we could sense a change in attitude to match that of the American star.
Whatever wind was out there on the field, the leftovers of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, was in Sydney’s favour, and the introduction of Millie Farrow for the ineffectual Maddie Caspers added to the fight. Jasmine Black was forced into action after Mason-Jones was given a shove from a long free kick, although the goalkeeper was unimpressed to be forced off the field after recovering. Black made a great save with her feet to keep the score to one, then the Jets hit the bar with a rocket of a shot, and Sydney were still somehow in the game with ten minutes remaining. Lucy Johnson tried to replicate her heroics from earlier in the season, but fired over, but it was Hoban who looked the most likely, her confidence on a high and she had the beating of Abby Lemon up the right.
With Sydney having used up all their subs, the word seemed to go out that they simply had to win. The urgency to return the ball to play suddenly appeared, the need to get the ball forward quickly was refreshing. They pushed and pushed, but the quality was sadly lacking, so often a stray ball not finding feet and the long-ball route-one was simply not working, with Natasha Prior dominating in the Newcastle defence. Hawkesby’s corner at the end saw the only consistently solid Sydney player this season, Jordan Thompson, leap and plant her header just over the bar, and with Newcastle running the ball into the corner to eat up the rest of the game, the final result was no surprise to anyone in a sky blue shirt.
There was at least some joy, players celebrating with Jasmine Black for making her debut, and to the players’ credit, they did endure the awkward moment of being serenaded by the Cove when they obviously didn’t want to be there. We simply don’t know what more we can do to help get the team over the line in games. There is singing and encouragement and the chants are non-stop, but we just can’t see where it’s all going wrong. Good players don’t become shit players overnight. Some of the football is flowing, but too often there is a nothing ball or a low-percentage pass that just breaks any positive play down and doesn’t seem to elicit any reaction from the sideline, as if it’s acceptable. And the way that Sydney are bullied off the ball at the moment is so concerning – we should be running rings around some of these players, but our girls are simply being knocked off the ball by more eager and willing opponents. Confidence is a big factor.
Shea Connors thanked the Sydney fans after missing the mutual appreciation moment, and we chatted with fellow football tragics from Newcastle until it was time to go home. The players were already outside and heading off to their lifts home. There was obviously no post-mortem, and everyone was super-keen to get back on the motorway and back home. It didn’t feel right, but to be fair, that has been the Newcastle away-trip vibe every time we’ve come here.
We made a night of it though, heading to the Central Coast to see Born Jovi at Toukley Ary, the day rescued and the football long forgotten. What a horrible season this has turned into; any talk of still making the finals is just hot air, and for those players sitting in the stands watching their peers dish up meek and unconvincing performances like this must surely make the mood at Sky Park very sombre indeed.
We’ll support you ever more, or so they say. A continuation of this run of performances and we’ll be lucky to have even the smallest of crowds for the rest of the dead-rubber-filled season. But, for some reason unbeknownst to us, we’ll still be there, through the highest highs and the lowest lows. Forza Sydney FC!