Sydney FC have fallen to defeat at No.2 Sportsground despite a spirited performance.
The Sky Blues rallied hard in the second half and Jasmine Black made her Sydney FC debut however it wasn’t enough for them to get the job done.
Moments That Mattered
24’ | PRIOR GOAL RULED OUT – Tash Prior nods one into the net however the offside flag is raised and the scores remain level.
32′ | HAWKESBY CHANCE – Tallon-Henniker finds Hawkesby with a neat cut-back however she stretches for the shot and Krzyzaniak holds.
37′ | MASON-JONES STRONG SAVE – Gallagher tries one from range that bounces just in front of Mason-Jones and she does well to push wide.
42′ | GALLAGHER OPENS THE SCORING – A ball to the back post causes chaos in the Sydney FC backline and Sheridan Gallagher is on the line to poke it home.
53′ | HAWKESBY FIRES OVER – Shea Connors sets up Hawkesby with space on the edge however her shot goes over the top.
78′ | BLACK SAVE ON DEBUT – Jasmine Black replaces Beth Mason-jones in goal and she makes a great save with her feet.
84′ | JETS STRIKE CROSSBAR – The hosts rattle the crossbar from a short corner routine.
What They Said – Mackenzie Hawkesby
“Every week we take it as a new week and we will keep pushing right to the end. We are Sydney FC and we expect a lot of ourselves.
“It’s good to see Jasmine get her debut, she has been at the club a long time and it’s great to see her get experience and game time.
“Win, lose or draw we keep going and fighting to the end.”
Match Report
Sydney FC headed up the M1 to take on Newcastle Jets on International Women’s Day at No.2 Sportsground and unfortunately fell to defeat,
A first half goal from Sheridan Gallagher was enough to split the two sides on a Saturday afternoon that will be remembered for the impressive debut of Jasmine Black in the Sydney FC net.
After a bright start which included a Caley Tallon-Henniker shot that flashed across the face, the Sky Blues struggled to gain the ascendancy and Beth Mason-Jones was called into action, palming away a shot from the edge of the box.
She would be involved moments later, forced to push away a dangerous cross that floated into the six yard box with the Jets piling on the pressure.
Halfway through the first half, the hosts thought they had the lead through Tash Prior however the offside flag was correctly raised with the Matildas defender straying too far from a set piece.
At the other end, the Sky Blues looked to get a foot hold on the contest and almost found the net through their striker Mackenzie Hawkesby. The number 15 was looking to make it goals in her last four matches however she saw her shot saved by Krzyzaniak.
Sheridan Gallagher was putting herself about as per usual and after picking up a yellow card for a foul on Jordan Thompson, the former NRLW player tried her luck from range and brought another good save from Mason-Jones who had to act smart with the ball bouncing just in front of her and heading into the corner.
However, the resilience wouldn’t last until the whistle with Gallagher poking home for the opener. Lauren Allen was un-marked at the back post and her header went across the face of the goal and was parried by Mason-Jones, however it went to the path of Gallagher who poked it in on the goal line.
At half time, Ante Juric brought on Shea Connors and she almost had an instant impact as she turned and fired an effort toward goal but it headed over the top of the bar.
The ladies looked to turn the screw and had a great chance fall the way of Mackenzie Hawkesby who was found by Connors in space but her effort was off target.
With both teams looking for the ascendancy, Jets threw bodies into the box and one collision with Beth Mason-Jones forced Juric’s hand and Jasmine Black was given her Sydney FC debut between the sticks with the number 28 unable to continue.
And what a great debut it was as she commanded her box and made a brilliant foot save from Deven Jackson who turned and tried an effort inside the area.
The Jets would rattle the crossbar late on, however there would be no second goal in the game and the Jets move up the table with three more points.
Sydney FC will now re-group and host Wellington Phoenix next weekend during the A-Leagues’ Pride Celebration at Leichhardt Oval.
Sydney FC: Bethany MASON-JONES (GK) (13. Jasmine BLACK (GK) 72′), 4. Tori TUMETH, 6. Shay HOLLMAN, 12. Natalie TOBIN (C), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI (9. Shea CONNORS HT’), 22. Indiana Dos SANTOS (21. Lucy JOHNSON 72′), 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (3. Faye BRYSON 79′), 26. Maddie CASPERS (7. Millie FARROW 60′).
Unused Subs: None.
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Newcastle Jets: 1. Danielle KRZYZANIAK, 2. Josie WILSON, 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS, 8. Emma DUNDAS ( 7. India BREIER 89′), 13. Lauren ALLAN (9. Bel ROLLEY. 90’+5′), 17. Sheridan GALLAGHER (11. Deven JACKSON HT’), 18. Sophie HOBAN, 22. Lorena BAUMANN, 24. Milan HAMMOND, 25. Lara GOOCH, 26. Josie ALLAN (32. Claire ADAMS 61′).
Unused Subs: 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (GK).
Yellow Cards: Gallagher 22′.
Red Cards: None
Venue: No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle
Referee: Molly Godsell
Attendance: 1,127
