Women's NSL - Season 2002/2003

Women's National Soccer League

Supplied by AWSA and transcribed by Thomas Esamie

Home Team v Away Team

Round Nine (played November 30)

Venue : Carmichael Park, Brisbane

Queensland Sting
Nichols, Garven, Reuter, Grant, McShea, Garriock, Mann, Duus, Harch, Thomas (Hohnke 80), Dawney (Mitchell 67)
Goals : Belinda Dawney 39, Jessica Mitchell 90 2 - 1 Canberra Eclipse
Beattie, Swaffer, Borucinski, Taylor, Davies, Wainwright, P Hepperlin, Karp, Rukavina (Parker 79), Wilson, David (Brew 65)
Goal : Rhian Davies 89

Queensland Sting and NSW Sapphires are confirmed as WNSL grandfinalists after the completion of Round Nine action tonight, the one matter to be confirmed in next week's last round being first position on points and with it the right to host the championship decider, although Queensland sit in the box seat. The pair shook off the challenge of both Canberra Eclipse and Adelaide Sensation by both winning today and opening up an unassailable lead.
Queensland Sting however, had to endure a dramatic end to their game before they could celebrate the 2-1 win over grandfinal hopes Canberra Eclipse tonight in Brisbane. The home side conceded a late equaliser, but were able to produce a winning goal shortly after. It was a deserved win after a first half where they could have sealed the win from some great chances against a must-win Canberra which had little in response in attack.
Sting were lively from the opening whistle and hungry for goals. Regular chances throughout the first half however only resulted in a fantastic display by Canberra keeper Amy Beattie, herself a Sting player last season. In the 39^th minute, Queensland opened their account when Lana Harch provided a menacing cross. The ball was punched out by Beattie only to fall nicely for Belinda Dawney who cracked it home without hesitation.
Queensland were less dominant in the second half but remained in control. Eclipse, made a last ditch effort to rescue their season and, after creating few open chances on goal previously, were then gifted an equaliser in the 89^th minute, Rhian Davies allowed a free run on goal after the Sting defence lost the ball. Canberra suddenly smelt a sniff of a last-gasp victory, but their hopes were dashed in the following minute. A Sting cross from the right was missed by the Eclipse keeper, and fell right in the path of substitute Jessica Mitchell for the simplest of tap-ins and home town celebrations all round at the final whistle soon after.

Venue : Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne

Victoria Vision
Barbieri, Smith (Skvarc 63), Black (Mueller 76), Koutrouvelis (Groenewald 35), Lamb, Humble, Bisby, Fitzgerald, Terek (Thornton 53), Maza (Totsidis 84), Farrugia 0 - 2 NSW Sapphires
Kell, Tann, Slatyer, Gilbert, Carney, Rockall, Ledbrook, Kimber, Burgess, Small, Cannuli (Walsh 46)
Goals : own goal 28, Michelle Carney 30

NSW Sapphires secured the all-important three points in a 2-0 victory over last-placed Victoria Vision in a fairly lacklustre encounter this afternoon at Melbourne's Bob Jane Stadium. Although not hitting top gear, NSW proved too good for the home side and controlled play throughout, whilst Victoria fought on but had only a couple of dangerous chances on goal.
Vision's single opportunity of the first half was a through ball releasing Leigh Terek in a one-on-one, but NSW keeper Cassandra Kell blocked the loose ball. Otherwise, all the attack occurred at the opposite end of the park, Sapphires keeping a disorganised Victorian defence busy.
NSW took the lead in the 28^th minute thanks to an own goal. Two opponents went up for a high ball in the danger area but it was the defender whose head connected and the ball went high into the net despite the attempted save by the keeper. Just two minutes later, Sapphires doubled the lead. A cross eluded two NSW attackers before it was put away by Michelle Carney at the back post.
The second half was largely uneventful, NSW continuing to hold possession but unable to finish numerous chances, Kylie Ledbrook and Nicole Kimber coming closest. Midway through the half, Victoria's Sarah Fitzgerald was unlucky not to score but the effort was saved.

Venue : Marden Sports Complex, Adelaide

Adelaide Sensation
Trimboli, May, Katianos, Benoist (Burgess 67), Slater, Madden, Harrison, Blacker (Walsh 56), Hodge, Balomenos (Sabljak 81), De Vanna
Goals : Vicki Balomenos 61, Lisa De Vanna 87 2 - 2 Northern NSW Pride
Hunter, Dunne, Alley, Shepherd (Cotts 56), Attwill, Crawford, Amber Neilson, Colthorpe, McMinn, Gill, Wilson
Goals : Katie Gill 22, Ashley Wilson 37

Adelaide Sensation fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit and snatched a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Northern NSW Pride. Northern NSW had the better of the game until the last twenty minutes and were disappointed to see a rare victory slip away in the dying minutes. Each side was missing a player through suspension, Adelaide's Stacey Stocco and Northern's Tracy Baker, whilst Adelaide was still missing Cheryl Salisbury.
League top scorer Lisa De Vanna almost gave Adelaide the lead in the 15^th minute, but her shot was cleared off the line by defender Harmonie Attwill. Yet the first half belonged to visitors Pride, and they opened the scoring midway through, Katie Gill sidefooting from the six-yard box a Tara McMinn cross. Northern were unlucky on several occasions against Sensation's square backline before adding their second eight minutes before the break, Ashley Wilson released with a through ball and placing it past the keeper.
Pride remained the stronger side for the first period of the second half but were unable to add to their tally. In their must-win game, Sensation finally made a late surge in search of goals. The home side pulled one back in the 61^st minute after the opposition defence lost out to the lightning fast De Vanna closing down the loose ball between defender and goalkeeper. The keeper's attempt to clear ricocheted off the body of De Vanna and fell into the path of Vicki Balomenos for an easy finish.
With three minutes remaining, Adelaide levelled the scores, Leanne Slater feeding the ball to De Vanna whose shot escaped the clutches of the keeper for her ninth goal of the season.

Home Team		v		Away Team
Round Nine (played November 30)
Venue : Carmichael Park, Brisbane
Queensland Sting Nichols, Garven, Reuter, Grant, McShea, Garriock, Mann, Duus, Harch, Thomas (Hohnke 80), Dawney (Mitchell 67) Goals : Belinda Dawney 39, Jessica Mitchell 90	2	-	1	Canberra Eclipse Beattie, Swaffer, Borucinski, Taylor, Davies, Wainwright, P Hepperlin, Karp, Rukavina (Parker 79), Wilson, David (Brew 65) Goal : Rhian Davies 89
Queensland Sting and NSW Sapphires are confirmed as WNSL grandfinalists after the completion of Round Nine action tonight, the one matter to be confirmed in next week's last round being first position on points and with it the right to host the championship decider, although Queensland sit in the box seat. The pair shook off the challenge of both Canberra Eclipse and Adelaide Sensation by both winning today and opening up an unassailable lead. Queensland Sting however, had to endure a dramatic end to their game before they could celebrate the 2-1 win over grandfinal hopes Canberra Eclipse tonight in Brisbane. The home side conceded a late equaliser, but were able to produce a winning goal shortly after. It was a deserved win after a first half where they could have sealed the win from some great chances against a must-win Canberra which had little in response in attack. Sting were lively from the opening whistle and hungry for goals. Regular chances throughout the first half however only resulted in a fantastic display by Canberra keeper Amy Beattie, herself a Sting player last season. In the 39^th minute, Queensland opened their account when Lana Harch provided a menacing cross. The ball was punched out by Beattie only to fall nicely for Belinda Dawney who cracked it home without hesitation. Queensland were less dominant in the second half but remained in control. Eclipse, made a last ditch effort to rescue their season and, after creating few open chances on goal previously, were then gifted an equaliser in the 89^th minute, Rhian Davies allowed a free run on goal after the Sting defence lost the ball. Canberra suddenly smelt a sniff of a last-gasp victory, but their hopes were dashed in the following minute. A Sting cross from the right was missed by the Eclipse keeper, and fell right in the path of substitute Jessica Mitchell for the simplest of tap-ins and home town celebrations all round at the final whistle soon after.
Venue : Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne
Victoria Vision Barbieri, Smith (Skvarc 63), Black (Mueller 76), Koutrouvelis (Groenewald 35), Lamb, Humble, Bisby, Fitzgerald, Terek (Thornton 53), Maza (Totsidis 84), Farrugia	0	-	2	NSW Sapphires Kell, Tann, Slatyer, Gilbert, Carney, Rockall, Ledbrook, Kimber, Burgess, Small, Cannuli (Walsh 46) Goals : own goal 28, Michelle Carney 30
NSW Sapphires secured the all-important three points in a 2-0 victory over last-placed Victoria Vision in a fairly lacklustre encounter this afternoon at Melbourne's Bob Jane Stadium. Although not hitting top gear, NSW proved too good for the home side and controlled play throughout, whilst Victoria fought on but had only a couple of dangerous chances on goal. Vision's single opportunity of the first half was a through ball releasing Leigh Terek in a one-on-one, but NSW keeper Cassandra Kell blocked the loose ball. Otherwise, all the attack occurred at the opposite end of the park, Sapphires keeping a disorganised Victorian defence busy. NSW took the lead in the 28^th minute thanks to an own goal. Two opponents went up for a high ball in the danger area but it was the defender whose head connected and the ball went high into the net despite the attempted save by the keeper. Just two minutes later, Sapphires doubled the lead. A cross eluded two NSW attackers before it was put away by Michelle Carney at the back post. The second half was largely uneventful, NSW continuing to hold possession but unable to finish numerous chances, Kylie Ledbrook and Nicole Kimber coming closest. Midway through the half, Victoria's Sarah Fitzgerald was unlucky not to score but the effort was saved.
Venue : Marden Sports Complex, Adelaide
Adelaide Sensation Trimboli, May, Katianos, Benoist (Burgess 67), Slater, Madden, Harrison, Blacker (Walsh 56), Hodge, Balomenos (Sabljak 81), De Vanna Goals : Vicki Balomenos 61, Lisa De Vanna 87	2	-	2	Northern NSW Pride Hunter, Dunne, Alley, Shepherd (Cotts 56), Attwill, Crawford, Amber Neilson, Colthorpe, McMinn, Gill, Wilson Goals : Katie Gill 22, Ashley Wilson 37
Adelaide Sensation fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit and snatched a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Northern NSW Pride. Northern NSW had the better of the game until the last twenty minutes and were disappointed to see a rare victory slip away in the dying minutes. Each side was missing a player through suspension, Adelaide's Stacey Stocco and Northern's Tracy Baker, whilst Adelaide was still missing Cheryl Salisbury. League top scorer Lisa De Vanna almost gave Adelaide the lead in the 15^th minute, but her shot was cleared off the line by defender Harmonie Attwill. Yet the first half belonged to visitors Pride, and they opened the scoring midway through, Katie Gill sidefooting from the six-yard box a Tara McMinn cross. Northern were unlucky on several occasions against Sensation's square backline before adding their second eight minutes before the break, Ashley Wilson released with a through ball and placing it past the keeper. Pride remained the stronger side for the first period of the second half but were unable to add to their tally. In their must-win game, Sensation finally made a late surge in search of goals. The home side pulled one back in the 61^st minute after the opposition defence lost out to the lightning fast De Vanna closing down the loose ball between defender and goalkeeper. The keeper's attempt to clear ricocheted off the body of De Vanna and fell into the path of Vicki Balomenos for an easy finish. With three minutes remaining, Adelaide levelled the scores, Leanne Slater feeding the ball to De Vanna whose shot escaped the clutches of the keeper for her ninth goal of the season.