Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 3 of the National Premier Leagues NNSW Women’s competition.
Catch up on all the results and watch the highlights below.
Match of the Round
Maitland FC 2-0 New Lambton FC
Maitland coach Keelan Hamilton was pleased his side were finally able to secure a result their performance had merited as the Magpies downed New Lambton 2-0 on Sunday night.
The match of the round was pushed back from 4pm to 6.30pm at Cooks Square Park due to the oppressive heat, with the temperature still hovering above 30 degrees at kick off.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 34th minute when a misplaced clearance bounced over unfortunate New Lambton goalkeeper Ally Boertje allowing Sophia Laurie to tap into an empty net.
Maitland doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half when Indianna Auddino produced a strong run down the left before squaring for Sophie Jones, whose crisp first time hit from outside the penalty area took a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom corner of Boertje’s net.
The Magpies should have made it 3-0 with nine minutes to play when Chelsea Greguric was dragged down in the penalty area following a strong solo run, only for Jones hit the post with her penalty with Boertje beaten.
But Maitland held on to notch a professional first victory of the season much to Hamilton’s pleasure.
“It was a continuation of our first two weeks I think except this time we’ve added a clean sheet and a positive result to the mix. I think statistically it was pretty much complete domination, particularly in the first half. New Lambton improved in the second half and we had one cleared off the line there which was excellent defending by Amy Parkinson,” Hamilton said.
“But other than that we were in complete control. We probably just lacked a little bit of cutting edge in that final third to really put the game to bed and kill the game earlier. Having said that we missed a few really clear chances, missed a penalty and a really clear one on one as well.
“I’ve very happy with the overall performance. I think it’s clear for everyone to see we still lack a bit of cutting edge. Having said that we’re missing a couple of key attacking players in Sophie Stapleford and Lucy Kell. And that’s not to say the girls that are there aren’t doing a great job. It’s just when you’re missing players of that calibre you lack a little bit at times.
“The first two weeks you could argue we controlled portions of the games, the other teams had moments in those games as well. But tonight was a bit further again. I thought we completely dominated and really should have been out of sight a lot earlier than we were and at the end of the day it could have been four or five if we took our chances.”
Hamilton gave Parkinson her Magpies debut after she joined the club from Charlestown, with the young right back impressing in her first showing which included a brilliant goal line clearance in the second half.
“We were really lucky to pick Amy up. Obviously she’s got good pedigree coming through the Jets system and I think has been involved in Junior Matildas camps on a couple of occasions,” Hamilton said.
“I think her best football is still way ahead of her. She’s got a bit of conditioning to add to her game as well but I thought her energy levels were fantastic tonight and defensively she was outstanding.
“Winning the ball, stepping in front and then her passing quality was pretty good and then she capped it off by showing a lot of desire to get back and clear that ball off the line. A lot of players would have stopped and watched and it would have been a lot more nervy last 20 minutes for us if she hadn’t.”
Maitland will look to build on their momentum when they travel to John Street to face struggling Warners Bay on Sunday, while New Lambton will continue the search for their first points of the season when they face Adamstown on Saturday night.
Charlestown Azzurri 15-0 Warners Bay FC
Charlestown continued their strong start to the campaign with a 15-0 thumping of Warners Bay on Saturday.
Azzurri were far too good with Emily Diaz and Lily-Jane Babic scoring four goals each at Lisle Carr Oval.
Sarah Halvorsen scored twice with Indianna Asimus, Jessica Dominello, Brianna Williams, Cassie Corder and Maddison Thornton also getting themselves on the scoresheet.
The Panthers are unrecognisable from the team that won the premiership-championship double last season after almost their entire squad left the club to join rival teams during the off-season.
New Panthers coach Ryan Swinkels, who replaced 2022 NPLW Coach of the Year Craig Atkins, has given first grade opportunities to a number of young players who have come up through the club’s reserve and youth grades.
The victory made it three wins in a row to start the season for Niko Papaspiropoulos’ side, with Azzurri looking to make it four in a row when they host Mid Coast FC on Sunday.
Warners Bay will host a hungry Maitland side at John Street on Sunday desperately looking for its first points of the season.
Adamstown Rosebud JFC 2-5 Broadmeadow Magic
Adriana Konjarski scored another quartet of goals as Broadmeadow Magic outclassed Adamstown Rosebud JFC 5-2 on Saturday night.
Konjarski was electric at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, scoring twice in each half to take the 2022 NPLW NNSW Golden Boot winner’s tally to 10 goals in just three matches so far this season.
Magic led 2-0 after 10 minutes when Konjarski scored a penalty following a handball against Matilda Seidel to open the scoring before Lucy Jerram doubled the advantage with a powerful one on one finish.
It was 3-0 after 20 minutes when Konjarski tapped in after Lily-Rose Dunbar could only parry a Jerram shot.
Adamstown pulled a goal back 10 minutes before half-time through Eva Donnelly who produced a fine finish to beat Ruby Jones.
But Broadmeadow restored their three-goal lead when Konjarski made it 4-1 10 minutes into the second half. Kiarra Lewis broke down the left before picking out the perfect pass for Konjarski to complete her hat-trick.
It was 5-1 in the 68th minute with Konjarski producing a clever finish from a tight angle on the left before Ellyse Lynch produced a stunning consolation goal for Rosebud with nine minutes to play.
Broadmeadow coach Jake Curley was pleased his side were able to secure such a dominant result despite feeling they were not at their best. But Curley was full of praise for Konjarski’s contribution.
“I thought we were probably a little bit below average. But the reality for us is we can be below average and still generally win,” Curley said.
“It’s good to get the result and we’ll keep going forward. It’s always good to score early. We scored five but it could have been eight or nine really.
“We are effective when we go forward. We score our goals a similar way in that we get into wide areas and finish in the box.
“One of the differences I’ve found between [Konjarski] and lots of other strikers is her composure in front of goal. She has that composure, generally when she’s in on goal you think she’s going to score. She has that body language and confidence. It was another good effort from her and she has been a very good addition for us.”
The only sour note for Broadmeadow was Lewis’ dismissal with 20 minutes to play, moments after Magic had taken a 5-1 lead, thanks to a second yellow card.
But Curley was confident that Lewis, who has been excellent since her arrival from Maitland, would learn from the experience.
“I think Kiarra knows [it was unnecessary]. She got two yellows, the first one was a yellow and the second one she lost her cool a bit,” Curley said.
“She’s developing as a player and that’s part of it, learning what the situation of the game is at. She accepts that.
“Also with out team the girls get player fines for red cards. It’s an expectation for us to play in the right way.
“But in fairness to her it can be hard playing against a former club and there can be a lot of emotions. And she has been very good since she has come across to us. So overall I’m really happy with her and she’ll learn from that.”
Broadmeadow will face their toughest test of the season so far when they host Newcastle Olympic in the match of the round on Sunday, while Adamstown will look to bounce back when they host New Lambton on Saturday night.
Mid Coast FC 1-4 Newcastle Olympic
Newcastle Olympic continued their perfect start to the season with a 4-1 victory over Mid Coast on Sunday.
The win sets up a mouth-watering early top of the table clash with bitter rivals Broadmeadow in round four with Olympic leading the way on goal difference from Charlestown and Magic.
Mid Coast gave the visitors an early scare in Taree when young star Marissa Masterantonio put Middies in front after she intercepted a pass from Olympic goalkeeper Alex Tagaroulias and prodded home.
It was a strong start for Mid Coast who were without player-coach Emma Stanbury following her one-match suspension after being sent off against Broadmeadow last week.
Olympic took their time to get going before Georgia Amess’ composed first half double gave them the lead.
Olympic left it late to secure the points with substitutes Sophie McDonald and Marion Dunbabin scoring in the dying stages to add some gloss to the score.
While Olympic will travel to Magic Park looking to make it four from four on Sunday, it does not get any easier for Mid Coast who face a tough test away from home against unbeaten Charlestown.