Sydney FC claimed local bragging rights in the Westfield W-League derby with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Stadium.
The result ensured Sydney maintained its grip on second spot and preserved its unbeaten home record in the process.
The match was played with the intensity expected of a local derby with the majority of players also team-mates in the NSW Institute of Sport program.
Five yellow cards in the match was indicative of a spirited though not spiteful contest, with the match played at a good standard throughout considering the blustery and at times extreme winds.
The youthful Mariners side though providing good value against Sydney despite the two-goal deficit.
The Mariners came into the match having suffered a five-goal demolition at the hands of league leaders Queensland Roar just a week earlier at the same venue.
Aided by a strong wind in the first half Sydney FC scored both goals in quick succession, both from set pieces and in near identical circumstances.
The deadlock broke just past the half-hour when acting skipper Lisa Gilbert got her head onto a perfect Kylie Ledbrook corner, and despite a goal-line block from Trudy Camilleri, goal-sneak Khamis was on hand to prod home from point-blank range.
Five minutes later Ledbrook delivered another dangerous corner and this time Gilbert’s header powered past a helpless Lisa Hartley in the Mariners goal.
As the previous week against the Roar, Mariners striker Kyah Simon had an early sight of goal but her spanking goal-bound volley deflected away to safety.
Ledbrook then delivered a free kick from the right that was met spectacularly by a diving Danielle Brogan but her header narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Sydney though would not be denied and opened the scoring soon through the dead-ball inspiration of Ledbrook.
The Mariners upped the ante late in the half winning a succession of corners with Camilleri doing well to set up a shooting opportunity before the midfielder’s shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Servet Uzunlar could have been awarded a penalty when she went down in the box on the hour mark but referee Prue Donohoe waved play on.
The Mariners had strong claims of their own soon after as substitute Stephanie Haim appearing to have been brought down, with Nikola Dieter required to a produce the save of the match as Camilleri followed-up with a fierce shot.
Despite the scoreline the Mariners outshot their opponents and forced more corners having the better of the play for large periods of the second half.
Sydney’s best chance of the half saw Khamis fire across the face of goal and past the far post after being released by Uzunlar.
Regular Blues skipper Heather Garriock took the field late on after returning from a hip injury and the Matildas midfielder produced a sprawling save from Lisa Hartley with Sydney looking dangerous going forward as the Mariners sent numbers downfield.
Diminutive Central Coast midfielder Theresa Polias struck the crossbar with a dipping 35 metre shot with virtually the last play of the match but a deserved goal for the Mariners was not to be forthcoming.
“We played another great match, though did not get the points which is really frustrating,” said Mariners’ coach Stephen Roche.
“I believe tonight’s performance was one of our best of the season; we really dominated possession and we kept them stuck in their own half for such a large spell, though the two goals we conceded though were really disappointing.”
Match Details
Sydney FC 2 (Leena Khamis 23-, Lisa Gilbert 38-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Saturday 15 November 2008
Referee: Prue Donohoe
Assistant Referees: Ariane Nemorin, Peta McCallum
Fourth Official: Brett Hookham
Sydney FC line-up: 20.Nikki DIETER (gk), 2.Samantha SPACKMAN (15.Jessica SEAMAN 58-), 3.Danielle BROGAN, 4.Alesha CLIFFORD, 5.Lisa GILBERT (c), 6.Servet UZUNLAR, 10.Kylie LEDBROOK, 16.Linda O-NEILL (7.Heather GARRIOCK 80-), 17.Danielle SMALL, 19.Leena KHAMIS (14.Maggie ELHUSSEINI 85-), 21.Jordan MARSH
Substitutes not used: 1.Rachel COOPER (gk)
Yellow cards: Jordan Marsh 24-, Danielle Brogan 39-, Samantha Spackman 54-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20.Lisa HARTLEY (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE (15.Elizabeth O-REILLY 78-), 4.Rachael DOYLE, 5.Jodie BAIN, 6.Karina ROWETH (9.Ellyse PERRY 80-), 7.Teresa POLIAS, 8.Renee ROLLASON, 10.Kyah SIMON, 12.Gill FOSTER (11.Stephanie HAIM 45-), 13.Trudy CAMILLERI
Substitutes not used: 1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow cards: Karina Roweth 35-, Caitlin Cooper 66-
Red Cards: Nil
