Merewether United v Edgeworth Eagles
12:00pm Saturday 24th July
Macquarie Field
Merewether United met Edgeworth Eagles today at Macquarie Field in the Herald Women’s Premier League Round 18 Match of the Round.
Merewether upset the Eagles for the second time in just three rounds, with a 1-0 victory despite having been unable to train throughout the week.
The first half saw both sides unable to capitalise on set pieces, with corner kicks going unanswered as Merewether and Edgeworth continued to seek an opening goal of the match.
During the late stages of the second half, Merewether’s Mara Watts was on the receiving end of a well placed through ball, however her one on one shot was halted by Edgeworth keeper, Eb Cawley.
At the opposite end of the field, Edgeworth created their own chances, while a strong cross from Captain Gabrielle Raica went answered and the match sat goalless at halftime.
In the 73rd minute Edgeworth were handed a free kick, however Kristy Houghton’s kick sailed straight to Merewether keeper, Ainsley Buchanan.
Minutes later, Merewether finally caught a break when a stand in player also signed with the club’s A Grade side scored from the wing and just a metre away from the goal line.
Edgeworth just could not answer their opposition’s goal and Merewether took the points to push further from the bottom of the table and steady in 5th place.
Merewether coach, Colin Blanch, was pleased with the performance of his side under the circumstances and impressed with the winning goal.
“Great effort by the whole team, but we stuck together and it was a really solid performance,” said Blanch.
“To score a goal like Brinny did today was unbelievable,” he concluded.
Valentine Phoenix v Adamstown Rosebud
10:00am Saturday 24th July
Macquarie Field
Valentine and Adamstown met in the first Round 18 Herald Women’s Premier League match held at Macquarie Field today.
Adamstown led by two goals in the early stages of the match, put were unable to hold their lead and were eventually defeated by Phoenix 4-2.
Adamstown’s Kim Witt started off the scoring with some notable leadup work by Narelle Eather before Casey Smith extended Rosebud’s lead to two goals with assistance from Miranda Faith.
Two goals down, Valentine were not giving up, while Danielle Buttsworth finally put her side on the scoreboard, coming one on one with Adamstown keeper, Melissa Taylor, to situate the score at 2-1 by halftime.
The second half saw Valentine take control of the match, with Buttsworth achieving a double barely ten minutes after the half commenced.
The score was gridlocked at 2-2 and both sides were desperately seeking a goal to push their team into the lead, however it wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Valentine finally grasped the lead.
Buttsworth did the leg work, with Lori Depczynski getting a touch on the ball as it sailed into the back of the net.
With one goal in the match, anything could have happened, but it was Valentine’s Apryl Bailey who scored the final goal of the match just one minute after Depczynski’s with a shot that deflected off the post and into the goals.
Valentine coach Terry McBeath was pleased that his side have the ability to come from behind despite the errors that put the side behind by two goals in the first half.
“We settled down and played a lot better, as far as playing goes, we are putting ourselves under pressure so you have to address that,” said McBeath.
Valentine remain in 2nd place and are now five points clear of Edgeworth in 2nd place, while Adamstown remain in last place on the ladder.
Northern NSW EAP v Broadmeadow Magic
2:00pm Saturday 24th July
Macquarie Field
Broadmeadow Magic finally got the better of Northern NSW EAP when the competition leaders took a 1-0 victory today.
The only goal of the match came in just the 6th minute of the match when Broadmeadow captain, Ashley Wilson, chipped the ball into the top of the net after fending off the EAP defence.
Cassidy Davis and Gemma House were active in EAP’s front line, however were unable to equalise the score, with an impressive save by Conni Osborn halting a shot by House sailing on target before being tapped over the crossbar by Osborn.
The score remained at 1-0 entering the second half, with EAP creating opportunities but unable to convert any of them.
The 88th minute saw EAP’s Iesha Veness send a header to House whose on header attempt sailed over the crossbar in the side’s last chance at salvaging one point.
The competition leaders took the three points, winning by just one goal and recorded their first victory against the young side which will put Broadmeadow at ease with the possibility of facing EAP in the finals.
EAP have remained in 4th place, while Broadmeadow are one victory away from locking in the 2010 Premiership.