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.

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!

Bansktown City 0 Blacktown City 3

Blacktown City reignited their charge up the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s with a fantastic win at Jensen Park on Sunday, ending the contest with nine players in a game that delivered some incredible moments. Emily Jackson had the visitors ahead from a ghost corner in the first half, but the dismissal of captain Courtney Kitching threatened to alter the course of the game before the break. A missed penalty cost the hosts and Jackson went on to score two more, sealing a magnificent hat-trick with a thunderbolt from outside the area. On a day when the game could have slipped out of their grasp, a new tactical focus and smart decisions on and off the field gave Blacktown City a tremendous victory to kick-start their finals surge.

The magnificent surface of Jensen Park, tucked away in the industrial heart of Regents Park in Sydney’s West, was shining in the bright winter sun, perfect conditions for football. Visitors Blacktown City were straight on the offensive, Lily Waterhouse working an opening for Zoe Thompson, who thrashed a shot wide from distance. The visitors, still smarting from their no-show in the derby last weekend, looked determined and played with purpose, defenders Rachel Thompson and Mia Martin with their hands full early in the game. The hosts though had the first real chance of the game, Tiarna Allen prising apart the City defence with a through ball for Allegra Park, who rode a challenge and forced goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie into a full-length save, Kitching clearing up the rebound.

The action came thick and fast. Emilie Chandran raced up the left and tucked a neat pass inside for Thompson, and when Waterhouse took over, her shot was blocked. The hard-running Sienna Bell was fouled on the left. Dominique Ashton’s ball in was recycled, and Jackson cut in from the right to prise open the Bankstown defence, Thompson clear, but goalkeeper Ivana Franulovic blocked the shot with a smart save. The lively Hannah Al Koudmani then skipped away on the left, only to be scythed down by an agricultural challenge from Kitching. The yellow card could easily have been a different colour, and when the free kick was arrowed in by set-piece specialist Thompson, Mackenzie could only watch the ball flash across her goal and wide of the far post.

A careless goal kick led to a cheap corner on the Bankstown right, Martin forcing a second corner as the ball popped out of the defensive pack, but the second corner was wasted. City sprung forward, Waterhouse forcing the ball off her defender and watching as the ball rolled all the way to the corner flag, hitting the pole and out for a throw-in. The assistant referee somehow decided that it was a corner, the referee didn’t pick up on the error, and City didn’t hesitate, the long corner by Ashton from the right beating the melee in front of goal, and Jackson was on hand at the far post to calmly volley a neat right-footed finish inside the far post for the opening goal. A gift from the refereeing team.

Martin unleashed another low shot in reply for the hosts, Mackenzie right behind it, and when Stephanie Whetters was fouled on the right, Al Koudmani’s ball in saw Mackenzie race out to claim the ball, collecting the studs of Claudia Janus for her trouble and left on the floor requiring treatment. The response had been swift from Bankstown, but they almost undid all their good work when a backpass was cleared by Franulovic straight to Thompson, but the City striker couldn’t shape her body quickly enough and the shot was well wide of the gaping goal.

Allen then weaved past two defenders on the left, but Aurelia Smith had read the danger, before Whetters and Park combined, but Ashton was there to clear. City counter attacked, Waterhouse romping from midfield to play in Thompson, who cut inside but dragged the shot wide of Franulovic’s goal. Waterhouse again was involved, this time combining with Angelica Conate and Thompson, but the through ball was just too far and Franulovic was out quickly to claim.

Allen found herself in space in the City box on the right, and shaped to shoot, but Kitching slid in with a fantastic challenge to concede the corner before she could pull the trigger. Rachel Fry completed the clearance from the corner, but City still looked a little vulnerable when playing out from the back, Clara Christopherson unlucky not to make something of an interception on the edge of the area.

City then conjured up a great chance. Jackson released Lara Green, racing up the right, and when she bore down on goal, the stinging shot was acrobatically saved by Franulovic, and the rebound looked to be a formality for Thompson until the boot of Sofia Chahine intervened to force the ball behind for a corner. This time the refereeing decision went against the visitors, a goal kick the result despite the protestations of the unimpressed Thompson.

A scrappy period of play saw Jackson looking for options in the box before being mugged, and Mikayla Gadd offered a foul throw on the right. The pivotal moment of the first half was to come though, and it was Park who grabbed the ball in midfield and set off unchallenged towards goal. Kitching stood in her way of a shot, and when the tricky midfielder swerved past the City defender, Kitching hauled her down, the referee not hesitating to award the penalty and brandished the second yellow and a red card to Kitching. She knew it was coming.

Al Koudmani must have been watching the Euros; despite her confidence in placing the ball on the spot, the subsequent penalty was horrible, Mackenzie guessing correctly and remaining in the middle as the ball was almost rolled apologetically to her. Al Koudmani couldn’t believe it, Mackenzie grasped the ball tightly as the City bench rejoiced. Thompson was moved into the centre of defence to cope with the deficit, and a swift City substitution broke up the impetus as Bankstown looked to turn the screw before half time. The whistle for half time had the crowd looking at each other and cooing; this would be a very interesting second period, and a massive test of Blacktown City’s resolve.

Needless to say, City were cautious as the second half unfolded. They sat back with a block of midfielders as their lone forward did the work of two players; it was fascinating to watch. Thompson made a great block at the near post and Ashton completed the clearance after Al Koudmani had kept the ball in on the right. Mackenzie had to come out confidently to claim the ball ahead of Whetters, and City started to regain their confidence, ekeing out free kicks to slow the game down, and trying to keep possession despite the lack of outlets upfield.

Fry battled on the right but couldn’t break through, Green raced away up the left and delivered a tempting cross, but Evdokia Papafilopoulos couldn’t get on the end of it; the ball returned to Green and she almost forced the shot goalwards but the Bankstown defence held firm.

The lively Park raced up the right but Ashton cleared, and all of a sudden the light wind turned into a stiff breeze in City’s favour. Mackenzie had to be alert again to race out and clear, this time the clearance shanked high into the air and Thompson had to complete the job. Green then slid a ball in to Jackson in space, who aimed for Fry, racing into the corner. A smart bit of play from the wily winger won a corner for the visitors.

Ashton’s corner found Fry unmarked, but she completely missed the ball, Jackson collected on the edge of the area, the ball deflected up into the air, and when she was first to react to the ball, she took a deft touch to the left and fired in a low shot. The shot took a wicked deflection and picked up some serious top-spin, and when the ball bounced, it curled around the stranded Franulovic and inside the far post for a most unusual goal, but a goal that gave Blacktown City breathing space coming into the final quarter of the game.

More was to come from the visitors, and this compact stadium was treated to one of the goals of the season. City were patient in their build-up. Conate created space and found Fry, who played the ball back inside and on to Jackson, completely unmarked in the centre of midfield. We’ve seen some great hits this season from the fleet-footed midfield maestro, but this was something else, as she unleashed from 25 yards, the ball sailing over the out-stretched hand of Franulovic and into the top right-hand corner, a missile and an incredible strike to complete a brilliant hat-trick.

City had a three-goal advantage, despite playing with ten, but they still had a lot more work to do. Al Koudmani got to the byline and lifted in a teasing cross, and Mackenzie rose highest to claim to applause from her teammates. Another corner from Al Koudmani saw Mackenzie repeat the feat, growing in confidence with every take. Thompson broke from defence and threatened to run all the way through, just running the ball too far ahead of herself as the defence opened up.

Park then played a delightful ball inside Chandran for Al Koudmani, and when the cross was delivered into the six-yard box, Gadd did well to clear under heavy pressure. Smith then did well to intercept and was held back. Ashton lined up the free kick, and with the wind at her back, fired in a shot that just cleared the bar.

There was still time for more action, as Ashton sliced a ball behind for a corner, but as City broke from the clearance, Bell held the ball up well to feed Smith but the through ball was just too strong for the hard-working Sarah De Sousa on the burst. Thompson then found herself in an advanced position, and when her attempted through ball for De Sousa came back to her, she smashed in a deflected shot that sent Franulovic across her goal to touch the ball around the post, another great save.

Bankstown felt that one goal might lead to two and laid siege on the City goal. A surge by Park was well cut out by Jackson, Park again got free on the right to fire in a cross that Janus couldn’t steer towards goal, and Allen turned sweetly in the box to fire a shot goalwards, Mackenzie making a terrific save to her right to snatch the ball out of the air.

Waterhouse did brilliantly to win a throw-in on the right to win some seconds, but she was damaged in a challenge moments later, the ball eventually played out by Thompson to allow her to get treatment. Forced off the field, and Blacktown down to nine, City were prevented from bringing on the fresh legs of Abby Hambly due to the last-ten-minute single-sub rule in force, but there was so little time, and the final whistle brought an enthralling game to a close, with both teams exhausted from an afternoon of hard-running.

City were magnificent today. Courtney Mackenzie made two crucial saves, Courtney Kitching made a fabulous goal-saving challenge before succumbing to a second yellow card, Sienna Bell struck fear into her opponents, and Emily Jackson served up a hat-trick from the top drawer. There were top performances across the board, and the City team of last week’s meek draw with Blacktown Spartans was nowhere to be seen.

We now enter a pivotal week. Central Coast Mariners face SD Raiders midweek, weather-permitting of course, before the Mariners visit Landen Stadium and SD Raiders travel to sixth-placed Nepean FC. It’s a three-horse race for the title and a three-horse race for fourth place. Anything could happen between now and the end of the season, and if Blacktown City can put together performances like this one in their final five games, the sky is the limit. See you on Sunday.

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St George 1 Blacktown City 1

An entertaining contest at the famous Barton Park on Sunday, filled with excitement and controversy, saw Blacktown City run table-topping St George all the way and emerge with a hard-fought point to keep their finals hopes alive. The league’s meanest defence was breached in the first minute when Sienna Bell coolly slotted home for the visitors, and the scores were level at half-time when Anna Simotas took advantage of a defensive giveaway to finish well. A tense battle brought no further goals but plenty of ire towards the referee from all corners of the stadium as both teams had good opportunities to seal the win. This was premium entertainment from the Football NSW GYL 2 Under 18s, and City continue to give themselves every chance of sneaking into the top four as the season hurtles to its conclusion.

An unusual 12:35 kick off time had passed and the teams were nowhere near ready to go on a beautiful, sunny winter’s day in South Sydney. A swift coin toss and the teams out of their huddles, Blacktown City wasted no time in showing just why they have entered the market for a top-four spot, and they had the early advantage in the first minute. Aurelia Smith received a ball inside from Lara Green on the left and a precision through-ball inside the defender released the hard-running Bell, who opened up her body and passed the ball into the net for an incredible early goal for the visitors, goalkeeper Arabella Penfold given no chance. It was the start that Blacktown needed, but they were immediately on the back foot.

Josey Riley played a superb ball out to the right to Eyerus Hillman, who flashed a cross to the back post for the in-rushing Eve Hunter, but goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie made a reaction save to push the ball around the post from point-blank range, a quite astonishing save. The St George central defensive partnership of Jasmine Sidoti and Lauren Bisnette had to be on high alert again when Zoe Thompson lifted a ball over for Bell, this time Penfold quick to react and pounce on the through ball.

Bell was in the thick of the action. Her persistence won a free kick on the right, and soon after she was harshly adjudged to have fouled her defender after being played in by Green, her no-holds-barred approach not warming her to the man in the middle. St George were fizzing up front, and Hillman broke up the right, Emilie Chandran smartly across to force the corner. Chandran then embarked on an epic run up the left, racing onto Green’s pass, and when the ball was recycled back through Green to Emily Jackson, the City midfielder burst through on one of her trademark runs, but the shot was well held by Penfold.

Thompson and Green combined on the left again, Green racing through to clip a cross to the far post, and Penfold did well to field the ball, faced with the ever-willing Bell. City were struggling with their throw-ins on the right, coughing up possession too often, but Courtney Kitching was alert to the danger when Riley threatened to break through. Sidoti’s corner was dangerous, there was no challenge at the near post and the ball fell for Hunter, back to goal, but she hooked the ball harmlessly over the bar.

Bell was awarded a cheap free kick outside the area on the City right, Dominique Ashton lifted the ball in where Jackson had found a yard, but her swipe didn’t connect, the ball falling for Rachel Fry but the ball was deflected into the arms of Penfold and St George had survived a testing moment.

The hosts should have equalised when Kitching was caught in possession, Riley raced clear but Mackenzie saved the shot with her knees, Riley forced wide, and the resulting cross found no one, a real let off for Blacktown, and a warning sign that they could not be complacent in possession at the back. Thompson then broke upfield, Smith unable to find the pass, and when she turned back, her stray ball saw Hunter slip a clever ball through for Riley, clean through, but again Mackenzie was equal to it and turned the ball away for a corner. The corner from Simotas was expertly dealt with by Mackenzie, City relying heavily on their supremely-relaxed goalkeeper to maintain their slender lead.

Bell lunged in from behind on her defender, fortunate to escape a yellow card, before Hunter released Riley again, Kitching quickly across to calmly clear under pressure. The warning signs weren’t heeded by the City defence, and when Ashton emerged from defence and played a pass straight to Simotas, the St George striker skipped away and lashed a shot inside Mackenzie’s post for the simplest of equalisers. Mikayla Gadd was caught with the ball soon after, St George quickly turning the screw, and Hunter found Hillman on the right, the first-time cross bundled wide by Riley at the near post, with Kitching applying the pressure.

A brief moment of respite for the overrun City midfield saw Bell race onto a miscontrolled ball by Sidoti, but this time her shot on the run following an exquisite piece of control was scuffed along the ground and Penfold had no problem fielding the ball. The pressure continued on the City goal however, and the chances came with it.

Hunter raced away on the right only for Chandran to slide in and make the perfect tackle to concede another corner. Sidoti’s corner saw Hunter leap onto Mackenzie’s back as Kitching cleared, and when Hunter crossed to the far post from the left, Riley laid the ball back for Chloe Ryan, but the shot was blazed over the bar. The continuous pressure would surely pay off, and when Kitching bundled her player over in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, Ryan stepped up to expertly curl the ball over the wall, but Mackenzie showed exceptional handling to grab the solid shot out of the air.

Hunter went in late on Mackenzie as she advanced to collect a long ball, earning a yellow card from the referee, but Hunter was away again soon after, Kitching gifting possession again outside her own penalty area, but goalkeeper Mackenzie made a good save. St George were firmly in the box seat, City unable to get any meaningful possession in midfield, and when Kitching was mugged trying to play out from the back, Chandran made an incredible last-ditch tackle, the partisan home crowd baying for a penalty when in fact it was a meticulously-timed interception.

City seemed to have weathered the storm. Thompson flicked a ball over to Bell but Sidoti cleared, and when Evdokia Papafilopoulos was bundled to the ground with her first touch in front of the benches, there were shakes of the head when the officials waved away the free kick. The first half came to an end with City back on the attack, and it was Thompson racing up the left; she cut in and bore down on goal, but trying to shape onto her right foot gave the defender enough time to steal the ball and the chance was gone. All square at the break, this had been terrific viewing for the crowd in the main stand of this pristine new stadium, City hanging on after bossing the game earlier on.

The miskick from Ashton from kick off thankfully wasn’t a prelude to the second half, and when Green hassled to win the ball back, Thompson unleashed a snapshot that was well saved by Penfold. Another mystery free kick was awarded to City on the left, Ashton pumping a long ball into the penalty area, and when Smith challenged, she was penalised for the foul. The scrappy start to the second half continued as Green took a heavy touch on the left, the ball just rolling out of play, and when Bell was pushed in the back, Ashton’s free kick was easily dealt with by the unyielding St George rearguard.

There was clear annoyance in the St George team at the number of fouls being signalled by the referee, but City were battling for everything, Bell continuing her all-action performance. St George threatened on the right, Hillman swinging in a ball from the right for Fotini Rezitis, but Kitching did well to intercept.

Bell raced away on the right, trying her best to keep the ball in, but the officials made the call that the ball was out, patience levels running thin with both teams. When Bell did manage to get a cross in from the right, Lauren Wells got a foot to the ball, sending it high towards goal, and Penfold had to be alert with Papafilopoulos lurking.

Sidoti shaped to take a free kick on the right. She opted to play in Ryan on the right wing, whose cross was well fielded by Mackenzie. A cross from the right by Hillman was then helped away only to Wells, who powered a shot well wide. Hunter almost had Riley through again, but the City defence held firm, and Ryan’s cross was helped away by Kitching for another corner. The pressure was mounting, and when Ryan’s corner went all the way through to Wells, the shot was well saved by Mackenzie. Ashton was forced to conceded a corner as City cotinued to scrap, Ryan again finding the six-yard box with the corner, but when Green was fouled, there was respite for the visitors and they could regroup.

When Bell raced after a long ball, Penfold sprinted from her goal to clear, colliding with Bell who had given up the chase. The referee had no intention of awarding anything, but as the home crowd and the home players cried murder, Bell was unbelievably shown the yellow card. Quite baffling was the award of the throw-in to City as a result. Chandran’s attempt at telepathy saw Green realise her intentions to dart on to her throw-in, the cross unable to find a City player in the area, and hands were over faces on the St George bench again when Green was awarded a generous free kick to break up play.

The wind had picked up in City’s favour, the corner flags blowing towards the St George goal, but when Smith was pulled up for another difficult-to-see foul, the referee showed the pleading City midfielder the yellow card and sent her to the sideline for a five-minute sin bin for asking what the foul was for. It was backs to the wall now for the beleaguered Blacktown, down to ten players, and Ryan raced up the right to win a corner as Kitching stretched every sinew to cut out the cross. Simotas then had a glorious chance, but Kitching blocked the shot brilliantly, and Green then slipped past her defender and raced up the left to win a corner to ease the pressure. Ashton’s corner was dangerous, but Penfold was commanding and claimed the ball well under pressure from Jackson.

City now replenished following the five minutes with a player down, they went on the attack. Jackson burst up the middle, showing intricate control to glide past three defenders before being held up, and Thompson won a free kick in the middle, Kitching frantically back-tracking after going up for the set-piece, a precious point requiring protection in the final moments. A long throw in from former City player Riley made for nervous moments as the clocked ticked towards the end, but another completely nonsensical free kick, awarded to Fry on the left, was a fitting way to end the game, a draw the right result, but the frustration shown by both teams and both sets of coaches very much on display as the players shook hands at full time.

This had been a very tough encounter, league leaders St George dethroned by dropping two points against Blacktown City, and on another day they could have made their pressure pay in the latter stages of the first half. Two top-class saves by Courtney Mackenzie kept the visitors in the game, and there were half chances for both teams to snatch all three points in a very entertaining game.

SD Raiders’ loss to Banskstown saw City up to fifth, while Nepean’s washed out game sees them a point ahead in fourth. St George are part of a three-team mini-league to see who wins the premiership, but this will be a blow to them as Hills reclaim top spot again. St George can really blow the title race open as they take on Central Coast Mariners next weekend, while Blacktown City entertain Blacktown Spartans in the big derby game at Landen Stadium on Sunday. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Nineteen games down, seven to go. This is getting exciting. City are on the up. Thanks for reading this far, I hope you’ve enjoyed this unparalleled coverage of Football NSW’s Girls Youth League Division 2; if there are any mistakes, mistaken identity or simply incorrect facts, let’s work together to get it right and drop me a line. And sharing, commenting or liking the social media post where you joined this match report will allow others to find us too. Thanks for those who do so every week, keep up the good work!