Blacktown City 3 St George 1

The visit of St George FC, a team with a perfect record of five wins from five so far in the 2025 season, looked like a tough assignment for shot-shy Blacktown City, but ninety minutes later they were celebrating a huge statement win. Rachel Fry opened the scoring midway through the first half to stun the visitors, so when St George equalised through Lauren Wells at the start of the second half, the expectation was for a swift turnaround. Instead, a free-kick from Courtney Kitching somehow found the net to put the home side immediately back in front, and the central defender saved the best til last, powering home a thumping header to seal the victory, with an outrageous backflip celebration to match. City held their nerve to repel the St George attack to post an eye-catching win and elevate themselves into the top half of the table, but the day belonged to captain Kitching for a memorable display.

A sunny day in North West Sydney and after a long delay as we awaited the referee team, St George won the toss and turned the teams around, mind games at play right from the start. Ex-Blacktown star Josie Riley was involved in the first move for the visitors, raking a ball to Eyerus Hillman on the right whose cross was hacked away from in front of goal. Any sign that this was going to be a one-sided affair was dispelled when Emily Jackson played in Fry, whose precision through-ball found Sienna Bell, but goalkeeper Zara Phillips was out quickly when the final touch was too heavy. City looked alert and tenacious in the middle of the park and a loose pass was pounced on by Lara Green who found Bell again, but Jasmine Sidoti was there to clear.

A moment of hesitation when two Blacktown defenders got in each others’ way, the ball fell for Ruby Ackland who smashed a shot off the top the bar with goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie beaten. Green and Fry combined well, but the ball broke for St George, and Allie Sheedy played in Hillman, Eve Hunter getting the shot away from distance that was easily smothered by Mackenzie. The battle between Bell and Riley was a feature, Bell doing well to race away from the St George player, but her cross was blocked. The all-action Bell then turned sweetly on the left, racing through to shoot just wide as City threatened again. Bell’s timely intervention somehow resulted in a corner to the visitors, Hillman getting her head to the inswinging kick, but the ball was well wide.

The game was heating up; a long searching through ball found Bell again in a foot race with her defender. This time she was clear, and again Phillips did well to challenge on the edge of her area. The ball fell for Fry, well outside the box, realising that Phillips was now stranded, and the City striker lifted the ball towards the empty goal and in for a deserved opening goal. The Blacktown players were ecstatic, the referee ordering a drinks break before play could continue and both sets of players had a chance to cool down. Conditions were hot. A handball shout against Lauren Bisnette was waved away by the referee, but worse was to come for the St George captain when she had her pocket picked by Sarah De Sousa, and only the sturdy wrists of Phillips prevented De Sousa from increasing the slender lead.

Emily Chandran and Aurelia Smith combined not once but twice as Chandran raced upfield, and when Jackson played in Chandran again, City had a corner. The corner kick from the left was met by Kitching under pressure, but the ball sailed harmlessly wide. Blacktown then coughed up possession in the middle when Jackson’s ball to Smith sold her in to trouble, Wells firing into the side-netting with a great chance, before Chandran was beaten to the ball on the St George right, but Dominique Ashton was there to clear up well for the home team. A searching ball by Eva Drivas saw Hillman turn sweetly, racing away into the penalty area but shooting well wide.

The half-time whistle sounded with Blacktown City maintaining their shock lead against their illustrious opponents, and the players disappeared into the changing rooms to cool down from the hot conditions.

The temerature eased as the second half got underway, the cloud cover giving us the perfect stage for a second half battle. Chandran and Bell linked up with Liliana Waterhouse up the left, but there was no end product. The visitors started to look panicky and were fraying at the edges. Evdokia Papafilopoulos was brought down but no free kick given to City, before Hunter was penalised for going through the back of Angelica Conate. Hunter then spread the ball out right to Riley, and her cross landed at the feet of Hillman, however the St George striker got the ball caught in between her legs and the chance was gone.

Riley had been pushed into an advanced position on the right and Chandran couldn’t cut out her cross, Mikayla Gadd finding herself on the wrong side of Wells, who smashed the ball home for 1-1. This was surely a turning point, the game appeared to be moving in St George’s favour, but a fortuitous free-kick was awarded to the home team on the sideline when Conate was adjudged to have been fouled. A speculative ball was launched high into the area by Kitching. Phillips hesitated then came. The ball bounced once, up and over the stranded keeper’s reach, heading towards goal. Phillips made an attempt to play the ball that only resulted in the ball hitting her defender and crossing the line. The City players raced towards the goal scorer, celebrating their fortune more than the quality of the goal itself.

The long throw weapon of Riley came to the fore, Conate reaching with every sinew to clear a chance from the edge of the six-yard box, then Mackenzie had to be alert to push away a shot from Hillman when she scampered through. Riley was having a superb tussle with Chandran, and a pull by the full back gave St George a free kick in a useful position on the right. Chloe Ryan’s effort though sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Bell was sliced down unceremoniously after she had turned away from her player, the St George bench earning a talking-to from the referee as things began to get heated. When Bell was freed on the right, she powered to the byline and crossed, the defender putting the ball into row Z when Phillips may have been able to field the ball. Ashton came across to take the corner and lofted a ball straight into the pack of players on the edge of the six-yard box. Up rose Kitching as she ran in, and she met the cross with a fantastic header that was past Phillips before she could even think. The City defender wheeled away for a Sam Kerr tumble before being swamped by her delighted teammates. What a goal! What a moment!

When Kitching smashed into Hillman soon after, she escaped a yellow, and then Ryan raced through on the right to shoot, Mackenzie at full stretch to turn the ball around the post in a thrilling action. Kitching was instrumental in clearing up the corner, calmly chesting the ball down to avert the danger, and City clung on to their impressive two-goal lead. The second drinks break was unnecessary, given the more temperate conditions, but City were happy to start managing the game from then on, with twenty minutes left on the clock.

A clever ball through by Waterhouse then found De Sousa, but she ran out of room to get the shot in, and St George started to look more dangerous. Hunter had a good run and shot easily saved by Mackenzie, Alexandra Lumb then lined up a shot but didn’t catch it right as the City defence scrambled, and Jackson took a leaf out of Bell’s book of solid tackles with a crunching challenge to diffuse a difficult situation on the edge of the penalty area. Riley continued her dominance of the right-hand side, Mackenzie making another save look easy, before Riley again fed Wells, who had time and space, but Mackenzie made the save. A deft header by Riley then set Hillman away, the offside flag up to save the home team.

City looked to kill the game off. Smith found herself in unusual territory, breaking through on the left and heading for the corner flag, but her attempt to play the ball off the legs of the defender allowed St George to break again upfield. Jackson was there though, and she raced out of defence into the open midfield to feed Bell. The combative midfielder won the race to the ball with her defender, but she had nothing left to give the cross and Phillips gathered. The sound of the final whistle was sweet for the home team, an incredible three points here today against a powerful St George team that had only conceded one goal all season.

The City players applauded the home fans in the main stand, as the result started to sink in. We had some impressive performances across the park today. Bell was outstanding, Fry and Chandran earning the plaudits for solid performances, but this was Courtney Kitching’s day. The goal and the celebration, captured on video in glorious technicolour, was a highlight that will be difficult to beat this season.

We don’t have long to wait before the City girls are in action again, a hastily rearranged game with Hills United on Tuesday as the games come thick and fast. For those of you who weren’t there, you missed a truly memorable moment, a fabulous performance and a deserved win for City. For those of you who were, you’ll remember this one for a long time.

Thanks for reading. As always, let me know of any mistaken identity or memory fails. Thanks to Gerry for some cracker shots. Come back soon for more absorbing match action from the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s.

Click here to see the video. You won’t regret it!

Blacktown City 1 Marconi Stallions 0

The Football NSW Under 18 Girls Youth League 2 served up a thriller at Landen Stadium on a dreary Sunday in North West Sydney as Blacktown City’s rearguard action protected a goal of the season contender and the home side prevailed. A superb long-range strike from Emily Jackson midway through the first half, the culmination of a team move that swept from left to right, was perhaps against the run of play as the much-fancied Marconi put pressure on the City goal. A miracle second-half goal-line clearance from Mikayla Gadd was worth a goal in itself as the hosts defended stoutly, and the relief at the final whistle was palpable as the three points stayed in Blacktown and the home fans saw their first win of the season.

The on-off drizzle may have kept the majority of the crowd in the main stand and the umbrellas up elsewhere in the stadium, but conditions were perfect for football as the two teams stepped out on to the increasingly rubbery field for this round 4 clash. Marconi, who were so dominant in the pre-season fixture between these teams earlier this year, were full of confidence and it showed in their final warm-ups. The game though started with Blacktown City on the attack, Emilie Chandran freeing Sienna Bell on the left, and when Rachel Fry helped the cross in to Sarah De Sousa, the lively striker was unfortunate with the bounce and the miskick rolled harmlessly wide. At the other end, Dominique Ashton presented a ball straight to the Marconi striker but got away with it, and Bell was unceremoniously sliced down by Sofia Fragomelli, who was fortunate to escape the first yellow card of the game. Ashton’s free kick was whipped in to the near post, but goalkeeper Aesha Rosas saved well.

Marconi always posed a threat in attack, and when superstar Jaydaleah Browning slipped in Eden Babakian, Courtney Kitching had to move quickly over to concede a corner. City’s next chance was presented by the visitors, as Amber Mitchell’s backpass went under Rosas’ foot and was hacked away off the line, Jackson fighting for the ball and Aurelia Smith firing in a shot that was saved at the near post. Fry then flicked the ball over the last defender and with her goalkeeper stranded, Mary Palogiannidis swept the ball away from goal. The resulting corner saw Kitching connect on the volley at the near post, but the ball bounced wide.

A shaky moment at the back as City goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie presented Browning with the ball from a scuffed clearance resulted in another corner which was well cleared again by the towering Kitching. Browning then played in Mitchell on the left for a run on goal, but Ashton did well to cover and Mackenzie saved well.

City raided down the left, Bell playing a neat ball in for Fry who forced the ball out right to Gadd who had joined the attack. The momentum seemingly lost, she turned the ball inside for Jackson who rode a challenge and advanced, teeing up a thumping shot from 25 yards. As soon as it left her foot, the crowd were off their feet as the shot sailed into the top right hand corner of Rosas’ goal, the Marconi custodian unable to get anywhere near it, Jackson wheeling away in delight and mobbed by her teammates to celebrate a superb goal. Rosas had fallen awkwardly and was helped away to be replaced by Shaina Ahani.

The home team had their tails up, looking good in possession, but Marconi had attacking options all over the field, and when Angelina Putrus played in Isabella Samo, Mackenzie was bravely out to smother at her feet, taking a heavy knock from the striker in the process. Good play by Lara Green at the other end saw fullback Gadd strike on goal, her shot sailing wide, but it was Marconi knocking on the door. A long ball into the corridor of uncertainty saw Mackenzie and Gadd leave the ball for each other, and Fragomelli had a clear shot on goal from the left but could only hit the side netting. Fragomelli was again through, played in by Lujain Gad, but again the shot was weak and Mackenzie made a comfortable save.

The game was in the balance. City attacked, Fry flicking the ball to Bell who won the corner as the home team eased the pressure. Putrus then fended off the challenge of Chandran after Mitchell had played her in on the right and Mackenzie got down well to save as a dangerous cross was fired in. The combination of Fry and Bell was paying dividends on the left, City with another corner, but there was no end product from the set pieces. Ahani was finally handed a bib when the referee realised that the substitute goalkeeper was in the exact colours of Blacktown City.

The half ended with a bizarre moment as the referee held the whistle in his mouth to blow for a foul by Smith. The free kick didn’t eventuate and the ball had broken in City’s favour, Fry realising and racing onto the ball down the left; her cross found Evdokia Papafilopoulos in a good position, but the bounce hit her hand and the chance was gone. City had ended the half in attack, and that was what they needed to do in the second half to keep the ball away from their own goal – this could be a siege in the second half.

Rosas was back between the posts in the second half as Marconi started with intent. City couldn’t get the ball away for more than five seconds, Gad wriggled to the byline to cross but it was too far, and was then played in past the final defender but again there was too much on the cross and the ball bounced away into touch. Elliana Englen was playing a safe game at left back, safety first the motto as Green kept the pressure on. Green flicked a ball over her defender and raced onto it, but ran out of space. Angelica Conate against Browning in midfield was an intriguing match-up, two terriers going at each other, and Green somehow escaped a yellow card when she hauled back Samo with a fistful of her shirt. Faith Bugeja was starting to dictate play for the visitors, as City were hemmed in with little to no attacking options to ease the pressure.

City finally got sight of goal when De Sousa played in Green on the right, who tucked the ball back in for De Sousa who in turn forced a corner. Ashton’s corner was close to the goal, catching out the Marconi defence who were pre-occupied with the players running in. De Sousa was there to challenge, Smith kept the ball alive, but Kitching’s effort was over the top, Marconi showing a little panic at the back, contrary to their otherwise calm and collected defensive play.

City almost undid their good work, Ashton’s heavy touch bringing the ball out of defence pounced on by Bugeja, but Mackenzie made a smart stop to force the ball behind for a corner. Browning came steaming in at the back post from the cross, the only player reading the flight of the ball, but her header was wide. Browning again won the ball in an advanced position as the home side buckled, Amelia Luke firing wide as the ball fell to her perfectly. The game was on a knife-edge.

The footballing gods shone down on City though when they got in a tangle at the back. A bouncing ball fell for Ashton to clear after Mackenzie had stretched for a cross, she drilled the ball into Kitching and the ball spun towards the empty goal. Time stood still for a second as the City players looked on in terror, but Gadd appeared from nowhere to slide the ball off the line for a miraculous clearance, the crowd on their feet at the game-changing moment. Gadd was soon in the action again, injured on the right, the referee stopping play and then forcing her off the field and refusing to let her back on.

Bronagh McKeown was having a superb game at right back for Marconi, keeping the City attack in check, and it was from one of her clearances that Georgia Arbolino and Gad combined, the shot saved by Mackenzie. Browning then teased the City defence, but after making space for the shot, the final effort was scuffed as the defence closed in. There appeared to be only one way this game was going, but Mackenzie and her defence stood firm.

City tried to play their way into attacking positions, De Sousa played in Liliana Waterhouse who showed good feet to win a corner, the pressure taken off the defence for a moment. There were cheers and olés from the travelling fans as Marconi stroked the ball around magnificently in midfield, the one-touch play lighting up a dull day, but again the City defence repelled the attack.

A cross from Waterhouse found De Sousa as City broke, and she managed to dig out a shot but with no power and the next wave of Marconi attacks could start. The Blacktown players looked out on their feet, and the game management started as they tried to run down the rest of the minutes to an unlikely victory. All of a sudden, Palogiannidis miscontrolled a long kick by Mackenzie and De Sousa was onto it in a flash. She raced towards goal, Palogiannidis in close attendance, finally making a strong tackle on the byline to clear the ball away. De Sousa had taken a knock in the process and was down, the referee allowed the physio on and De Sousa hobbled off in discomfort, the Marconi players incensed at what could have been seen as time-wasting. Marconi still had time though, and Ashton did well to force the ball behind for a corner.

There was a huge cheer as the dangerous corner was plucked out of the air by Mackenzie and the City faithful knew that the game was over. The referee brought an intriguing match to a close, and the Marconi players were distraught. Blacktown coach Michael Gadd was stoic as he congratulated his exhausted players, lauding their resilience in the face of an unrelenting onslaught.

This was a fantastic way to grab a first win of the season, a fighting display against a talented team who became increasingly agitated as the game went on. The second-half goal-line clearance from Mikayla Gadd and the first-half missile from Emily Jackson will be remembered fondly as Blacktown City went on to win for the first time in Under 18s. This moment in history could be the springboard for a good season ahead, get yourself to a game and enjoy top-quality youth football from the cream of New South Wales.

Thanks for reading. As always, any corrections to names are welcome, as is any like, share or comment on social media. Stay tuned for more exciting action next week as Blacktown City head to Nepean.

Blacktown City 0 South Coast Flame 1

A superb strike on the counter-attack from Naomi Hart was the difference between two lively teams at Landen Stadium on Sunday, South Coast Flame leaving with three points and Blacktown City wondering just how they didn’t score. A rousing second half from the hosts saw them go close on multiple occasions, but the killer instinct was missing; is this set to be a season of ‘what could have been’ for Blacktown’s bright young things in the Girls Youth League Under 18 Division Two?

The bright orange shirts of today’s visitors were a statement, but they lived up to their vivid colour with a positive warm-up and a dominant first period of the game. Captain Arika English and fellow defender Lola Garcia stroked the ball around like superstars in the opening ten minutes, the hesitant City strikers unable to get anywhere near the ball. Caelin Rogers on the left up against Lara Green was already shaping up to be an exciting tussle, but it was fellow attacker Amalia Harb who broke through onto a defensive giveaway and brought the best out of Courtney Mackenzie in the City goal, palming the ball away for a corner.

South Coast’s corners were leaving a lot to be desired, but they kept pushing, Harb again beating two players before sliding a glorious ball through for Rosie Lewis but the ball just ran away. A sweet turn from Hart then tested Mackenzie, Flame continued to push but Courtney Kitching was quick to clear up any danger from the long searching ball over the top. Harb again pounced on a loose pass in defence and fired in a cross from the right. Kitching was first to it, but she could only divert the ball goalwards and Mackenzie made an astonishing save to prevent an own goal and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Harb played in Madison Latta, but the offside flag was up before she shot, and Hart raced up the left into the box, firing low to Mackenzie’s left, but the ball was inches past the far post. This was a case of survival for City, and with too many misplaced pases in defence and a lack of intensity in the increasingly hot conditions, they were dicing with danger.

Sarah De Sousa and Sienna Bell battled for a loose ball as City finally got some traction, De Sousa firing over from distance, then Rachel Fry slid a delicious through ball in to De Sousa, but goalkeeper Spiridoula Spyrakis was out quickly at her feet to clear. An interception by Aurelia Smith was played to De Sousa, but her lofted shot was plucked out of the air by Spyrakis. There was finally life in the City attack. A belated drinks break was called, but not before Hart had been foiled by a last-ditch Kitching tackle and Hart again had a fierce shot charged down. A drinks break was most welcome, the heat starting to beam off the slick Landen Stadium surface.

Refreshed and refocused, City continued to battle, De Sousa doing well up against the strong Latta. All of a sudden a stray pass in defence from Flame had Fry in space in front of goal, but she dragged her shot wide. De Sousa, Green and Fry then combined with some intricate one-touch passing, but the final ball was just out of reach for Fry. Emily Jackson continued the onslaught for the reinvigorated City attack, teeing up Liliana Waterhouse, but the shot was scuffed and cleared. Fry raced up the left to cross, but Spyrakis pounced, before City won a corner after good work by Jackson and Green.

The corner was half-cleared to Fry who took aim, and got a second attempt when her shot was blocked, the ball falling for Angelica Conate whose shot was well saved by Spyrakis. Sienna Bell was by now on maximum charge. Flame were a constant threat though, Harb playing in Annabelle Shelton, but Kitching was in quick to clear. Smith was venturing forward and played in a through ball, but Evdokia Papafilopoulos wasn’t on the same wavelength and the ball was cleared. Half time was upon us when Bell won a ball in midfield and raced up the right, her dangerous cross sliced high into the air, but the whistle sounded and the players could have some respite from the energy-sapping heat.

South Coast Flame were out early into the searing afternoon sunshine, kept waiting by the referee and their opponents, and the breeze was now well and truly in favour of the visitors. A superb move involving Smith and Waterhouse eventually led to Papafilopoulos striking on goal, but there was no power in the effort, and Papafilopoulos was struggling to find her range as a second attempt was mis-hit. At the other end Dominique Ashton pursued English, eventually forcing the ball out for a corner, and when the corner came in, Hart’s rising shot was saved well by Mackenzie in the City goal.

The impressive Natalia Badrov then rode three City challenges in midfield before raking a glorious ball out right to Hart to win a corner, and when the first corner was scrambled behind, a second corner was cleared well by the Blacktown defence. De Sousa played the ball off her own face in a comedy falcon moment, still managing to play in Fry through moist eyes, but the ball was cleared. Smith then found herself in unfamiliar territory bursting through up the left, but she couldn’t find a way past the final player.

Emilie Chandran won a free kick on the left, Ashton fired in a teasing ball in front of Spyrakis, and Smith just couldn’t meet the ball. Ashton was winning a lot of her duels by simply playing the ball off the legs of her attacker, but she could only watch when Kitching and Smith got in a knot from a goal kick and Harb fired wide with the best chance of the game. A similar moment upfield was to gift Flame the ball when De Sousa and Jackson left the ball for each other. A swift interception and through ball to Hart sent her off and running, and this time Ashton couldn’t get the run of the ball and Hart advanced on goal, steering a shot inside the far post for a superb opening goal. Hart was almost through again a minute later but City survived, and South Coast Flame were hunting for more.

De Sousa was bundled over for a free kick from the right; Jackson and Bell combined brilliantly but the shot lacked conviction, before City had their best chance. Beth Lucas got in the way of a huge clearance from Kitching, and Spyrakis presented De Sousa with the ball on the edge of the area with the goal open. De Sousa shot instantly, but Spyrakis stuck out a hand and the ball was diverted for a corner. Kitching was in the area looking for a heading opportunity from the corner but the ball wouldn’t fall for her.

A great move on the right then saw Bell race into space and pick out Waterhouse at the far post. The ball was there to be struck, but the City flyer got the ball tangled in between her legs and the chance was gone. City had turned the contest in their favour, and the drinks break was well-timed to give them one last push to get something out of the game.

Another superb move with De Sousa and Smith then sent Green chasing a through-ball, but the ball just beat her on the byline. A sudden interception by Smith was played instantly to Lucas, free on the edge of the area, but her back was turned and she couldn’t turn and shoot quickly enough, the defence having gone walkabout. The officials appeared to be suffering from the heat too as a series of decisions went the wrong way. Lewis was tackled by Green for a corner but a goal kick was awarded. Hart and Rogers then combined but the shot was blocked, and the corner again ended up frustratingly behind the goal. De Sousa was battling hard, but the next moment puzzled everyone, a deflection out of play by a Flame defender being awarded as a throw-in to Flame despite the protestations from everyone in black and red.

Smith then found Bell out on the right who cut in and fired on goal, the ball bobbling just wide of the far post, the referee awarding a mystery corner to protests from the Flame defence. Flame made their final sub, but were trying to make two substitutions; the referee reminded them they only had one available in the final ten minutes of play, but as soon as he turned his back, the player quickly went off to be replaced, a quite unbelievable moment that was missed by all of the officials, and unable to be rectified in retrospect. Early season gremlins we’ll put that down to.

Rogers then played in Shelton but the assitant referee had his flag up, the Flame bench in uproar at that decision. The final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the third team. That gave City a final chance to get forward, and the Flame defence was panicked. The referee though brought the game to a close though, the clock a minute or two away from the full forty-five, but by this stage the players were keen to get off the boiling hot field. City had lost their opening game at Landen Stadium in a thriller.

A difficult pill to swallow, City had dominated in the second half and had chances to equalise. It would be easy to bemoan the loss of a proven goalscorer just prior to the season, but the chances were there to be taken, and these players are all capable of much more in front of goal. But for the hand of Spyrakis in the Flame goal, this would have ended in a draw, although the first-half display from the visitors suggested that the margin of victory would have been much greater. Well done to the visitors from Wollongong for the win, well played Blacktown City for getting back into the game and making this an exciting contest, and we look forward to another massive test next Sunday when they visit the home of Football NSW at Valentine Park for a clash with Hills United. See you there!

Thanks for reading. Great to see more photographers at the games, such is interest in the women’s game, and this means unparalleled coverage for our City girls! Now, was it Naomi Hart or Rosie Lewis who scored the only goal of the game? We await confirmation from eagle-eyed fans, and we’ll change it based upon your feedback. The referee may have seen the number clearer than me!