At a cold, wet and windy Macedonia Park, Manly United were defeated 3-0 by Illawarra Stingrays in the National Premier League Women’s NSW competition.
The victory moves the Stingrays above Manly, to second on the competition ladder after 11 rounds. Siobhan Edwards opened the scoring for the Stingrays in the first half, before Layla Etherington doubled the home team’s advantage early in the second. The points were sealed late on as Edwards secured her second goal of the evening to round off the 3-0 victory.
After returning from international duty with the Australian futsal team, Alexia Karrys-Stahl came close to opening the scoring, forcing Nicole Simonsen into a smart save from an acute angle and from some way out.
Tegan Biasi then had Manly’s first proper attempt, but it was comfortably saved.
On 14 minutes the home side were in front. Annabella Keep made a nice run forward from right back, threaded the ball centrally and found Edwards, who turned her defender and beat another before burying the ball into the bottom right corner.
The next chance came just after the half hour mark, Karrys-Stahl again testing her former teammate Simonsen, who saved a well-struck free kick.
The visitors had to resort to long distance attempts, as they were unable to break down the Stingrays defence.
In the second period, veteran Caitlin Cooper tested Simonsen, the Manly keeper tipping the shot over the bar.
Manly began moving the ball quicker and Nicole Stuart almost scored a lovely worked team goal, only for Brianna Edwards to get down and save well.
On the hour mark the home side doubled their advantage in style. Winning the ball in midfield, Etherington moved into Manly’s half and let fly from more than 25 metres out, catching out the visitors’ goalkeeper and making it 2-0.
Seven minutes from time, the points were settled as Edwards picked up her second of the evening. Again, Manly lost possession in midfield, and this time it fell to the Stingrays’ top scorer who from a similar area as Etherington earlier, once more beat Simonsen in almost identical fashion.
With the weather worsening, neither team could add to the scoreline, Manly coming closest from a corner which almost saw the ball curl in with the wild winds.
Illawarra Stingrays 3 (S. Edwards 14’, 83’, Etherington 60’)
Manly United 0
Match Stats
Sunday, 18 May
Macedonia Park
Illawarra Stingrays: 1. Brianna Edwards, 7. Chloe Middleton, 8. Siobhan Edwards, 10. Alexia Karrys-Stahl, 12. Annabella Keep, 13. Kaelah Austin, 15. Caitlin Cooper, 16. Genevieve Nisbet, 19. Layla Etherington, 23. Kate McPherson, 39. Poppie Hooks.
Substitutes: 01. Sophie Emery, 17. Adelaide Thompson, 20. Ella Giles, 25. Anabella Pinkard, 27. Helena Halios-Lewis, 30. Hailey Bicknell.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United: 1. Nicole Simonsen, 2. Phoebe Gilbane, 3. Grace Arnold, 5. Nicole Stuart, 6. Ruby Jackson, 8. Anita Zordan, 9. Emily Minett, 11. Tegan Biasi, 15. McKaela Schmelzer, 16. Lucy Richards, 37. Chloe O’Brien.
Substitutes: 10. Alexia Forner, 14. Jodie Drever, 18. Daisy Arrowsmith, 19. Peyton Starner, 20. Ellie Kerr, 22. Ava Roberts.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Nikola Pozder for Football NSW
