What a Cancar as Sydney crumble

Newcastle Jets 3 Sydney FC 1

Happy birthday to me. Bah! After half an hour we were wondering what had gone wrong as the Sydney FC defence left the right back spot completely unguarded on multiple occasions and succumbed twice to relatively soft Jets goals. With Robbie Mak sent off for a ridiculous moment soon after, the game changed completely and all of a sudden we saw the real Sydney, Fabio Gomes scoring a fantastic goal just before the break. A third goal, contentiously awarded following an offside check, ended the Sky Blues’ hopes, and this was yet another game when a red card spoiled what had been a good contest. There will be plenty of conjecture about the manner of the sending-off, Cancar crumbling to the floor and then smiling when he got his fellow professional dismissed. What an arsehole!

A game that was third choice on the footballing menu for Sunday coming into the weekend suddenly became the only football game of the weekend as the autumn rain took care of local and NPL football and tickets were secured on Saturday night for the annual trip to Newcastle to face the Jets. Being the day of my forty-twelfth birthday, we decided to leave Sydney early at 10:30am to make use of a beautiful day to have a fancy lunch on the Hunter in the heart of Newcastle, foregoing our usual Sunnyside Tavern stop and walk through the mud to the stadium. Got to say it was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, and our Chilean waiter was very interested to hear that we were going to the game.

We arrived in the car park with twenty minutes to spare before kick-off, the Ticketmaster ticket-sharing proving too difficult even for Michelle to navigate at the car park entrance, and we were at the gate five minutes later. Of course Gate 4, the one miles around the corner, which was printed on all of our tickets, was not open, and there was nothing to say that it wasn’t. Luckily some Sydney fans returning from the trek warned us and we went in with the home fans at the main entrance. Poor JD had been on an epic journey since 8:30am and had only just got to the stadium, and felt that he would never get in to watch the game, but there were plenty of Sydney fans already in the away bay, in full sun and ready to party. Good to see Dylan, ardent national team supporter, ready to give it his all for his beloved Jets at the picnic-blanket end, and we were supremely confident of a result.

Michelle took cover in the shadows in the seats at the back of the stand, while I ventured into the Cove to enjoy the full away-day experience. The Cove were in fantastic voice, even trying out a new song that I’d never heard, which took a little getting used to, but the originals were belted out with all heart. Sydney looked slick on the ball, the linesman on our side was already having a shocker looking straight into the sun – calling a ball out when it was nowhere near and struggling to keep up with play that was ebbing and flowing relentlessly. All of a sudden Jets bundled through a couple of challenges to fire themselves into the lead through Clayton Taylor, and not long after, they had two when the silky Reno Piscopo fired into the roof of the net at the far end. This was going badly. We’d had all the play, forced corners and looked great going forward, but two breaks had found us understaffed at the back and we paid the price.

And then came the moment we’ll all be talking about for days. There was a minor scuffle on the far touchline in front of the benches, and Mak appeared to brush away serial pest Phillip Cancar as he berated the Sydney player. Down he crumbled as if a murder had taken place, and milked the contact so much that the red card was shown to disbelief from the crowd. The incident was replayed on the big screens. If this had been subjected to the pub test, the pub patrons would have laid the boot into Cancar to make sure he was down for a reason. Piss poor from a professional footballer. The Jets fans knew that comedy feigning had been rewarded with a dismissal, so to them it would have been as funny as all hell, but we were not amused.

The Cove chant matched the mood and let the Newcastle players how soft they were.

Ufuk Talay gave the Jets player a lengthy serve as play resumed and Fabio Gomes didn’t hold back when the two players met moments later. This was going to be spicy. Two-nil down and a player short, most teams would shut up shop and enter damage limitation mode. Not Sydney FC. We’re used to this scenario. Reds’r’us. With Luke Bratan now playing with pirouettes and flicks in his game, they conjured up an incredible goal to reduce the deficit with a few moments left before half-time. Anthony Caceres played the ball through for Gomes, who found himself outnumbered. His short ball to Caceres ahead of him saw Sydney’s fleet-footed midfielder back-heel an impeccable ball back into the path of Gomes, who finished brilliantly with the outside of his right foot.

The Cove went crazy. Game on. What a goal! Life in the Sky Blues yet! Half time was spent in the shade, the queue for the water fountain long, the hot sun having been in our faces the whole half. My sun cream was empty.

And so to the second half. Sydney looked good. They were taking risks, but that’s what you have to do up against the extra man, and they were looking good for an equaliser. The risks though were exposed when the impressively-named Apostolos Stametolopoulos broke the offside trap and waltzed through to score. He was sure he was offside and there was no celebration. The linesman and referee were in full discussion, the flag eventually going up ten seconds later to confuse the crowd even more – it definitely looked off, and we were in a good position. However, after a lengthy delay, the goal stood and the Jets could celebrate.

The sun was finally sinking below the main stand. The stewards came to tell the Cove youth to put their shirts back on. Don’t want to get a chill when the sun goes down! A fourth goal looked inevitable when Stametolopoulos tapped the ball around Redders for Taylor to smash into the empty net, but Hayden Matthews had read the play and stretched his long leg to divert the ball away, an incredible goal-line save that had the Sydney fans pumped again. Aside for some long range efforts that were over and wide, and some superb play from Maxi Burgess that had us on our toes, the final whistle went to condemn us to defeat.

The scenes at the end were of pride in the players, who all received a lot of love despite the scoreline. High-profile Sydney women’s capo MMTV was signing shirts, as she has done in the past at this venue, Redders was happy to pose for a photo with the birthday boy and it was widely accepted that Sydney had put in a good shift even in defeat. There was no rush to get to the car, the traffic to get out notoriously stubborn, so we stayed til the end, chatting to a staff member who travels up from Sutherland to work at McDonald Jones Stadium, and to the seccy lady in the bright pink boots who had scolded the young punks who were goofing around at the end of the game. We were out of there soon after, and after negotiating the one-way system, we were back on the road to Sydney, darkness descending soon after we entered the motorway.

A pit-stop in Berkeley Vale to see friends who have recently moved into the area was lovely to break up the journey back, and we were back around 8:30, weary but happy to have been able to attend the one remaining football game from the six that were planned for the weekend. If this is one of the last football games ever played at McDonald Jones Stadium, this is going to be disastrous for football in Australia. Having said that, a crowd of only 5,500 against a local rival doesn’t fill the football fan with much optimism.

With the scoreline not in our favour and the sun beaming in our faces for the majority of the game, this was still a fantastic away day following Sydney FC. The Cove was in fine form, the players showed determination after the sending off, the goal was a thing of beauty, Caceres’ back-heel simply delightful, and that goal-line clearance was truly miraculous. With a lovely seafood lunch at a superb restaurant overlooking the water, with boats passing and people sitting in the sun on the grass, pre-game was suitably decadent to welcome in another year. The matchday experience was excellent, the mood was uplifting and the players know the task next week. Beat, beat, West Sydney.

Forza Sydney FC.

Sydney serve up rotten eggs in Victory collapse

Sydney FC 0 Melbourne Victory 4

The Canberra hangover continued at a beautiful sunny Leichhardt Oval on Easter Sunday as Sydney FC managed to throw away what was left of their premiership crown with an insipid performance against their biggest rivals Melbourne Victory. The consolation of Western Sydney missing out, the thoughts of what a good season it has been despite all the challenges was all just hot air – the gulf in class on the field today was so great that the visitors didn’t really have to do much to secure a thumping victory. If Sydney FC had a player who could keep their cool in front of goal, or a player who knew how to attack in the penalty area, we may have had a different game altogether, but two goals in each half were enough to knock the stuffing out of the Sky Blues and consign them to second place in the league on the final day. The party atmosphere in the stands turned to defiance as the goals rained in; this was not what we were hoping for.

After a bit of running around in the morning, we left Michelle’s not long after 1pm, with the Cove Women’s freshly painted banner in the boot of the car. Sydney’s two Michelles had been hard at work painting for two days and it was all wrapped up now so I’d see the completed article for the first time when it was unveiled at the start of the game. The car park at Leichhardt Stadium was pretty empty, so plenty of parking (even in the shade!) and we handed over the banner to Shane and headed off to the Orange Grove Hotel for a pre-match pick-me-up. The end of lent meant the end of 40 whole days of abstinence from alcohol for one half of this couple, and we enjoyed clinking our first drinks together since the end of January. We ended up outside in the sun, the Victory Vikings left before us, as did the Sydney Youth to get things ready and we followed fashionably late once we’d finished the sweet, sweet taste of tequila.

The stadium was filling up nicely when we arrived. Mascots Muph and Plutonic were handing out Easter eggs, Fred Again was on the DJ set, and the grass of the hill was starting to disappear behind picnic blankets. Just a perfect day at this iconic venue. The Cove were in place at the far end of the main stand, in a specifically cordoned off area to ensure maximum participation and maximum noise on this pivotal day in the A-League calendar. After the events of Wednesday afternoon at McKellar Park, it was great to see the same active crew plus heaps of others in place, and we were ready to go with the banner reveal.

As the players emerged from the tunnel, a long line of Cove boys and girls lofted the banner high and We Are Sydney accompanied the spectacle. The players went into a huddle and the singing continued, as it did well into the game as play got underway. Sydney were shooting towards the main gate, suggesting that they won the toss, and all our hopes and dreams of another premiership got ready to go through the wringer for an absorbing 90 minutes.

There were worrying signs already; Tori Tumeth looked as pedestrian as we’d seen her, losing concentration as a ball was played across goal, reacting so slowly to allow her attacker to nick the ball off her, but Jada Whyman dived in to save her blushes. Cortnee Vine then raced through on goal onto a speculative ball from Mackenzie Hawkesby and slashed at her shot, which didn’t trouble Courtney Newbon in the Victory goal. These were the sort of chances that we would have to take to win this game.

The noise was terrific from the Cove, but Victory stunned Leichhardt when they took the lead with their first real chance. A corner was headed towards goal and Caley Tallon-Henniker cleared off the line only for Alanna Murphy to prod home the rebound. It was sloppy, but it was just the type of goal we would expect to concede against Victory, from a corner with all the pressure on Jada Whyman. The Cove were mid-chant and I hate to say it, I do find it hard to continue with a chant once a goal goes in for the opposition. It was a real hammer blow and Victory celebrated for quite some time.

The game was still in the balance, hopes were still high, a single goal wasn’t going to faze us. Sydney played some neat one-touch passing and used the wings well. The only problem was that when the wingers got the by-line there was absolutely nothing to aim at in the middle. It was as though we were playing without a striker. Princess Ibini cut in and shot just over, memories evoked of her goal at Wanderers last season, Sydney genuinely looked the better team going forward until the final pass.

A cross was fielded by Whyman soon after. As she raced to try and start an attack, Matildas fan favourite Alex Chidiac made it difficult for her, but the Sydney keeper simply aimed a kick at the busy midfielder and the referee was right on the spot to award a penalty and show a yellow card. There was disbelief. Yes we had just seen that. Whyman was wound up, then showed remorse as Chidiac received treatment for the whack, and finally faced the resulting penalty that she almost saved from former Sydney star Rachel Lowe.

Cheers turned to sighs, as Whyman went the right way but couldn’t keep it out, then turned to anger as Lowe cupped her ear to the Cove not once but twice in celebration. Yes, Ante didn’t like you despite telling us all he did, and let’s be honest your form was pretty poor last season, but to give a serve like that to the Cove who backed you all the way lacked a little bit of class. That moment changed the mood, and the strictly non-swearing Cove may or may not have indulged in a little bit of cussing in her team’s direction that had the powers-that-be hard-staring at the Sydney fans.

This was turning into a disaster. Half-time couldn’t come quickly enough. Sydney continued to with their patient approach play, but it broke down continually and we weren’t even close to scoring.

The stadium was busy at half time, the guys having to walk the length of the main stand for a beer out, beer in transaction, and there was not much time for anything else and we were ready for the second half. Shea Connors was on for the second half, and she was immediately involved on the left, beating her player, teasing in a cross for Vine, who simply had to score, but her effort went harmlessly wide. The Matildas player with the golden touch was having one of those days that is not that rare in Sydney FC colours – dynamic and exciting but dreadful in front of goal.

Sydney toiled, they got to the byline and threw in crosses, but there was never anyone there to apply a telling touch, and even when the ball fell on the edge of the area, the Sky Blues were shot-shy, as if waiting for the clear opportunity instead of having a go and getting lucky with a deflection. The pressure was piling on, Hawkesby delivering corners dangerously but to no effect, the pressure definitely on, so when Victory broke upfield and snatched a third it was against the run of play. Vine tried her hardest but was ultimately beaten to the ball on the left up the far end, the cut-back found Emily Gielnik, who swept the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net with Whyman not even going for it. There was silence. What were we witnessing here?

The chanting and singing continued unabated. This was now an atmosphere of defiance, continuing in the face of extreme adversity. It was a lost cause by now, and all talk was of how Perth Glory would do the job for us against Melbourne City in the late game. This was though a horrific performance. The Sydney players were second to every ball. At one point, a Victory player on the far side turned inside two players and knocked another out of the way as if she wasn’t there, the swagger and panache that we have struggled to see all season from Victory, there for all to see. The Sydney players looked as though they had concrete boots on, and some of the passing was really going awry. They kept pressing though, and the Cove were continuing to urge the girls and clinging to the unlikely belief that the game was salvageable – after all I’d watched my beloved Newcastle United come from 3-1 down to win 4-3 late in a crazy game that morning.

The final punch in the face came when Sydney coughed up possession in midfield and Chidiac raced through to slot the ball home for 4-0. That same cupped ear. There was nothing to do now but sing We Are Sydney and bring this sorry afternoon to a close. This was utterly deflating.

The players got into their respective huddles once the final whistle had gone. Victory’s was tight, Sydney’s was ramshackle. There had been only one team in this today, and Victory had barely put their foot on the accelerator; this was as comfortable a win as they could have imagined, and for Sydney FC there was as much to take out of this performance as there was on Wednesday in Canberra.

We hung around a little, watching the players interact with the fans. The insatiable appetite for player interaction meant that a 4-0 home defeat meant nothing to the majority of fans here – they simply wanted a piece of the players and would leave happy with that. One young girl took that to the next level and was seen racing off the field after trying to get to Cortnee Vine. For those of us who have poured our hearts and souls into this season, the feeling of disgust was masked by the smiling faces of the fans and the smiles through gritted teeth of the players. Even seeing Jada Whyman stopped for photos as she high-tailed it out of the stadium before some other players had left the field was eye-opening. I wouldn’t dare show my face if that was me!

We were home by half-time of the deciding game, with City leading 1-0, and at the conclusion of our dog walk as darkness fell, Sydney FC’s second place was sealed. What an absolute capitulation in the final week that started so well with the thumping of Adelaide. Instead of accepting the false praise of a successful season, or lamenting the loss of so many players this season, Ante needs to find the key to scoring goals. And it needs to happen fast. A two-legged semi-final awaits in three weeks and we will be found out once more if we play like we did this week.

Forza Sydney FC. But my god, it hurts sometimes.

A big shout out to our two Super Sydney FC Michelles for their epic banner (notice the new emblem?), to all the Sydney Women’s Cove for trying our best to stir our team into action, and to the players – if any of you were to read this – we love you like family, which means we’ll be your biggest critics when things aren’t going right. But we’ll be here for you when the finals series resumes. You can’t choose your family.

Blacktown extinguished at Flame

South Coast Flame 3 Blacktown City 0

A meek performance from Blacktown City Under 20s was duly punished by hosts South Coast Flame in an Easter Saturday showdown in Kembla Grange. An early goal by Caitlin Loudon set the Flame on their way to a comfortable victory, and by half-time Lili Rosandic had curled a free-kick over the Blacktown defence for a second goal. A predicted avalanche of goals from the league leaders didn’t materialise in the second half, City goalkeeper Amy Harkin keeping the score respectable, but a devastating finish from Sariah Wilson wrapped up the scoring to make it 3-0. The league leaders continue their fantastic start to the season, while City are left to analyse their performance and try to get the most out of their impressive approach play as the season continues.

A surprisingly hot day on the South Coast met these two sides, but there was nothing slow about the opening exchanges, Sienna Bell firing just wide after only 20 seconds to signal the intent of the visiting Blacktown City. While the visitors were quick to press, the home team took some time to get into their rhythm, goalkeeper Tahlia Sharrock seeing plenty of the ball as they looked to play out from the back. City continued to hold a high line, Annabelle Gerard raking a superb long ball up the right for Abby Duggan, but the defence dealt with the danger. City won the first corner, Hayley Reynolds racing up the right to force the ball out off a defender, and Issy Saunders’ corner caused some panic, but the South Coast defence held firm. Niamh Nolan and Saunders were combining well on the left, but again the final ball was missing.

With the visitors having done the majority of the pressing in the first ten minutes, it was a surprise when Rosandic was left all alone at the back to measure a long ball upfield, and Loudon was all of a sudden through on goal with no defender in sight. Harkin was caught in two minds as to whether to come out or not and in the end Loudon steered the ball comfortably home to give South Coast Flame the lead.

The visitors reacted immediately, Saunders having a shot charged down, but when Rosandic was again afforded time and space to pick her long ball for Loudon, they had to rely on the reach of Paris Kambouris to cut out another one-on-one with the goalkeeper. With Flame having discovered the key move, Rosandic again picked a long ball for Shayne Atkin, completely unmarked on the right. She advanced and played a superb ball across the goal for Loudon, but the striker couldn’t sort out her feet in time and the routine tap-in at the far post into an empty net was scuffed wide, a huge escape for City.

Jayde Johnson’s wayward back pass then caused Sharrock to scuttle back and rescue a dangerous situation, and South Coast were back on the attack immediately. Johnson played in Atkin who skipped around a challenge before Sofia Kent was upended, a free-kick awarded on the right in a dangerous position. Up stepped Rosandic to curl the ball towards the six-yard box; Harkin reached but couldn’t get a hand on the cross and the ball dropped over her into the unguarded net for a freak goal, but one that Rosandic’s ball thoroughly merited. South Coast Flame were now already two goals up, and they looked dangerous every time they came forward.

The game in truth was littered with mistakes. Balls were played straight to the opponents from both teams, and possession was hard to keep. The home team broke again, Ella Churchill playing in Atkin, whose cross was fired goalwards by Loudon, but Harkin was right behind it to make the save.

At the other end, Reynolds stole a ball in midfield and embarked on a fabulous run, but her cross was in vain, not a single City player in support. Reynolds then cut in from the left to fire in a right-foot shot which was saved low down by Sharrock. Saunders showed great skill on the right to feed Bell, and her cross was plucked out of the air by Sharrock as City looked for a way back into the game. There was always a chance of another breakaway goal though. Churchill rode a challenge and teed up Atkin, but the shot was bundled wide of the post.

Asha Eveniss intercepted a throw-in to set up Bell for a shot from distance which didn’t trouble Sharrock, and Bell then made a great run down the right to win a corner; the resulting corner was again aimless and the defence dealt with it with ease. The approach play from the visitors continued to be impressive, Saunders playing in Nolan who flashed in a dangerous cross, and Reynolds combined with Saunders on the right but once more, the final ball was without purpose.

Rosandic reminded the visitors of her danger, smashing a shot just over the bar as half-time approached, before City had their best moment of the half. Reynolds embarked on another powerful run up the right to win a corner. Saunders lifted in the corner, Sharrock fumbled and the ball was free for a split second. Kambouris was ready to smash in a shot but Sharrock reacted first and gathered the ball to avert any danger. The 2-0 scoreline at the break was justified, but in reality the two goals had been the result of Blacktown allowing the route one approach from South Coast Flame and not making use of the high press to shut the long ball down.

Into the second half and it was clear that City were coming out fighting, Bell closing down everything in a frantic opening two minutes. Bell was penalised for a foul and Lara Green followed suit, at least a little aggression coming through from the visitors. Bell found space and played in Green on the left. Her superb cross found Brianna Tinney, but there was a handball in the commotion and the whistle stopped the action. Bell’s tackle on Annalize Kotis resulted in the player eventually limping off injured, and the combinations continued down the left for City, Bell and Green playing the one-two neatly but running out of room for the cross.

A half-chance presented itself to the visitors when Tinney stole a ball in the middle of the park and advanced on goal, but her shot was well saved by Sharrock. The new threat up front for South Coast Flame was Wilson, and she cut inside to beat Duggan and smashed a fabulous shot just over the bar. When Kambouris and Gerard made a mess of a clearance, Wilson stepped in, cut past her defender and thrashed a shot just wide. Gerard was soon in the book, preventing another Wilson break by holding her shirt, but she was there again soon after to cut in from the left and fire in a shot that looped onto the top of the net to oohs from the home crowd.

Blacktown tried to get back into the game. Reynolds powered down the right to win a corner. Tinney’s ball was cleared and Lucia Franulovic rattled in a shot from outside the area that flashed past the post.

Wilson then beat two players to set Atkin through. She had every right to race through on goal, but tried to play in Wilson again, but this time the offside flag was raised and a good chance was wasted.

It was end-to-end stuff now. Reynolds won another corner for the visitors, Tinney’s cross was right into the six-yard box but Reynolds was harshly penalised for being too close to the keeper and Sharrock was relieved when the whistle went.

Kent then played in Atkin, who advanced on goal but Harkin made a great save to deny a third goal. Green then gave us a sparkling turn on the left to set up Reynolds, but her shot was blocked and City were again denied. South Coast then put their foot on the accelerator and blew the visitors away. Kent’s precision ball sent Wilson away on the left side of the penalty area, and she drew Harkin and placed a fabulous shot around her for the third, a goal that would not look out of place in the A-League.

Samatha Shallcross was another threat that emerged, and it was her turn that was cleared for a corner by Kambouris. Wilson then beat two to slip a ball through for Atkin, but the ball just ran away from her and Harkin made the save. Wilson then had a glorious chance after leaving Gerard in her tracks, Kambouris missed the last tackle and Wilson fired on goal, but Harkin beat the ball away. Wilson was tormenting the City defence, but this time Gerard got in a timely interception to clear after the sparkling South Coast star had carved a path down the left. Rosandic then found her way to the byline but Harkin made another save.

City saved their best moments of the half until the very end. Reynolds raced up the left and cut in. Her superb cross flashed across goal and Sharrock got a hand to it to divert the ball away from Tinney and out for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared, Reynolds won the ball back, played in Tinney, but the defence swarmed around her and the chance was gone.

The final whistle brought to a close a game that had started in bright sunshine and finished under lights, and the result was a deserved three-goal victory for the home team. Blacktown had looked lively, had managed to get into some great positions on both wings, but the lack of options in the middle had left onlookers wondering if they had any intention whatsoever of scoring goals. The repetitive nature of the South Coast long balls to players in space in the first half was at least addressed, but the introduction of Sariah Wilson had left the defence chasing shadows as the talented forward picked her way through the challenges to create more and more chances as the game wore on.

After two straight wins, this was back to the drawing board for Blacktown City, and they will look to bounce back at SD Raiders next Sunday as this relentless season continues. South Coast Flame sit at the top of the ladder though, and travel south to Nowra to take on South East Phoenix, a great chance to extend their lead against an opponent who picked up their first win last week.

Stay tuned for more exciting action from the Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s next week and thanks for reading!

The end of the road for Rovers

Deep into pre-season and the news came through that the West Ryde Rovers Over 45s had been placed in division one for the 2024 season. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. After years of bowing to the local association, North West Sydney Football, playing in divisions that were no way suitable for our skill and age level, enduring whole seasons chasing draws and hoping to avoid annihilation, the time had come to make a stand. It’s over and out for the 2024 season, and this long-standing team of fifty-somethings who started ten years ago in the second division of over 35s has pulled up stumps, so close to the first weekend of the season.

Pre-season and your shirt is ready to collect

There are so many questions. This team made its debut in over 45s last season when it finally dawned on some of us that we had missed the boat to be a young 45s player by five years. Being a team with a sprinkling of talent, but an ethos for sticking together as mates and enjoying what’s left of the twilight years of our footballing ‘careers’, we had finally seen the light and decided to move to pastures new and enjoy football that was more appropriate to our physical fitness. Of course we were put straight into Division 1, a league that was billed as Division 1 and 2 combined, which would split into two once the teams had played each other once. We’d suck that up for a season at most.

Post game. Better than the game itself.

That season was farcical, as is described in an earlier post here, with teams trying to throw games to avoid being in the top half of the division to avoid another round of thumping defeats. Absolute anti-football and a sad state of affairs from teams of grown men, but a pitiful symptom of the rules in place. However, the desire to have an enjoyable season that doesn’t end in weekly towellings, and some urgent pleas from all teams to the association finally saw sense prevail and the teams of trophy hunters were left to play amongst themselves for silverware as the rest of the also-rans in the division got to play competitive games for the rest of the season.

We even travelled interstate to play in all sorts of conditions

The heavy hand of those in charge is nothing new either. Even in our second season as a team, finishing in fourth place in over 35 division 2 in a season shortened by multiple washed out weekends, we were forced into division 1, even when we had only a handful of players registered. Some scratching around for players and we scraped together enough talent to be competitive, but it was only with many players playing two games on a Saturday for their lower league team and coming to help out in division 1. The scenario was repeated multiple times over the years, our nomination for a division only once being accepted, although by then we were aiming so low that the Covid-ravaged 2021 season ended up being a little easy.

Some characters in that team!

Fast forward to the start of 2024 and our team had already lost a number of its key players following last season’s debacle, so much so that the remainder of the team joined the Division 3 team who were themselves in disarray. We played our pre-season games in the expectation to be playing Over 45 division 3, even when the draft gradings came out. Surely they’d see the age of our team, and last season’s results and put us somewhere more appropriate. But no. Division 1 or nothing. As usual non-negotiable.

So, the inevitable has happened. There’s no room at the inn. The association don’t want to make room in a lower division, because no one else wants to play in division one, and even the offer of dropping back down to the Over 35s has been thrown out. All of our club’s teams are full, and we now find ourselves in limbo. We’re not playing in division one. We don’t enjoy it. It’s not what we’re looking for at this stage of our lives, and we’ve been clear on that from the start.

Farewell West Ryde Rovers. The club I represented for a season in the Super League, the club where my kids started their football journeys, a club where I’ve coached, managed, done canteen and served on the committee. It is with a heavy heart as I look over Meadowbank Park from my window that this fantastic journey has come to an end.

Over and out. Beers will be elsewhere from now on.

Yours, in football, Texi.

APL Conspiracy ensures final day drama

Canberra United 1 Sydney FC 0

The best ever scheduling of a rearranged A-League game gave us a 4pm Wednesday kick off at McKellar Park for a potential crowning of Sydney FC as unlikely premiers of the A-League Women’s 23/34 season. Tacked on to the Socceroos’ Tuesday night in Canberra, this timing allowed us to spend a day in the nation’s capital and then be home in Sydney at a reasonable time to wrap up the working week before Easter. The thought of a jolly trip home up the highway with the Premiers’ Plate was thrown completely out of the window though as Canberra weathered the storm and wrapped up their home season with an almighty win. The relief at seeing Michelle Heyman on the bench turned to despair as she came on and swept home a rebound to score the only goal of the game. She then hit the post when clean through which would have put the nail in the coffin, but instead we had to endure a final fifteen minutes of false hope as our Sydney girls floundered in front of goal.

Thoughts turned to Sydney FC after watching the Socceroos demolish Lebanon at GIO Stadium the night before and our pre-game took us to the Verity Lane market for a first pint of the day and a seafood paella, only just into the afternoon. Determined to do something touristy and actually see some of Canberra for the first time despite numerous visits, we escaped the flies and wasps and headed up to Mount Ainslie to take in the views of our intriguing capital city. The plague of lady beetles was worth the visit alone, but we could take in views of all the sights of the city in one place, and it was a great way to see the city in the limited time we had. With kick off just over an hour away now, we got back on the road to head out to Belconnen Soccer Club, a short drive away in McKellar.

Parking was incredibly easy and free of charge; we scored a spot right by the gate, and the players came out soon after. Everything was very accessible. There was a canteen, a drinks stall, a gelato marquee and the whole stadium was bathed in warm sunshine. The two ends were small grass hills, the far side had some rudimentary seating, but the main stand was impressive, the press box at the top shared by Canberra United and Sydney staff as well as the ground announcer Russ. This was superb. A real NPL feel and it felt like a great place to call home for the Canberra locals.

The Cove took up a spot in the shady corner and Sydney FC would end up shooting our way in the first half. The pride-coloured corner flags were a nice touch, and so was Canberra United’s line-up, danger-woman Michelle Heyman left on the bench. The Sky Blues looked strong, Ante Juric resisting the temptation to throw the youngsters back in, and the game got underway with our girls in complete control.

Cortnee Vine lined one up after a swift pass into her feet had opened up the Canberra defence, but there must have been a deflection and the ball flashed wide. Sydney FC had plenty of corners, the first of which had Princess Ibini firing in a low shot that was blocked, and they were all different in execution by Mackenzie Hawkesby in front of the travelling fans.

There was good noise from the Cove. The Socceroos drum was put to good use and we felt as though our encouragement would urge the players on to get the all important first goal to break the seal. But it just wouldn’t come. Chloe Lincoln in the Canberra goal got behind Vine’s drive from another corner and the Hawk smashed in a free kick that was spectacularly saved low down. The first half was summed up when Vine played in Hawkesby, clean through with a defender giving chase, but her finish was not that of a seasoned striker and we continued to wait. Meanwhile, the home team were looking like world-beaters, some Maradona-like skill on the left wooing the crowd as Canberra ventured forward on a rare foray.

Half time was spent planning for the weekend. Regardless of the scoreline here, Sunday’s game with Melbourne Victory is going to be a big one, but how good would it be to wrap things up here and have the celebrations all to ourselves?

The second half was only ten minutes old, with Heyman now introduced to the fray, and Sydney had continued to pepper the home goal. Princess Ibini had a good chance at the near post from another Hawkesby corner, but when Vesna Milivojevic got on the ball, we held our breath. The silky player who caught our eye at Leichhardt Oval fired in a shot from the edge of the area which Jada Whyman did well to stop, but the ball squirmed away from her and lo and behold, the one player who you’d expect to be poaching was there, Heyman taking a touch and tapping the ball home for 1-0. The excited celebrations of the home players showed that they were really up for this one today, and who could blame them? What an opportunity to stick one to the reigning premiers and shine a spotlight on a club in deep trouble.

The noise from the Cove was incessant, and Sydney were piling forward. So much so that they left massive gaps at the back. All the cards had been played, Indiana Dos Santos thrown on, Shay Hollman, Maddie Caspers, Shea Connors, surely there was a goal amongst them. Milivojevic showed us some more of her dazzling array of skills to beat three but her shot was straight at Whyman, then Heyman broke completely free as Sydney went all-out, but she could only hit the outside of the post. The day was topped off when Connors crossed to Vine, unmarked and central, but her hooked volley was way off target and hands were left on heads. Charlotte McLean tried a speculator that went over and Sydney threw everything at the home side, but the goal wouldn’t come. The final whistle was a massive kick in the teeth to all those fans who had travelled for today’s game in the hope of celebrating a premiership win, and the players came across following Ante’s post-match spray to applaud apologetically to their adoring fans. MMTV gave the rousing pump-up that they all needed and focus had already turned to Sunday with a request to beat, beat, beat Melbourne.

Canberra’s youth delighted in goading the Sydney fans in a comedy moment; the crowd had been dead silent until the last two minutes when the main stand finally found its voice when the win grew closer.

Post game saw a number of posters regarding Save Canberra United taken onto the field by the players to reinforce the stance of the Canberra public. What a travesty it would be if this club disappeared, through no fault of their own. The Sydney FC players sat disconsolate in the technical area. This had been a tough one to take for them and for their fans. Ante was collared for the interviews in front of the temprary sponsor board; good luck putting a positive spin on this one.

So, it was time to leave and we left the car park with an encouraging word for Ante as he walked dejectedly to the bus on his own, hopefully formulating a winning team for Sunday’s title decider against Melbourne Victory. A pit stop at the Big Merino to fill the car and the Sydney coach pulled in as we were leaving. That must have been one sombre coach ride for the team, and the morale-building exercise of having all the players travel together had well-and-truly backfired.

Big shout out to the Women’s Cove members who made this a thoroughly enjoyable day in the nation’s capital, and here’s looking forward to an altogether more positive outcome from Sunday’s key game against our old Melbourne foes. How unlucky would it be for them to miss out if Newcastle Jets win and pip them to 6th spot on games won? And let’s hope we’re not relying on Perth in the game after ours. Peak A-League!

Socceroos’ 12-0 away day in Canberra

Lebanon 0 Australia 5

Tuesday night in Canberra, and a hastily arranged international fixture brought the Socceroos to GIO Stadium to play a second FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying game against Lebanon in a week. Swathes of empty seats at kick off belied the belief that this game was a sell-out, the now predictable transport issues of this ageing venue causing headaches once again; those present were already celebrating after two minutes when Kusini Yengi converted a delicious Craig Goodwin cross at the near post to open the scoring. With the scoreboard programmed for the oval ball, the score quickly blew out to 0-12 and stayed that way until the temporary residents worked out how to increment by one, but the Socceroos couldn’t add to their tally at the break despite some simple chances. A second half in the comfort zone was started with an unlucky own goal, followed immediately by the sweetest strike you’ll see from Goodwin, and goals from John Iredale and Goodwin once more had us at 0-5 at the end. Lebanon were all over Australia for a short time towards the end as Josh Nisbet’s debut didn’t quite go to plan, but in truth the game was over in the 50th minute and this was good practice for the much much harder games to come in the next round of qualification.

A midday departure from Sydney and a dream run down the highway had us at GIO Stadium soon after 3pm, banner, flags and the drum in place, ready for the evening’s entertainment. The stadium and the playing surface were perfect in the hot afternoon sun, and this moment gave us memories of the Matildas last visit here two years ago when Alanna Kennedy broke her nose, Aivi Luik shaved off her locks, Australia prevailed against New Zealand and the country was starting to go Matildas crazy. That gave us a bit of time to check in to our accommodation on Northbourne Avenue and then head down to King O’Malley’s for a 0% Guinness and a quick chat with our fellow Socceroos tragics on a picture-perfect autumn day. Oh, happy birthday Matty!

Experience led me to fetch the car at 6pm and head back to pick up the gang, instead of relying on the well-intentioned but inevitably unreliable shuttle buses through peak-hour traffic. The hour we spent in heavy traffic last time here, and this nerdy-square killjoy decided that an early departure from the pleasant surrounds of the patio in front of the pub would be preferred to a late arrival and potentially missing some of the game. Turns out we got to GIO Stadium well ahead of time, but then stood perplexed as the players emerged for the anthems to a half-empty venue.

Smoke haze from a burn off behind Black Mountain that we could see earlier in the day made for some spectacular shots of the stadium as night fell. The scene was set. The players lined up for the anthems, Australia first as the away team, the active fans in the end opposite to where we would normally be for a home game. Surprisingly there was very little interest from the Lebanese community, a handful of flags and a few white and red shirts, but very little noise to suggest there was much support. The anthems were well received for both teams, and the game was underway soon after.

You can watch highlights of the game online, but from the active fan’s point of view, this was a tough one. It was clear that the rest of the fans in the active bay were disinterested in making noise or standing up, more of a theatre crowd than a football crowd, and hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. No doubt they had no idea they were in the active area anyway, and after explaining that no, I wasn’t going to sit down, the group behind were quick to relocate into empty seats around the bay. Such a common scenario, and one that does often end in angst. Remember those fiesty mums who insisted on sitting in their allocated seats at Townsville, and ended up joining in? One day we’ll get it right and there’ll be a full active bay with fully active fans. Those few fans that did subscribe to actively baracking for their team were on point though, MMTV on the drum bashing away for the duration and revving up the crowd. Poor Chris received a stray ball in the scone from some wayward shooting practice from the Aussies pre-game, but even that couldn’t dampen his spirits.

The scoreboard provided some amusement for the crowd, the score sitting at 0-4 after the opening goal before blowing out to 0-8 for a few minutes as play went on, and then peaking at 0-12 before someone worked out how to bring the scores back down and 0-1 was confirmed as the scoreline to a big roar. That first goal up the far end looked strange – it took a view on the big screen to see that Yengi had hit the post and the ball had ricocheted off him for a freak goal. Definite suspicion of offside in the build-up but we didn’t care. No VAR as far as we were aware. There were quite a few good opportunities, Harry Souttar rising at the far post to head against the post, and it was a surprise that the score was only 1-0 at the break. Patient build-up or slow decision-making, take your pick.

The active block had been joined by Mike Polak, old school Green and Gold Army and Independent Boys Australia stalwart as well as deft lyricist, with his young son Leo, and also an eager Portsmouth fan who muscled in for a quick bash on the drum but was good value with his singing and chanting for the rest of the game. This gave us some volume for the rest of the game and we’d like to think we made at least some noise to pierce the deafening silence from the rest of the pedestrian Canberra crowd.

A poignant moment at half time when Michelle was approached by Sarah, daughter of Adam Dunbar, a loyal follower of the Socceroos over the years, who just wanted to connect with the active supporters in memory of her dad who sadly passed away. Great to see that the active fans are considered a family, although for this Canberra crowd it was probably the family members that you invite over once a year and look forward to them leaving as soon as they arrive.

Half time was also time for some hi-jinks from some Aussie larrikin or other, a content-creator who played goalkeeper against a wee little girl and played the pantomime villain perfectly by saving a penalty that was meant to raise money for charity. The skit went on a bit, eventually the referee appearing from the tunnel and impatiently blowing his whistle to push them along a bit. They continued after the Lebanon team had come out, looking bemused at a bunch of Aussies larking around in their goal. The crowd seemed to like it. I wasn’t quite following, but as a foreigner to Tik-Tok, that was no surprise.

The second half was good fun. Australia scored straight away, a free kick saved by the Lebanon goalkeeper and deflected into the net by a defender, almost a carbon copy of Yengi’s goal. They scored again within a minute, and what a beautiful strike. A swift break from the back and a lofted ball out to Goodwin sat up. It looked a perfect scenario for a shot on goal on the half volley, one that usually sees the ball end up in the crowd, but Goodwin’s exquisite execution saw him catch the ball perfectly to drill the ball home for a cracker. His goal celebration was odd, making a mask for himself like superman; someone will need to explain it, or maybe he’s already talked through it before. Whatever the case, it was a superb finish. Patrick Yazbek then crossed perfectly for John Iredale to nudge home, and he seemed to be emotional as he celebrated in front of the fans. That left Goodwin to complete the scoring when Iredale’s cross was diverted into his path. Of course this all took place behind the advertising hoardings so we couldn’t really see, but a bit of imagination and we could tell the ball was there to be buried. Which he did. Goodwin booted the ball so high in the air in celebration.

MMTV dismissed a young wannabe and his youthful sidekick who wanted to take over the drum – perhaps the fact that he was an unknown, wasn’t joining in at all, wasn’t even in the active group, you know, the basics, counted against him. The mood down in the cheap seats as the game wore on was great – lots of attempted new chants that got the crowd going, plenty of laughs and nothing to worry about on the field, even when Lebanon seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck in search of a consolation goal. Nisbet played a few misplaced passes and was dispossessed, but he did get a good reception when he came on. The waving of the flags prompted calls from behind to ‘put the bloody flag down‘ as the game came to its conclusion – after all the pitch of the seats is remarkably shallow – and the final whistle was greeted with muted celebration as a lot of people had sloped off early to try and get ahead of the impending traffic chaos on a school night.

The players were given miniature balls to hoof into the crowd and eventually came to our end. Yengi hurdled the advertising hoardings and made his way straight to our Pompey contingent and handed over his signed ball, a lovely touch for a fella who was quite obviously an ardent fan. The flags and poles wrapped up and we were off, walking past the post-match chat from our friends at Paramount Plus as the players completed their circuit. We headed out into the traffic, which wasn’t that bad given the volume of cars, and headed back to base camp for some late-night beers in front of a replay of the game that we had watched from a distance, over the hoardings, past the flags and through the net. Goodwin’s goal was a cracker still.

Was this the best national team experience? No, I don’t believe it was. There was some good football, a lot less play-acting than expected, and our Socceroos won handsomely to continue their march to Mexico. Football Australia looked after us with an active bay which was small but vocal, and trying out some new very viable chants was great. He drives flashy cars, gets paid in gold bars, walking in a Goodwin wonderland. Love it. The traffic nonsense and the half-empty stadium at kick off and at the final whistle was a shame, and the home crowd was very quiet, only rousing for a Mexican wave that ran around the stadium even though the action on the field was absorbing at the time. One day, one day, we’ll have a scenario where everyone in the stadium is invested in the game, the result is key, the desire to make noise will take over, and we’ll have the whole venue rocking to raucous fevered chanting. In unison. With passion. Not just yet though.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Adam Dunbar. If you or anyone you know is suffering from PTSD, make sure you seek help.

Half a game better than no game at all

Sydney FC 3 Adelaide United 0

So, have you ever seen only half a game? I’m not talking on the telly, or rocking up early to your game early and seeing half of the game before, this is about the one game that you wanted to see, and you only caught a part of it. Today was the day, when a 4pm kick off at Leichhardt Oval for Sydney FC Women collided head on with a 2pm kick off for Blacktown City Women Under 20s at Landen Stadium in Lalor Park. About an hour’s drive with the game ending around 3.45pm, I had to seriously ask myself was it worth it? Especially when I had to drive all the way back to pick up Aurelia after the first grade game and the team post-game Sunday dinner. Did a two-hour drive through Sydney to catch a bit of a game make the cut? You betcha…

Starting the journey through suburban Sydney, I had time to reflect on how many times I’d seen just a bit of a game. Earliest memories are a 3pm Saturday game in Ipswich when I was following the Toon around England in my mis-spent youth; the epic journey from Tyneside, in that season when we nearly went down to Division 3 saw only a single bus make the trip, the official supporters club bus with the real hardcore fans, and the bloody thing broke down just as we exited the A1. A lengthy wait for a replacement saw us pull in to Portman Road just before half time. We’d missed a cracker from Gavin Peacock, but were there just in time to see him score his best ever, clipping the ball into the net in front of a packed away end, which included some of the non-playing Newcastle players. We lost in the end and looked doomed to relegation, and we got back to Newcastle so late I had to ring my dad to pick me up as the last bus had gone. But the memory was etched forever.

Another time we had a game against West Ham, which was played at Charlton, or it may have been a Charlton game played at West Ham, and our bus took a wrong turn in London, doing a crazy three-point turn in front of White Hart Lane before finally making it well into the second half after a seven-hour trek. We lost that one too but we saw our only goal in the 2-1 defeat. And most annoyingly the 1-1 draw at Upton Park against West Ham. I had a lift from the Midlands for this night-time game and the designated driver was about two hours late. We then parked at a tube station that was so far from Upton Park that we were caught out by trackwork and sprinted through the streets to arrive just after half-time with our team a goal ahead. Alas, we couldn’t hold the lead, and we drew, and spilling out into the streets afterwards was a very tense scenario with hundreds of police officers ready for trouble.

Of course there have been plenty of games where we’ve arrived a minute or two late, but it’s very rare that I’ll accept the fact that I’m going to arrive late and actively plan around it. After hoping that a fitness centre patron would pull out of the main car park in front of the stadium, and then finding all the spaces in front of Le Montage full, I chanced on a spot on Lilyfield Road, but was totally disoriented and didn’t realise I was walking up a deserted Mary Street until I recognised the house with the pointy trees. If you ever wondered what is going on outside the stadium when a game is on, it’s not much! Not a soul at the gate and the security guards showed me in, card scanned and half time in full swing. By the time I’d visited the bathroom and bought a CC and Dry from the window, the game was back underway, and I walked up the far end and up the stairs to take my spot next to Michelle in the active section.

I had only just checked my phone to see the score – we were two up already, and the Sky Blues were on fire already in the second half, shooting towards our end. Cortnee Vine almost forced a comedy goal, closing down the keeper and deflecting the ball goalwards, but the ball just went wide. She then raced on to a lovely chip from Mackenzie Hawkesby to turn sweetly and fire in a shot that was tipped over, but the goal eventually came when Macca played a hopeful ball forward, Vine got lucky and stole the ball ahead of the defender and then was too quick for the Adelaide keeper, racing around her to slot the ball into the empty goal. Lovely stuff!

The rugby league lines were visible for all to see on the field, painted over in a green that didn’t really hide them. It gave rise to new reference points; where was the foul? On the 30m line. That sort of thing. The Cove was in full voice, despite being quite low on active numbers. It certainly felt as though we were making a lot of noise, although when I’d walked up from the entrance just as the second half started, the singing couldn’t be heard that well from down below but the drum was booming. Comments from TV viewers were that the Cove were loud and clear.

Sydney looked for more goals as the final whistle approached, bringing on a wealth of talent from the bench in search for a more comprehensive scoreline. One for our A-League statto Andrew Howe – when did three players with a first name Shay, all spelled differently, come off the bench in an A-League game? It was today – Shea Connors, Shay Hollman and Indiana Shae Dos Santos. What an unimpressive stat! The score remained 3-0 and Sydney FC had set up a chance to claim the premiership in Canberra through the week, or failing that, at least a shot for the premiership next weekend back here against our deadly rivals Melbourne Victory.

It’s a beautiful thing these days when our women win. There is no messing around – these players want to celebrate with the Cove. And it was bloody marvellous, a rousing Super Sydney FC chant that extended to the lo-lo part to get the girls dancing. Absolutely love this, and those days at Kogarah when the players would sheepishly come around to celebrate after being prompted by someone in authority are now gone. This is ritual. This is Sydney FC.

The usual fangirling at the end of the game to see how the players interact with the fans was passed up; I had to get back to Blacktown after all. We spied Adelaide fan Rose at the exit and had a quick catch up, before Michelle, who snagged a car spot in the main car park by using her shopping-centre car-park stealth, dropped me to my car and I raced back to Landen Stadium, pulling into the car park just as the players emerged after their Sunday meal. Impeccable timing!

Adelaide United’s number one fan – The Ladies League’s Rose with Michelle

Was it worth it? Yes it bloody was, and all talk was now excitedly turning to Wednesday in Canberra. Forza Sydney FC – see you there!

Lions face Demons in exciting duel

Blacktown City 2 Inter Lions 1

A beaming hot day in Blacktown brought Inter Lions to Landen Stadium to face a resurgent Blacktown City and it was the home team that came away with three points after a slender victory. A penalty smashed home by Annabelle Gerard gave City the lead in a strong start, but Inter were level before the break when Sarah Bownas reacted first to a calamitous moment to tap home. The lead was restored just before the break when Hayley Reynolds romped through to score, and Inter had goalkeeper Jemma Horley to thank for keeping them in the game. A second half that produced numerous chances for both teams ended goalless, but the entertainment was high, sending the bumper crowd home happy.

It wasn’t actually that hot, but the heat radiating from the surface of Landen Stadium combined with the beaming sunshine made for furnace-like conditions for this clash; fitness and conditioning would be key to lasting the 90 minutes. With an assistant referee calling in sick, the prospect of a referee calling offsides and throw-ins from 30 metres was something that needed to be managed, and this had the potential to be a fire-cracker of a game.

Captain Lucia Franulovic set the scene early on with a surging run through midfield to set Issy Saunders away at the Ashley Brown End, and the pacy striker took a touch before drilling a shot into the side-netting. Lara Green’s first contribution was to flatten Annabelle Banfield with a huge tackle that delayed play for some time while the unfortunate Inter Lions player received treatment. When play resumed, Green’s exuberance had spread to the rest of her team and the players were really up for it. Emily Jackson slipped in Saunders again, but the roll of the ball took the ball behind for a goal kick.

The home team would definitely not have this all their own way though. Banfield raided down the right and Gerard had to make an important tackle to clear the danger. All of a sudden at the other end, goalkeeper Horley gifted the ball to City with a mis-placed clearance and Saunders had time to control and send back a searing shot that went just the wrong side of the post. A huge let-off for the visitors, but their insistence on playing out from the back was costing them dearly; an overhit pass went out for a corner, which Saunders delivered into the penalty area where Gerard rose highest to power a header just over the bar. Another scrappy clearance saw Saunders turn into the box and, under pressure from her defender, she crumbled to the floor. The referee looked unmoved at the theatrical dive, but took his time to signal a penalty, to the amazement of the Inter Lions defence. It was definitely one for VAR, but the penalty stood. Gerard stepped up and almost ripped a hole in the net with a thumping drive from the spot to give her team the lead.

Hayley Reynolds raced down the right after breaking free, but her cross was cleared, Jackson slipped in Saunders on the right side of the area but again her shot hit the side-netting and Inter escaped. A scramble in the area then fell for Jackson, who fired in a shot that was well saved by Horley, before Saunders played in Reynolds, the Inter Lions goalkeeper racing out to save smartly at her feet.

The spectre of the foul throw raised its head again, Green punished this time, but the chances kept coming for City. This time Gerard played a magnificent ball for Reynolds to run on to. Her ball in for Saunders presented a one-on-one situation with the onrushing Horley, and the visiting keeper did very well to block the shot.

Mira Thomas played in Mia Micalizzi for a run on goal but City keeper Amy Harkin saved well. The imposing figure of Cleo Gavagna in the visitors’ midfield was starting to pull the strings, and her ball to Banfield saw another shot well saved by Harkin.

Lily Thompson then split the defence with a ball through for Saunders, but Horley was out quickly to force the ball behind for a corner. The corner from Saunders was cleared to Gerard who blazed the shot over the bar, City unable to extend their lead. And they paid for their profligacy soon after when Gavagna played in Bownas. Harkin and Niamh Nolan somehow got in a tangle leaving Bownas clear on goal. Her simple finish wasn’t that simple though, the ball striking the bottom of the post before Bownas reacted first and rolled the ball into the empty net for the equalising goal.

City were straight back on the offensive though, Reynolds playing in Nolan who slipped a ball in for Saunders, but her pirouette in the area didn’t fool the defender and the ball was hacked clear. Gavagna was running the show for the visitors; she smashed in a shot that just went over and City were panicked at the back.

City then turned up the dial. Thompson played in Green whose cross was cut out by Horley, Green then sent in a cross that Reynolds raced on to, but Horley did well to smother from point-blank range, and Franulovic slipped in Nolan but again the fast surface took the ball too far. Inter then almost took the lead when Bownas danced up the left to feed Emilija Jaglica who got the better of Gerard and crossed. Harkin made herself big to block at full stretch with the goal open and, before an Inter player could finish the job, Green smashed the ball away and City had survived.

Just as the bumper crowd was thinking this was going to be one of those games, City struck with stunning simplicity. Franulovic played in Saunders, who touched the ball into Reynolds’ path, and the ace striker smashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net to give Horley no chance. The celebrations turned to frustrations again within a minute though as Napoli was set clear only for the referee to bring play back for a mystery offside, coach Jake Gomez earning a stiff talking-to from the referee just as half-time ticked over. Blacktown had the lead though. Could they build on it?

A no-nonsense triple substitution by City shook things up for the second half and the home team came out firing. As City continued to press, defender Paris Kambouris played a loose ball and Jaglica was clear, but the City defence regrouped to clear. Another lengthy stoppage for Inter Lions’ Ellen McCartney to receive treatment and eventually leave the field gave the teams a chance to reset, and City continued their onslaught.

A routine catch was spilled by Horley, who didn’t know where the ball was for a second. Asha Eveniss was straight on to it, teeing up Thompson, but the shot was wide. A handball then gave Gerard the chance to lift in a dangerous ball, but the offisde flag was up early. Green raced down the left and her persistence won a corner. With regular set-piece expert Saunders off the field now, it was Brianna Tinney who lifted in the corner, and Eveniss was close to getting her head on the ball at the near post.

A beautiful ball with the outside of the foot by Thompson then set Green away and her determined run took her to the edge of the penalty area where she shot, but Horley made the save. Nikki Roach then raided up the left for Inter Lions, Nolan doing well to force the corner, but the dangerous cross by Gavagna was cleared at the near post. A cheap free kick conceded by Franulovic was then sent into the area by Gavagna, but it was a wasted effort, the ball well wide of the goal with penalty area stacked with Inter Lions players.

Play had become scrappy. Sienna Bell was introduced to try and bring some order back into the midfield. Kambouris then embarked on a surging run, ghosting past two players as the midfield opened up, and she found Tinney, whose expert dummy under heavy pressure let the ball run through for Eveniss to shoot on goal, but again Horley was there to make the save.

At the other end, a moment of hersitancy from Harkin saw Gavagna close her down with her enormous strides, and the City goalkeeper’s clearance rebounded off her and back over her head towards goal. City’s luck was in though, Harkin racing back to field the ball and start the next attack as if nothing had happened.

Reynolds then rode a challenge on the right and played in Tinney whose shot went just past the post with Horley beaten. Industrious work by Reynolds then forced a corner which Tinney delivered right into the six-yard box, and after an almighty scramble, Gerard put her foot through the ball and smashed a shot over the bar that may still be travelling as you read this.

A great ball by Thompson set Green away up the left again, and her cross/shot was foiled by Horley. Reynolds then raced onto a ball on the right to feed Tinney. There was an almighty tussle on the edge of the six-yard box, Green tried to tee herself up for a volley and then shot just over the bar.

Thompson was booked for a late tackle as Inter pressed for a second equalising goal, but the City defence remained resolute. The final chance of the game came to City, Reynolds played through, but she put this one wide, and the final whistle came soon after to put Inter out of their misery and confirm an important three points for Blacktown City.

The pattern of City games is becoming clear. Tight defence, industry in the middle of the park, speed on the wings, but the end product not quite there yet. The xG calculator was left to be hosed down again after catching fire, and there is a deluge of goals waiting to be scored once the City strikers start to relax and convert the numerous chances. There is excitement and frustration in equal measures, but patience is required. It will come!

Today Blacktown City were worthy winners, they came up against a goalkeeper in fabulous form, and had to be alert to deal with the threat of Inter Lions throughout the whole game. A six-day turnaround now takes City to league leaders South Coast Flame for a late kick off in Wollongong on Saturday, while Inter Lions travel to Sutherland on Easter Sunday for what should be a morale-boosting visit to the basement club. Stay tuned for more fantastic action from the FNSW League One Women’s U20s as the season gathers pace.

Thanks for reading. Please like and share if you came from social media, and let’s put the Women’s Under 20s on the map. Quite possibly the worst set of photos I have ever done, I really need some coaching at sports photography in different light conditions! Hopefully the words make up for the pictures!

Something different at the Socceroos

Australia 2 Lebanon 0

A lovely thursday night in Parramatta, and the Socceroos continued the winning start to their World Cup 2026 campaign against Lebanon at a busy Commbank Stadium. A cross that went in from Keanu Bacchus (not Patrick Yazbek) early in the game set the stadium alight and despite dominating it remained 1-0 at the break. The second half saw a sliced shot from Kye Rowles go in off the post for another strange goal and Australia were in the box seat. They took their eye off the game late on though, and Maty Ryan was very fortunate to maintain a clean sheet as the visitors pounced on any loose play at the back. The win was sufficient, but definitely not convincing, and it sets up an intriguing second game with Lebanon on Tuesday when our national team have an away game in Canberra.

The change in venue for pre-game in Parramatta to the Royal Oak was a winner – so much closer to the stadium, lighty and airy with plenty of room for everyone, and a happy hour til 6pm that was taken advantage of by the growing group of Socceroos fans. Got to fix that front door though. The odd Lebanon fan was dotted through the yellow, and the reunion of Australian football die-hards from around the world was a thing of beauty. Leaving with more than enough time to get to the stadium – it’s still not just next door – we descended on the stadium at the same time as pretty much everyone else.

The scene was reminiscent of the Sydney derby fiasco when the gates opened late, and the queue for Gate E stretched almost to Gate C, the whole width of the stadium. Getting in wasn’t as straightforward either – the patient lady at the gate showing me the trick of how to hold my mobile phone ata specific angle to scan through, and she had to do that pretty much for everyone. Kick off was 15 minutes away, the stadium was filling up, but not as much as Football Australia had us believe it would (“Looking forward to a full house”), and we joined the Socceroos active supporters in the Wanderers home end to enjoy the pyrotechnics and welcome the players to the field.

Lots of familiar faces from A-League games around the country, from Matildas and Socceroos games across the years, the flags were out, the drum in place and we were ready to belt out the national anthem. The Lebanon anthem was first though, and there was clearly a big contingent scattered throughout the stadium, many voices singing along, but the best was saved for the Aussie anthem, which filled the stadium with noise.

The Aussie line-up seemed attacking, with Adam Taggart and Kusini Yengi up front, and they started well, Yengi seeming to have extendable legs to win the ball ahead of his opponent to keep the ball. We’d obviously lost the toss and were switched around to shoot towards our fans in the first half. Only five minutes in we already had the breakthrough; the ball was won on the right and Bacchus shaped to swing in a big cross, but it was too close to the keeper. It looked as though it might be dangerously close to the goal though and we watched with hope and increasing belief as the ball sailed over the keeper’s head, hit the post and went in. Amazing. Ronaldinho against England all over again. The Socceroos with the lead. Pandemonium in the Active bay.

Any fans expecting a deluge of goals from that moment was to be disappointed though. Riley McGree hobbled off early, Lebanon played the role of Asian football opponent to the letter, players spending ages on the floor after winning non-existent free-kicks, and it was a half of frustration. When early sub Jordy Bos was clearly pushed into the turf with no free-kick awarded, he seemed hurt, and after some treatment and a few minutes to try and play on, he made way for Ajdin Hrustic, the sub subbed before half-time – you don’t see that very often. Australia had a series of corners that caused mayhem, at one point the ball falling to Connor Metcalf in space outside the box, an ideal opportunity for the long-range speculator, but he chose to go wide instead of risking row Z with the shot.

Half-time at 1-0 was fair, but Lebanon had done all they could to break up the game and they were still well and truly in the game. The active bay had been fun. The Croatian Wanderers Family had moved in and were loving life, the Aussie Aussie Aussie chants failed to catch on thankfully, despite many attempts, and I’m pretty sure one of the guys at the front was trying to convince those around him that a Mexican wave was a good idea. It was a little unhinged and off-chops at time, and made for an enjoyable atmosphere, even though some of the fans didn’t seem interested in the football at all. A few Newy chants, the Sydney FC goal tune and some Wanderers-esque tunes helped the game along too; the A-League was united in harmony.

There were presentations for former Socceroos players as the half-time heroes filled the field. I got my hands on a Stone and Wood lager at the break – a mid-strength brew but my goodness, what a delightful beer! Back for the second half with plenty of time to spare, the post half-time lull was broken by Michelle, who grabbed the drumsticks to whip up the crowd again and get things underway in the stands.

The second half was only a few minutes old when the Socceroos got their second, and it was a corner that bobbled around a little until Rowles put his boot through it, or across it maybe, and the ball swerved onto the left-hand post and in for a slightly freakish goal. It took the crowd by surprise and perhaps now we’d see the floodgates open. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Lebanon seemed to get a foot-hold in the game and we started to see too much play in our half. Two outrageous backheels set up a chance that flashed across Ryan’s goal, and then Harry Souttar played a loose ball across the backline that was pounced on, and Lebanon poured into the box, the shot hitting the inside of the post, but this time the ball stayed out.

The paper airplanes were raining down from above by now, there were cheers when one hit the field, and clearly the younger fans had given up on the football below.

A late free-kick right on the edge of the area which could easily have been in the box saw everyone hold their breath, but the shot was just over, and with it went Lebanon’s last chance of a goal. The final whistle couldn’t be heard, with the crowd at full volume, and the players made their way to the eastern stand where friends and family usually congregate, and stayed there for a long time until they were ushered around the home end and on to the tunnel.

This was the day to get your Socceroos signatures. The players were surprisingly relaxed and available, and ready to chat. Security was ushering people out before the players had all left the field, Tarni didn’t get the shirt from Bruno Fornaroli, but got a promise of one on her next football trip to Wellington to watch Victory, Kelly got her photo with Mitch Duke, while Thomas Deng missed the boat and had a quiet walk to the tunnel after the last of the fans had gone.

This was a smashing Socceroos game. The collective desire by the Active fans to be active was great to be amongst, the way most fans restrained from club rivalries to form a single cause was commendable, and the football had us entertained if not enthralled. A routine victory will be the headline, although in reality, it could have been a lot closer had one of Lebanon’s chances gone in at the end.

Now who’s coming to Canberra on Tuesday? Our nation’s capital, home of the next A-League men’s team, hopefully, scene of the final Sydney FC women’s away game for the season on Wednesday. Don’t miss it, it will be a different experience altogether. Come on you Green and Gold!

Phoenix spared by shot-shy City

Blacktown City 2 South East Phoenix 0

Round 3 of the Football NSW League One Women’s Under 20s season brought South East Phoenix all the way from Nowra to play Blacktown City in the North West of Sydney, and the home team tasted sweet victory for the first time. A confident finish from Issy Saunders set Blacktown away right on the stroke of half time after having the best chances of the first period, and a second poacher’s goal from Niamh Nolan settled the result with ten minutes to play. A commanding performance from visiting goalkeeper Lauren Trenerry prevented the slender scoreline from snowballing, but City claimed their first win of the 2024 season and a first clean sheet.

A week of turmoil at the club, with a major personnel change in the coaching staff, brought Blacktown City to the point where three points were vital to kick-start their campaign. Coach Jake Gomez was determined that his young team would be good enough to secure the win today, and the conditions could not have been more conducive to playing quality football, the hot summery conditions of the season so far replaced with beautiful cloud and a hint of rain on a pleasant autumn day at Landen Stadium. Sam Cole came into the starting line-up, returning from injury, while Lily Thompson was called up for first team duty and missed out. The team that took Central Coast Mariners all the way last week looked strong on paper, but unproven.

Lara Green showed Blacktown’s intent from the kick off, racing down the left to ruffle the Phoenix feathers, but when Paris Kambouris flattened Lena Hennequin on the right to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position, that capped off a surprisingly low-quality first five minutes of scrappy play. Abbey Nolan-Hodges’ free kick was easily dealt with by Amy Harkin in the City goal, and the home team broke, Green and Cole combining well on the left, Saunders forcing a corner. Trenerry claimed the foul by Hayley Reynolds when the corner was swung in; a mis-hit clearance from the visiting goalkeeper was then interceoted by Sienna Bell, but Reynolds’ cross was wayward.

Another free-kick on the right for the visiting Phoenix saw Isabella McConville swing in a cross that Harkin batted away, and City were off on the counter attack. Reynolds raced out from the back but her ball to release Saunders for a run on goal was intercepted and the chance was gone. A long ball from Annabelle Gerard then caused panic in the visiting defence, goalkeeper Trenerry scurrying back to prevent the corner or worse, the backpass having wrong-footed her completely. A throw-in was controlled beautifully by Asha Eveniss, who found Reynolds, but the shot was deflected wide, and Trenerry claimed the corner, rising highest to secure Saunders’ corner kick.

A break by Samantha Murphy was then foiled by the quick-thinking Nolan who tracked her run up the left, and South East Phoenix won another free-kick on the left; Kirra Jackson’s clever short free-kick saw the ball played in to Zinah Hasan in space in the penalty area, but the flag was swiftly up to deny the chance of a shot on goal. Bell was fouled on the City left, the referee choosing to come back when there was no advantage, and Saunders fired in a ball that was easy for Trenerry. Reynolds and Bell then combined on the right, but the ball as just too strong for Reynolds. Gerard and Green got their wires crossed in defence, the bouncing ball evading both of them, but Green raced back to clean up the mess.

City were shooting from range by now, Reynolds firing one in that Trenerry saved easily, and Saunders showed tricky feet to make space, but the stinging shot was straight at the visiting goalkeeper once again. There were echoes of the opening day when City peppered the goal all game for scant reward, but at the midway point of the first half, the home team were turning the screw.

Gerard strode forward and played in Green on the left, who fired in an enticing cross to the near post, where Saunders connected but the ball went the wrong side of the post. Green then fed Reynolds, but the cross frustratingly hit the side netting, and Eveniss and Reynolds played a wonderful one-two only for Reynolds to run the ball out.

Up the other end, Ellie Moffat played in Hennequin, but her dangerous cross was cleared, but there was little respite for McConville and Mariah Heperi-Clark in the heart of the Phoenix defence. Bell won the ball in midfield and fed Reynolds, clean through this time, but her shot was drilled wide. Cole moved to the right and forced Jackson to concede another needless corner. Cole took the cross in the mid-riff from the corner, leaving her doubled in pain, and Trenerry claimed the ball well.

The half ended with intense pressure from the home side. Nolan kept a ball in while everyone else stopped, but her cross was easy for Trenerry, Saunders teed up a snapshot for herself which Trenerry beat away, Trenerry diving at her feet to prevent a goal on the rebound. Bell played the ball down the left, Eveniss cut inside and her shot was well saved. When Cole forced yet another corner thanks to a mis-kick, Reynolds and Bell went for the ball, Bell eventually stabbing a difficult bouncing chance just past the post.

With seconds remaining of the half, Reynolds jinked pas her player and slipped in Saunders, and her pace saw her get to the ball well before Trenerry and she tucked the ball low past the advancing keeper to score the opening goal. The relief was palpable and the half-time whistle blew as the players were congratulating each other for finally taking the lead right on the break.

Trenerry appeared to be carrying an injury coming into the second half, but she was able to deal with anything that City threw at her. Green’s one-two with Reynolds won a corner, Saunders firing it in. Bell rose but Trenerry saved. City were getting frustrated at their crossing, Nolan and Reynolds wasting good positions, and frustrated by the offside flag, Reynolds played in by Eveniss but well offside.

Saunders then release Eveniss, who cut in past her player and shot, Trenerry equal to it, and Cole then jinked down the right, cut in and delivered a delicate cross that bounced off the top of the bar and away for a goalkick. It was Cole again causing the problems soon after when she fired wide, and then she knocked the wind out of Nolan-Hodges with a thumping shot from point-blank range.

The moment of the match so far saw Saunders, on the right and with a defender closing in, flick the ball one side of her marker and run around the other, leaving the defender for dead, her endeavour winning another corner. Saunders was hobbling so Reynolds took the corner, but could only hit the ball straight out of play. Kambouris and Green combined to win another corner, Saunders floating in another dangerous cross, but the shot-shy City front-line couldn’t get anything on it. Bell then played in Reynolds, who advanced on goal, but the shot was saved.

Brianna Tinney fed Reynolds who had strayed offside, and Tinney found a great touch soon after to get her shot away under pressure, but Trenerry saved. City were dominating, looking composed at the back and when in control in midfield, but at 1-0, the lead looked flimsy.

Reynolds then played provider, slipping a pass to Green for a run on goal, but her shot lacked conviction and Trenerry saved low down. Emily Jackson was thrust into the action, starting to pull the strings in midfield, and Bell found herself with acres of space with the goalkeeper off her line, and lifted a shot goalwards, but Trenerry had back-pedalled sufficiently to be untroubled. The luck seemed to be on the visitors side again when a low cross from Green from the left was deflected goalwards by Heperi-Clark, Trenerry changing direction to save brilliantly at the near post.

Tinney forced a corner which was half-cleared only to Lucia Franulovic, and her shot was blocked, Gerard almost getting on to the rebound in the melee. The second goal finally arrived to lift the tension on the City bench. Cole did well to get into the box and she had time to measure a low fizzing cross that evaded Trenerry and found the incoming Nolan at the far post, who touched the ball almost apologetically into the empty net for a devilishly simple goal.

The game was surely won now. Nolan did well up the right and Cole’s shot was well saved. Franulovic then gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, but superb cover from Bell spared her blushes. A long raking ball from Gerard then released Aurelia Smith on the right, but she had caught the crossing disease, and the ball went behind without causing any trouble to Trenerry’s goal.

The final whistle sounded, and Blacktown City tasted victory for the first time this season. It was bittersweet; having carved out an incredible number of chances, they could only finish two of them, and while coach Gomez congratulated his players, he admitted that it was definitely not their peak performance. The players disappeared into the sheds to belt out the Matildas’ victory song. This certainly is a ‘grand old team to play for’, but we are still looking forward to the forwards clicking and delivering the avalanche of goals that their swift and exciting football is suggesting.

City return to Landen Stadium next week to take on strugglers Inter Lions – could this be the opportunity they need to put together a complete striking performance from their forward line? Or is this destined to be a season of missed chances? The encouraging thing is that the chances are being created, but now is the time to put them away. South East Phoenix continue their difficult start to the season with a trip to Camden Tigers; they did show resolve and plenty of heart today, and anything can happen in the early stages of the season, as teams suss each other out. Catch you next week for another intriguing game of football from the beating heart of North West Sydney.

Great to see so many fans at Landen Stadium for this round 3 fixture, mums, dads and siblings choosing to spend their Sunday afternoon watching quality women’s football. Please like and share if you clicked here from social media, and let’s put Blacktown City on the map.