After the exciting success of the Men last Wednesday, NSFA’s attention now turns to the Women’s Select fixture out at Cromer Park on the 21st of February. NSFA Women’s Select will be seeking revenge after last year’s shattering final-minute loss of 2023 at Charles Bean Oval when they return to the home ground of MWFA.. NSFA Women’s Select Captain Amanda Skellern [Lindfield FC] is excited for the challenge that the MWFA Women will provide. Amanda is aware of the threats that MWFA have, highlighting that the MWFA team will be strong both technically and physically with an exceptional ability to move the ball quickly. However, the NSFA team, led by Skellern, are looking forward to the opportunity to match their technical pace from the very first minute of Wednesday’s fixture.
Skellern, who has been a part of Lindfield FC’s premiership-winning squad since 2021, has enjoyed her time at the Club and is looking forward to a fourth year at Charles Bean Oval. Highlights of hers include winning the 2021 NSFA Select match at Charles Bean on penalties and the 2020 Premiership after a COVID-interrupted season. Whilst Skellern is excited for the season ahead with her Lindfield teammates, the task of defeating the MWFA Select team stands in her way. However, the talent that has been selected for the NSFA team is immense, with Skellern highlighting the potent goal-threat that will be present for NSFA. Four of the top goal scorers for the 2023 season (Sophie de Montemas [Turramurra United], Ciara O’Sullivan [Lindfield FC], Molly Woods [Lindfield FC] and Kashani Maher [North Sydney United]) are taking the field on Wednesday, making for an exciting encounter.
Similar to Skellern, Head Coach of the NSFA Women’s Select team Paul Grundy [Lindfield FC] is eager to hit the field on Wednesday night. Grundy is ready to bring together the Select Team to win the fixture and bring the trophy back to NSFA. When asked about how he has found working with the group, Grundy said that “A lot of the squad know each other already or have played together at rep or in previous select games so that has made my job much easier.” Grundy is “super impressed” with the quality and skill level of the squad, leaning to an exciting game on Wednesday night at Cromer Park. When asked about why NSFA is going to win this year, Grundy stated that the cohesiveness of the squad will be the difference between the two sides, saying that “…the way the squad has come together and the level of understanding across and between the units has been super impressive. In what I expect will be a tight game, this cohesiveness will be the difference.”
Head Coach Grundy has assessed the Select fixture as a “challenge”, identifying the short period of time to train and work together as a squad as a key attribute that both Associations will have to manoeuvre through if they are to win the game. Grundy is aware of the strengths of the Premier Leagues of both Associations, highlighting that “the performances [in the State Cup and the Champion of Champions] display that MWFA and NSFA are in the top group of Associations [for Women’s Premier League].
The MWFA vs NSFA Women’s Select Fixture will take place on Wednesday 21st February at Cromer Park. The game will kick-off at 7:30 PM.
Previous Results:
- 2018 – MWFA 4-1
- 2019 – MWFA 3-0
- 2020 – NSFA 1-0
- 2021 – 0-0 NSFA 5-3 on pens
- 2022 – MWFA 4-1
- 2023 – MWFA 1-0
Image credit: Jeremy Denham from Facet Photography
