Category: WPL

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 10 Preview

Story and photo courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Match of the Round
Wallsend v Merewether
Sunday 13th May, 2:30 pm
Wallsend Park

Last start: Wallsend beat Thornton 4-1, Merewether beat Adamstown 5-0. 

Position on ladder: Wallsend fourth, 13 points; Merewether third, 16 points

Squad news
Wallsend is without Jess Evans for the next two weeks due to work placement in an otherwise full-strength side. Centre midfield Leah Giuffre returns for Merewether after missing last weekend’s match due to work commitments.

What the coaches say
Wallsend coach March Hingston believes his side can take the three points if they play to their potential.

“Our standard of football was excellent last week but we’re looking to improve another five percent,” Hingston said.

“We’ve been working on being more clinical in front of goals at training as well.

“We know we won’t get 27 attempts on Sunday so our decision making will be a big focus.”

Merewether coach Cass Koppen is expecting a tough match despite beating Wallsend 4-0 in Round three.

“We know Wallsend won’t give an inch and anticipate they will be putting up a stronger performance than we faced in Round one,” Koppen said.

Bottom line
Merewether have scored 10 goals in their last two games and should be hungry for more come Sunday afternoon. They are strong across the park and each player is comfortable with their role in the team. On the other hand, Wallsend will be hoping to build on last weekend’s strong showing against Thornton which should see them produce the attacking play they are known for. Both sides have ‘star’ players who are instrumental to their side’s success which will make for an exciting game on Mother’s Day. This game will be likely decided by executing opportunities with Merewether in the box seat to take the three points.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 9 Review

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend 4 (Laura Hall 2, Sophie O’Brien, Sass Seaborn) defeated Thornton 1 (Brooke Meredith) at The Gardens on Sunday. Half-time: Wallsend led 1-0. 

Wallsend returned to their stomping ground in style with a 4-1 win over a struggling Thornton on Sunday.

In the first half, the momentum shifted back and forth with both sides unable to string something together.

Wallsend headed into the sheds at half-time with a narrow 1-0 lead after Sophie O’Brien scored just before half-time.

In the second half, the Devil’s scored early through Laura Hall but Thornton answered with Brooke Meredith scoring from a free-kick.

It wasn’t meant to be for Thornton however, with Laura Hall grabbing her second and Sass Seaborn putting the nail in the coffin just before full time.

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston thought his side put in a 90-minute performance which they had been lacking in recent weeks.

“We played really good football for 90 minutes so I was really happy with the performance,” Hingston said.

“We had 27 shots so our completion rate wasn’t the best but our focus was a complete performance.

“It’s been a goal for weeks now and we will gain a lot of confidence through achieving it.”

Thornton coach Rob Richardson said he is running out of soldiers with a mounting injury list.

“Wallsend threw everything at us and we were still in it at 2-1 but unfortunately we conceded two late goals and they deserved the win,” Richardson said.

“We had three girls back up from Saturday and Lauren Faulkner played a full game in 17’s and first grade.

“The girls played their hearts out for no result but we will keep pushing on for next weekend.”

20s: Thornton 2 beat Wallsend 1.

17s: Wallsend 4 beat Thornton 2.

14s: Wallsend 1 beat Thornton 0.

Wallsend FC U/6’s handed out the shirts to our first grade team and they received a pack from the girls, we would like to thank everyone for making this happen and being so supportive to the families and junior players.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 9 Preview

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend v Thornton
Sunday 6th May, 2:30 pm
The Gardens

Last start: Wallsend lost 4-1 to New Lambton, Thornton lost 4-1 to Adamstown

Position on ladder: Wallsend 4th, 10 points; Thornton last, nil points 

Squad news
Wallsend will take the field with a full-strength side as Libby Copus-Brown returns from tonsillitis. An undecided Thornton side with a mounting injury list won’t be finalised until after training on Thursday. 

What the coaches say
Wallsend coach Marc Hingston is asking for consistency from his side after failing to close out last weekends game against New Lambton.

“Our past five games we have either led comfortably or been in control but our second half has let us down,” Hingston said.

“We spoke about having a desire to change this at training so hopefully we can flick the switch and perform for 90 minutes.

“We’re really excited to play our first game at The Gardens this year.”

Thornton coach Rob Richardson is hoping his side will enjoy football and not pressure themselves to get the result on Sunday.

“Whilst we are disappointed with our last outing, it’s obvious the pressure to succeed is having a reverse effect,” Richardson said.

“This weekend is about getting the girls to enjoy football and just have fun.” 

Bottom line
Wallsend will be hoping to get back on track and extend their top four lead even further which should see them come out fired up and ready to play. When at their best, the Devils are no doubt a force to be reckoned with and can give any team a run for their money. Wallsend can create and execute opportunities that other teams simply couldn’t and that is a huge advantage heading into the match. Whilst Thornton may not appear to be a threat, it would be dangerous to discount a side hungry for their first win of the season. Not having the added pressure of trying to get a result will alleviate the stress they have been feeling the past few weeks. A changed line-up could be the key to winning and if they can overcome a strong Wallsend side, the momentum will start to flow for the Redbacks.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 8 Review

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

New Lambton 4 (Hannah Batten 2, Tahlia Gossner, Emma Gonsalves) defeated Wallsend 1 (Laura Hall) at Alder Park on Sunday. Half-time: 1-1.

New Lambton was able to add new names to the scoresheet, including a debutant as they overcame Wallsend 4-1 at Alder Park on Sunday.

Wallsend was straight off the mark and dominated the first 15 minutes, creating plenty of opportunities and causing headaches for New Lambton’s defensive line.

The Devil’s hard work paid off in the 30th minute when Sass Seaborn combined with Laura Hall who dribbled on the inside of Jenna Kennedy and booted it into the top left-hand corner.

The visitors weren’t going to have it their way, as debutant Tahlia Gossner finding a loose ball from the top of the 18-yard box and striking low and hard into the bottom left corner to level the scores just before halftime.

In the second half, Hannah Batten scored twice in 10 minutes for the Eagles with her first goal coming from an absolute pearler out wide and the second deflecting off keeper Danielle Redding.

The home side was able to seal the deal in the later stages of the game when Georgia Amess crossed into the box to find Emma Gonsalves who buried it in the back of the net.

New Lambton coach Keelan Hamilton thought his side started flat but managed to put the pressure on Wallsend in the second half.

“I was really happy with the performance from the girls today,” Hamilton said.

“Wallsend are a good side and having both Stacey Day and Joey Burgess out tested our depth but the girls who came in did a great job.

“At half-time, we spoke about increasing our work rate and defensive pressure in the front and middle third and we did that well in the second half.

“Both teams had good periods of control but we defended well when needed and used the ball effectively to create chances which was pleasing.”

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston said a lack of desire in the second half meant his side were unable to string any goals together.

“The lack of desire is an issue we need to fix but there were positives,” Hingston said.

“It’s frustrating to be beaten by enthusiasm when it’s something we pride ourselves on.”

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 8 Preview

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

New Lambton v Wallsend

Sunday 29th April, 2:30 pm

Alder Park

Last start: New Lambton beat Adamstown 4-0, Wallsend beat South Wallsend 3-2.

 Position on ladder: New Lambton 3rd, 11 points; Wallsend 4th, 10 points.

Squad news

Both sides are expected to field last weekend’s starting line-up.

What the coaches say

New Lambton coach Keelan Hamilton says his side is in for a tough match against Wallsend.

“Last weekend was a good performance which gives us a lot of confidence,” Hamilton said.

“We know that if we don’t turn up and play with the right level of effort and quality on Sunday we won’t get the result we want.

“We are looking forward to playing at home for only the second time this season and Wallsend are in good form so we are expecting another tight match like Round one.”

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston says it will be a strong battle as both sides are the two most improved teams in the competition.

“It will be a great promotion for the women’s game in Newcastle,” Hingston said.

“We both play an attractive brand of football and hopefully we both bring our A-game on Sunday.”

Bottom line

Both teams have started to find their form which makes for an interesting match-up. Wallsend has the chance to steal third on the ladder from New Lambton which will no doubt be a motivator heading into the game. Every team knows the key to the Devils attack is the strike power and pace of Libby Copus-Brown, Sass Seaborn and Laura Hall which must be shut down to keep Wallsend at bay. On the opposing side, Tara Andrews, Joey Burgess and Georgia Amess play similar combinations and are a force to be reckoned with. New Lambton may be new to the competition but have proved they are genuine contenders and will be hoping to continue their winning streak. It’s shaping up to be an exciting battle and scoring first has never been more important.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 7 Review

Story and photo courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend 3 (Laura Hall 2, Sass Seaborn 1) defeated South Wallsend 2 at Walker Fields on Sunday. Half-time: Wallsend led 2-0. 

Wallsend was able to fight off a strong South Wallsend outfit and keep the fourth spot on the ladder, beating the Wolves 3-2 at Walker Fields on Sunday.

The Devils opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Libby Copus-Brown and Sass Seaborn teamed up out wide to cross into the box which found Laura Hall for a cracking finish.

Hall managed to grab her second goal after running onto a through ball and chipping past the keeper.

The visitors scored their second goal before half-time when a Copus-Brown free kick into the box was finished by Seaborn after keeper Jess Sanderson fumbled the ball.

South Wallsend scored twice early in the second half on penalties with Olivia Kennedy stepping up to the mark but couldn’t string anything together in the later stages of the game.

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston says his side may have been too comfortable heading into the sheds with a 2-0 lead at half-time.

“Our opening 45 minutes was excellent and Laura scored the best goal in the competition I’ve seen so far,” Hingston said.

“We were leading 2-0 at half-time but didn’t come out of the sheds firing in the second half and we gave away two penalties.

“I thought our discipline was really poor for our standard.

“We need to put teams to the sword when we are in control but we still got the three points which is a positive for us.” 

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 7 Preview

Story and photo courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Match of the Round
Wallsend v South Wallsend
Sunday 22nd April, 2:30 pm
Walker Fields 

Last start: Wallsend lost 4-2 to Warners Bay, South Wallsend beat Adamstown 3-1

Position on ladder: Wallsend 4th, 7 points; South Wallsend 5th, 6 points

Squad news

Both sides are expected to be at full strength with the possibility of a few changes to South Wallsend.

What the coaches say

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston says his side is feeling fresh after the bye last weekend.

“With three games in a week, I wanted to freshen them up to finish round one on a high,” Hingston said.

“They have played some really good football in the first round and their work ethic at training has been outstanding.

“This week is an opportunity to reward themselves by consolidating a spot in the top 3 or 4.”

South Wallsend coach Kevin Farley says his side is looking forward to the challenge and expects it to be a close game.

Bottom line

It’s shaping up to be a strong contest with both sides competing for a spot in the top four. Wallsend has had a mixed bag of results but has shown they are capable of competing with the best. The Devils having the bye last weekend is a huge advantage and will certainly benefit them heading into the match. The fleet-footed trio of Laura Hall, Sass Seaborn and Libby Copus-Brown are dangerous in attack and if South Wallsend want to keep their winning streak alive, they will need to be at their very best. South Wallsend will be out to assert their dominance and if they are at full strength, they are well on their way to grabbing their third straight win. Both teams are continually improving which paves the way for an exciting match.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 5 Review

Story and photo courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Match of the Round
Warners Bay 4 (Jenna Kingsley 2, Nadja Squires 2) defeated Wallsend 2 (Sass Seaborn, Libby Copus-Brown) at Wallsend Park on Sunday. Half-time: 2-2.

A thrilling match of the round with Warners Bay taking the chocolates in a 4-2 victory over Wallsend at Wallsend Park on Sunday.

Wallsend was first on the scoresheet when Libby Copus-Brown slotted a penalty into the bottom right corner 18 minutes in, narrowly missed by Bay keeper Maddi Latter.

The Devil’s wouldn’t keep the lead for long with a long-range free-kick thunderbolt from Nadja Squires finding the back of the net just ten minutes later.

The to and fro continued with Wallsend scoring a few minutes later when a Danielle Nicol free kick from out wide found Sass Seaborn in the box who turned and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

Cassidy Davis and Jenna Kingsley were able to combine as usual. A through ball from Davis found Kingsley who drew Danielle Redding off her line, put the visitor’s back in the game just before halftime.

Sian Keating is certainly pushing for a starting spot in first grade after another strong performance for Warner’s Bay in the backline. Throughout the match, Corinne Krupa was constantly in the mix in both attack and defence, in potentially her best game of the season, along with goalkeeper Maddi Latter.

On the opposing side, Sass Seaborn performed to her usual high standard and constantly threatened the Bay’s defensive line. Alice Munro and young Ellie Hall were clinical across the park with Danielle Redding making some excellent saves for Wallsend.

 HUNTER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

In the second half, Kingsley and Squires both grabbed their second goal of the match, handing the Bay a 4-2 victory.

Warner’s Bay player-coach Cassidy Davis thought their intensity increased in the second half.

“I think we were really flat and our attack was poor in the first half,” Davis said.

“At halftime, we spoke about urgency and the quality of our passes which I think really improved in the second half.

“We will be working on our communication and being quick on the ball in preparation for Merewether next week.”

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston praised his side for their effort after a tough 3 games in 7 days.

“To stick with a team that has 3 W-League players, I was really proud of the girls today,” Hingston said.

“We dominated the first half and their goals came at the back of our mistakes and Warners bay are a team that will capitalise on that.

“We really focused on making no mistakes in the middle because Tara, Jenna and Cass will counter-attack and we spoke about who was marking those players and making sure they didn’t have any space to play in.”

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 5 Preview

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Match of the Round
Wallsend v Warners Bay
Sunday 8th April, 2:30 pm
Wallsend Park

Last start: Warners Bay beat Thornton 7-1, Wallsend beat Adamstown 3-1

Position on ladder: Warners Bay 1st, 10 points; Wallsend 4th, 4 points

Squad news

At this stage, both squads should be at full strength with a couple of potential changes to be made to Warners Bay depending on injuries. 

What the coaches say

Warners Bay player-coach Cassidy Davis will be hoping to build on last weekend’s strong performance and keep the momentum flowing.

“After a good win last week, we want to continue scoring goals,” Davis said.

“We need to keep the same energy and work ethic that we have had in the last few games for longer periods.

“We know Wallsend are going to come out firing after a good win last week so we are expecting a very tough physical battle.”

Wallsend coach March Hingston is hoping his side will show the same amount of enthusiasm they did last weekend.

“We should be at full strength this week and we are looking to build on momentum after a really good performance last Sunday,” Hingston said.

Bottom line

Warner’s Bay may be the competition’s heavyweights but they can expect a physical game against a strong Wallsend outfit. The Bay has scored 24 points in the opening four rounds but the Devil’s 3-2 win over Thornton last night will give them momentum heading into the match. Wallsend is very vocal and the dynamic trio of Sass Seaborn, Libby Copus-Brown and Laura Hall will be up against Jenna Kingsley, Sophie Stapleford and Cassidy Davis. The match will be won in attack and a close scoreline is predicted.

Herald Women’s Premier League Round 4 Review

Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend 3 (Libby Copus-Brown, Laura Hall, Sass Seaborn) defeated Adamstown 1 (Olivia Trinka) at Adamstown No.1 on Sunday.
Half-time: Wallsend led 2-1.

Wallsend bounced back from a disappointing loss last week to down Adamstown 3-1 in a physical battle at Adamstown No.1 on Sunday.

Multiple yellow cards, one red card and plenty of arm-wrestling, this match had it all.

Adamstown was first on the board after Olivia Trinka scored in the 5th minute but the celebration was short lived as Wallsend answered one minute later with a free kick from Libby Copus-Brown finding the back of the net.

The Devil’s scored again in the 19th minute when a Sass Seaborn strike bounced off the post and found Laura Hall who was able to put it away.

Ten minutes into the second half, Sass Seaborn was at it again and almost scored for the visitors but Buds’ keeper Olivia Sneddon made a spectacular one-handed save and put in a strong performance all game.

Wallsend were down to 10 players in the 75th minute after Jessica Evans was handed a red card for back-chatting the referee but that didn’t stop them with Seaborn sprinting to the goals and striking low into the left corner.

Seaborn was one of the Devil’s best players on the day who constantly made penetrating runs and was difficult to contain. Danielle Nicol and Brooke Summers were outstanding defensively and were able to shut down any attacking play from Adamstown.

Courtney Wiltshire and Jocelyn Rae were standout players in an average Adamstown team with Elodie Dagg performing to her usual high standard.

Adamstown coach Paul Devitis believes Wallsend won the match in the first half with their strong start.

“I have to give Wallsend a lot of credit as they were very good,” Devitis said.

“At halftime, we spoke about being patient and improving our pass quality and that was the difference between us and Wallsend.

“Physically, we were in the battle but they had too much energy. It may have possibly been that we had to play mid-week but we failed to do the simple things.”

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston praised the girls for the courage they showed with only ten players in the back end of the second half.

“Defence was a big focus for us during the week and ensuring that Adamstown had no room to work in,” Hingston said.

“Courage definitely got us over the line but I was really impressed with their enthusiasm and willingness to play for each other.

“I thought we played as good as any team in the competition in the first fifteen minutes of the game and keeping that consistency is definitely something we will be working on.”