Round 12 saw Northbridge put pressure on the league leaders, with their 4-0 win meaning UTS need to win their Round 12 fixture on Thursday night if they wish to stay top. North Sydney United put 7 past Macquarie Dragons, West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook got back on track, and Hornsby Heights had a statement win against the Flying Bats.
North Sydney United 7 – 1 Macquarie Dragons
North Sydney United entered the match looking to bounce back after consecutive defeats and stay within reach of the top four. Macquarie Dragons arrived at Cammeray Oval capable of causing an upset with three wins this season, but it was the hosts who took control early.
North Sydney United made the ideal start, with Manami Nishio opening the scoring in the 7th minute before doubling the advantage in the 24th. Isabel Mulhall then added a third, and Nishio quickly completed her first-half hat-trick to send the home side into the break with a commanding 4–0 lead.
Macquarie Dragons came out strongly after half-time and made the contest more competitive. However, North Sydney United’s quality continued to show, with Grace Burgess extending the lead midway through the second half before Mia Sheridan made it six.
The visitors were rewarded for their persistence when Jessica Waters found the back of the net, but North Sydney United had the final say through Sally Deck, sealing an emphatic 7–1 victory.
The result moves North Sydney United to within two points of the top four as they look to build momentum in the weeks ahead.
Congratulations to Manami Nishio, whose first-half hat-trick makes her the Player of the Round.
Northbridge FC 4 – 0 Epping FC
Northbridge knew a home victory was crucial to keep the pressure on league leaders UTS, who have held top spot for much of the season. Meanwhile, Epping arrived looking to build momentum after an encouraging draw against Hornsby Heights the previous week.
The opening half was decided by an early breakthrough from Jenna Kim, whose strike gave Northbridge the perfect start. From there, the contest remained tightly fought, with the home side unable to find another way through a determined Epping defence, while the visitors searched for an equaliser.
Northbridge came out with intent after the break and doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute through Kim’s second of the afternoon. Valerie Chang then produced another clinical display in front of goal, scoring twice in the space of two minutes to put the result beyond doubt and cap off a dominant second-half performance.
The 4–0 victory gives Northbridge more points than UTS, although they remain just behind on average points. Attention now turns to Thursday night’s Round 12 clash, where UTS will need a result against Beecroft to maintain their position at the top of the table.
The Flying Bats 1 – 2 Hornsby Heights
The Flying Bats entered the round in strong form, climbing to third on the ladder after an impressive run of results. Meanwhile, Hornsby Heights had experienced a mixed campaign to date, sitting with a record of four wins, three draws, and three losses heading into the clash.
It was a tightly contested opening half, with both sides creating opportunities, but it was Heights who found the breakthrough. Cheyenne Dearie struck in the 28th minute to give the visitors a deserved lead at halftime.
The Flying Bats responded in the second half, levelling the scores through Jade Day in the 57th minute and setting up a tense final half hour. With both teams pushing hard for all three points, the match remained evenly balanced until the closing stages.
It was Tegan Murray who proved the difference-maker, stepping up in the 79th minute to restore Hornsby Heights’ advantage with a crucial goal. Heights held firm through the final minutes to secure an impressive 2–1 victory over one of the competition’s form sides.
The result moves Hornsby Heights to within one point of North Sydney United as they look to climb the ladder, while the Flying Bats slip down one position below Lindfield.
League Table
