Girls U16s: Resurgent South West Slopes come from behind to defeat Gymea

South West Slopes fought back from a goal down to defeat Gymea United by a 2-1 scoreline in the U16s Girls final.

Olivia Moore cancelled out Ameilia Campbell’s early opener before Kirby Piper-Bye rounded off the scoring before half time.

Campbell gave Gymea the early lead when she caught Slopes goalkeeper Tennille Stephens off her line, beating her with a lobbed finish from the edge of the box.

Slopes looked to find a route back into the match via set pieces as Emma James saw her free kick saved before Jessica Doolan fired one over from the edge of the box.

As Slopes found the feet their they also found the equaliser midway through the half as Moore turned the ball in; Jordan Douglass the architect after salvaging the ball on the byline before delivering an inch perfect cross for Moore.

With momentum running in their favour Slopes hit the lead soon after as Isabella Flannery turned her marker inside out before crossing to Piper-Bye who found the lead with a crisp finish via the inside of the far post.

Gymea goalkeeper Ellen Ryan kept her side in contention minutes later as she produced a brilliant point blank save to deny Douglass, tipping the ball onto the crossbar before safely gathering the rebound.

Laine Palmer almost found an equaliser late in the half as she ran onto Aleisha Oberg’s defence-splitting pass, however Stephens mad e a brave block to deny the goal at the expense of a corner.

As the match wore on and the scorching heat increased chances became few and far between for both sides, yet both keepers were up to the task when called upon as Slopes held on for victory.

Match Stats:

South West Slopes 2 (Olivia Moore 22’, Kirby Piper-Bye 28’)

Gymea United 1 (Ameilia Campbell 5’)

South West Slopes: 1.Tennille Stephens, 2.Pheobe McGeoch, 3.Tanealle Eccleston, 4.Olivia Moore, 5.Annie McGrath, 6.Jessica Doolan, 7.Kirby Piper-Bye, 8.Taylah Phillis, 9.Ashley Holder, 10.Jordan Douglass, 11.Tegan French, 12.Emma James, 13.Isabella Flannery, 14.Katie Hearne, 15.Samantha Doolan

Gymea United: 1.Ellen Ryan, 2.Caitlin Dooley, 13.Jamie Hick, 10.Ruby Hills, 11.Laine Palmer, 6.Rachel Holland, 4.Ebony Lane, 8.Lianna Ludton, 21.Aleisha Oberg, 18.Ameilia Campbell, 15.Chanel Coombes, 7.Maddison Malloy, 12.Asheligh Twoomey

-By Michael Shoolman

 

U18s Women: Ravens nerves prevail in Shootout glory

In the battle between Manly/Warringah districts’ Seaforth FC and Gladesville Ravens, the girls had to take on more than just the pressure of a Grand Final.

There was the heat. There were the vocal supporters on the sidelines. There was pride. And as always, there can only be one winner.

Kicking off at midday, the game was played at a much slower pace than expected. Both teams seemed content to play a short passing game interweaved with a kick and chase brand of football in the hope of getting an early goal.

Gladesville’s Clarie Fameli might claim she had the first chance on goal but it was Seaforth’s Ciara Harding who filled the spectators with jubilation when the pacey forward walked the ball around Gladesville’s goalkeeper but was unable to capitalise on her good shooting position.

The majority of the opening passage of play was in Seaforth’s half. Their defence providing time after time difficult to break down as each of Gladesville’s attacks were met with a sea of red jerseys.

Despite the scores locked at 0-0 at the break, there were a number of stand out players who looked as though they had the ability to change the game given any opportunity. For Gladesville it was Georgia Brown, Rosie Bisset and Jessica Weston who looked most likely to swing the match in favour of the black and white Ravens.

The second half brought even more half chances and missed opportunities as first a glancing header sailing wide of the goal for Seaforth followed by Gladesville Raven’s Matilda Vaughan missing an open goal after a piece of magic from Rosie Bisset down the right flank.

Despite Seaforth’s and Gladesville Raven’s best counter attacking efforts, the two teams were unable to get a goal in the dying moments of the game. Extra time and Golden Goal seemed inevitable.

Seven minutes into the first period of extra time and it was Gladesville Ravens who looked to have secured the win after Ellen Schiffler scored a header off a corner. The assistant referee on the sideline correctly deeming the goal offside meant it was game on at Valentine Sports Park.

Seaforth looked the have won the game in midway through the second period of extra time as Phoebe Layden played a lovely one-two with Ciara Harding. An outstanding save from Deniz Yuzguo the only thing stopping the team in red from claiming the win.

With the full time whistle blown, the match finished 0-0. Penalties were next. Almost every spectator had moved to the edge of their seat in anticipation of what would happen next. Some saying “Penalties are a horrible way to win” others were just proud of their daughters who had made it this far in the competition.

Galdesville Ravens took the first penalty. Jessica Weston coolly slotting the ball home to get the first goal of the game. Unfortunately for Seaforth, their goalkeeper who decided to take her side’s first penalty performed a recreation of David Beckham’s penalty and hit the ball high over the goal. Rachel Shore and Matilda Vaughan also claimed goals for Gladesville Ravens whilst for Seaforth FC it was Simone Shearsby, Alexandra Miller and Sarah Hopkinson who made sure the girls in red stayed within reaching distance of the Championship.

With both sides having scored three times, the game moved into sudden death penalty shoot out. With the electric atmosphere and the nerves higher than they had been all game, Gladesville Ravens’ Kathryn Morgan stepped up and scored a brilliant penalty.

Seaforth needed to score if they wanted to stay in this game. Hannah Griffiths taking the long walk up to the penalty spot. Time slowed down as Hannah lined up her shot. Hannah’s kick missing the goal completely meant Gladesville were crowned the Champions of Champions for 2012.

Match Stats

Seaforth FC 0

Gladesville Ravens 0

Saturday 20th October, 2012

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: James Tesoriero

Assistant Referees: Rod McDonald and Paul Elson

Seaforth FC: 2. Ciara MARDING, 3. Phoebe LAYDEN, 4. Tess GRUETER, 5. Taylan JONES, 6. Hannah Griffiths, 7. Madeleine KILPATRICK, 8. Rory TREDINNICK, 9. Sarah HOPKINSON, 10. Tahnee DEVINE, 11. Jane MACHART, 12. Rochelle SHARPE.

Substitutions: 1. Kate GEDDES, 14. Kate CHISWELL, 15. Simone SHEARSBY, 16. Alexandra MILLER.

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.

Gladesville Ravens: 9. Rosie BISSET, 5. Alexandra FALZON, 2. Claire FAMELI, 8. Celeste LOYZAGA, 3. Madeleine MORGAN, 10. Kathryn RAMSAY, 6. Ellen SCHIFFLER, 11. Stephanie SEAMAN, 15. Rachel SHORE, 12. Jessica WESTON, 7. Caitlin WOOD.

Substitutions: 1. Deniz YUZGUC, 21. Georgia BROWN, 20. Matilda VAUGHAN, 13. Winona ENRIGHT.

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.

- By Pete Nowakowski