Manly United have defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers Women’s NPL side 5-1 at Wanderers Football Park in their inaugural NPL 1 match.
The Western Sydney Wanderers Women’s NPL 1 team played their inaugural match in the competition on Sunday against Manly United, marking a proud milestone in the club’s growing commitment to women’s football.
The Wanderers fielded a youthful team led by captain Maya Lobo, who alongside goalkeeper Aimee Hall and substitute Gemma Ferris were the only players with A-League Women’s experience.
The young side showed plenty of heart against one of the more seasoned teams of the competition, but experience prevailed in the end as Manly United ran away 5-1 victors.
Despite the disappointing loss, goalkeeper Aimee Hall proved to be quite the player as she made several crucial stops, none more pivotal than her save in the ninth minute of the game as despite being off her line after a misplaced clearance, managed to make a diving save while running back towards her goal.
Anika Stajcic had the opportunity to put the Wanderers ahead, but the shot struck the near post on its way to goal.
A misplaced pass from Chelsea Barton allowed Emily Minett to score with a long-range strike, putting the visitors ahead within 23 minutes. Shortly after, Tegan Biasi latched onto an Anita Zordan through ball and slotted it past Hall for Manly’s second. The lead extended further in the 34th minute when Phoebe Gilbane headed in a corner at the near post.
Estella Cameron replaced the injured Nikkita Fazzari and delivered an impressive cameo, showcasing her determination and work ethic. The 18-year-old displayed maturity beyond her years, standing strong against Manly United’s physical midfield in a promising performance.
Stajcic kept the Wanderers in the fight, pulling one back with a brilliant finish into the bottom right corner. The teams headed into halftime with Manly United leading 3-1.
The Wanderers started the second half with intense pressure as they aimed to close the gap, but it was Manly who struck again. Emily Minett netted her second goal, followed shortly by Nicole Stuart, who capitalized on a one-on-one after Aimee Hall initially denied the chance.
It wasn’t the ideal start to their inaugural season, but the Wanderers can take plenty of positives from their performance against one of the competition’s more experienced sides. They’ll look to build on their effort and determination by adding a clinical edge as they prepare to face Sydney Olympic this Sunday at Wanderers Football Park.
