Australian Championship – what’s that?

There’s just no helping some people. It absolutely amazes me that many football fans in Australia, so caught up in the English Premier League and how their Fantasy team is doing, have no idea what’s going on in their own back yard. Whilst the blame could lay in the low-key advertising of the local scene, the A-Leagues kicking off to very little promotion, the fact that big fans of the global game have literally no idea that a new second division competition is already two rounds in is astounding.

After taking in the dour opening match of the A-League season at Commbank Stadium as Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City cancelled each other out on Saturday evening, I was genuinely excited to see what the new second tier of Australian football could deliver in my first taste of the action, a two-game Sunday feast at opposite ends of our beautiful city of Sydney. First up, Sydney Olympic, 1pm at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah. Now, knowing this stadium very well after Sydney FC’s hiatus from Allianz Stadium, parking was incredibly easy in the surrounding streets, even though I was running late due to a surprising amount of traffic en route.

Parked up and in the stadium by 12.45pm, I had picked up my photographer accreditation and was installed in the far corner of the field for a first-class view of the action from up-close. The crowd was spread out in the main stand, in the shade, while the rest of the stadium was bare. The home team had their noisy fans at the front, chanting O-lym-pic which sounded like R-B-B to be honest, while there were plenty of Broadmeadow fans in the house too. The first half was all Broadmeadow to begin with, the own goal to take the lead no suprise, but Olympic did have plenty of the ball at the other end but couldn’t find a goal.

At half time I was informed that I was not in the right spot – contrary to A-League rules, no photographers were allowed on the side opposite the camera position. Fair enough, I thought, so after chatting with fellow photographers Graham and Richie and applying an extra level of sun protection, I headed down to the opposite end with the expectation that most of the action would be in the home team’s goalmouth. I was right, to an extent, as Broadmeadow extended their lead in the second half with a lovely finish, but Olympic were back in it when a deflected shot bamboozled the Broadmeadow keeper and the deficit was halved. Cue Arran Cocks with a super poacher’s goal, nicking the ball from the last defender and stepping around the Olympic goalkeeper to roll the ball into the empty net for his second goal. Oddly enough, it wasn’t game over, as Olympic again reduced the arrears, this time from a well-struck free kick, but eventually time ran out and the visiting fans were the loudest as the final whistle sounded.

This had been a great introduction to the Australian Championship. It was interesting to see former Sydney FC man Connor O’Toole in the line-up for the home side, and the referee for the day, fellow NWSFRA referee and local lad Eric Saba had a solid game in the centre of the park – once he had realised his mistake in brandishing a red card to a home player in the second half, the error was rectified immediately and he went on to have a good afternoon in the hot blustery conditions. The crowd filed out quickly, the Olympic faithful not too disappointed with the result, and I was back in the car to rush over to North West Sydney and a familiar venue, Christie Park.

Again, with confusion over where the photographer positions should be, I was eventually installed against the fence at the northern end. Christie Park is not a stadium, it is a football facility for the local representative clubs, home team Spirit FC being one of three, and as such there is no big stand like Jubilee Oval and the other three sides of the stadium have no seats and no terracing, so you are simply leaning against the fence. This was more like it, the small covered benching on the far side of the field packed out with eager locals looking for another big occasion. They had seen Melbourne Victory here last season in the Australia Cup, featuring none other than Uruguayan Socceroo legend Bruno Fornaroli, and he was back this time representing the visitors Avondale, famous giant-killers in this year’s Australia Cup.

This game was even. Both sides had plenty of opportunities without having clear-cut shots on goal, and with time running out in the first half, a cross looked to have evaded Fornaroli in front of goal. Somehow the referee pointed to the spot, and the same player dispatched the penalty with essentially the last kick of the first half, a disappointing way for the home team to concede so close to the break. The game looked dead and buried a minute into the second half as Avondale sliced through the centre of the Spirit defence and at 2-0 down, it would not be a surprise if the home fans lost interest.

Happily, the home side clawed their way back to level at 2-2, first with a worldie from outside the area, then a poacher’s finish on the hour to change the complexion of the game altogether. With ten minutes remaining, and Spirit mastering the familiar synthetic surface, a third goal was burgled from a rebound and a famous win looked on the cards. The final moments of the game were agony though, and with a few seconds remaining of the hefty stoppage time, a break on the right, a shot parried and a finish on the rebound saw the score reverted to parity. The Avondale fans in the corner, surprisingly numerous, were overjoyed. That joy continued at the final whistle and a classic match had ended with the spoils shared, probably the right result.

The Avondale players all congregated with their fans for a Central Coast Mariners-style photo, while the rest of the fans headed off into the night with the intention of returning next week for the visit of Canberra Croatia.

A couple of big plusses from today’s games. There is no VAR. What a joy that is. And secondly, the clock continues to the end of the half. There’s no guesswork. The clock would end at 45 and 90 minutes in the A-League or in international games and the fan in the stadium would have no notion of how long is left. The scoreboard at Jubilee Oval was simply showing the TV feed, so we could see the clock and the amount of added time. The less-advanced scoreboard at Chrisie Park continued to tick until the halves finished. Common sense at last! Why on earth does the A-League stop the clock? Just because the EPL does?

So, Sunday was my debut at Australian Championship games, and it was thoroughly enjoyable; I also got a bit burnt. The playing surface at Jubile Oval could not have been any better, while at Christie Park, the atmosphere was superb with the fans right up close, and even able to share banter with the players. At one point, an Avondale player gave the assistant referee a mouthful and the fans were keen for the official to take action. It was all smiles though and everyone saw the funny side.

So, which games are you all heading to next week? There’s quite a selection, and you could in theory have a Super Saturday, Marconi, Sydney United and then Sydney FC. The format of this competition, with four groups of four playing home and away in the group stages before heading into a finals series, is perfect. We have teams from all around Australia. We’ll start to see teams really needing points soon, and hopefully we’ll not end up with too many dead-rubbers as the group stage nears its conclusion. Australian football is maturing. We’ve got our second division. Let’s get behind it and enjoy it for what it is – a way of finding the best NPL team in the country. That’s something to be celebrated. See you all at the weekend.

Trials, retentions, resilience and goodbyes

There’s nothing quite like representative football to stir emotions as the end of the season gives way to the official trials period and those young players who have not secured a position for 2026 are put through the ringer in the hope of securing another year of top flight football in their region. Football NSW mandates a trial period, where clubs are expected to hold their open trials, and this year it falls on Sunday 12th October. Multiple clubs all holding trials on the same day, players being ferried around different suburban fields to try and convince a technical director or an overwhelmed coach that they are more worthy of a punt than the other forty kids on show. It’s a stressful time for everyone.

A group of young female football players in orange and black uniforms celebrating on the field.
Friends for life, memories that last forever

To the uninitiated, that seems fair. Those players who shine on the day, which is often the first blistering hot day of spring, will naturally be the ones who are offered a position for the upcoming season on the spot. Credit cards will be debited hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, as players and parents are given little or no option but to accept the position there and then. The fear of missing out is powerful. Alternatively, depending on the make-up of the existing squad and the positions that a coach is hoping to fill, your aspiring Lionel Messi will be asked to come back and train a few days later in a smaller group setting where the more gifted players can play together and the coaches can run their eye over a smaller group up-close and in game situations.

Two football players engaged in a physical confrontation during a match, with spectators in the background.
Friendly battles continue, even in the A-League

By now though, any parent with their finger remotely near the pulse would understand that not every player at the trials is actually trialling. In fact, the majority of the squad will be already complete; those who have secured a place via retention from the season just finished or those who have been brought in from another club will be asked not to wear club colours. There may even be only one or two places in the squad yet to fill, and in some cases, the trial will be purely a box-ticking exercise as there are no places left for next year at all. On top of that, with clubs encouraged to retain players more than ever by the Football NSW Club Standards and Benchmarking framework, we could see almost a closed shop when it comes to trials at some clubs.

Those parents who are trying to get their young ones into the Youth Leagues space from club football need to prepare themselves for an emotional rollercoaster. Young Mary Fowler may make it to the promised land of the National Premier Leagues, but they may be consigned to a season on the sidelines, with oversized squads making it hard even to get onto the bench ahead of the young superstars from the age below on match day. Of course, they will benefit from intensive training, but at the cost of missing out on scoring a hat-trick every weekend back at their old club with their mates. The most agonising age group is the Under 16s. On completing that season, the maths just don’t add up. Half of the Under 18s will be sticking around for a second season, and half of the Under 16s will be cut adrift, left to find themselves another club, or go back to grassroots football, sometimes after an eight-year representative football career. At least the Girls Youth League now has Under 18s, as the step up from Under 16s to Under 20s was definitely sink or swim.

A group of young female soccer players wearing black and white jerseys and training bibs, practicing on a grassy field, with one girl dribbling a soccer ball.
Junior Development League is where it all gets real

Keeping up with the opportunities is a task too. The majestically named Facebook group “Australia Soccer-Football Trials / Tournaments / Gala Days & Friendly Games” is a must-visit at this time of year, not only for the raft of Anonymous posters who contribute comedy gold straight from the sidelines. Without having the names and numbers of every technical director and coach, this is a very good resource for finding out when trials are happening and which teams are looking for players. As a parent who has completed the journey through the NPL youth system with various outcomes, I wish everyone success in the trials period. We’ve had agonising waits for retention, we’ve had weeks of training before being offered a spot and we’ve even missed out altogether, only for the footballing gods to point us in the right direction. And remember, loyalty counts for nothing. Whether you like it or not, being let go can be a blessing in disguise, and that word resilience is not to be sniffed at – imagine saying goodbye to friends you’ve spent four days a week with for the past nine months.

We all know that the youth football system is broken in Australia. It has good people, but it’s all about money, when it should all be about quality – the NPL system is a shop window of sorts, and you pay for your place in that window, although the shop may not have any customers. There’s no point in complaining about it, you just have to try your best to get the best outcome for your child. If your young one does not live and breathe football, you are potentially wasting your time, and the one training per week and a game on the weekend may be the best place for them to develop their love and appreciation of the game.

A soccer match in progress, featuring players in blue and black jerseys, competing for the ball on a green field.
Grassroots football is still high quality football

The advent of the non-affiliated academy programs, who are now forming leagues of their own, is an interesting proposition, but parents will need to have even deeper pockets. We’ve all seen footage of the Futboltec Under 11s playing beautiful passing football, and the upcoming Sydney Premier League concept is almost like the A-League, in that the established Sydney clubs are being trumped by new franchises. It will be interesting to watch on as this gets underway at the end of the year.

October is set to be a pivotal month for a huge number of aspiring footballers. Parents will be doing their utmost to achieve the best result for their children and they will be doing so in an environment that is not necessarily a level playing field. Whatever the outcome, once your young one has moved past the Under 18s and they have their driving licence, the journey is over anyway. Remember that. Make sure you did the best for your family, make sure you have realistic expectations and don’t deem a season in grassroots football in 2026 as a failure – it’s a stepping stone to the next adventure and is potentially fostering a love of football, ensuring the game stays in your family for generations to come.

A female football player taking a selfie with a group of young fans, smiling and posing together at an event.
If you don’t make it to the top, you still have a huge part to play in football

Final day agony after City hit six

Blacktown City 6 Camden Tigers 1

An incredible scenario played out on the final day as the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s reached its crescendo on the first sunny weekend of August. With Camden Tigers putting up a fight and SD Raiders unable to break the deadlock in the other key game against Blacktown Spartans, Blacktown City had to win by seven clear goals to snag fourth spot in the ladder, should their nearest rivals fail to find the win. When Zoe Thompson gave City the lead to break her own personal drought, and Lily Waterhouse added a second midway through the first half, it was game on. A mysterious indirect free kick reduced the arrears as the Tigers rallied in the second period, but a fortuitous penalty allowed Thompson to convert to keep the momentum going. Lara Green scored a fabulous fourth, but after Brianna Tinney had scored the fifth, there were only eight minutes remaining. Time was running out when Courtney Kitching thumped home a superb header, and the final whistle stopped City in their tracks and ended the season just as it was reaching its pinnacle. What a game, and what a fabulous way to end the season, with the whole stadium willing on the City players to score those elusive goals, only just falling short of their target, with one-on-one finishing confirmed as their ultimate downfall.

A beautiful sunny day in the North West suburbs of Sydney greeted the two teams with vastly different goals. Kick off was delayed as we awaited the conclusion of the Under 16s season and the referees had their pre-Imperial March cup of tea, but by kick off, City had their game faces on. Charlotte Warner lined up in goal for Camden Tigers, her central defenders Alice Stephenson and Miley Shipp tasked with protecting their goalkeeper, but City were immediately on the attack. Sienna Bell and Angelica Conate teamed up with Waterhouse to fashion an early foray down the left hand side, a wayward clearance by Warner being helped on to Waterhouse who was foiled by Warner, diving at her feet to smother.

The Tigers made themselves known, winning two corners in quick succession, Tinney heading away well, and the high line from the visitors was making it difficult for the City midfield to link up with the attack. Another corner on the left for Camden was helped away by Emily Jackson, and City broke well. Green bided her time to play the ball through for Thompson, breaking the offside trap that had worked so well so far for the visitors, and she raced away, clean through, and took her time to finish low past Warner for 1-0. The hoodoo of last week had been lifted, and Thompson looked full of confidence.

The offside flag was a frequent sight, Bell racing on to Emilie Chandran’s exquisite ball on the left only to be held up by a late call. A thrown in by Tinney on the right secured a corner, Dominique Ashton across to take, and when she got a second bite at the cross, Kitching challenged, the ball falling invitingly for Jackson, who rasped a half-volley just over the bar to an excited roar from the main stand.

Green then prised open the Tigers defence with a superb ball inside the full-back, Thompson raced onto the ball, cut inside and played in Waterhouse, but the shot was well saved down low by Warner. City were playing with added zest, and when Kitching released Thompson with a superb long ball, she looked odds-on to make it two, but hit Warner with the shot and City couldn’t fashion an effort on goal from the rebound. There was no time to reflect on that miss, as Green prodded an incredible ball through to Waterhouse, who advanced, skipped around the on-rushing Warner and tucked the ball nonchalently into the net for 2-0. City in the driving seat, and they were looking tidy.

A scuffed backpass by Kitching saw goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie race out of goal to deal wit the danger, then Tinney released Green on the burst on the right, but a very late flag stopped her in full stride and City were denied again.

When Thompson was upended in a flying challenge on halfway, Kitching lifted in the free kick, Rachel Fry hassled her defender on the right, but the ball wouldn’t break in her favour. When Conate prodded the ball through to Fry and was brought down, the referee tried to play on, but brought play back for the free kick. The short free kick to Jackson set the midfield maestro off on a trademark run, but she couldn’t find a way through the crowded midfield.

Jackson then played a devastating through ball for Waterhouse to gallop on to; she took her time, advanced on goal, but couldn’t find a way past Warner, another glorious chance not taken. Mikayla Gadd raced up the right but ran out of room, and Bell tried to eke out a corner from her defender but the referee had already seen a foul. All of a sudden, a loose ball went spinning towards the City byline. Annabelle White was the only one reacting and got to the ball, but her cross was cut out by the retreating defence and City survived.

City were back up the other end with Sarah De Sousa, holding the ball up brilliantly on the right to deliver a cross. Conate raced onto the ball and was unceremoniously scythed to the ground, a free-kick awarded just outside the penalty area. Kitching stepped up and got the ball up and over the wall, but there was little pace on the shot and Warner claimed the ball comfortably.

City were constantly aware that any mistake could cost them dearly. Ashton gave a cheap ball away, before Kitching and Chandran got in each others’ way to concede a free kick for handball, not far outside the City area. Stephenson’s set piece didn’t trouble the City defence. City persevered, Waterhouse racing up the left to cross, but thert were no takers, and Fry collected a ball on the right to fire in a shot that was held at the near post by Warner.

De Sousa chased down a ball to try and win a corner and was bundled over, the referee checking with his assistant to see if there was anything more than a goal kick, and then Jackson played a clever ball inside for Gadd on the gallop, but Warner was out quickly to save. Tigers did manage to get into a good situation as time ticked away in the first half, Suprina Upadhyaya screwing a shot that didn’t go out of play, and the whistle sounded to end an entertaining yet frustrating half for Blacktown, with the two goals scant reward for their endeavour. Waterhouse and Thompson with the goals, but they also had two glaring misses to their names too; there was work to be done at half time.

Upadhyaya kept the ball for thirty seconds from the kick-off, the City players trying to dispossess the tricky forward, until Conate was fouled. Kitching lofted a high free kick forward, Fry flicked on to the galloping Gadd, and she fired in a superb first-time shot that Warner palmed away with a reaction save. De Sousa then played in her strike partner Evdokia Papafilopoulos, who closed in on goal, but her fierce effort was pawed over by Warner, another glorious chance passed up. Ashton’s corner caused chaos in the Tigers’ six yard box, Warner able to pounce on the ball before Bell could turn the ball in.

The referee was beginning to play a part in the game, awarding free kicks from fifty metres away, and Stephenson received a yellow card and a lecture from the official, before captain Matea Saba was warned that the next card would be red if Stephenson didn’t calm her demeanour. A superb move on the left involving De Sousa, Chandran and Bell saw the ball played back for Jackson to fire in a shot that whistled just over the bar. Jackson then followed it up with a shot from a similar position, but this time didn’t catch it right and the ball flashed wide of the post.

Fry helped a ball on to Papfilopoulos and the flag went up immediately, but it must have been close. Jackson then played a ball over the top for Papafilopoulos, who held off her defender to win a corner. Ashton was quickly across to take the corner as De Sousa continued to menace the defenders, and Jackson was close to catching the volley sweetly but Camden held firm.

A mysterious free kick was awarded when Green was adjudged to have pushed her player as Camden gained ground, and the wall was set up for a shot from Shipp that went straight into Mackenzie’s arms. Somehow that led to an indirect free kick, the referee standing where the wall had been, and the whole stadium was mystified by what they were watching. When Skyla Murphy rolled the ball sideways for Shipp, she fired the ball on goal and Mackenzie couldn’t keep out the powerful shot, the ball ending up inside the side-netting and Camden were back in the game at 2-1.

City were rattled. Mackenzie sliced a clearance into the air as Camden looked to seize the initiative. However, moments later, Chandran found herself in a tussle as she approached the Camden penalty area. The defender had a handful of her shirt, and the City defender showed the referee, who took one look at her position and pointed to the spot, City given an instant opportunity from 12 yards to restore the two-goal margin. Thompson made no mistake from the spot and City raced back to the halfway line to go again.

Chandran again got into a good position on the left, firing in a cross that was dealt with by Warner, but Camden still had their hand in the game, and won a free kick wide on the left. Shipp fired her shot harmlessly wide of goal this time, and City were immediately on the counter attack, Thompson caught coming back from an offside position to receive the ball. Green was forced to concede a corner as Camden raided up the left again, Shipp’s corner cleared comfortably. City were becoming desperate. Thompson raced over to the left to keep the ball in but found no one up in attack when she looked for an outlet.

A strange, excited atmosphere enveloped Landen Stadium; it was intoxicating. A quick throw by Gadd set Green away on the right, and she went straight for the jugular, smashing in a fabulous shot past Warner for 4-1, and the City players dared to dream. Chandran was then taken out by Diana Maracic and City broke, Jackson teeing up Thompson for a free run on goal, but she tried to dummy Warner instead of side-footing past her into the net, and hit the ball straight at the grateful goalkeeper.

Waterhouse was then played clean through for a one-on-one with Warner, and again the shot was straight at the visiting goalkeeper; it’s not as though the goalkeeper had a fluorescent shirt on either to attract the ball to her, but time and time again she found the shots coming straight at her.

A superb move by Green teed up Thompson, but Eva Russell was there to clear, the game was competely frantic and City could feel the goals coming. When Mackenzie was caught late when clearing a ball, time started to tick more quickly for the home team, but when Green played a first time ball across goal, Ava Carney sliced the ball just past her own post for a corner. Ashton’s corner was dangerous, but Tinney’s header was wide of the goal. To their credit, City refused to be sucked into playing long to try and find the opening and continued to play tidy football. A glorious through-ball from Jackson saw Bell win another corner, which Warner palmed away for another. This time the ball was played right into the six-yard box and the ricochet fell perfectly for Tinney on the half-volley to sweep the ball into the net for 5-1. With nine minutes on the clock, three goals were needed. Doable, but it would have to be swift.

Jackson was tripped on the edge of the area when weaving into position for a shot. Ashton’s shot was on target, but easy for Warner. A high ball from Mackenzie was then helped on to Bell, who battled to break free and into the area for the simplest of chances, but again she powered the shot straight at Warner and the goalkeeper did well to smother the rebound. City then fashioned another great chance, thanks to the persistence of Chandran, who just kept the ball in on the left, played the perfect ball in for Jackson on the break but, unbelievably, her shot was the right height for Warner and she beat the ball away, another one-on-one chance spurned.

A snapshot from Tinney won another corner on the right. Ashton’s corner was brilliantly headed goalwards by Kitching, a fabulous goal that merited much celebration, the referee warning the City players not to go searching for the ball in the back of the net, avoiding any unpleasant confrontations. Three minutes remained as Jackson danced to the byline on the right and cut the ball back, but Waterhouse’s effort looped high in the air. By now, with the final score confirming that SD Raiders had indeed left the door open for a City smash-and-grab, the crowd was urging City forward. Thompson raced into the box on the left and smashed in a cross that flashed across the face of goal, Jackson unable to keep the ball in on the far side. The final whistle sounded. The air was sucked right out of the stadium. City players sunk to their knees. This was the final whistle not only on today’s game, but on the whole season, and this talented team was denied the opportunity to take their gutsy football into a finals series involving three teams that they have taken points from this season.

The initial disappointment at missing out on finals football on a goal difference of one goal was put into perspective as the players gathered for their final post-game chat. The players knew they had done well today, but they also knew that throwing away silly points earlier in the season and a lack of a killer instinct in front of goal had been their achilles heel all year. This team will be remembered as a top-quality Under 18s side who were so near yet so far in an eventful season that could and perhaps should have ended in September.

Genuine smiles despite the dramatic end to the 2025 season

The 2025 Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s season is over. SD Raiders claim the final spot in the finals, while Central Coast Mariners are crowned Premiers after a draw against South Coast Flame on Saturday rendered the St George v Hills United blockbuster meaningless. Those four teams make up the semi-finals next week, but for our girls at Blacktown City, this will be remembered as the one that just got away. Half of the squad will be moving on to senior football, but remaining will be a core of talented players looking to take the Under 18s by storm in 2026. Get excited; pre-season is only just around the corner!

Thank you for reading. As always, there may be mistakes, which can always be corrected – don’t hesitate to get in touch. Give this website a shout out on social media too; where else do you get this kind of old-school coverage? The 2025 season has been brought to you with nothing but pleasure. With neither of my kids playing football in Australia next year, footballing weekends may look a little different, but make sure you keep in touch at this website for updates from the Socceroos, Matildas and Sydney FC men’s and women’s teams. With an Asian Cup on home soil and a World Cup in North America, there will be plenty to write about, and plenty of reading material for you to peruse over your morning coffee. And this is some kind of anniversary – this is the 400th article on this website, and with over 16,000 photos and well over half a million words, you’ll find something for everyone right here. Have a browse, catch you soon!

Our aim is to win trophies

Sydney FC 1 Auckland FC 1 (AET Auckland 3-1 on penalties)

Sydney FC paid the penalty for a diabolical set of spot kicks that derailed the club’s number one priority of winning trophies; only five days ago, talk was of winning the Australia Cup, qualifying for Asian football, spreading the brand through Asian markets and building success. What we saw tonight was the instant unravelling of that bravado and a solid return to earth with an embarrassing failure from 12 yards. But tonight wasn’t about the players, the squad, the coaches or the hierarchy behind those lofty ambitions; tonight was about the fans.

  • Back to paradise
  • Silent movies where Kogarah Clubhouse now stands
  • Out of storage
  • Suburban stadium vibes
  • Under the roof

There was a tingling of anticipation about this Australia Cup quarter-final. With local football cancelled for the umpteenth time, we had plenty of time to make it down to Kogarah Clubhouse, and that three-year club membership was still valid as we took advantage of the food and drink deals to get our voices ready for kick off. Walking through the suburban streets, guided by our faithful supporter marshalls, there was something magical in the air; the floodlights beaming over rooftops, the dark streets filled with pedestrians, and entering Gate B on the side, the suggestion was that the traditional Cove position behind the Northern goal would not be the option tonight. Indeed, the position under the roof of the main stand was allocated to active support, and numbers grew as kick off approached, loyal fans greeting each other with hugs.

  • The Cove’s favourite section
  • The knowledgeable football fans
  • The connoisseurs in the posh seats
  • What a vista
  • Get your binoculars out to read the line-ups
  • Here they come. We Are Sydney!
  • Feels like a new season
  • Action is underway

This was a family reunion, even with unexpected guests, babies having become toddlers, teenage kids having outgrown their parents and everyone a little older and wiser. Football almost seemed secondary.

The scoreboard showed the line-ups but they were too small to read, perhaps another sign of ageing, and the anticipation at kick off was palpable. We had new signings Rhys Youlley, Paul Okon-Engstler and Akol Akon in midfield behind workhorse Paddy Wood, no sign of Jordan Courtney-Perkins, and only a place on the bench for last season’s breakout player Wataru Kamijo. We Are Sydney rung around the stadium, the volume in the Cove at maximum levels thanks to the low roof. Football was back!

There’s no point in delving into the action, as you’ve probably seen the replay, but there was plenty of incident in this one. Referee Casey Reibelt gave us a classic moment, racing over to book Auckland’s Marlee Francois after Akon had pulled him back by the shirt. Francois had to correct the experienced official and she shook her head before re-issuing the card to the tricky Sydney FC winger. Joe Lolley raced back to defend like we’ve never seen before, and Sydney FC won a defensive free-kick and simply played on, the referee not noticing that they hadn’t actually stopped the ball to take the free-kick. When Alex Popovic sold his man a dummy in a dangerous position, there was a huge cheer from the fans and for once the clock continued on the scoreboard past the 45-minute mark, a useful addition for the in-stadium experience. Dan Hall had a great chance at the far post, albeit under pressure, Auckland’s tactic of crowding the six-yard box almost paying off, but the header was over from a yard out. The whistle sounded, not a bad half, Akon having flashes down the left without any end product.

That was the cue for a half-time walk through the stadium, bumping in to more familiar faces and marvelling at the incredibly long queue for food.

The second half was full of excitement. Hiroki Sakai conned the referee into a free kick when Wood threatened to break, crumpling to the floor with not even a suggestion of a touch. Sydney put the ball out for a player to received treatment and the referee restarted with a drop ball, eliciting the ire of the fans, and that was a theme in the second half, mysterious drop-balls when the throw-in was the obvious outcome. Maybe it’s a new directive for officials, but it certainly didn’t help. Corey Hollman showed perhaps too many tactical secrets, looking at Akon but not playing him the ball, and Youlley was getting roughed up by the Auckland defenders. Akon sent in a ferocious effort that jut cleared the bar, Wood ran into the Auckland goalkeeper on purpose to try and eke some reaction from the officials, and substitute Tiago Quintal was down injured for a moment after a shocking miscommunication with Akon saw the ball played into touch.

Callan Elliot let the ball run out thinking it was a goal kick, but Sydney had a corner, Rhyan Grant was all arms as he jostled in the box, and when the corner was finally taken, the referee immediately awarded a free kick to Auckland. The game looked dead and buried with five minutes left on the clock when Auckland scythed through the Sydney defence, a shot from Guillermo May parried by Gus Hoefsloot and former Western Sydney Wanderers player Lachlan Brook tucked the ball into the empty net for 1-0. What a shit. That didn’t stop the Cove from upping the volume, and Sydney were level almost immediately, Okon Jr taking over from Akon to play in Joel King, and his pinpoint cross was met by Joe Lolley for a tap in to send the Cove into meltdown. The celebrations were long and hard, the relief was pumping, Sydney had got out of jail. Lolley then picked up the ball on the right, fed Rhino and his cross hit the arm of the defender. Surely a penalty. They’ve been penalties forever! No, the referee pointed to the corner and the Sky Blues were denied. Alex Grant gave us a nervy finish to the game, going through the back of his player in the corner to earn a yllow card and the free kick was only just cleared. Extra time loomed.

  • Squashed in the box
  • The anticipation…
  • Get in…
  • Unexpected joy
  • Only one team going to win it now

The stadium staff started cleaning up, wondering what the fans were still doing here. There was no more food and drink. This was clearly unexpected. Extra time was nervy. Not for the first time tonight, the assistant on the nearside called a throw in when the ball had clearly not gone out. Players continued to lose their footing, as they had done all evening, and neither side had clear-cut chances, Akon creating a good opportunity on the left but Sydney couldn’t find a clear shot on goal, and a low shot from Auckland caused a scramble that Rhino cleared up. Joe Lacey somehow managed to wait until Akon had to turn his back to spin and played the ball straight out of play. The final whistle saw the players congregate on the sidelines as the Cove watched intently as the referee and the captains tossed the coin to work out which end the penalties would be taken from; when the goalkeepers started to make their way to the far end, the Cove upped sticks and raced up to the other end of the stadium.

  • Ready to change ends
  • The race to the penalties
  • Penalty shootout
  • Auckland celebrate
  • Only one team celebrating

This was it. The test of nerves. The lottery. The penalty shoot-out seemed to be going well at the start, Hoefsloot making a great save from May to give Sydney FC the edge, at 1-1 with a penalty in hand. Joel King’s penalty though was at the right height for a save, and while Auckland continued to convert their spot kicks, we were treated to two of the worst ever, Mathias Macallister doing the stupid stutter run up thing before completely shanking his shot hopelessly wide with the goalkeeper already diving out of the way. At 3-1 down after Jake Brimmer had only just kept his shot low enough to go in the roof of the net, Lolley had to score. In typical fashion, after slipping and sliding all over the place during the game, he planted his foot for the strike and it gave way, Lolley joining John Terry and David Beckham in missing a key penalty thanks to an ill-informed choice of footwear. The Auckland players were unsure. The referee took a long time to signal the end of the game, and there was silence in the Cove as the visiting players trotted to celebrate with their keeper. Utter disbelief.

The fans filed out silently from Jubilee Oval. The Auckland players signed autographs and celebrated with their fans, lining up for the customary qualifiers photo with the green-bibbed photographers. The Sydney brains trust were already having a post-mortem on the field.

This result was a massive kick in the teeth for the Sydney fans, who had watched their team contain last season’s Premiers only to bow out with a horrifying penalty failure. For all the talk of club philosophy, of the plan to lift trophies, of a system and a machine built for success, they had tripped at the first hurdle. An otherwise superb night in Sydney’s south, once again it was the result that let us down. We look forward to some meaningless friendlies now to tide us over until October, when we should have been vying for a spot in Asia again. Sydney FC, there is no escape!

Sydney FC member’s forum

On a cold and wet Monday evening in Macquarie Park, Sydney FC hosted the first members’ forum of CEO Mark Aubrey and coach Ufuk Talay’s reign, and it was a huge success. Having originally scheduled the meeting for their new headquarters at Sky Park, the level of interest saw the club move the venue to a nearby conference centre on the other side of Talavera Road, and a steady stream of long-standing members were in place by the somewhat early 6pm start as the rain continued to tumble and the evening traffic brought Epping Road to a standstill. Fans had questions, the club had answers, and the dialogue was open.

The good old days of Sydney FC Women rejoicing in the Cove

The vision for the future of Sydney FC, the key principles for the club philosophy, the player recruitment strategy and even the playing style were shared with the fans, who could not fail to be impressed by the openness of the discussion and the insight into what the club is striving to achieve in the most challenging of conditions. What felt like club secrets were shared with their most ardent fanbase, head of player management Alex Baumjohann proudly listing the signings that have been made preseason, with Rhys Youlley, Paul Okon-Engstler, Marcel Tisserand, Al-Hassan Toure and Akol Akon all incoming and with further plans to bring in a much-needed top-class striker.

While women’s head coach Ante Juric was absent due to illness, it was also noted that there had been plenty of incomings for the women’s squad, and with the players due to report for pre-season in mid-September, the squad was all but complete. The remaining loose ends of Tori Tumeth, currently in the midst of a major trophy chase with the Australia Under 23s in Vietnam, and long-servant Princess Ibini who may end up overseas, were close to being tidied up.

Friendly away days, this time in Newy

With the input of the members present, the conversation was steered towards more edgy topics. What was happening with Douglas Costa? Where does Leo Sena fit in? And, as has already been reported on social media, the narrative changed almost mid-sentence regarding Sena, the conclusion arrived at that he would not be back for another season, despite his positive performances at the start of last season. At least we know. Baumjohann fielded a question regarding Thomas Muller, who chose Canada over Australia despite being a former colleague of the Sydney FC man, but it was closer than many people realise. The Costa situation is delicate, and with no details as to what exactly the issue is, it was revealed that he simply couldn’t leave Brazil right now, despite wanting to rejoin the squad for pre-season; we could be down to no Brazilians by the time the opening game comes around.

Talking of opening games, the club reinforced the desire that Western United win their appeal and line up in the A-League this season. Without their fate being known for some time yet, it was unlikely that we would be able to have a release of the season’s fixtures. The reach of Sydney FC and the A-League in general into Asia was discussed as a broader subject; the friendly that Western Sydney Wanderers played in Indonesia recently was originally slated as a Sydney FC initiative, but the club decided against it to keep the focus on the Australia Cup, an important competition that brings an Asian Champions League 2 berth. Seems to have worked so far. Also a hot topic, the TV deal was discussed at length, with the current deal in its final season, and the national teams up for renewal in two years. The idea of combining the two products into one was discussed as a potential best-case scenario for everyone.

Pre-prepared questions from the members were displayed, but the lively audience had covered most of the subjects. A very insightful question asked Uffie about his coaching style on gameday, which gave the members present a look inside the mind of our coach as he prepares for a game, his thought processes throughout the ninety minutes, and then the post-game reaction and analysis of games. Our head coach accepting the role of the fall guy if results don’t go our way, it was also pointed out that the club philosophy would override any coaching style, an encouraging viewpoint for those listening intently.

Is this one Plutonic, or is it Muph?

A solid two-hour session left most of those present with a renewed optimism for the season. Despite his gameday persona, Uffie was open and honest, Alex Baumjohann gave us valuable insight into what we are looking for from players, and CEO Mark Aubrey, an excellent orator, made sure that the audience knew what the club was trying to achieve. With the academy producing over sixty A-League players over the years, the machine was working, and with the club being able now to benefit from transfer funds from sales and from sell-on fees, the financial position of the club was healthy.

The early season games might look like this in 2025/26. That’s not a bad thing.

Paraphrasing most of the content so as not to reveal too much, this was a most welcome addition to the member experience. With MC Dave Warriner managing the audience input to perfection, this was the sort of interaction between club and fans that builds trust and generates confidence; despite some curly subjects such as Max Burgess and the ongoing Allianz Stadium saga being difficult content to hear, the overarching feeling of togetherness was palpable from this Sydney FC member’s forum. Well done to the club for making this possible, and we all look forward to Saturday’s hot contest with the reigning Premiers with excitement and expectation.

See you at Kogarah, everyone’s favourite Sydney FC venue.

De Sousa delight as Waterhouse weekend continues

Sutherland Strikers 0 Blacktown City 4

They left it late, but Blacktown City finally stamped their authority on Sutherland Strikers with two quick-fire goals to end their final Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s away day of 2025 with a solid win. Patience was wearing thin until goal machine Lily Waterhouse broke the deadlock at the end of the first half, and Sarah De Sousa produced a mazy dribble to mark her maiden goal on the hour. The Strikers went close to reducing the arrears before Lara Green treated the bumper crowd to a magnificent lob to make it three with time running out, and Green then turned provider a minute later, offering Waterhouse a fourth goal on a plate. The season goes down to the wire; what happens next?

Blacktown City arrived at the upgraded Harrie Denning Soccer Centre with one thing on their mind – three points. With Sutherland Strikers in their way, they would need to be on high alert to keep the momentum going and keep the season alive coming into the final game. The winter sunshine was warm, a healthy crowd was in place and Sutherland started the game on the front foot. Emily Moran lifted a ball over the City defence, but Courtney Mackenzie read it well, coming out to claim an early touch. Zoe Thompson was straight onto Angelica Conate’s through ball moments later, pressuring goalkeeper Stacey Ellis into conceding a corner. Thompson’s corner was met by Green but the ball was well wide. Emilie Chandran then intercepted a ball in defence and raced forward, combining with Thompson, and the lively wing back’s shot was pulled wide of the post.

City were not their usual composed selves at the back. Dominique Ashton got the ball caught between her legs as Moran played a through ball towards Sienna Smith, but fellow centre back Courtney Kitching was there to help out her teammate and clear.

Waterhouse was then involved in a glorious move for the visitors; she raced upfield, drew the defence towards her and slipped in Thompson who advanced one-on-one with Ellis, but the Sutherland goalkeeper made a smart save at her feet. Play was end-to-end as Moran fired on goal following a miscontrol by Conate, then Sienna Bell spun quickly on the right to feed Waterhouse, who managed to get a cross in from the byline but Ellis cut out the danger. The gauge was turning in favour of the away team, and this time Bell picked up a loose ball in midfield to slip through Thompson, but her low shot lacked power and Ellis gathered safely.

Sutherland weren’t lying down though, and when Clio Buckley controlled well in an advanced position, she played in Smith, whose shot was saved by Mackenzie. Brianna Tinney combined with Green and Waterhouse on the right, but again the Sutherland defence crowded them out, before Chandran showed tenacity and persistence to emerge with the ball on the left and cut in to feed Tinney for a run and shot which Ellis saved comfortably.

Hearts were in mouths as Maya Dimevski strode forward in midfield to play in Smith, who took the time to control, but then fired well wide when she should have made Mackenzie make a save.

At the other end, Waterhouse played Green down the right whose cross evaded everyone in the penalty area, but Bell was steaming in from the left to meet the ball, Ellis pulling off an excellent save to push the ball behind for a corner. Ashton’s corner caused the Blacktown bench to shudder as the ball floated behind the Sutherland goal, a chance wasted, evoking memories of Friday night in Nowra.

Green surged upfield to set up Thompson in the area, but the shot lacked power this time, and Emily Jackson found herself nutmegged by Dimevski but Conate was there to rescue her midfield partner. The half-chances continued, Waterhouse jinking up the right to play in a ball to Thompson, and this time she took a touch inside and fired in a good shot that was well held by Ellis. Thompson continued to be the main source of shots on goal, this time racing clear centrally to bring another good save from Ellis.

A Blacktown City game would not be complete without a huge coming together involving Bell, and she threw herself into a tackle only to be pushed from behind, the referee awarding the foul, Bell up quickly to shirt-front her aggressor in a potential flashpoint. Ashton’s free kick was heading into the corner of the net, but Ellis was again across smartly to make the save. Connie Treanor versus Bell was shaping up to be quite a contest.

Again, City looked unsure at the back, Ashton giving the ball away to Layla Peterson, who raced away on goal on the right. Mackenzie made a smart save to foil the lively attacker, and Sutherland sensed a chance. Audrey Hewett tangled with Kitching, and showed persistence to get her opportunity, Mackenzie saving well from the shot from close range.

A peculiar moment saw Green race up the right and cross to Thompson, who was caught fixing up her hair, but Thompson raced back to half way to win the ball back to applause from the sidelines. Ashton was then caught by Peterson, who raced away up the right to cross, Hewett doing her best to force the ball in, but Tinney was at hand to clear the danger.

Rachel Fry sped up the centre to feed Waterhouse, and she smashed in a shot that was well held by Ellis. Jackson tried her luck from long range and Ellis was alert to the danger, before Ella Terzoski wowed the crowd on the touchline, showing great skill to get around Chandran and send Smith away up the right. Treanor then brought down Chandran on the City left. Ashton’s cross was into the danger zone where Waterhouse challenged with Ellis, Kitching touched the ball back for Chandran in space who smashed the ball goalwards, but the defender on the line hacked the ball away for a corner.

A short corner to Mikayla Gadd saw a fizzing ball cleared for another corner, this time Thompson giving us a repeat of the shocker from earlier in the game to shakes of the head from the watching crowd. A high ball from Green then caused mayhem, Chandran finding herself on the ball in combat with Ellis, but the ball bounced out for a goalkick and Sutherland survived.

But not for long. A patient build-up saw Jackson emerge from midfield on a surging run. Ellis made a flying save to keep the ball out, Thompson was there to keep the ball alive on the right and teed up Waterhouse, who smashed the ball home via a despairing hand from Ellis to give the visitors the lead.

No sooner had they taken the lead, City were on the defensive. Kitching tried to intercept a cross from the right but the ball was picked up by Varvara Kypriotis who could only bundle the ball wide of Mackenzie’s goal. The half ended with Evdokia Papafilopoulos lifting in a clever cross that was deflected behind for a corner. Tinney had to rush the corner with half time looming, and that was the last action, the referee bringing an exciting first half to a close with City maintaining an uncomfortably slender advantage.

De Sousa hassled the Sutherland defence into coughing up a corner with the first action of the second half. Ashton swung in the corner that was hacked away, but De Sousa took the ball out of the air with an exquisite touch and fired on goal, second-half goalkeeper Olivia Kelly saving well with her first touch. City’s corner woes continued with an array of inaccurate crosses from the right, before Jackson picked up the ball in midfield and advanced to fire in a shot that only just dipped over the bar.

Papfilopoulos showed good feet on the right to no avail, De Sousa won a free kick on the left, crumbling to the floor, which Ashton took, winning a corner in the process. The corner was recycled, and Kitching remained forward, her header going close. A sliding doors moment then caused uproar around the stadium; Buckley showed good strength to get around Green, who fell to the ground, taking Buckley with her. Appeals for a penalty were waved away; it did look nailed-on.

Tinney played a ball into the feet of De Sousa, but Kelly made the save from the first-time shot. Then came the moment we’ve been waiting for; there seemed to be little danger when De Sousa picked up the ball on the left. A jink to the right sold the first dummy, a veer to the left created a gap in the defence that the City striker burst into, and before she knew it, she was faced with Kelly. The shot was brilliantly parried by the goalkeeper, but De Sousa continued her run and hooked the rebound back towards goal and into the back of the net for the most satisfying goal, an effort worthy of Lionel Messi. The whole Blacktown team raced to congratulate De Sousa, who was visibly emotional. This was a glorious moment, and great reward for her patience, perserverence and tenacity.

Jackson burst forward soon after, her shot spinning away past the post, Fry raced forward through the middle, the ball popping out to De Sousa who couldn’t find a finish, but the offside flag had gone up anyway. City were looking for more goals, but Sutherland still clung on to hope. Buckley turned neatly to fire in a shot which Mackenzie saved at the near post. Smith raced away up the right but Mackenzie got down low to smother her cross-shot. Fry then raced up the left to play in De Sousa, who was unceremoniously shoved to the ground, the referee missing the clear foul that the Blacktown contingent in the corner had definitely seen.

At the other end, Chandran was forced to concede a corner, Hewett swinging the ball in, but when it was cleared, Gadd raced away up the right and cut in, Thompson feeding in the cross but somehow the ball was cleared behind for a corner. Another strong challenge from Bell drew a subsequent foul and free kick for City on the byline, Dimevski staying down and requiring treatment while the players waited to restart with the dangerous free kick. Tinney’s free kick mirrored the atrocious corner success rate.

Fry then raced up the left to free Thompson; she was clean through, but tried to bend the shot afound Kelly and got it all wrong, the ball harmlessly wide of the post. Thompson cut out the goal kick and played a superb one-two with Waterhouse, but fired the stinging shot over the bar.

Conate then played in Thompson who tried to conjure up something special, but it was neither a cross nor a shot and the chance was gone, but the same combination saw Conate free Thompson, clean through, but this time Kelly made a smart save.

Kypriotis was then played in as Sutherland rallied, Mackenzie staying on her line, but the shot was into the side netting. A poor clearance gave the ball back to the home team, but Mackenzie was alert and cleared. A hopeful hoist upfield looked for a target up front and all of a sudden, Green was in the clear. Her pace took her away from her defender, Kelly had come out, but Green took the chance to lob the ball over the goalkeeper and then it was simply a wait for the crowd to see the ball bounce into the unguarded net for 3-0. It was tough on Sutherland who had two good situations just prior. What was to come was even tougher. Gadd and Green combined on the right, Green outfoxed her defender and homed in on goal before tucking the ball back for Waterhouse to steer the ball into the net for 4-0. Two rapid goals in a minute, and the Blacktown players could breathe easier after a titanic struggle to get a grip on the game.

Conate went close when she connected with Fry’s throw-in on the left, but that was the final action, and the final whistle ended an absorbing encounter. There was genuine happiness in the Blacktown squad at Lara Green’s quickfire goal and assist, a lot of love for Sarah De Sousa for her maiden Blacktown goal, and what a goal it was, and also how about four goals in a weekend for Lily Waterhouse?

The curtain comes down on the 2025 Girls Youth League season next Sunday, and City are still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the finals. Today’s draw between SD Raiders and St George sees the Raiders two points ahead of City with one game to play. Both teams have winnable games, but City will be hoping that their neighbours Spartans do them a favour, quite a big ask. The big story though is the battle for top spot, with St George, Central Coast Mariners and Hills United all with a chance of snaring the Premiership. Next weekend is going to be exciting, although the weather could have its say once more. Stay tuned as City entertain Camden Tigers on the final day and we watch out for results coming in from elsewhere.

Many thanks for reading. Two big games in three days, there may be mistakes in this one! Let me know if you find anything that’s not right. If you’ve enjoyed this wrap of the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 action, give this a like, comment or share on your socials and help spread the word. See you all at Landen Stadium next weekend.

Waterhouse sees double in Friday frolic

South East Phoenix 1 Blacktown City 2

An all-action performance from Lily Waterhouse earned Blacktown City a crucial win in a Friday night showdown as South East Phoenix went close to denting the visitors’ finals hopes even further. An early tap-in on the rebound was cancelled out by a terrific strike on the run from Amelia Cummings, but that was only after Sophie De Wit’s first-half penalty was saved by Courtney Mackenzie. The game was on a knife edge until Waterhouse swooped to follow in a cracking effort by Emily Jackson to burst the net from close range, and the excitement continued to the very end with both teams having chances to change the complexion of this tense but exciting encounter. The bonus game that no one wanted, and what a cracker of a contest.

A Friday night battle through Sydney traffic was never going to be an experience to get the Blacktown City team to Nowra in a positive mood, but the perfect conditions had the players hyped for a must-win game against a tricky opponent. The surface of Ison Park was ideal after another week of rain, and the visitors were out of the blocks quickly. Zoe Thompson’s first raid down the right resulted in a cross that evaded everyone, but Sienna Bell was pole-axed as she went to retrieve the ball. The resulting free-kick from Dominique Ashton dipped just over the bar.

At the other end, Mackenzie’s first touch was to scuff a back pass towards Angelica Conate and Laini Glover nipped in to fire in a shot from distance that was easy for Blacktown’s expert shot-stopper. Bridie Glover and Emily Grasso were busy from the off in the centre of defence, and when Thompson bulldozed through a challenge on the right to bear down on goal, she fired in a stinging shot, White parried well, but the ball fell perfectly for Waterhouse who had made the run in anticipation, and she slotted coolly into the unguarded net at the far post. What a start for City, and they were purring up front.

Leilarni Findeisen’s uncontested run up the left was a warning sign to Blacktown that the game was definitely a contest, although she ran out of room, and when Rose Atkins burst up the left to beat Courtney Kitching, she was unlucky to see the offside flag go up. Atkins and Findeisen combined beautifully again on the left, and it was Findeisen with the snapshot after Bell had played a loose cross-field pass, but the shot was hopelessly wide. Cummings was then afforded way too much room for a shot, Mackenzie down low to make the save, and City were struggling to make their passes stick.

Ashton was penalised for handball on the Phoenix left. Grasso’s cross was wayward but headed on, the offside flag again coming to City’s rescue. City had weathered the storm since taking the lead, and Jackson embarked on a trademark run in midfield, smashing in a shot with no backlift, but White made the save look easy.

The referee’s stance that tonight was a non-contact sport came into the spotlight as Thompson was penalised for putting her hand on the back of her defender. Thompson though was involved in the next move as she kept the ball in and fed Waterhouse, the cross closed down for a corner. Ashton’s corner was short to Thompson, another corner the result but this time Ashton’s miskick resulted in perhaps the worst corner of the season, the classy defender’s sheepish expression when retaking her defensive position telling the full story.

Waterhouse showed us some exquisite skills on the touchline in front of the crowd, Bell shimmied inside to shoot low, but the shot had no power. The Phoenix players were not afraid to shoot on sight, and Cummings spun majestically on the edge of the area to fire a shot just past the left-hand post.

After Bell had cut in from the left to fire in a cross that Thompson just couldn’t reach, Blacktown embarked on a full minute of unbroken possession, stroking the ball around on the lush grass as though they were seasoned professionals. When the ball was finally given up, Laini Glover won a corner on the right off the covering Emilie Chandran, but the corner was boomed away by Jackson.

The first moment of true controversy in the game then had the crowd engaged. Hadli Lissenden raced away on the right, bearing down on goal with Kitching in hot pursuit. The City defender had to make a challenge, but caught Lissenden as she went in from behind, the referee signalling the foul, but then heading immediately to the assistant to discuss the sanction. A penalty was awarded, Kitching awaited her fate, but the referee had forgotten about cards and was setting the penalty up for Sophie De Wit. The low shot was well read by Mackenzie, saving down low, and leaping to her feet to accept the congratulations of her teammates. From the clearance, Bell smashed De Wit in an aerial challenge and the crowd was warmed some more.

A dynamic run from Waterhouse led to a deflected shot that was easy for White, then an Ashton free-kick saw the lively Lara Green force a corner on the right. Thompson took the corner which led to a second when Brianna Tinney challenged, and when Ashton’s corner kick landed straight to Bell on the edge of the six-yard box, she didn’t know whether to meet the ball with her head or her foot, and the ball came off her midriff and bounced wide of the goal.

The all-action Waterhouse was then harshly yellow-carded for a push from behind as she challenged to force a corner, and a glorious move involving Green, Tinney and Mikayla Gadd led to Jackson winning a free-kick for another soft foul, the referee continuing the no-contact policy to the annoyance of the players and the benches. Ashton’s teasing free-kick saw White claim the ball well, and the half-time whistle brought an absorbing first 45 minutes to a close with Blacktown City hanging on to a slender margin.

The second half was moments old when a surging run by Jackson led to a beautiful through-ball to Rachel Fry on the City left, the wily winger winning an early corner. The ball was cleared straight back to Fry whose cross fell for Tinney on the edge of the area, but the shot was blocked. Green, who had been a constant source of driving runs, made headway up the right before Gadd floated past her player, the crowd loving the moment as the fullback sold the dummy to get away up the wing. Gadd was soon in the action at the other end, blocking a cross for a corner, Grasso swiging the ball in but Mackenzie was out smartly to snuff out the danger.

Waterhouse showed us more trickery on the right to beat her player, and teed up Green who touched the ball to Jackson for a smart shot that stung White’s palms from distance. Tinney was given a good talking to by the referee, presumably for some choice words in his direction, and Gadd was pulled up harshly for a foul as Phoenix broke up the left. De Wit’s shot from the free kick was straight at Mackenzie who made no mistake with the save.

The game was getting spicy. Thompson was flattened on the right, Fry then nipped inside when the free kick fell her way, and when she crumbled to the floor, the referee was again quick to award the free kick. That led to complete chaos in the South East Phoenix penalty area when Thompson smashed in the free kick; White made the save but the ball fell for Fry who hit the post from close range and then couldn’t force the ball over the line, the clearance falling perfectly for Green who smashed the ball off the bar, an absolutely thrilling moment that had the stadium buzzing.

Straight from going close to making it 2-0, the scores were suddenly level. Kitching was turned on halfway, Cummings was in an ocean of space and accelerated through the gears to race through on the right, and her shot flew past Mackenzie, lodging in between the goal stanchion and the net, a goal that emulated Trevor Brooking’s famous effort for England v Hungary in 1981. What a goal! We now had a game on our hands, and the stakes had just been raised.

Chandran raced away on the left, unlucky not to win a corner, Waterhouse turned inside on the left to fire in a shot from distance that White did well to smother after a wicked bounce, and the game was at its turning point. Which way it would turn was anyone’s guess. City looked undermanned at the back, Chandran having to scramble the ball away under heavy pressure from two attackers, and Cummings again found space for a shot, but this time Mackenzie watched it wide.

The champagne football of the first half was by now a long way in the past, and Grasso earned a cheap yellow card for kicking the ball away in frustration at yet another soft free kick. Chandran and Fry kept the pressure on up the left, but when Phoenix broke again, Gadd was beaten to the header and Cummings raced away on the right once more, but shot this time straight at Mackenzie who had stayed on her line.

White raced from her goal to make a clearance, which Green returned with interest towards the open goal. The sliced effort looked to fall to Thompson, but with the goalkeeper out, she was deemed offside. Green then fired in a long-range shot that White saved, before Kitching was turned and the referee again decided to pull-up play for a foul. Waterhouse cleared the free kick, the handball shout in City’s favour, and the visitors’ panicky disposition was causing them to retreat further back.

Great persistence from Jackson then allowed Tinney to fire in a shot, the defender now promoted to attack to try and win the game. Another powder-puff free kick was awarded when Waterhouse stumbled through a challenge, the whistle coming a few seconds after the coming-together. Ashton took the set-piece from wide on the left, Tinney couldn’t get a touch as it flashed across her body, Jackson managed a clean shot on goal that White parried, and the only player anticipating the rebound was Waterhouse, who swung the right boot and smashed the ball into the net, just under the bar, to give City the lead again. There was relief all round for the visitors, but the game wasn’t over yet.

The teams traded blows. De Wit bundled into Green for a free kick. Ava Dragovic and Laini Glover combined but Jackson cleared up. Waterhouse was playing like a woman possessed, taking a leaf out of Bell’s book of big hits and having her eyes only on the ball. Jackson then surged out of midfield to fire a long ball over the top for Sarah De Sousa. She looked second best to get to the ball behind Marli Renshaw, but when she saw her chance, nipped in front of the defender and tumbled to the floor. There was confusion as there was no whistle, but then there was, the referee racing in to point to the spot, De Sousa cheekily asking for the card that Kitching had escaped in the first half, when it could have easily gone her way on another day, and Renshaw was duly given only a yellow card.

Jackson never looked totally convincing as she stepped up to take the penalty and she drilled her fierce shot straight at White who batted the ball away to a roar from the crowd. Bell was first on the scene with Jackson choosing not to follow in her penalty, but she didn’t have room to get control, and did well to resist bundling White into the net.

The game was back on edge. Gadd missed a routine clearance that left Atkins scampering away on the left. She cut inside and curled a shot on goal, Mackenzie flinging herself to her left to palm the ball behind for a corner. Bell then skipped around her player and eked another mystery foul from the referee, Jackson playing a gorgeous ball inside for Gadd as City pressed, the rampaging fullback winning a corner on the right. Jackson’s corner caused mayhem in the penalty ara, Tinney with the bicycle kick, but it was well wide. Bell then embarked on a Jackson-esque burst through midfield, teeing up the shot that White saved comfortably.

De Sousa was then shoved to the floor on the right. Kitching’s ball in struck Renshaw’s hand for another free kick, in range and central. Time stood still as Ashton’s magnificent free kick arrowed onto the crossbar, Kitching could only get a touch to the header on the rebound, and White claimed the ball well to give the home team a final chance to get upfield. The final whistle though stopped them in their tracks and Blacktown City had done what they came to do, leaving Nowra with the three points to keep the pressure on those around them in the league ladder.

This had been a fabulous contest. There were moments in the first half when Blacktown looked like world beaters. That was countered by some shaky moments in the second half as they threatened to throw it all away. Had it not been for Millie White in the Phoenix goal as well as the post and crossbar, this could have been a different story and likewise with Courtney Mackenzie’s penalty save in the first half and then her acrobatic save in the second, City had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the lead. Tonight though belonged to Lily Waterhouse. Two goals, a yellow card and she was just everywhere. We look forward to seeing what City can still achieve in this exciting end to the 2025 league season.

City now travel to Sutherland Strikers for their final away day of the season on Sunday, and they will be expecting a battle. South East Phoenix entertain South Coast Flame in the South Coast derby on Sunday, while all eyes will be on St George v SD Raiders, which has a massive bearing on the top of the table. Tune in to this website to keep up to date as the weekend unfolds.

Thanks for reading. What a game! Any mistaken identity, spelling errors or outright mistakes, please let me know. If you enjoyed this report, give it a like, a share, a comment, anything, on social media where you clicked on it. That goes a long way to spreading the word and shining a light on the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2. See you back here soon!

City’s season shredded by Raiders

Blacktown City 1 SD Raiders 2

The anguish at the final whistle was real for Blacktown City as the realisation dropped that SD Raiders had all but booked the fourth spot in the finals series at their expense with a come-from-behind victory in a thriller at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Buoyed by an early goal from Emily Jackson, City’s good fortune in defence ran out when Sara Ristevska slid home the equaliser after a period of sustained pressure. Going into the second half, with the game on a knife-edge and both teams having good chances, the killer goal came from Angelique Chowrimootoo, teeing up a last ten minutes of desperation as City tried to rescue their season. In the end, it was the fingertips of Raiders’ goalkeeper Brooke Edwards that kept out a low effort from Courtney Kitching and SD Raiders saw the game out professionally to claim their most vital three points of the season.

The rain that has plagued Sydney for the last two weeks had stopped by kick-off, but it wouldn’t be for long, the majority of the crowd huddled in the main stand or finding shelter around the stadium, but ready to be entertained by two exciting teams in the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s. City were straight on the attack, Zoe Thompson playing in Lily Waterhouse on the right, but the cross was easily dealt with by the SD Raiders defence. A corner though on the left, as the heavens opened, saw Dominique Ashton deliver a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, and as the visitors’ defence stood and watched, Jackson was the only player reacting to the ball, and the unorthodox half-volley was rifled goalwards, goalkeeper Edwards only able to palm the ball into the roof of the net. This was a shock early lead for the hosts, and their rich seam of form looked to be continuing.

Mille Brown and Harper Ingham were busy at the back for the visitors, who were struggling to find their passes early in the game, and when Angelica Conate combined with Brianna Tinney, Ashton and Emilie Chandran to calmly clear a dangerous situation, confidence was coursing through the City team. Raiders attacked, Jade Deura prising open the City defence, Courtney Mackenzie racing from her goal to slice the ball wildly into the air, and Tinney was on hand to sweep away the danger. When Sofia Knezevic slipped past Ashton, City were relieved to see Tinney slide in to clear again, and when Ashton was outmuscled this time by Knezevic, the first-time shot was fortunately straight at Mackenzie. The warning shots had been fired.

City relied on their prowess on the wings, Lara Green setting Rachel Fry away on the right to win a corner off her defender. Ashton’s corner was into the sweet spot again, a mad scramble seeing the ball roll favourably for Edwards in the visitors’ goal who was relived to have a simple save.

Chandran wowed the benches with a subtle jink that allowed her to race down the left, Waterhouse and Thompson unable to forge an opening despite making a nuiance of themselves. Green was then forced to concede a corner with Deura lurking as SD Raiders pressed again, and a superb move between Ayeun Majak and Deura on the left was cleared by the City defence. City were hemmed in, but were dangerous on the counter-attack, Sienna Bell taking advantage of a weak clearance to tee up a shot, the ball spilled by Edwards, but there were no takers for City on the rebound and Ingham cleared.

The referee was making the game quite exciting, the crowd kept in suspense as to which way the decisions went, and when the man in the middle called a handball the visitors’ way, just outside the Raiders’ area, the assistant referee and the vocal crowd was quick to correct him; Ashton’s shot from the set piece was always going over, but not by much.

The Raiders then produced an absolute peach of a move, Majak raking a ball out to Leanne Merce, who found Ristevska with a first time ball, galloping clear, but Mackenzie did enough to put her off, and the shot was wide of the gaping goal. There were panicky moments a minute later when Merce played a ball across goal and Ristevska poked wide, and surely the pressure would pay.

The equaliser was a thing of beauty. Deura raced away up the left and delivered the sort of ball that any striker dreams of. The City defence was nowhere to be seen as Ristevska latched onto the exquisite cross-field pass, took a touch and steered the ball past the stranded Mackenzie for a superb goal.

Ingham’s wild swipe at the ball saw Bell win a throw-in to keep the Raiders defence alert, and when Courtney Kitching was fouled on halfway, the home team wasted the opportunity by going short, the cross-field ball to Green on the right too far and the chance gone. Charlotte Yule then found herself in a good position on the left for the visitors, Tinney doing well to marshall the ball out of play.

City still had some attacking ideas, Jackson finding Green on the right, whose cross was headed away by the towering Ingham. When Green was taken down by Majak, there were only ten seconds on the clock and the rushed free kick led to nothing, the half-time whistle bringing an exciting first half to a close with the scores locked at one goal a-piece.

The unpredictable conditions continued into the second half, the first few minutes played in sunshine before heavy rain once again sent the fans undercover. Waterhouse did well to close down her defender as City started brightly, her cross causing indecision in the Raiders’ defence, Edwards not interested in fielding the ball, and Green was able to keep the move alive on the right.

Bell then fashioned a shot that was deflected and bounced into the penalty area, where the dynamic midfielder had continued her run, but a harsh handball call from the referee stopped her in her tracks. Fantastic strength by Jackson saw her emerge from defence to tee up Sarah De Sousa on the right, but Majak was strong in the tackle.

A fantastic turn by Green on the right saw her cut inside and fire in a shot that was well saved by Edwards, the ball pushed away and cleared under pressure as City looked to force their opponents back. Tinney was involved in the majority of tussles, Knezevic quick to go to ground under pressure from the City central defender, before De Sousa was bundled over by Majak and City had a free kick of their own.

As Raiders struggled to get the ball away, Chandran turned quickly and played an unexpected pass inside for Kitching, who advanced but missed her shot completely. A clearance from City then looked to be going out until De Sousa raced to keep the ball in, City camping themselves in the Raiders’ half for a good spell of pressure.

Tinney though was penalised again for what appeared to be a clean tackle, this time Deura stepping up to smash the ball over the wall and onto the bar, Knezevic first to react but turning the ball just over the bar with a cute effort and holding her head in her hands as it nestled onto the roof of the net.

Jackson emerged from defence only to be fouled. From the free kick, Green raced to keep a ball in on the right, and when she moved inside, Thompson took over and smashed a shot in on goal that only just cleared the crossbar. This really was end-to-end excitement, both teams going close. When Jackson was dispossessed in midfield, Angelique Zekyrias raked a glorious ball to Merce but Tinney was first to the cross and swept the ball away.

A giveaway by Ashton had Tinney scrambling to concede a corner, and when the ball was cleared, Bell raced up the centre of the field to release Fry, but she had gone too eearly and the flag was up immediately.

Again, Raiders threatened up the left, Tinney cutting out the cross for yet another corner. This time the corner caused mayhem in the City defence, Conate cleared the ball off the line, but the ball fell for Chowrimootoo who smashed the ball goalwards out of the reach of Mackenzie for a thrilling second goal for the visitors.

Kitching then did well to win a corner on the left as City started to throw everything at their opponents in search of the elusive goal. Ashton’s cross saw Tinney barged off the ball in the penalty area in front of the referee, who was totally unmoved, and when City attacked again, Mickayla Gadd’s long ball was deflected by Majak to present the home team with another corner. This time Ashton’s corner from the right was too close to the goal, pinging off the cross bar and behind and the minutes were ticking.

The chance that City craved arrived with four minutes remaining. Jackson made a trademark run through midfield, jinking one way and the other to make up the yards, and when she ran out of space, a delightful pass found Kitching racing through on the left. City’s high-scoring defender took her time and rasped in a left-foot shot, Edwards flinging herself to her left to touch the ball around the post for a corner, her teammates rushing to congratulate the match-winning save.

Jackson battled to force the ball goalwards in an almighty melee in the penalty area following Ashton’s corner, but SD Raiders cleared, and when Ava Zaami raced onto a swift pass, Chandran had no option but to scythe down her opponent, the referee brandishing the yellow card after consulting the assistant, perhaps ruling against a straight red.

That was enough to wind down the clock as Zaami limped from the field, and despite their best efforts, City couldn’t get the ball upfield for one last effort on goal. The slightly premature final whistle didn’t rob us of any action, and the silence from the home crowd told the story, Blacktown City having been unsuccessful in their attempt to close the gap on their opponents in fourth place.

Blacktown City now have three games remaining to consolidate their lofty position in the GYL2 ladder. A difficult Friday night trip to Nowra in a rainy week could be a potential banana skin before Sunday’s trip to Sutherland. With SD Raiders up against league leaders St George next weekend, the gap between 4th and 5th could be a single point going into the final day; Blacktown City are not mathematically out of contention yet. Stay with us. Let’s finish the season with a bang!

Thanks for reading. Difficult conditions out there today, and not a great batch of photos on the whole. Any mistakes or mistaken identity, drop me a line, and stay tuned for the run in to the end of the 2025 Girls Youth League season. As always, your like, comment and share on social media is much appreciated, spread the word!

Super City blow title race wide open

Blacktown City 1 Central Coast Mariners 0

An exquisite second-half free-kick from Blacktown City’s Dominique Ashton, arrowed into the top right-hand corner via the fingertips of Mariners goalkeeper Lilah Bredenkamp, was enough to condemn the league-leaders to defeat in an absorbing contest at Landen Stadium on Sunday. The Football NSW Girls Youth League Under 18s served up another twist as City’s high-energy, high-press performance caught the visitors by surprise, and the home team looked likely to add to their lead in a powerful finish to the second half. With only four rounds remaining, excitement levels are peaking and there are plenty of sub-plots to play out before the season reaches its conclusion in late August. Today belonged to Blacktown City, and rightly so.

This was a much anticipated second-round clash for Blacktown City who were swept away on a freezing midweek expedition to Pluim Park earlier in the season. The make-up of the Central Coast Mariners team was very different from that testing evening, and the home team was keen to put things right on the fast surface of Landen Stadium. Goalkeeper Bredenkamp lined up behind captain Holly Whormsley and Leni Ang in the centre of defence, but it was the Mariners with the early pressure, having won the toss and electing to use the strong wind advantage in the first half. The breezy conditions led to the first chance as Samara Nieddu’s corner curled in and bounced off the bar and Olivia Burgess almost teed up Chelsea Boelhouwer but the ball ran away from her.

The close passing from the visitors was crisp and precise, the pacy Brianna Tinney doing her best to contain the lively Mariners strikers in front of her, and when midfield maestro Emily Jackson out-muscled Mathilde Mantell and burst out of midfield with the ball, she was unlucky to see Lily Waterhouse stray offside as Blacktown fashioned their first dangerous moment.

A stray clearance from City goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie invited a snapshot from Saani Ugri, but it lacked power, and Burgess dug out a shot from the edge of the area, but the shot was held by Mackenzie. Boelhouwer raced away down the left, from the halfway line, and won a corner; Mackenzie got a touch to the corner and Mantell fired on goal but the City defence scrambled the ball away.

City then created their best chance so far, Rachel Fry picking up the ball wide on the right and dinking past her player before sliding a ball through for Zoe Thompson. Bredenkamp was out quickly to narrow the angle, and Thompson’s shot cannoned off the goalkeeper for a corner, a very astute piece of goalkeeping to thwart the in-form City striker. Ashton’s corner ended up at the feet of Waterhouse at the far post, but despite three attempts to turn and create space for the shot, she was eventually crowded out.

A glorious cross-field pass from Whormsley found Boelhouwer racing through on the left, but Jackson was across swiftly to clear the danger. Moments later Boelhouwer was at it again, clean through this time, but Mackenzie was down early with a slightly unorthodox save to keep the scores level.

Blacktown had plenty of ideas when they had the ball, and when Waterhouse emerged from midfield to feed Thompson on the right, she rode a challenge and laid the ball back to Waterhouse, who won a corner. Ashton’s corner was cleared and the counter attack was on. Burgess raced away onto the long clearance but ran out of time and space as the defence arrived en masse to swamp the lone Mariners forward.

Tough-tackling Sienna Bell was penalised for a foul on Mantell, Whormsley launching a ball into the penalty area and Ugri battling well as a flock of birds threatened to take over the neighbouring Ashley Brown Reserve, the signal for an unexpected cloud burst that sent the fans on the Western side of the stadium scampering for cover. Mantell was enjoying the conditions, her trickery creating opportunities despite being shadowed by City players wherever she roamed.

It was Boelhouwer again on the left who burst into the box pursued by three defenders, and when she fired a shot on goal, Mackenzie made a smart save at the near post to preserve parity in this tense contest. A backpass by Tinney to Mackenzie saw the City goalkeeper rush her clearance and Mantell sent the ball back towards goal, the shot harmlessly wide, but this was definitely a warning shot. Ugri then pounced on a loose ball, but Lara Green was quickly onto it to snuff out the chance at the expense of a corner. When the corner from Florence Martin was punched away by Mackenzie, City’s shot-stopper was taken out in front of the referee, and we had a moment’s respite as the goalkeeper received treatment.

The sight of Jackson rampaging from deep in midfield has been a highlight this season, and she was only stopped by the referee’s whistle when a lean on Mantell was deemed too strong. The Mariners then almost pressed the self-destruct button as Bredenkamp’s misplaced clearance landed at the feet of Angelica Conate. The talented midfielder passed up the opportunity to shoot to play in the better-placed Thompson, who in turn failed to pull the trigger and was swiftly tackled.

At the pother end, Conate was dispossed by Boelhoewer and Burgess fired wide. The Mariners continued to press right until half time, but given the blustery wind in their favour, City would consider the goalless scoreline a success at the break.

Green was on fire as the second half began, sprinting up the right to win a corner. Ashton’s corner was missed by Green and the ball forced behind for a second corner but again the ball was cleared. When a handball was awarded, centrally and within range, the visitors set up their wall. Ashton had eyes only for one thing and stepped up to unleash an incredible shot, over the wall, with the wind, and even the hand of Bredenkamp couldn’t stop the ball from nestling in the top right-hand corner of the net for a stunning goal. Landen Stadium erupted. The hosts had the goal they craved, and right at the start of the second period.

The Mariners responded. Ugri’s ball to Montana Frost was helped on to Martin, whose cross was cleared, Bell upended as she raced away with the ball. Burgess was then fortunate not to be caught in possession as Thompson pressed, and when Mikayla Gadd outfoxed Frost, Jackson set off from midfield only to be clipped from behind, the referee somehow not awarding the free kick when further sanction wouldn’t have been out of place. Frost was a thorn in the City defence, a busy figure, hassling whoever was around her, and when Ashton played the ball back to Mackenzie, a wild slash sent the ball spinning in the air, but straight back to Mackenzie who was relieved to smash the ball clear.

Tinney did well to break up a chance on the right at the expense of a corner. Ugri then played in Rahni Deeley but the offside flag was up and she smashed the shot wide anyway with the goal gaping. Burgess then played in Abby Buttsworth, but Mackenzie was off her line in a flash to clear. Nieddu’s corner was dangerous but Ashton was head and shoulders above the attackers and completed the clearance. This was intense pressure from the visitors and Green had to be on high alert to stretch and clear a dangerous through ball as the Mariners turned the screw.

City were battling hard for scraps, Thompson managing to get a sneaky shot in that Bredenkamp had trouble fielding at her near post. Emilie Chandran was fouled on the left, Ashton swinging in a dangerous ball, and when Jackson battled to win the duel on the edge of the area she teed up Green and the shot was deflected wide for a corner.

The corners had, up until that point, been outswinging, but this one from Ashton was right under the posts, and when Jackson picked up the ball at the far post, she fired wide after a sweet turn. City appeared to have weathered the storm, but Deeley reminded them that they were still only a goal ahead when she broke into the penalty area on the right, but Tinney forced the ball behind for yet another corner.

When Fry set off on an epic chase to keep a long ball in, Bredenkamp raced out to clear. Chandran was clipped from behind and Thompson pierced the defence with a ball through for the on-rushing Aurelia Smith, but Bredenkamp got there first. Another important clearance on the left by Tinney kept the Mariners at bay, and as the ball was worked up the right, a throw-in from Gadd found Thompson who hooked in a shot that bounced awkwardly for Bredenkamp but was held well.

A burst from midfield by Smith teed up Bell for a shot, but it wasn’t troubling Bredenkamp, before Green headed a ball into the penalty area and the Mariners defence panicked, leading to a series of corners. Smith then won another corner, this time on the left, giving Ashton the chance to swing the corner in, but Bredenkamp and her defence stood firm. City were slowing the game down with minutes remaining, but Bell embarked on a lung-busting run, almost winning the ball from Whormsley and eating up a few more vaulable seconds. Sarah De Sousa then raced in with Bredenkamp to force the visiting goalkeeper into a rushed clearance, and City were then able to take the sting out of the game for the final moments, the final whistle met with joy on the faces of the Blacktown players, and despair for the table-topping Mariners.

Blacktown City had blown the title race apart. Central Coast Mariners had finally played all of their catch-up games to snatch top spot only to give it up at the first challenge. The title now appears to hang on the result of Sunday 10th August’s clash as Hills United entertain the Mariners, but St George are only a point behind waiting like vultures for the top two to slip up. Meanwhile, fourth spot looks like being decided on the same day when Blacktown City host SD Raiders, but anything can and will happen in between now and the end of the season, especially with a prolonged period of wet weather set to cause havoc this week.

Today also marked the end of the season for Blacktown City’s Aurelia Smith, as she heads over to the United States to begin her college soccer career, and what a way to bow out, helping her teammates to a superb win and keeping their hopes of a top-four finish very much alive. City will welcome back captain Courtney Kitching from suspension next weekend in Nowra as they look to continue their rich seam of form. Stay tuned for more excitement from the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s.

Thanks for reading. What a result for Blacktown City. Let’s get our girls some exposure for the remainder of this exciting season – like, share and comment on social media, and get as many eyeballs as possible on this page as we bring you the final four games. As always, let me know of mistakes and mistaken identity; it’s not that easy matching the number to the player, especially behind a pony tail or at high speed. Cheers!

Do your homework, enjoy your football

Northern Tigers 0 Sydney United 1

Turns out, all you need is a little context, and a football game that would normally mean absolutely nothing to you turns into an exciting contest that has you gripped until the end. That’s the key ingredient that neutral fans must take into the Australia Cup round of 32, and Wednesday night’s all-NSW NPL clash between Northern Tigers and Sydney United at the eighth wonder of the world was a game that certainly needed an introduction.

Northern Tigers were at home tonight, their exposed stadium in suburban North Turramurra not deemed suitable for the country’s premier football competition, but the return to their roots was the next best thing. The club was born from Balmain Tigers when the NPL licence was acquired by the Ku-ring-gai football association, and the badge boasts exactly the same tiger logo to prove that bond; Leichhardt Oval would be a return home of sorts. The club sits atop the Football NSW League One, gunning for promotion to join their opponents Sydney United in the top tier. The club formerly known as Sydney Croatia, with an Australia Cup pedigree that saw them pack out Commbank Stadium in Parramatta only three years ago as they fell at the final hurdle against Macarthur FC, have a strong following of passionate fans; it would be a strange occasion not to have some noise from their supporters here.

The teams met only two weeks earlier in the final of the Waratah Cup, a strange phenomenon that sees the four semi-finalists of that competition qualify for the Australia Cup latter stages, with the risk that they’ll play each other again. That game, at the home of Football NSW at Valentine Park, ended 1-0 to Sydney United, a one-sided affair that didn’t earn the scoreline it deserved. So, armed with this context, arriving at the stadium would give a real sense of occasion. Watching Sydney FC women’s coach Ante Juric overseeing Sydney United in the warm up, his team boasting familiar A-League names Vedran Janjetovic, Adrian Vlastelica and Liam McGing, gave the correct impression that the visitors would be the stronger side, but with Lothar Mattheus lookalike Lachlan Lloyd and the almighty long-throw of striker Kai Denton in the opposition team, the game would not be a foregone conclusion.

The neutral was going for the cupset, the lower-league Northern Tigers to go against form and sprinkle some of the fabled magic of the cup, the football scholar or the betting man was going for a Sydney United victory. So, what did we get?

An increasingly chilly Leichhardt Oval drew a crowd of at least 500, with a bank of United fans by the Mary Street main entrance and a group of kids with a drum at the Northern end. The PA announcements were made over the top of a rap beat that made it sound like the announcer was the star of the song – it was impossible to hear the words. When that died down, with maybe six or seven minutes to kick off, the stadium was incredibly quiet. That was until the teams emerged, and we had an atmosphere, the players lining up facing away from the majority of the fans, but in view of the camera position, to go through the pre-game handshakes.

United were, as expected, the stronger out of the blocks, but the Tigers held their own. Carlos De Oliveria was lively for the away team and Mason Wells smashed a stinging shot just over the bar. A slippery surface provided Denton with a great chance in front of goal for Northern Tigers, but his shot was high and handsome. The game was definitely not a classic, but was finely poised, and it looked as though we’d have a goalless first half before the deadlock was broken right on half-time. A smart save by Bodie Denton, getting down low to turn a fierce shot around the post, led to a corner, and when the ball was swung in dangerously, all it needed was a touch from Luke Zuvela right in front to steer the ball home for 1-0. The match winner from the Waratah Cup scoring again.

A goal behind, the Tigers had to relax the reins a little to try and get back on parity, and they made a real go of it in the second half. The United fans were the first to give us a chant, the Tigers kids giving some noise back in riposte, and there was plenty of barracking from the United contingent when they felt the ball had crossed the line right in front of them. The next time a ball went close to going out, a group of Tigers fans next to them started hollering for a throw-in, good-natured banter from the home team’s faithful. De Oliveria thumped a shot just over, but it was Tigers who had the best chances, one very good opportunity falling to Jesse Spang on the run, but Janjetovic made the save at the near post. There was uproar as the former Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers goalkeeper fielded a ball very close to the edge of the area, the Tigers bench screaming for handball, but the local referee was right on the spot.

There seemed to be a lack of urgency from the Tigers; we might have expected an all-out attack from a bombardment of long-throws in the final moments of the game, perhaps even a goalkeeper in the opposition penalty area, but there was none of that and the final whistle brought cheers from the Croatia corner and resigned applause from the rest of the stadium. The United players seemed a little uneasy to be around the flares that mysteriously appeared on the field around them – the security guards had assembled all of the sand buckets in the right area and had the glowing embers extinguished quickly. It was a beautiful sight, the Sydney United fans chanting and applauding through the thick orange smoke. A romantic vision of a country where football is the number one team sport. Sydney was alive with the sounds and smells of football, the crowd had enjoyed a close game with chances for both teams, and in the end, the right team won.

This was the beginning of the Australia Cup proper. We didn’t have the A-League vs NPL edge that next week’s two games can boast, but with a little homework, we had a football match that entertained and did this magnificent competition proud in front of the TV cameras at a marvellous suburban stadium. Can you resist the magic of the cup? It’s time to give in and join this midweek football mania. SD Raiders v Macarthur FC? APIA Leichhardt v Melbourne City? Ready to see an upset win? See you there…