Women's NSL - Season 2003/2004

Women's National Soccer League

Supplied by AWSA and transcribed by Thomas Esamie

Home Team v Away Team

Round Two (played October 25 & 26)

Venue : Lions Stadium, Brisbane

Queensland Sting
Kitching, McShea (Harch 65), Reuter, Garven, Grant, Garriock, Canham, Ferguson, Mitchell (Mann 65), Walsh (Duus 80), Dawney (Williams 80)
Goals : Jessica Mitchell 27, 59, Sarah Walsh 45, Belinda Dawney 55, Lana Harch 88 5 - 1 Victoria Vision
Barbieri, Digiammarco, Smith, McEvoy, Lamb (Thornton 70), Fitzgerald, Bisby, Maza (Angelucci 59), Jackson (Totsidis 70), Terek, Pannella (Balta 83)
Goal : Leigh Terek 62

Queensland Sting proved too good for Victoria Vision in this Sunday afternoon match in Brisbane, racking up a comprehensive 5-1 win.

In draining heat, Sting dominated the game from start to finish, outplaying their much less experienced opponent. Visitors Vision rarely threatened the defending champions.
Jessica Mitchell opened Queensland's account in the 27^th minute, released behind the defence with a Belinda Dawney through ball, and successful in the one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Sting scored their second in stoppage time of the first half, Sarah Walsh with a marvellous solo raid up the middle of the park from the halfway line and finishing well.
The home side all but sealed victory with their third goal ten minutes into the second half when Alicia Ferguson's cross from the right set up Dawney with the strike. Soon after, in the 59^th minute, Sting extended their lead with another goal to Mitchell, her fourth for the season, converting after a Walsh through ball.
Four minutes later, Victoria hit back with a top class goal, Leigh Terek finding the back of the net with a sweet volley from outside the 18-yard box to take the score to 4-1. Sting wrapped up the game with another goal two minutes from time, substitute Lana Harch volleying home a Heather Garriock cross.

Venue : Wanderers Oval, Newcastle

Northern NSW Pride
Herd, Shepherd (Colthorpe 61), Cotts, Oxtoby, Townsend, Kermode, Neilson, Andreatta (O'Toole), Khamis (Klessattel 80), Crawford, Gill
Goal : Katie Gill 85 1 - 3 Adelaide Sensation
Wirkus, May, Vogt, Burgess, Shigrov, McCallum, Spagnoletti (Wilson 65), Stocco, Slater, Balomenos (Walsh 69), De Vanna
Goals : Lisa De Vanna 4, Vicki Balomenos 15, Leanne Slater 23

On Sunday morning in Newcastle, Adelaide Sensation scored three early goals to set up their 3-1 win over Northern NSW Pride.
Adelaide's pacy duo of Lisa De Vanna and Vicki Balomenos caused headaches for the opposition every time they had the ball to clearly dominate the first half. Northern however turned things around after the break, tightening up their defence and creating the better opportunities but unable to capitalise with more goals.
Sensation had the home side instantly on the ropes with a goal after just four minutes, De Vanna with a fantastic individual effort. The striker surged toward goal, leaving defenders in her wake, and slotted the ball home.
The lead was doubled on the quarter-hour mark, De Vanna and Balomenos combining neatly to set up Balomenos on goal. Eight minutes later, Leanne Slater was able to find the target amidst a scramble in the box for Adelaide's third.
A revitalised Pride emerged from the dressing rooms for the second half now armed with the answers to combat the Sensation attack and finally started to put their mark on proceedings. They were unlucky not to pull a goal or two back not long after, hitting the woodwork on two occasions, plus a further chance blocked twice on the line in quick succession.
When Northern did find the target, it was more of a consolation goal with only five minutes remaining. Katie Gill beat the offside trap and made no mistake with the shot.

Venue : Carrington Park, Bathurst

NSW Sapphires
Kell, Davison, Ristevski (Holcombe 77), Gilbert, Todd, Shipard, Rockall, Ledbrook, Blayney, Burgess, Cannuli
Goal : own goal 58 1 - 0 Canberra Eclipse
Beattie, Somi (Doyle 83), Staniforth, Taylor, Davies, Wilson, Karp, Munoz, Hepperlin, Chapman, David (Parker 69)

In Bathurst on Saturday evening, NSW Sapphires emerged 1-0 victors over fellow grandfinal contenders Canberra Eclipse.
The Sapphires held a slight edge over their opponents overall with the greater number of chances on goal, but seemed a little subdued in their performance and didn't take full control. The Sapphires should have taken the lead late in the first half, but for a missed penalty kick. Canberra defended well throughout the clash, but found it difficult to create clear opportunities in attack.
On a wet, slippery pitch following earlier electrical storms, NSW were awarded a penalty in the 38^th minute after Leah Blayney was brought down amidst a scramble in the box. Captain Taryn Rockall lined up for the spot kick but sent the ball over the crossbar. Shortly after, a neat NSW move between Jo Burgess and Sally Shipard set up Rockall but she hit the post from a difficult chance and the teams went to the break scoreless.
In the second half, Canberra Eclipse tried to push forward via Amy Wilson and Caitlin Munoz up the flanks but the play still didn't seem to connect with players in front of goal. The deadlock was broken in the 58^th minute through the efforts of NSW's Catherine Cannuli on the break. The Eclipse managed to shut Cannuli down but the striker regained possession and crossed the ball in. The goalkeeper's attempted parry hit a defender running back towards goal and deflected in for an own goal.
The Sapphires came close to stretching their lead in the 74^th minute with a double opportunity to Blayney, but the ball was both times cleared off the line by Canberra defender Nicole Somi.

Home Team		v		Away Team
Round Two (played October 25 & 26)
Venue : Lions Stadium, Brisbane
Queensland Sting Kitching, McShea (Harch 65), Reuter, Garven, Grant, Garriock, Canham, Ferguson, Mitchell (Mann 65), Walsh (Duus 80), Dawney (Williams 80) Goals : Jessica Mitchell 27, 59, Sarah Walsh 45, Belinda Dawney 55, Lana Harch 88	5	-	1	Victoria Vision Barbieri, Digiammarco, Smith, McEvoy, Lamb (Thornton 70), Fitzgerald, Bisby, Maza (Angelucci 59), Jackson (Totsidis 70), Terek, Pannella (Balta 83) Goal : Leigh Terek 62
Queensland Sting proved too good for Victoria Vision in this Sunday afternoon match in Brisbane, racking up a comprehensive 5-1 win. In draining heat, Sting dominated the game from start to finish, outplaying their much less experienced opponent. Visitors Vision rarely threatened the defending champions. Jessica Mitchell opened Queensland's account in the 27^th minute, released behind the defence with a Belinda Dawney through ball, and successful in the one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Sting scored their second in stoppage time of the first half, Sarah Walsh with a marvellous solo raid up the middle of the park from the halfway line and finishing well. The home side all but sealed victory with their third goal ten minutes into the second half when Alicia Ferguson's cross from the right set up Dawney with the strike. Soon after, in the 59^th minute, Sting extended their lead with another goal to Mitchell, her fourth for the season, converting after a Walsh through ball. Four minutes later, Victoria hit back with a top class goal, Leigh Terek finding the back of the net with a sweet volley from outside the 18-yard box to take the score to 4-1. Sting wrapped up the game with another goal two minutes from time, substitute Lana Harch volleying home a Heather Garriock cross.
Venue : Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Northern NSW Pride Herd, Shepherd (Colthorpe 61), Cotts, Oxtoby, Townsend, Kermode, Neilson, Andreatta (O'Toole), Khamis (Klessattel 80), Crawford, Gill Goal : Katie Gill 85	1	-	3	Adelaide Sensation Wirkus, May, Vogt, Burgess, Shigrov, McCallum, Spagnoletti (Wilson 65), Stocco, Slater, Balomenos (Walsh 69), De Vanna Goals : Lisa De Vanna 4, Vicki Balomenos 15, Leanne Slater 23
On Sunday morning in Newcastle, Adelaide Sensation scored three early goals to set up their 3-1 win over Northern NSW Pride. Adelaide's pacy duo of Lisa De Vanna and Vicki Balomenos caused headaches for the opposition every time they had the ball to clearly dominate the first half. Northern however turned things around after the break, tightening up their defence and creating the better opportunities but unable to capitalise with more goals. Sensation had the home side instantly on the ropes with a goal after just four minutes, De Vanna with a fantastic individual effort. The striker surged toward goal, leaving defenders in her wake, and slotted the ball home. The lead was doubled on the quarter-hour mark, De Vanna and Balomenos combining neatly to set up Balomenos on goal. Eight minutes later, Leanne Slater was able to find the target amidst a scramble in the box for Adelaide's third. A revitalised Pride emerged from the dressing rooms for the second half now armed with the answers to combat the Sensation attack and finally started to put their mark on proceedings. They were unlucky not to pull a goal or two back not long after, hitting the woodwork on two occasions, plus a further chance blocked twice on the line in quick succession. When Northern did find the target, it was more of a consolation goal with only five minutes remaining. Katie Gill beat the offside trap and made no mistake with the shot.
Venue : Carrington Park, Bathurst
NSW Sapphires Kell, Davison, Ristevski (Holcombe 77), Gilbert, Todd, Shipard, Rockall, Ledbrook, Blayney, Burgess, Cannuli Goal : own goal 58	1	-	0	Canberra Eclipse Beattie, Somi (Doyle 83), Staniforth, Taylor, Davies, Wilson, Karp, Munoz, Hepperlin, Chapman, David (Parker 69)
In Bathurst on Saturday evening, NSW Sapphires emerged 1-0 victors over fellow grandfinal contenders Canberra Eclipse. The Sapphires held a slight edge over their opponents overall with the greater number of chances on goal, but seemed a little subdued in their performance and didn't take full control. The Sapphires should have taken the lead late in the first half, but for a missed penalty kick. Canberra defended well throughout the clash, but found it difficult to create clear opportunities in attack. On a wet, slippery pitch following earlier electrical storms, NSW were awarded a penalty in the 38^th minute after Leah Blayney was brought down amidst a scramble in the box. Captain Taryn Rockall lined up for the spot kick but sent the ball over the crossbar. Shortly after, a neat NSW move between Jo Burgess and Sally Shipard set up Rockall but she hit the post from a difficult chance and the teams went to the break scoreless. In the second half, Canberra Eclipse tried to push forward via Amy Wilson and Caitlin Munoz up the flanks but the play still didn't seem to connect with players in front of goal. The deadlock was broken in the 58^th minute through the efforts of NSW's Catherine Cannuli on the break. The Eclipse managed to shut Cannuli down but the striker regained possession and crossed the ball in. The goalkeeper's attempted parry hit a defender running back towards goal and deflected in for an own goal. The Sapphires came close to stretching their lead in the 74^th minute with a double opportunity to Blayney, but the ball was both times cleared off the line by Canberra defender Nicole Somi.