Super City blow title race wide open

Blacktown City 1 Central Coast Mariners 0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do your homework, enjoy your football

Northern Tigers 0 Sydney United 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The game that had everything

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.

Thanks for visiting the ‘home of best-selling football fiction from Australia’. This isn’t fiction, this was the real-deal! Your input is welcome – is there a name wrong, is there a mistake? Let me know. What is very important though is your like, share and comment on social media where you clicked to read this. It doesn’t cost anything, and if you like what you read, let’s get more eyes on this website and more eyes on Football NSW Girls football. See you soon, but stick around for a browse. Plenty of football-related articles, match reports and book reviews to while away that morning coffee break.

Sydney FC exhibition experts

Sydney FC 2 Wrexham FC 1

For those of us desperate for A-League action and those who like a good TV series, Tuesday night was the perfect winter warmer. A busy Allianz Stadium, bizarrely available now but not when the season starts, was rocking as the real-life Richmond FC rolled into town and every non-footballing Sydneysider was Welsh for one night only. The spectacle was superb, the Cove made themselves known around the world, and Sydney FC turned the game around to come out on top in the most meaningless but most exciting game of football since the Socceroos qualified for the World Cup.

  • Packed in the light rail
  • Wrexham merch
  • Sydney FC pride
  • Ooh a new betting partner
  • Three unimpressed tenants

An early 7:30pm kick off meant an early finish to work and we were on the train before 5pm, heading towards Central and then a quick walk up Devonshire Street to the Dove and Olive. A busy pub, we hit the rush at the bar just before quiz night, but there were a few football shirts in there, some Welsh and a lot of sky blue as we had dinner and enjoyed some midweek pints. Seeing tram after tram rattling past bulging with people meant that we would give ourselves a bit of extra time to get to the stadium, just in case, but we shoe-horned ourselves into the back of the tram at Surry Hills when a couple of unsuspecting commuters got off.

We heard that there was a pub somewhere in the precinct, done out as the Turf pub from Welcome to Wrexham fame, but we didn’t see it. We did see the masses crowded around the Wrexham merch tents, and marvelled at the number of people at the stadium; this was on the scale of an international qualifier. We stopped by at the Sydney FC membership tent; we hoped they’d be out after the game too in the event of a Sydney win to capture the fan witthe open heart and open wallet.

  • Yes, yes I do!
  • The Allianz duck goes walkabout
  • Heaving at Gate 3
  • Wave after wave
  • How good does Allianz look?
  • The Sydney Cove
  • Big queues of deep pocketed Sydneysiders

The queue at Gate 3 was big, so we decided against walking the rest of the way around the stadium perimeter and joined the throng. The tip to scan the barcode at the bottom of the ticket instead of the QR code made entry easy, and we were up in our seats for the night in Cove Heights well before the party started. There were familiar faces everywhere, all sitting in different seats, and looking down at the Cove below, the call-out had worked and Sydney FC had a backing of active fans.

  • Lights, cameras, action
  • Cove getting into the spirit
  • Fire and fireworks
  • Here come the two teams
  • Oompah! The colliery band arrives
  • Defend!

Fireworks and a brass band heralded the entrance of the players, the stadium looked classy as the stadium lights dipped, and we definitely had a big occasion on our hands. The blaring music made it hard for the Cove to be heard, despite a sterling effort. Any doubts about the draw of Wrexham FC were dispelled, and the sky blue shirts of Sydney FC and the canary yellow and green of the Norwich City-lookalike away team lined up at the far end. Sydney were to attack the Cove in the second half as per normal, but for the first half we’d have to see our boys do a lot of defending.

  • Enjoying the opportunity to sing
  • Stout defence
  • Another Wrexham attack
  • So busy in the concourse at half-time
  • Plenty of fun and games at half time
  • The Wrexham massive

Sydney had the same team as they had started with against Hakoah at Sydney Olympic Park seven days earlier, apart from Gus Hoefsloot in goal, and they looked very much inferior in size and stature compared to their more physical opponents. By the time I get around to finishing this, you will have seen all the highlights you care to see of the game, so no need to dwell. Poppy-hater James McClean slipped over as he curled in a delicious free kick from the left, and there was no way of avoiding contact for Corey Hollman as he was left unsighted by Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ dummy to score an own goal right in front of us. It had been coming. Ollie Palmer, one of the only players I recognised from the TV series, led the line well and won every header, and Hoefsloot had to be alert and confident to pick one out of a crowd of players right in front of goal.

McClean had a great chance again soon after, unmarked at the far post, but his header was wide, and when Alex Popovic stretched and missed an easy ball in the middle of the park that had his teammates scrambling, we started to look a little ragged.

Paddy Wood and Rhys Youlley had been quiet all half, but when Hollman lashed a shot at goal with half time approaching, an outstretched arm stopped the ball and the crowd and players alike roared for a stonewall penalty. This was no friendly game, the players surrounding the A-League referee, the crowd adding to the volume after seeing the replay on the big screen. A corner was all they got though, quite unbelievable considering how far away from his body the arm was, but when it was swung in from the right, JCP was free and headed the ball goalwards, only for goalkeeper Danny Ward to save brilliantly; central defensive partner Popovic was on the spot to drill the rebound home for 1-1. Get in! The anti-Wrexham sentiment rose in the stands, the sky blue fans letting the fans clad in red know that they should be supporting their home team and getting along to more games in the A-League. Fuck you Wrexham Welshie c*nts, ole, ole!

  • Never seen so many photographers
  • Now that’s a substitution window
  • Plenty to say
  • It’s been a while
  • Thousands of dollars of Wrexham merch hits the exits

Half time was met by a huge roar and that gave us time to say hello to others in our group who were dotted around Cove Heights, and then a quick dash of the permiter of the concourse let me take in the scale of the crowd. This was what a game should be like every week; there’s literally no reason why we can’t strive for that, and this was even a game that meant nothing! Imagine if points were on the line, local pride, ex-teammates facing each other, Sydney-Melbourne rivalry, a former coach in town; this would have been awesome. Harrison Devenish-Meares was on for the second period, but no further changes, and Sydney went about trying to unlock a very unyielding Welsh defence.

As was the case seven days earlier, the substitutions, when they came, were swift and sweeping. None of this slowing the game down, breaking up play and making a mockery of the contest. No, the entire outfield of both teams was changed over, and we had a fresh contest on our hands. The kids were on for Sydney, Jay Rodriguez was on for Wrexham, and Devenish-Meares had to block brilliantly at the near post as Wrexham took the upper hand.

Sydney were on the rack, but they conjured up a single chance and took it with incredible poise. A neat move up the middle saw Akol Akon, who was anonymous until then, touch a ball into the path of the lively Joe Lacey, and with a swivel to open up his body, he unleashed a shot from just outside the box which the goalkeeper got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. The stadium erupted. The players all rushed to congratulate the goalscorer, who was already in tears. The Cove regaled the players with their goalscoring song. Scarves were twirling. What a fantastic scene.

The rest of the game was exciting. Both teams were going for it. Wrexham had the lion’s share of possession and ended the game with a corner – it wouldn’t have been out of place for the keeper to come up and join the pack of yellow shirts for that one, such was the fervour as the game came to its conclusion, but the ball was cleared and the arms went up to greet the final whistle. It was obvious that the game meant a lot to the youngsters, even more to the goalscorer as we were later to understand.

There was no Bohemian Rhapsody, but the players linked hands to salute the Cove. Any doubts about the season to come had been quashed. We had just seen a Championship team from the English Football League beaten at the home of Australia’s most successful club. There were plenty of jibes filling the air from the sky blue supporters, but the friendly nature of the occasion was evident as the crowds flocked to the front of the stands to get signatures from the young Sydney eleven that won the game.

  • A mountain of football
  • No different to a normal home game
  • Out damned lines, out I say
  • This way for the sheep

The players all looked delighted. The fans were eager for any signature. It happens after every game in the A-League you know, why don’t you come along and find out? The ground staff were keen to get the football markings off the field, soaking the lines in some solution before hosing them off. Don’t use too much water though, the field might get flooded! A couple of Wrexham players emerged at the corner of the stadium, giving the fans one more buzz, before we decided to call it a night and headed out of the main gate with the rest of the stragglers, and on to a waiting shuttle bus to avoid the light rail carnage.

A five-minute wait at Central and we were on our train to the northern suburbs and walking through the front door close to 11pm. What a great evening. Even though it was one of those games that can make a grown man cringe, the way that Sydney FC went about their business was enough to placate the keyboard warriors who think that we have no players. Daniel McBreen’s feedback that Alex Baumjohann was talking about more signings coming in, and with Leo Sena and Douglas Costa also returning later in pre-season, what is there to worry about?

I’ll tell you what will be a worry though – a midweek mid-winter trip to Ironbark Fields to face Western United in the Australia Cup. Getting knocked out of the cup at the first hurdle will remove any optimism whatsoever and condemn our Sky Blues to a preseason of hastily-arranged friendlies instead of full-blooded cup ties. We have been assured that the club holds the Australia Cup in high esteem and will be pulling out all stops to win that one in two weeks’ time. Makes sense; that’s how we qualified for last season’s ACL2 in the first place.

See you at the next game, hopefully a midweek Australia Cup tie in Sydney somewhere that brings the magic back and gets us all excited for the new season ahead. Forza Sydney FC!

Shaky City cough up points in Blacktown derby

Blacktown City 1 Blacktown Spartans 1

A collective off-day for Blacktown City in the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s derailed their finals hopes in a must-win derby encounter at Landen Stadium on Sunday. Zoe Thompson struck late in the first half for City to ease the tension, but a strike from Issabella Narayan midway through the second period turned the game in Spartans’ favour and the game was on a knife-edge until the very end, both teams spurning opportunities to snatch the points. This was a wake-up call for Blacktown City; two consecutive 1-1 draws, completely contrasting in quality and style, sees any slim hopes of making the finals at the end of the season now hang by a fraying thread.

Derby day at Landen Stadium, and City went into this game on the back of three strong results and brimming with confidence. Spartans lined up with Elizabeth Bello in goal, behind a strong central defensive partnership of Aoife Murdock and Aaliyah Hsieh, hoping to quell the attacking threat of Thompson and Sienna Bell. City made the first move, Emily Jackson threading a ball through for Thompson, but the slick surface was taking no prisoners and the ball ran away, but when Bell was wrestled to the ground on the right, City had an early free kick in a dangerous position.

Courtney Kitching lifted in a teasing cross, Jackson and Aurelia Smith battled for the ball in front of Bello, but Hsieh miraculously cleared the ball with her outstretched foot, the referee even missing the clearance and awarding the goal kick to Spartans. City continued to push and when Hsieh was played a hospital ball into her midriff after Bell had hassled well, Thompson was in the clear but scuffed her shot badly and Bello made easy work of a glorious chance.

Spartans were reduced to long-range efforts, Lucy Silk powering in a shot from distance, but Courtney Mackenzie was there to field the speculative effort. Lara Green then released Thompson on the left, who tricked her way past her defender, but saw the ball roll into touch as she homed in on goal. Green then stepped inside and unleashed a powerful shot that Bello pushed away for a corner to a roar from the main stand. Rachel Fry’s corner saw Jackson rise with a header, but Bello was there once more to take the loose ball. Green then played a precision through ball for the on-rushing Mikayla Gadd, but the cross was straight at Bello. City were being wasteful in what was a surprisingly low-quality first ten minutes of football.

Ava-Rose Lewis then smashed in a long-range effort for Spartans that Mackenzie easily dealt with, before Kitching was almost caught in possession by Scarlet Deeb, but recovered to sweep the ball away. Green’s pace on the left was continuing to cause problems for the visitors, but it was Emilie Chandran, racing from defence to provide the overlap, who set up the next chance on the left, the ball finding its way through to Jackson, who lined up a shot from outside the area, but Bello was right behind the shot. Green then raced down the left with no support, so won the corner off the defender; again the referee ruled against the corner, and the frustration began to boil in the City ranks.

Seconds later, a rushed clearance from Murdock gave City that corner they had expected, Thompson swinging in the corner kick, but Spartans cleared and were on the counter attack. Angelica Conate sold Chandran into danger with an under-hit back pass and the speedy Mackenzie Clifford-Farrell got there first, only to make a complete hash of the chance, hastily firing wide under no pressure. A sign of danger, and danger that needed to be heeded.

With a trademark burst, Jackson romped through the middle after skipping past a tackle, the quick ball through to Bell was just behind her and the attack broke down. Green picked up the ball on the left and skipped inside only to be upended on the edge of the area. Dominique Ashton was straight off the bench to take the free kick, and fired a curling shot over the wall, but Bello reached high to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Ashton’s corner made it all the way through for Gadd at the far post, but her shot was weak and Spartans cleared their lines.

A strong challenge by Green saw the ball find Jackson, who advanced and shot from long-range, Bello palming the ball wide for another corner. The short corner was played back to Ashton who was offside, a wasted opportunity and another sign that this was going to be a tough day at the office for City.

An improvised flick by Thompson allowed Bell to challenge with Bello, but the keeper did well under pressure and required treatment after hitting the ground hard. An exquisite piece of control by Conate then allowed her to get a shot in, but Bello was alert to the danger. City kept up the pressure; another burst from midfield by Jackson saw her slip in Fry on the right and the long cross to the far post gave Green time to control the ball, but Bello grabbed the ball before she could get the shot in, another decisive piece of goalkeeping from the Spartans shot-stopper.

The pressure was mounting. Green was fouled on the left. Ashton hoisted in the free kick, and Chandran won the corner. Ashton’s corner again found Gadd at the far post, but she couldn’t send the ball goalwards, instead the ball falling for Jackson who rifled in a shot that Bello saved.

Silk powered in a shot from distance for Spartans as they finally found some space, but City countered, Jackson spraying the ball right for Thompson who controlled on the edge of the area and took time to curl a shot to the far post, where Bello did well to touch the ball away for a corner. Ashton’s corner saw Kitching rise highest but the ball found its way back out to Thompson, who connected well and sent a low shot through the crowd and into the net for 1-0. The deadlock was broken. The relief was palpable.

The warning shouts from the main stand for City to concentrate weren’t heeded though, and from the kick off, Amy Roesler was through on the left side of the penalty area. She kept the ball in and crossed, Ashton’s clearance falling straight to Aria Mitiades, who leaned back and blazed over from close-range. What a let-off for City, and Spartans were again on the attack, Roesler free again on the left, but Kitching was across well to put the ball behind for a corner. Leila Khattab’s corner saw Mackenzie rise but not get much on the ball, and Murdock’s twisting header was well off target.

A rally from the visitors then, as the first half drew to a close. This had been a scrappy game with little in the way of attacking imagination and endeavour, but the scoreline reflected the dominance but profligacy of the home team in front of goal.

The Spartans players stayed out in the dugout for half-time, no time to waste in reinforcing the fact that this game was definitely not out of reach, but City were back on the attack immediately. Chandran and Thompson combined on the left, Murdock up highest to clear the cross away. Evdokia Papafilopoulos and Conate then combined to steal the ball from a goal kick, Thompson having to dig out the shot from under her feet which was well off target. Bell then ploughed through the back of Murdock, somehow winning the throw-in, but when the ball went up the other end, Ashton rolled the ball back to Mackenzie, who sliced her clearance. The ball spun into the path of Deeb, but Mackenzie raced across to block the shot as the City defence raced to cover the empty goal. A momentous let-off for the home side, and Spartans were turning the tide.

Khattab swung in a corner, the ball popped out to Clifford-Farrell who slashed the ball wide of goal. Clifford-Farrell again used her lightning pace to win a corner off Ashton on the right, Khattab’s corner came out to Eade, who screwed a shot that fell to Clifford-Farrell, Chandran having to usher the ball away under heavy pressure. Spartans had the initiative, City couldn’t find a way out, and when they tried to counter attack, Ashton’s simple ball to Chandran on the burst was behind her. That allowed Spartans to break, Eade playing the ball in for Narayan, who was suddenly clean through with City all at sea, and she finished low past Mackenzie for a deserved equaliser.

Papafilopoulos raced after a booming clearance by Green as City were stirred into action, and she won a corner on the right. Ashton’s corner to the near post fell for Sarah De Sousa, running away from goal, who was crudely taken out by Bello from behind, right in front of the referee, but the man in the middle was unmoved. The subsequent corner by Ashton was teasing at the far post, but there was no one to supply the finish.

City were starting to boss the game again, this was a proper derby now, and when Jackson raced through the midfield and off-loaded to Papafilopoulos, they had a great chance. For some reason, the City striker hesitated and decided not to take a touch, which sent her wide, narrowing the angle and the shot was easy pickings for Bello, who was by now brimming with confidence. Frustration was simmering for the home team. Jackson then played in Thompson, but Bello was out smartly to save. De Sousa battled well and got two bites at the cherry to get in her shot, but the Spartans defence closed down the effort, and when Green intercepted and fed Thompson, hands were on heads as the shot was sliced wide of goal.

Conate joined the attack and fired in a shot from distance which Bello saved. Green stepped inside from the left and when her through ball was cleared by Bello, Jackson picked up the loose ball and fired on goal, Bello recovering well to make the save. Another non-corner award for City had Fry pleading with the referee after her defender had clearly kicked the ball out, and by now Jackson was trying to do it all herself, this time beating three players with brilliant poise and balance before being held up by Murdock on the edge of the area.

It was now or never for City, but the conviction just wasn’t there from the home team. Jackson played Green through, cutting in from the left to beat the last defender, but Bello raced out to save at her feet, the ball cannoning back off Green for a goal kick. Bell then won the ball in midfield, fed the ball to Thompson in front of goal, with time and space; her shot was parried by Bello, right into the path of Fry with the goal at her mercy, but Bello got across and smothered the shot against all odds, the Spartans bench erupting in joy at the miracle save.

City had to be careful at the other end, Chandran diffusing a potential counter attack well, and when Green hooked in a looping cross from the left, Bello gathered with Thompson lurking. The City fans held their breath when Deeb sent a shot goalwards, the ball dipping onto the roof of the net, and when Clifford-Farrell found space in the area, Ashton had to be alert to force the ball away from Mackenzie’s goal. Jackson won the ball in midfield as the last minute approached. She surged goalwards, upended by Murdock on the edge of the area. This was the chance. We’d seen Ashton go close in the first half from the same position. This time though, with seconds left on the clock, all composure was long gone and the shot was high and wide, any chance of three points gone, but this had been an exciting end to an otherwise tense and scrappy affair.

The City players knew they had wasted a golden opportunity to keep the pressure on for a berth in the finals; an afternoon of frustration was contrasted by the plucky Spartans’ never-say-die attitude that almost earned them a surprise win, and for the visiting players let go by City after their championship-winning Under 16s exploits, this was especially sweet.

An inquest into this performance will no doubt follow. City got what they deserved for an unconvincing display where their usually telepathic communication was scrambled and their season-long attacking bluntness and propensity to defensive giveaways was fully on show. If last week’s 1-1 draw at St George was the chalk, today’s 1-1 draw at home to Blacktown Spartans was definitely the cheese; there was clearly disquiet on the sidelines as well as frustration on the field and in the stands, and difficult questions will need to be asked following this disappointing result.

Onwards we go to a cracker next week, as Blacktown City head to Jensen Park to take on Bankstown City; a big week on the training field will be needed to lift the team for a tough assignment, while for Blacktown Spartans, the visit of Hills United will be another massive test of their resolve. The thrills and spills continue in this exciting league as we get down to the final six rounds of an enthralling season. See you on Sunday!

Thank you for your readership. It does mean a lot, and gives impetus for more content and more writing. If there are any mistakes, let me know. If the names are not right, or there was mistaken identity, drop me a line. Most importantly, let’s get liking, sharing and commenting on social media – last week’s stats were incredible, let’s get as many eyes on Blacktown City’s Under 18s and the Football NSW GYL2 as possible!

Early Bell gives City point at league leaders

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!

City slickers shine in winter warmer

Blacktown City 2 Nepean FC 0

A sensational first-half performance from Blacktown City earned them the breathing space required for victory and another three points as high-flying Nepean were ambushed at Landen Stadium in the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s on Sunday. A teasing free-kick from Dominique Ashton went all the way in, and that was followed by a poacher’s goal from captain and goal machine Courtney Kitching from a corner as the home team turned on the style. The second half failed to live up to the thrills and spills of the first, both teams having chances, but there was no way through and City saw out the game despite living dangerously. But that first half, wow…

A bright and sunny winter’s afternoon welcomed a hearty crowd to Blacktown for a clash between two form teams. With a full complement of officials, and Nepean winning the toss to give City the kick off, the game got underway at quite a pace. The defensive duo of Abbey Cox and Shae Brukman were immediately under pressure when Lara Green raced up the left for City, captain Cox stretching to clear the cross from inside her six-yard box. A delicate through ball from Mikaya Gadd then saw Sienna Bell race up the right, City starting the game with pace and power. The opening pressure continued as Aurelia Smith and Green combined, Zoe Thompson firing a shot from distance past the post.

Nepean’s Jezebel Yuletian was the main threat up front, but it was City who continued to press. Lily Waterhouse was seeing a lot of the ball and she combined with Bell to set Thompson away on the right, but the ball was just too far. Smith burst from deep in midfield with the ball to feed Thompson, who found Bell again on the right but the cross was cleared from in front. This was an intense start to the game, and when Emilie Chandran sent her defender the wrong way with a smart turn, she was bundled to the floor for a free-kick near the left side line. Ashton stepped up to deliver an inswinging arcing ball, begging for a touch from anyone to send it goalwards; the ball bounced, goalkeeper Samantha Callaghan misread the bounce, and the ball looped into the net with Kitching on hand to usher the ball in. A freak goal, but a delicious cross, and just reward for a fast start from the home side.

Another burst from midfield by Waterhouse saw her find Thompson, who lifted a tempting ball over for Bell, but the fierce right-foot volley was well held by Callaghan at the near post. Nepean were busy up front as they tried to get back into the game, and when Kitching hesitated, Yuletian was away, drawing goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie, who stood firm and saved the shot with her legs. City were shaken into action and when Green played the ball into the feet of Thompson, the flick for the on-rushing Smith was just too far. A superb raking ball from Kitching then found Green racing up the left. Her cross went all the way through to Waterhouse, who had two bites at the effort and sent a curling shot just wide.

More enterprising play by Bell forced a corner after Waterhouse had prised open the defence, and when Ashton swung in the corner, Emily Jackson was able to control on the chest, but ran out of space for the shot. The hurried clearance bounced past Smith and found Yuletian, but Chandran was quick to come across and make a telling interception. A long searching ball by Skye Haladus then found Yuletian, but Mackenzie was out and flicked the ball away from the attacker with a nonchalance that seemed a little out of place in this frantic contest.

Waterhouse then found Thompson on the right but the low cross was hacked clear by Cox, and when Green hoisted a speculative ball over for Bell, the tough-tackling attacker hassled well to almost create something out of nothing for herself. Another good move saw Waterhouse race up the right to cross, and when the ball was half-cleared, Green stepped up to blaze a shot over the bar. Ashton had to be quick to foil Yuletian in a foot-race, before Smith was adjudged to have fouled her player as she got the shot away, the frustration at the referee evident on the face of the City midfielder.

Sienna Monardo gave a cry of anguish as her wild slice screwed behind for a corner, and Thompson’s inswinging freekick was scrambled away from the near post by Cox, and Green’s Bergkamp flick took her past her defender to loop a long ball to the far post, where Waterhouse forced a corner off the exposed Callaghan. When Ashton delivered the corner into the six-yard box, the ball bounced past Jackson and straight to the unmarked Kitching, who swivelled to finish brilliantly past Callaghan for a superb second goal.

Green and Smith combined for Jackson to advance and smash in a trademark shot, but Callaghan was behind it, and then Kitching was awarded a cheap free kick coming out of defence, but the set piece was wasted. There was a moment of excitement at the back for City as Kitching played a ball a little short for Mackenzie, and Ashton had to be clever to ride the challenge to get out of trouble as Nepean closed in. City, though, were first in every tackle, and were playing with a commanding pressing style.

A simply sublime minute-and-a-half spell of possession, with one-touch passing, triangles, one-twos and cross-field passes culminated in Smith having a long-range effort that ended up in the shrubs behind Callaghan’s goal; the manner of the passing football in midfield was a joy to behold. Even at the back, when Monardo played in Elise Biurra, there was an extra player to clear up the loose ends, and when Daisy Haythornthwaite did well on the left, Lu-Anne Angwin’s shot was no trouble for Mackenzie. Chandran and Angelica Conate combined to get out of trouble magnificently on the left, and the play of the day saw Chandran turn on a sixpence to leave her marker wondering where she had gone, a huge roar from the sideline accompanying the majestic moment.

A dart inside from Gadd and a hopeful pass was deflected into the path of Thompson, who didn’t hesitate and hit a first-time shot that sailed well wide, but this had been the best half of football that we had seen from Blacktown City this season, and they thoroughly merited their two-goal half-time lead as the players disappeared into the changing rooms to escape the beaming sunshine.

With the City players back out onto the field well before their opponents and the officials, we were treated to a half-time show of YMCA from the happy and relaxed home team, but they were less relaxed when play got underway and Yuletian kept the ball in on the right, advanced and fired a shot wide. Bell started the second half as she left off in the first, romping up the left to beat her player, but Cox scrambled the ball away. A clever trick by Waterhouse then saw her bamboozle her defender on the right, but the low cross across goal had no takers.

Smith’s back-header caused a heart flutter but Chandran fixed the situation, and when Jackson emerged in midfield to play in Thompson, the ball wide for Rachel Fry saw Amelia Wood upend the City winger, giving the hosts a free-kick in an interesting position. Thompson lifted in the set-piece but Cox got to the ball before Jackson.

City continued to pressure the Nepean backline. Gadd’s instinctive pass inside for Fry led to the City player taking on two players before freeing Waterhouse on the right, and the long cross was well dealt with by Callaghan. The second half was already littered with free-kicks, Jackson’s tricky feet too much for Haythornthwaite, and when Smith found Fry on the right, the visitors had to scramble to keep the ball away. A handball in midfield gave Kitching the opportunity to launch a long ball upfield, and when the bounce tempted Callaghan from goal, she did well to snatch the ball ahead of Bell who was in no mood to take any prisoners.

The spark had perhaps gone out of the game, and City found themselves on the back foot. Waterhouse lost out to Lily Smith but did well to race back and win the ball back, and Madeline Southers found herself in space on the edge of the area but the shot was charged down. Yuletian then found space on the right but her shot was comfortable for Mackenzie.

More foraging by Jackson on the right earned a free-kick as Wood was again penalised. The ball was swung in by Jackson, Kitching made her presence known, the ball falling to Chandran, who had two shots blocked, and when the ball was quickly cleared, Conate had to be alert to quell the counter attack as Nepean broke upfield with intent. Lily Smith was helped from the field after succumbing to injury, Nepean earning a free-kick further up the field. Claire O’Sullivan’s shot from the set-piece was high and mighty.

Hannah Sproule and Southers combined to panic the City defence, O’Sullivan cutting in from the left to shoot, but it lacked precision or power. A long ball forward from Cox was tracked all the way by Kitching, who headed the ball away to avert the danger, and Sproule won a corner on the right, jogging across to take it herself as the tempo went up from the visitors.

Mackenzie met the cross with a punch, Fry completing the clearance, Southers did well to get the ball back to Brukman, whose shot was saved by Mackenzie in the City goal. The pressure was rising, City were hemmed in, and when Conate nipped ahead of Sproule, the midfielder grabbed the City player’s shirt and the pressure was eased. The game was scrappy now, a far cry from the calculated and direct football from earlier in the game, and when Yuketian got free of Conate on another swift counter-attack, the shot was blazed wide and a good chance was missed.

Sarah De Sousa raced on to Chandran’s ball on the left, but the ball was just too fast; Chandran was having a great battle with Sproule on the City left, using her body to fend off her domineering opponent. With ten minutes to go, Nepean got the chance they had craved. Southers played in Sproule, Mackenzie came out to narrow the angle and made the save, the rebound was forced goalwards by Sproule, and Mackenzie was forced into a full length dive to grab the ball before it crossed the line, Kitching sliding in for good measure just in case. City had survived.

De Sousa was brought down cheaply, Angwin booked harshly, and the free-kicks continued as Fry was brought down by Biurra. De Sousa then hassled her opponent into coughing up possession and advanced, managing to keep her feet as she hurdled the tackle and fired in a shot that whistled wide.

Green was the next to be fouled on the right. Cox cleared the immediate danger from Kitching’s free-kick, but it fell for Green who smashed a shot high over the bar. Smith then read the bounce perfectly to advance and fire a shot from distance that was straight at Callaghan, and De Sousa did well to race onto a stray pass as Evdokia Papafilopoulos hounded her player on the right, but the near-post effort was saved by Callaghan. The game ended on a contentious moment as a long ball brought Mackenzie out of goal. She was forced into a header and was clattered to the ground, a meaty collison earning the foul. There was no time for the Nepean players to argue, the final whistle sounding a second later, and this difficult second half ended with no further goals, but a few heart-in-mouth moments for both defences.

This was an excellent win for Blacktown City that keeps their top-four hopes alive. A three-team mini-league has materialised that will see one of Nepean, SD Raiders and City sneak into finals contention with the big guns, but Blacktown will need to pull out a massive result at new league leaders St George next Sunday to stay in the hunt. Nepean face Marconi Stallions on the same day, with SD Raiders taking on Bankstown, leaving City with the biggest ask as we enter the final third of the season.

Today, though, will be remembered for a champagne first-half performance from the home team, and a second half that saw Blacktown City hold off a strong opponent to emerge victorious and ready to fight for every point in the last eight games of the 2025 season.

Thanks again for giving your time to read all about your favourite GYL2 team. If you see any mistakes, mistaken identity or something that doesn’t seem right, let me know; it will be changed. Keep on believing, who knows where these girls can take their season. See you next weekend! Remember : likes, shares, comments are most welcome on social media, tell your friends and family, there’s no other way to spread the word.

Vittoria for City in one goal thriller

Marconi Stallions 0 Blacktown City 1

Blacktown City returned to winning ways on a glorious Sunday at Marconi Stadium, a single goal enough to take the three points and keep the pressure on the top four in the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s. A magnificent strike by midfield maestro Emily Jackson edged the visitors in front midway through an entertaining first half, and despite a host of half-chances, City couldn’t build on that lead as the game progressed. A world-class save by Courtney Mackenzie preserved the lead as Emma Dugandzic threatened to equalise late in the second half, but the day belonged to City in a frantic closing period.

With a delayed kick off and a depleted refereeing team for the third week running, this was far from an ideal start to the day, but the bright sunshine and faint wind gave us perfect conditions for football on the pristine new surface of Marconi Stadium’s outer playing fields. Marconi’s central defensive pair of Mary Palogiannidis and Matilda Egan were tasked with shutting out City, and with the ever-calm and relaxed Aesha Rosas behind them, there would be little joy for the shot-shy visitors. City grabbed the initiative, Zoe Thompson clipping a delightful ball over for Sienna Bell on the run, but Rosas was out smartly to save.

The lively Jaydaleah Browning on the right won a corner, and Eden Babakian rose to connect with the header but couldn’t get anythiong onto it. A miskicked clearance from Mackenzie then fell to Babakian, but she couldn’t find a way past Mackenzie who was down quickly to make the save. At the other end, Bell played a pass in for Thompson, who chipped an outrageous ball back towards Bell, but Egan was across and drew the foul from the ever-eager midfield dynamo. Lara Green combined with Thompson to race away up the left, but the spectre of the missing assistant referee made the referee err on the side of caution and she was called offside.

A wild clearance from Courtney Kitching then awarded Marconi another corner. The cross was smashed into the area by Babakian, but there were no takers for a very presentable chance. The open attacking football continued as Lily Waterhouse advanced up the right for City; she played in a ball for Thompson who casually flicked the ball past her defender to run on to, but Rosas had read it well. Sienna Carrasco was looking lively on the left for the home team, and she cut in to fire in a shot that went wide of Mackenzie’s near post.

City pressed. Waterhouse threaded a pass to Thompson, but the move broke down, before Aurelia Smith slotted a through ball for Bell, who gave chase up against Egan, but lost her footing as she was about to shoot and thudded to the floor with some force. Intricate triangles involving Loretta Stivala and Browning saw Kitching cut out the cross from the right, and from the subsequent attack, Bell played in Thompson, but again Rosas had advanced quickly and made the save. A tentative flicked shot from Waterhouse may have been better executed as Green did the spade work on the left, and then Emily Chandran followed the shouts to play a long back pass to Mackenzie, but Dugandzic had read it and the City goalkeeper had to be quick to clear the danger.

City continued to play counter-attacking football. Smith fed Green and the defence was opened up for a moment until Palogiannidis raced across to force the ball away for a corner. The sight of Kitching racing from defence was enough to set a technical director’s pulse racing, and she found herself at right wing for an instant, pressing to try and win the ball; Waterhouse did nick the ball back and played in Thompson, who received an almighty boot from behind, leaving her on the ground. Play went on long enough for Kitching’s eyes to light up, and she powered in a shot that just cleared the crossbar. That gave time for the physio to be summonsed to the field, Thompson holding her neck as she left the field in pain.

Marconi conceded a cheap corner as City threatened up the left. Jackson swung in the corner, Kitching lost flight of the ball, but Waterhouse was there, unmarked and on the volley, but she could only get a toe to the ball and the shot was well wide. City were hunting for the elusive goal, and when Green played a long searching ball over the top for Bell, there was no way she was going to pull out of the challenge with Rosas, but the Marconi goalkeeper got there first and Bell bounced off her. A clever steal by Evdokia Papafilopoulos saw Jackson take over and feed Green on the left, who bore down on the penalty area, but the shot from outside the area was never going to trouble Marconi keeper Rosas.

When a loose ball popped up on the left, Jackson was straight onto it. She advanced with the ball at her feet, evaded two challenges and unleashed an unstoppable shot that sailed over Rosas and into the Marconi goal. What a moment to light up an already exciting encounter; City had the upper hand and were going for more. Green flicked the ball over her head and volleyed wide, Rachel Fry, Mikayla Gadd and Papafilopoulos worked an opening on the right before Faith Bugeja was flattened by midfield enforcer Bell. A loose ball came Green’s way, but her snapshot was easy picking for Rosas, before Marconi fasioned a shooting chance. Browning did the hard work on the right and played the ball in for Dugandzic, who turned sweetly but the shot was wide of Mackenzie’s goal.

City finished the half with forward momentum; Gadd raced away on the right with limited options before finding Papafilopoulos, and when the ball squirmed out to Smith, she let rip from fully 40 yards, the ball bouncing harmlessly wide. Superb play by Fry on the right then conjured a pass for Jackson inside, who managed to find Papafilopoulos but again the shot was easy for Rosas.

Half time came, the players headed for the changing rooms to cool down from the beaming winter sun, and we had a classic encounter on our hands.

The sight of the lone referee appearing for the second half, with his single assistant pulling out due to injury, was concerning. Kitching’s kick-off was ballooned into the air as City took a moment to settle into the second half.

Bell got the attacking underway, racing into the left side of the penalty area before flicking a dangerous pass in for Papafilopoulos, but Rosas was there with Palogiannidis in support to smother the ball. City were back to their hustling and harrying best as Fry chased a lost cause up the right. Palogiannidis coughed up possession, Fry played in Papafilopoulos whose shot was deflected away for a corner. Fry’s corner found the head of Smith, and Browning diverted the ball towards her own goal but Rosas was there to prevent the corner.

Angelica Conate cleared up at the back as Marconi threatened to break, and she continued her long run into the home team’s half, but ran out of space. City were purring at this stage. Chandran steered the ball out to Green on the left. A little shimmy and she was away, finding Bell inside, who played the one-two with Papafilopoulos before firing in a shot. The ball was blocked and fell to Chandran who had joined the attack, and Rosas had to get across well to make the save.

Kitching emerged from the defence with the ball and kept going until she offloaded to Papfilopoulos. The touch inside for Bell saw the Marconi defence open up, but Bell’s shot was well wide. Kitching then thundered into a full-blooded challenge on Dugandzic and emerged with the ball to roars of approval from the sidelines, and Green was harshly adjudged to have pushed Stivala to curtail the attack. Smith played Bell down the right and Bell surged past her player, clipping in a cross that was cleared by Palogiannidis; the ball came back in and Bell had a great chance until Faith Bugeja made a superb tackle to block her progress in the penalty area. Papfilopoulos picked up the scraps, rounded the last defender, but screwed the shot past the post, a great chance gone begging.

Gadd and Fry combined on the right, Fry winning the corner. She took the set-piece herself, but it was too close to goal, hitting the outside of the post with Rosas watching, comfortable that it was going out. When Bell was fouled on the left, Kitching was left with a good position to swing in a dangerous ball, but her effort sailed wide of Rosas’ goal. Jackson joined the attack and tried her luck from distance, but this time her effort was well wide, City’s season-long shooting woes continuing.

Browning was now installed into the middle of the park, where she had excelled in the pre-season clash here, and Marconi suddenly had more options. It was City though that kept searching, Bell clipped by Isabella Sarno, allowing Dominique Ashton to float in a free kick that Kitching somehow didn’t get a head to, the ball flashing wide of the post with Kitching ending up in the side-netting after being bundled into the post.

A glorious one-two saw Sarah De Sousa run on to Bell’s exquisite pass, but with the assistant referee now out of the game, the referee had no option but to pull De Sousa up for offside, despite being played well and truly onside. Fry danced up the middle of midfield to release De Sousa, but it was too close to the Marconi goal, Rosas out in a flash.

Marconi then had a great opportunity on the left. Kitching was turned on the sideline, caught out of position, Dugandzic was on to the through ball in a split second, but Chandran raced across to dive into a meaty sliding challenge on the edge of the area that cleared the danger. Incredibly, the referee saw the impeccably-timed challenge as a foul, and more than that, he brandished a yellow card, the City players looking at the official incredulously. The free kick was wasted as Palogiannidis tried a cute training-ground routine, Chandran completing the clearance.

City were always a threat on the break, and when Smith found Jackson in midfield, she sprayed a glorious ball out left to Green, who cut inside and fired in a shot from distance that only just cleared the bar. Smith released Bell on the right, who managed to pull the ball back to De Sousa. A fantastic touch past her defender, and she was in the area with sight of goal, and she smashed the ball off the top of the bar and over. What a moment!

More mysterious officiating saw Jackson penalised for handball after chesting the ball down. The free kick was launched over the top by Palogiannidis and Dugandzic was in a race with Kitching, and the City defender won the duel, scramblinng the ball away. When Kitching then smashed the ball out of defence for the unmarked Green to run on to, the referee couldn’t believe how much space she had and pulled it up for offside, the fans in line with play up in arms. This was getting silly.

Green then played a superb one-two with De Sousa, but the toe-poked shot was straight at Rosas. Surely the pressure would tell, and when Jackson ran through the midfield to find herself one-on-one with the Marconi goalkeeper, Rosas came out on top with a reaction save to beat the shot away.

The referee then waved play on as Browning crumpled to the floor, Jackson taking advantage to slot a ball through for De Sousa, but Palogiannidis was across to clear the danger. There was always a chance that Marconi would get back into the game as the contest reached the 80th minute, and when Browning clipped a ball over for Carrasco, Chandran had to be quick to shepherd the striker out to the sideline. Play was getting frantic, but City weren’t panicking. The big chance did come though, and it was Dugandzic racing through onto her right foot, with Chandran in hot pursuit, and her fierce first-time shot, low to Mackenzie’s left, brough a magnificent save from the City goalkeeper, pushing the ball away from danger.

A lung-busting run by De Sousa kept the ball in on the left; when the ball was half-cleared by the Marconi defence, Green played in Conate on the rampage through the middle but her shot was deflected away for a corner. City’s short corner routine definitely didn’t pay dividends as the ball ended up harmlessly behind. If anyone remembers Socceroos defender Aziz Behich weaving through the Argentine defence in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, that was Conate today, and her unbelievable trickery got her into the penalty area, before losing her footing slightly and the shot was blocked; a brilliant piece of play.

There was time for some comedy game management as Chandran gave us possibly the worst foul throw on record, and the final attack saw Conate feed Waterhouse out on the right, who had no option but to blaze a shot high and wide of the goal to eat up the final seconds of play. The final whistle was welcome, both teams having battled well in an entertaining match, and City had hung on to their slender lead to take another three points and continue their upward trajectory.

The win lifts City level with SD Raiders in fifth, while Marconi stay in twelfth position, a far cry from the promise that we saw when these teams met back in pre-season. The Stallions have a six-pointer at Sutherland Strikers next weekend, while Blacktown City entertain Nepean in a game that could make or break their season. See you all at Landen Stadium next Sunday for that all-important clash.

Thanks for your readership. Football NSW GYL2 Under 18 is where the action is; if you have any comments or corrections for this match report, please shout out. Your share, like and comment would be most welcome on social media too; it’s a labour of love and any indication that you’ve read and enjoyed this report is a bonus!

Mariners drop anchor on City streak

Central Coast Mariners 4 Blacktown City 0

Blacktown City’s five-game winning streak came to an abrupt end at Pluim Park as a freezing cold midweek encounter with Central Coast Mariners slipped from their grasp in a first-half collapse. A booming finish from Mikayla Standen signalled the turning point after a good spell of pressure by the visitors produced no goals, Rahni Deeley’s first time finish made it two as City wilted and when Holly Whormsley headed home unmarked from a corner, the game was all but over as a contest. City stemmed the flow in the second half, but a reaction finish from Chelsea Boelhouwer after a corner wasn’t dealt with put the game beyond City’s reach and try as they might, there was no consolation on a night that reminded everyone just how chilly Australia can be in winter.

The choice of State Of Origin or Football NSW Girls Youth League football was an easy one to make, and Blacktown City started this game with Central Coast Mariners full of confidence, with the verve and energy that had seen them power up the league table. Sarah De Sousa was lively, Zoe Thompson playing a neat through ball for Lara Green on the left but Wholmsley did well to clear. The Mariners looked full of running, and when a cross was played in from the right, Deeley sized up the opportunity, but she didn’t catch it well and Courtney Mackenzie in the City goal made a routine save.

The home team applied the pressure, Deeley spun past Courtney Kitching but Aurelia Smith was there to poke the ball away for a corner. Emilie Chandran did well to foil Deeley again, another corner the result, and when the cross came in from the right, a mad scramble ensued and Mackenzie was fortunate to get the run of the ball and pounced to avert the danger. The pressure was also self-inflicted, Kitching too short with a ball to Dominique Ashton, but Deeley’s touch was just too strong, Mackenzie fielding comfortably.

Blacktown attacked, Thompson with the approach play, feeding De Sousa whose hold-up play allowed Green to join the attack and the first time shot sailed wide of the goal from distance. De Sousa then chased down Isla Low in the Mariners’ goal, the ball popping out to Lily Waterhouse, but the shot was weak and Low was down low to make a simple save. Superb hustling from Thompson then forced the error from Low, and the ball was fed to Emily Jackson on the edge of the area but her fierce shot hit the side-netting, City edging closer. The high press of Thompson then forced a turnover and De Sousa was unlucky that the ball didn’t fall her way.

City’s first real chance came from a free kick on the left after Green had been fouled. Ashton’s cross was flicked by defender McKenzie and De Sousa stretched to get a telling touch to send the ball towards goal, but the ball was taken off her foot for a corner. The corner saw a counter attack by the home side and Chandran had to be alert with a good clean tackle to prevent the breakaway.

Olivia Burgess was running the show for the Mariners in midfield as the visitors found themselves swamped, and when Chandran rolled the ball back to Mackenzie, the City goalkeeper hit the ball straight to the Mariners striker, but Mackenzie atoned for the error with a superb fingertip save. City’s best form of defence was attack, and after a good steal in midfield, Thompson’s snapshot had Low scrambling. Rachel Fry then won a corner on the left and took it herself, Mckenzie away but Thompson found Kitching, still forward from the corner, but her low shot didn’t trouble Low in the Mariners goal.

All of a sudden, the Mariners struck and it was Burgess with the ball out wide to Standen. With Mikayla Gadd racing to close down the angle, she unleashed a looping effort that looked to be sailing over Mackenzie in the City goal; she got her fingertips to the ball, but it was in vain as the ball dropped over and bounced into the net, no one at Pluim Park realising that the ball had gone in until the Mariners players raced to congratulate the scorer.

Almost immediately Blacktown reacted, Kitching surging from defence with the ball and when she played the ball through for De Sousa, Mckenzie hesitated and then barged into the City striker in the area sending De Sousa flying. The appeals were vocal, but the referee was right on the spot to turn them down and the Mariners survived. Mathilde Montell was played through the middle but Kitching covered well, before De Sousa broke free on the right, but the shot lacked any conviction and was scooped up by Low.

A simply sublime move then produced the second goal, and the City midfield was otherwise occupied as Burgess was free to play in a magnificent through ball for the unmarked Deeley, who didn’t break stride and lashed the ball low into the net past the stranded Mackenzie for 2-0. Chelsea Boelhouwer then raced up the left, teasing and dancing around Gadd, Smith smashing the ball out of play to finally foil the raid. Evdokia Papafilopoulos was clipped in midfield giving Jackson an opportunity to shoot, but the effort lacked purpose. By now Leni Ang was on and controlling the midfield, but City had a good chance when Papfilopoulos reacted first to a stray ball; Low had come out a long way and was stranded, Papafilopoulos unable to find a shooting angle, and by the time she off-loaded to Thompson, the opportunity had gone.

Another glorious through-ball by Burgess to Deeley had Chandran sprinting back to slide the ball away for a corner. The cross was floated into the penalty area where the City defence had neglected to mark the tallest player on the field, Whormsley having to stoop to meet the ball and she found the net with a simple header for 3-0. All of City’s good pressing and hassling had amounted to nothing and they were almost dead and buried. Papafilopoulos persisted, flicking the ball out to Gadd on the overlap, but the cross went behind, then enterprising work from Thompson saw the ball fall for Jackson, but the low shot was off target.

The half ended with Isabel Grant bundling through two tackles, Kitching across to make the final challenge, who was sent flying, and the half-time whistle sounded to take the players into the freezing cold changing rooms for a post-mortem.

The opening exchanges of the second half gave an indication of what was to come; Fry raced up the left to cross, but Whormsley made the clearance, and the Mariners were straight onto the attack, Coco Furniss racing up the right to pull the ball back for Boelhouwer who rode the challenge and had a simple opportunity right in front, but Mackenzie’s left foot was enough to send the ball away for a corner. The pattern was set for an entertaining half of open attacking football, Chandran and Thompson combining well on the left, but there was nothing at the end of it. The home team had inserted yet another silky playmaker into the fold, Milly Ivins making her presence felt in midfield, and a free kick from Furniss on the right was inviting, but there was no one on the end of it.

City were feeding off scraps at the back, Papafilopoulos so close to intercepting, Uma Osborne relieved to come away with the ball, and that led to a cross to Deeley, but Kitching was in quickly to clear for a corner. Thompson ploughed a lone furrow up the left and was upended. Her resulting free kick was too close to Low though and the in-rushing bank of City players made the run in vain.

Boelhouwer turned brilliantly and fired just wide, before City attacked with purpose, Waterhouse finally finding space after intercepting well, passing inside to Smith who fed Jackson. The bustling midfielder skipped past her player and advanced, sending the shot wide, but this was much better from the away team. Ang showed great feet to get herself out of trouble, then Standen played in Furniss who should have homed in on goal, but took too many touches. The resulting corner was into a dangerous area, Angelica Conate couldn’t control the ball and when Gadd’s clearance fell to Boelhouwer, she reacted quickly and finished past Mackenzie before the City goalkeeper could react.

The resistance was over and the game opened up even further, Chandran played in Fry, who burst up the left past Whormsley, but the shot was easy for Low. The left-hand side continued to be a rich source of City attacks, Chandran and Fry combining to free Green, who raced forward to shoot, but Low made a good save at her near post. Conate’s tackle on Burgess was spectacular, and the compact midfielder raced forward soon after into enemy territory showing quick feet, but ultimately running the ball too far and the chance was gone.

Grant was released on the Mariners left and cut in to shoot, Mackenzie made the save, and the rebound took a deflection, City relieved to see the ball out for a goal kick. Burgess then had a powerful shot straight at the City goalkeeper.

A marauding run by Green then took her up the middle, heading for the penalty area and she was brought down right on the edge. Kitching fancied this one, and stepped up to float the ball goalwards, but the effort was too high and would never have troubled Low’s goal as it sailed over the bar. De Sousa continued to battle and won a corner on the right. Fry’s corner was helped away by Mckenzie, but it fell perfectly for Ashton, who teed up a shot for herself, the ball flashing just over the bar. City were finishing with a wet sail, and Jackson embarked on a trademark mazy run, beating two defenders on the left to fashion a shooting chance from an acute angle, but her shot whistled past the far post by a matter of inches. De Sousa then broke and elected to try and play in Waterhouse, when perhaps the shot was the best option, and just as City were pressing for the elusive consolation goal, the final whistle sounded and an entertaining game concluded in handshakes, smiles and a heavy steam coming from all the players.

This had been a difficult evening for Blacktown City. For all their positive energy in the first twenty minutes of the game, when Central Coast Mariners were genuinely concerned, the first goal sucked the life out of their performance, and the home team began to grow in confidence and ultimately had the game won by half time. There were eye-catching performances from Zara Mckenzie and Olivia Burgess, while Leni Ang and Milly Ivins also put on a show in a dominant midfield masterclass from the home team. For City, the opening period of the game typified their hard-working football, but the inability to adapt to the swarming Mariners midfield as the half wore on was telling. This was perhaps a free hit for Blacktown, against a team at the height of their powers, and a 4-0 reverse was neither surprising nor upsetting.

Mariners should continue their path to the top of the league with the visit of Sutherland Strikers on the weekend, while City have to pick themselves up in a difficult fixture at Marconi on Sunday. The Football NSW GYL2 Under 18s title race is back in the Mariners’ hands; will Blacktown City be in the mix come the end of the season? Time will tell.

Thank you for joining the action from Pluim Park on a bitterly cold winter’s evening. There will be mistaken identity in this report; no teamsheet, numbers hidden behind long hair, a mystery number 51 which may have been 61, quite the challenge tonight in the relative darkness. If there’s anything glaring, such as the wrong goalscorer of the first goal, let me know and it will be changed. Apologies for the low-quality photos tonight, nothing my knowledge or my equipment can master! See you on Sunday.

City down leaders in Hills heist

Blacktown City 2 Hills United 0

Runaway league leaders Hills United were given a taste of their own medicine on Sunday afternoon as Blacktown City became the first team to shut out the premiers-in-waiting in a deserved 2-0 win. A fabulous finish on the run from ace striker Zoe Thompson set City away in the first half, and they finished the job late in the second half as Evdokia Papafilopoulos calmly lobbed goalkeeper Harkeerat Bhari on the run. This was a game of missed opportunities and controversial moments, but the home team notched their fifth consecutive win to become the form team of the Football NSW Girls Youth League 2 Under 18s and blow the title race wide open.

A bright sunny day with a noticeable breeze greeted the teams at Landen Stadium, the depleted refereeing team announcing kick off 15 minutes later than the advertised time. Hills United had righted the ship after a rocky spell that saw them lose two games in a row and were coming into this one off the back of a handsome 7-0 win. Samara Chiert and Ava Ayres were the brick wall in defence, with Addison Xerri the playmaker in midfield alongside Sarah Burke. The returning Sienna Bell for City was a welcome sight, finally back in the side after a broken wrist, and she was straight into the action, harshly adjudged to have fouled her player as she chased a long ball. Hills looked sharp and precise with their passing, Makiah Bardsley slipping a ball up the right for Isabella Rodriguez to swing a cross in, Courtney Kitching leaving the ball for goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie as the home fans’ hearts skipped a beat.

Lara Green cut in from left and advanced, threading a ball through for Bell, but the ball ran away. It was Hills with the bulk of possession as Burke slipped through a ball for Charlotte Mear on the right, but Kitching was across smartly. Mikayla Gadd raced away on the right for City as Bell played her in, but Ayres took out the City midfielder and earned a yellow card for the late tackle, giving the home team a moment’s respite from the frantic action. Kitching’s long free kick into the area saw Thompson react first, but she couldn’t connect and a good chance went begging. Bell’s all-action, full-blooded style was the X-Factor that City needed, and she raced onto a long clearance by Kitching, foiled by a meaty challenge from Rodriguez. City continued to probe, Thompson lifting a ball over for Lily Waterhouse, but the Hills defence was straight onto the danger.

A superb move by City then unlocked the watertight Hills defence, Kitching bursting from defence, laying the ball to Waterhouse, who played in Bell on the run, but the referee had a call to make without an assistant and signalled offside, when a defender was playing everyone onside. It was a tough call, and Hills looked to take advantage, Bardsley with a good run on the right to cross, but Courtney Mackenzie again showed good hands under pressure. City weren’t immune to errors at the back, Waterhouse giving the ball away to Bardsley, but Aurelia Smith reacted well to avert the danger; Gadd then coughed up possession and Kitching had to be alert to sacrifice the skin on her knees to slide in and clear. This was a team united with a clear goal.

A moment of hesitation in midfield saw Hills presented with space and time, but Mear’s shot was deflected wide for a corner. The corner half-cleared, the ball was picked up by Olivia Mackenzie who blazed over the bar. Hills looked the most likely team to break the deadlock, but the battling from City was infectious; Emilie Chandran made an important interception with a crunching challenge before Sydney Miller slid a ball through for Olivia Mackenzie, but the shot, when it came, was easy for Courtney Mackenzie in the City goal.

A moment of panic for Gadd on the right of the City defence then saw Keeva LeMaire advance into the empty space, but she shot wildly wide with Courtney Mackenzie exposed. Smith was then turned inside out by Xerri in midfield, who advanced on goal, but the shot bounced harmlessly wide. Bell again won a free kick with her trademark combative play, and when Dominique Ashton’s free kick was cleared, Smith lifted the ball over the defence looking for Thompson. Bhari was quick off her line, but out of her area, and she was forced to turn sharply, letting the ball run through her legs before pouncing on the loose ball in the penalty area, a moment of uncharacteristic panic from the Hills defence.

Hills wasted a good opportunity when Smith was adjudged to have pulled her player; the quick free kick was hit directly out of play with the Hills bench becoming impatient at the team’s lack of composure. Kitching advanced from defence with the ball, the Hills defence was high and Thompson made a darting run. Kitching’s simple ball was perfect for Thompson to run on to, the roar from the main stand carrying her through on goal, and she showed great composure to slot the ball past Bhari for an excellent opening goal before being enveloped by her delighted teammates. City had stunned the visitors, and they would need to weather a big storm to maintain the lead by half-time.

Olivia Mackenzie lifted a dangerous cross in from the right, City goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie watching the ball out, before a talking point almost turned the game on its head. Hills appeared to have unlocked the City defence, Kitching beaten before Ashton intervened with a strong challenge from behind on Mear. The referee waved play on, the assistant though was flagging, and the initial thought of offside changed to a free-kick in Hills’ favour after a discussion between the officials. A free kick for a foul by the last player could have resulted in a red card, but City escaped, and the free kick was smashed over the wall and just over the bar by the exciting Xerri.

Mear then raced onto a high ball, Kitching trying the spectacular overhead kick to clear but missing, but the City defence swarmed all over the United striker and the danger was cleared. Hills then had their best chance of the game as Mear took it upon herself to unlock the City defence. She weaved past Smith, left Kitching in her wake, advanced on Courtney Mackenzie’s goal but somehow screwed the ball wide to the relief of the City defence. Xerri then played a glorious ball inside the defence for Olivia Mackenzie, who was held up momentarily by Chandran, the ball falling for Susannah Murray, but her shot sailed harmlessly over the bar. The first half action was over, City held a slender one-goal lead and we were teed up for a real battle in the second period.

The pace of the game was straight back to full speed from the whistle, Emily Jackson intercepting a ball in midfield to feed Thompson on the right, and the speculative first-time shot was well saved by Bhari. Murray burst up the left to win a corner off Ashton, and when the ball eventually fell for Miller, she skied the ball into the shrubs behind the City goal with a wild effort. Murray then swept a ball over for Olivia Mackenzie on the right but Chandran raced over to confront her opponent and snuffed out the move.

A cheap free kick on Green gave City the chance to regroup, Ashton firing in a long ball from the set piece to no avail, but the Hills defence was looking less composed than it had earlier in the game. Waterhouse raided up the right after good approach play by Gadd and Jackson, and Miller was mugged by Thompson, who advanced but her left-foot shot was scuffed wide. Hills were panicked. City then had a fantastic chance to make it two when Jackson split the defence for Thompson to gallop through, and she beat Bhari with the shot, but also the post, the ball bouncing just wide and the City striker left beating the ground in despair. That could prove a pivotal moment.

When Xerri played a ball over the defence, with Murray scampering after it, all eyes turned to the referee – after all the man in the middle had given an offside in a similar position in the first half, but this time he waved play on with the City defence confidently appealling. Murray advanced into the box, but Kitching somehow slid in and poked the ball away as she shaped to shoot, a tackle that was as risky as they come, but ultimately saved her team. Hills were starting to turn the screw. Bardsley raced through on the left to fire in a shot, Olivia Mackenzie got to the byline but couldn’t get a meaningful cross in, and the same player was ushered away from goal by Ashton as Hills pressured for an equaliser.

A superb win by Jackson in midfield saw her upended in midfield, the City players given a moment to compose themselves. Bell hurdled two challenges before a clearance was booted into her midriff, leaving her doubled over. Twenty minutes remained and City were hanging on at this stage. Mear showed clever feet to burst into the penalty area, but Angelica Conate was alert and cleared the danger for another Hills corner.

The hassling from City was second to none. Green hassled up the left to generate some momentum for the home side, and when Papafilopoulos hassled the last defender, Bhari was suddenly stranded with the ball dropping for Smith. The instant shot from 40 yards just didn’t have enough on it, and Bhari was relieved to catch the ball as she backpedalled toward goal. Bell kept the pressure on, racing up the right, but the second goal came from a route-one clearance from the back.

Kitching’s long clearance from defence saw Papafilopoulos scurry after the ball. The defence had left her all alone, Bhari elected not to come, but the ball was bouncing. Using her head to expertly cushion the ball into her stride, the ball sat up perfectly, and the City striker lifted it calmly over the advancing Bhari and just under the bar for a sensational second goal, the moment of silence as the ball sneaked under the bar leading into an excited roar as Papfilopoulos ran to receive the acclaim of her teammates.

LeMaire turned sweetly just outside the City penalty area but hooked her shot well wide. We were into the final five minutes and the City defence was just about holding out. Jackson diffused the situation, drawing a foul as she skipped around her player. Sammi-Lee Nassar then beat three players but City cleared, before Thompson chased down a goal kick, cut inside, but her shot didn’t trouble Bhari in the Hills goal. There was time for Smith to be caught out trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, but Waterhouse was there to hack the ball clear and the final whistle sounded, the City players embracing each other before graciously shaking the hands of the opposition players who had given them such a hard game today.

A noticeable swagger as City enjoy the moment

This was a statement victory for City; they had shown intense harrying and hassling in midfield, had displayed such composure when finishing the two goals, and the defence claimed another clean sheet to their name. The head of steam has now come to the boil, and with the added grit of midfield enforcer Sienna Bell, Blacktown City have made the rest of the league sit up and take notice.

City travel to Central Coast Mariners midweek for a State of Origin blockbuster at Pluim Park and the Mariners may have been installed as the favourites for the premiership after this result. The weekend game at Marconi Stadium will be more of a gauge of City’s progress this season, while Hills lick their wounds and face Camden Tigers on Sunday looking to return to winning ways. A marvellous day here at Landen Stadium today though, Blacktown City running out deserved winners against table-topping Hills United and maintaining their upward trajectory at a vital stage of the season.

Wonderful to have such avid readers of this football news feed. Thank you for your support, and don’t forget to like, share, comment and generally rave about this wherever you clicked from social media. Found an error? Let me know, we can change it! Catch all the action right here each week from Blacktown City Under 18s, and have a browse around this site and you’ll find so much more football content to get you excited! See you on Wednesday night.