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 Four (played November 8 & 9)

Venue : Valentine Sports Park, Sydney

NSW Sapphires
Kell, Davison, Blayney, Gilbert, Brogan (Todd 59), Shipard, Rockall, Ledbrook, Ristevski, Hilder (Holcombe 57), Cannuli (Graham 86)
Goal : Catherine Cannuli 48 1 - 1 Queensland Sting
Nolan, McShea, Reuter, Garven, Garriock, Duus (Grant 81), Ferguson, Harch, Mitchell (Canham 78), Dawney, Walsh (Mann 46)
Goal : Heather Garriock 44

Sydney played host to the replay of last year's grandfinal with NSW Sapphires keen to avenge that one goal loss to Queensland Sting, and neither willing to forfeit their undefeated run in the battle for this year's title. Both teams suffered late withdrawals, Sting travelling without number one goalkeeper Belinda Kitching, whilst Sapphires were missing attacking pair Michelle Carney and Jo Burgess.
The draining heat made for a slow pace to the first half of play with the two sides feeling each other out for the opening half hour. The clash unfolded as a very even tussle, both creating opportunities but neither side able to provide the knockout punch.
Catherine Cannuli almost gave the home side the early lead but her strike from the indirect freekick was met by the outstretched hand of goalkeeper-cum-midfielder Zoe Nolan, tipping the ball against the bar and out.
After sending a couple of earlier freekick opportunities sailing over the target, Qantas Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock gave Queensland the lead late in the first half against her old team and somewhat against the immediate run of play. World Cup teammate Karla Reuter provided a dangerous through ball causing some confusion in the NSW defence and Garriock beat the outcoming goalkeeper with a chip over the top which bobbled in over the line. Before the half-time whistle, Qantas Matildas midfielder Taryn Rockall couldn't quite reach an inviting ball in from Leah Blayney and the chance to level for Sapphires.
NSW Sapphires hit back with the equaliser just three minutes after the restart, youth international Cannuli found unmarked at the far post by a great ball from Blayney for the striker to head home.
On the hour mark, NSW's World Cup keeper Cassandra Kell collided heavily with Australian teammate April Mann, taking some time to recover from the clash, before getting up and saving well from the ensuing corner. Sapphires Kylie Ledbrook and Cannuli had shots on goal but were unable to break through. A tense long period of stoppage time saw both sides with chances to snatch a winner, Garriock sending her freekick over, before Blayney did likewise with her attempt.

Venue : Wanderers Oval, Newcastle

Northern NSW Pride
Herd, Wilson, Oxtoby, Shepherd, Khamis (O'Toole 55), Neilson, Small, Colthorpe, Baker, Crawford, Gill (Cotts 88)
Goal : Gemma O'Toole 58 1 - 2 Canberra Eclipse
Hartley, Somi, Staniforth, Davies, C Maciejewski (David 46), Karp, Hepperlin, Chapman, J Maciejewski (Frewin 21), Wilson (Parker 66), Munoz
Goals : Jenna Maciejewski 17, Tal Karp 80

This morning in Newcastle, Canberra Eclipse scored a winner in the last ten minutes of play to record a tight 2-1 victory over Northern NSW Pride, Canberra's first win for the season. After a scoreless draw and two single-goal losses to the top pair, Eclipse were relieved to finally score their first goals, and push up into fourth place.
Canberra were made to work hard for the three points in a game which could have gone either way. In a very open encounter, the goalkeepers at each end were kept busy, with both performing well. The attacking forays by both teams made for entertaining football, and were met by solid performances by the two defences. Northern frustratingly were denied by the woodwork on several occasions, particularly in the second half, whilst the visitors also hit the post a couple of times.
Eclipse claimed the lead in the 17^th minute when Amy Wilson pushed forward before threading a pinpoint pass through to Jenna Maciejewski who found the back of the net from just inside the 18-yard box. Today was Maciejewski's WNSL debut after only joining Canberra this week along with twin sister Cian, who hail from the NSW South Coast region.
Pride hit back with an equaliser in the 58^th minute with substitute Gemma O'Toole scoring her first ever league goal three minutes after taking the field. The youngster was on the spot to head home the rebound after a teammate's long range effort had thumped against the crossbar. It made for a thrilling final half hour with both teams desperate to prise themselves away from the bottom of the ladder.
In the end it was Canberra who broke the deadlock in the 80^th minute. The ball was played in from wide, and World Cup midfielder Tal Karp found the ball at her feet for a simple finish from the 6-yard box.

Venue : Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

Adelaide Sensation
Wirkus, May, Shigrov, Vogt, Walsh, Day, Spagnoletti, Stocco, Wilson, Balomenos (Papageorgiou 59), De Vanna (Slater 59) 0 - 1 Victoria Vision
Barbieri, McEvoy, Lamb, Smith, Jackson, Groenewald (Ruyter-Hooley 76), Fitzgerald, Bisby, Angelucci (Totsidis 76), Terek, Pannella
Goal : Belinda Pannella 9

On Saturday in Adelaide, Victoria Vision produced their first win of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Adelaide Sensation, a result which moves Victoria into third position.
Vision, who finished last the previous two years, continue to be the bogey side for Adelaide Sensation, having now beaten Adelaide once in each of the last four seasons. In those previous three seasons, it ended up being Victoria's only win for the competition, but this year look likely to improve on those statistics.
Victoria are assured of holding on to third spot on the ladder, no matter what eventuates from Sunday's two matches.
The visitors scored early in today's clash, to instantly put the pressure on game favourites Adelaide. Sensation lifted a gear and threatened the opposition goal throughout the second half, but found themselves up against a rock-solid Vision defence. Adelaide sorely missed the influence of defender Dianne Alagich and midfielder Collette McCallum, whilst Vision were forced to make the journey without defenders Daniela Digiammarco and Lauren Farrugia, and midfielder Jamara Maza.
Striker Belinda Pannella followed up on last week's hattrick for the solitary goal in the 9^th minute. Pannella was released with a well-weighted through-ball from Gabriella Angelucci and beat the goalkeeper in clinical fashion. The goal turned out to be the sole highlight for the first half, the game then a dour midfield battle, with Adelaide's Vicki Balomenos taking the only other shot before the break.
Sensation brought the game alive after half-time, in eager search for goals and the win. Balomenos sent a Stacey Day cross just wide in the 53^rd minute, before Marie Spagnoletti's attempt from a Stacey Stocco cross was cleared off the line by Victoria four minutes later.
Leanne Slater and Christina Papageorgiou came in off the bench shortly after and also surged forward in attack but with no better luck in the scoring stakes. Four minutes after coming on, Slater's shot had the goalkeeper beaten but hit the underside of the crossbar and the rebound was sent wide by Papageorgiou.
Vision had rarely been in sight of goal since scoring, but their defence was not giving up on the three points. Adelaide's Slater was in a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper before the danger was cleared by defender Caroline McEvoy with a saving tackle in the 80^th minute. Papageorgiou was then also stopped in her tracks with a timely tackle by substitute Andrea Totsidis.
Adelaide had one last chance for an equaliser in stoppage time, Slater unleashing a fierce drive from the edge of the 18-yard box which was fumbled by keeper Melissa Barbieri and regathered, for the home side to come away from the match with no reward.

Home Team		v		Away Team
Round Four (played November 8 & 9)
Venue : Valentine Sports Park, Sydney
NSW Sapphires Kell, Davison, Blayney, Gilbert, Brogan (Todd 59), Shipard, Rockall, Ledbrook, Ristevski, Hilder (Holcombe 57), Cannuli (Graham 86) Goal : Catherine Cannuli 48	1	-	1	Queensland Sting Nolan, McShea, Reuter, Garven, Garriock, Duus (Grant 81), Ferguson, Harch, Mitchell (Canham 78), Dawney, Walsh (Mann 46) Goal : Heather Garriock 44
Sydney played host to the replay of last year's grandfinal with NSW Sapphires keen to avenge that one goal loss to Queensland Sting, and neither willing to forfeit their undefeated run in the battle for this year's title. Both teams suffered late withdrawals, Sting travelling without number one goalkeeper Belinda Kitching, whilst Sapphires were missing attacking pair Michelle Carney and Jo Burgess. The draining heat made for a slow pace to the first half of play with the two sides feeling each other out for the opening half hour. The clash unfolded as a very even tussle, both creating opportunities but neither side able to provide the knockout punch. Catherine Cannuli almost gave the home side the early lead but her strike from the indirect freekick was met by the outstretched hand of goalkeeper-cum-midfielder Zoe Nolan, tipping the ball against the bar and out. After sending a couple of earlier freekick opportunities sailing over the target, Qantas Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock gave Queensland the lead late in the first half against her old team and somewhat against the immediate run of play. World Cup teammate Karla Reuter provided a dangerous through ball causing some confusion in the NSW defence and Garriock beat the outcoming goalkeeper with a chip over the top which bobbled in over the line. Before the half-time whistle, Qantas Matildas midfielder Taryn Rockall couldn't quite reach an inviting ball in from Leah Blayney and the chance to level for Sapphires. NSW Sapphires hit back with the equaliser just three minutes after the restart, youth international Cannuli found unmarked at the far post by a great ball from Blayney for the striker to head home. On the hour mark, NSW's World Cup keeper Cassandra Kell collided heavily with Australian teammate April Mann, taking some time to recover from the clash, before getting up and saving well from the ensuing corner. Sapphires Kylie Ledbrook and Cannuli had shots on goal but were unable to break through. A tense long period of stoppage time saw both sides with chances to snatch a winner, Garriock sending her freekick over, before Blayney did likewise with her attempt.
Venue : Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Northern NSW Pride Herd, Wilson, Oxtoby, Shepherd, Khamis (O'Toole 55), Neilson, Small, Colthorpe, Baker, Crawford, Gill (Cotts 88) Goal : Gemma O'Toole 58	1	-	2	Canberra Eclipse Hartley, Somi, Staniforth, Davies, C Maciejewski (David 46), Karp, Hepperlin, Chapman, J Maciejewski (Frewin 21), Wilson (Parker 66), Munoz Goals : Jenna Maciejewski 17, Tal Karp 80
This morning in Newcastle, Canberra Eclipse scored a winner in the last ten minutes of play to record a tight 2-1 victory over Northern NSW Pride, Canberra's first win for the season. After a scoreless draw and two single-goal losses to the top pair, Eclipse were relieved to finally score their first goals, and push up into fourth place. Canberra were made to work hard for the three points in a game which could have gone either way. In a very open encounter, the goalkeepers at each end were kept busy, with both performing well. The attacking forays by both teams made for entertaining football, and were met by solid performances by the two defences. Northern frustratingly were denied by the woodwork on several occasions, particularly in the second half, whilst the visitors also hit the post a couple of times. Eclipse claimed the lead in the 17^th minute when Amy Wilson pushed forward before threading a pinpoint pass through to Jenna Maciejewski who found the back of the net from just inside the 18-yard box. Today was Maciejewski's WNSL debut after only joining Canberra this week along with twin sister Cian, who hail from the NSW South Coast region. Pride hit back with an equaliser in the 58^th minute with substitute Gemma O'Toole scoring her first ever league goal three minutes after taking the field. The youngster was on the spot to head home the rebound after a teammate's long range effort had thumped against the crossbar. It made for a thrilling final half hour with both teams desperate to prise themselves away from the bottom of the ladder. In the end it was Canberra who broke the deadlock in the 80^th minute. The ball was played in from wide, and World Cup midfielder Tal Karp found the ball at her feet for a simple finish from the 6-yard box.
Venue : Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Adelaide Sensation Wirkus, May, Shigrov, Vogt, Walsh, Day, Spagnoletti, Stocco, Wilson, Balomenos (Papageorgiou 59), De Vanna (Slater 59)	0	-	1	Victoria Vision Barbieri, McEvoy, Lamb, Smith, Jackson, Groenewald (Ruyter-Hooley 76), Fitzgerald, Bisby, Angelucci (Totsidis 76), Terek, Pannella Goal : Belinda Pannella 9
On Saturday in Adelaide, Victoria Vision produced their first win of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Adelaide Sensation, a result which moves Victoria into third position. Vision, who finished last the previous two years, continue to be the bogey side for Adelaide Sensation, having now beaten Adelaide once in each of the last four seasons. In those previous three seasons, it ended up being Victoria's only win for the competition, but this year look likely to improve on those statistics. Victoria are assured of holding on to third spot on the ladder, no matter what eventuates from Sunday's two matches. The visitors scored early in today's clash, to instantly put the pressure on game favourites Adelaide. Sensation lifted a gear and threatened the opposition goal throughout the second half, but found themselves up against a rock-solid Vision defence. Adelaide sorely missed the influence of defender Dianne Alagich and midfielder Collette McCallum, whilst Vision were forced to make the journey without defenders Daniela Digiammarco and Lauren Farrugia, and midfielder Jamara Maza. Striker Belinda Pannella followed up on last week's hattrick for the solitary goal in the 9^th minute. Pannella was released with a well-weighted through-ball from Gabriella Angelucci and beat the goalkeeper in clinical fashion. The goal turned out to be the sole highlight for the first half, the game then a dour midfield battle, with Adelaide's Vicki Balomenos taking the only other shot before the break. Sensation brought the game alive after half-time, in eager search for goals and the win. Balomenos sent a Stacey Day cross just wide in the 53^rd minute, before Marie Spagnoletti's attempt from a Stacey Stocco cross was cleared off the line by Victoria four minutes later. Leanne Slater and Christina Papageorgiou came in off the bench shortly after and also surged forward in attack but with no better luck in the scoring stakes. Four minutes after coming on, Slater's shot had the goalkeeper beaten but hit the underside of the crossbar and the rebound was sent wide by Papageorgiou. Vision had rarely been in sight of goal since scoring, but their defence was not giving up on the three points. Adelaide's Slater was in a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper before the danger was cleared by defender Caroline McEvoy with a saving tackle in the 80^th minute. Papageorgiou was then also stopped in her tracks with a timely tackle by substitute Andrea Totsidis. Adelaide had one last chance for an equaliser in stoppage time, Slater unleashing a fierce drive from the edge of the 18-yard box which was fumbled by keeper Melissa Barbieri and regathered, for the home side to come away from the match with no reward.