It was a fantastic set of results for the girls’ and women’s sides in Round Three against Nepean.

Four wins and only one defeat including a clean sweep for the senior sides sends a real statement to the rest of the teams in the competitions.

U14 Girls | Nepean FC 1 South Coast Flame 0

We were very fortunate to see football being played this weekend as the South Coast Flame travelled up to a wet, misty Jamison park. 

From the outset, the game was played at a frenetic pace as the ball was zipping around on the wet surface. 

Both teams looked to use the conditions to their advantage in possession of the ball with the Flame looking to play quick passes and Nepean looking to play skidding passes beyond the backline. 

The biggest shock of the game was that it was still level at the interval with the Flame fashioning several one-on-one opportunities. 

The second half saw a tactical switch for the Flame and Nepean began to sit deeper in their defensive shape and play on the counter. 

It was one of these counters that won Nepean a corner which resulted in a very dangerous far post cross that travelled over the crowd and astonishingly found the side netting to put the home side up 1-0 in the 55th minute. 

The Flame kept pushing for the equaliser but Nepean were excellent in their game management and managed to grind out a difficult 1-0 victory. 

Player of the Week: Mia Stapley 

Mia was excellent in the execution of her player tasks and stretched the opposition with her presence all game long. 

She was crucial in creating space for the Flame and provided forward passes for the girls’ attacks on numerous occasions. 

Well done Mia!

U15 Girls | Nepean FC 1 South Coast Flame 3

Our Under-15 girls had a hard-fought 3-1 win against Nepean FC on Sunday morning. 

With two Under-14s in Isabella Elsner and Shaelyn Petkovski making the starting line up this week, we fielded a young and youthful side on the weekend, and these girls did not disappoint. 

The Flame got off to a fast start again with a quick opening goal by hat-trick hero Indiana Garvin. 

Flame lost their way towards the end of the first half with Nepean grabbing a goal mid-way through the first half. The girls hung on and re-grouped at halftime. 

The girls had to dig in in the second half with the game in balance before Indiana Garvin grabbed another two goals to seal the game for the squad. 

The entire squad fought hard for the three points and should be credited for their efforts. 

Player of the Week: Indiana Garvin 

The ever-versatile Indiana Garvin was outstanding on the weekend. 

She fought hard for everything and showed her versatility when playing at both fullback and wing, always being dangerous in front of goal. 

Her hat-trick was a just reward for her efforts.

U16 Girls | Nepean FC 0 South Coast Flame 2

Although it was a very wet journey up to Jamison park, the conditions became mild with a few patches of rain as the girls kicked off. 

The Flame’s positive intent was clear from the outset and it took but three and a half minutes for Sam Shallcross to find a killer Pass that set Maddison Day free. 

The striker obliged and slid the ball past the onrushing Nepean keeper to put the Flame 1-0 up.

After taking the lead, the Flame lowered the tempo and looked to control possession. 

Despite a few half chances, the sides entered the break with the score remaining 1-0. 

The second half began just as quickly as the first when Lili Rosandic delivered a lethal corner into the box, which eventually found the boot of Shallcross who dispatched into the top left corner to double the South Coast’s advantage in the 48th minute. 

This would set the tone for the second half as Nepean sat in a low block and the Flame created chance after chance. 

The only negative on the day was the fact that the Flame couldn’t find a few more goals but it was nonetheless, a thorough job by the girls who brought all 3 points home. 

Player of the Week: Samantha Shallcross 

Sam was the real linchpin for the Flame on game day and controlled the game with neat touches in tight areas and a strong display of her passing range. 

She executed her tactical tasks with great efficiency. She added an assist and a goal and had the Flame ticking from the first minute.

U20s | Nepean FC 1 South Coast Flame 3

South Coast Flame travelled to Penrith to take on Nepean FC in a drizzly encounter that was moved from the flooded Cook Park to Jamison Park Synthetic. 

Flame started well, finding joy in the wide areas, however, the execution of passes was letting them down. 

Against the run of play, Nepean took the lead on 10 minutes. 

A long-range freekick took a wicked bounce off the wet synthetic pitch, flying through the Flame shot-stopper’s hands. 

Flame responded confidently to the setback and began to assert control of the game. 

However, against the run of play again, Nepean were awarded a penalty. 

Nepean captain stepping up and blazing her shot over the bar. 

With that lifeline, South Coast were unlucky to not take the lead by halftime with Mia Riza being denied from close range, Hayley Cowie’s shot going just wide and Caley Tallon Heniker seeing her shot skim the crossbar.

Nepean held on to their 1-0 lead until halftime. 

South Coast began the second half where they left off, high-intensity press from the front and excellent attacking combination play in wide areas. 

On 66 minutes, Mia Riza put Caley Tallon Heniker through on goal, the pacey striker cutting in front of her defender and nutmegging the goalkeeper to bring the scores level. 

Momentum was with South Coast and two minutes later it was Caley Tallon Heniker again. 

A cross-field ball from Lili Rosandic found Sienna Humphrey on the back post. 

Humphrey’s shot could only be parried into the path of Tallon Heniker who scored from an acute angle to make it 2-1 to Flame.

Nepean looked deflated as South Coast found their groove and took the game to the hosts. 

With 10 minutes remaining, some tidy footwork from Caley Tallon Heniker and Hazel Atkins down the left channel found Emily Kostovski unmarked in the Nepean penalty area. 

The midfielder slotted her shot home from six yards and secured the three points for South Coast. 

Massive congratulations to the girls for collecting their first points of the FNSW Under-20s League One competition and displaying huge resilience to come back from 1-0 down at halftime, away from home, with a number of key players out with injury and illness to get the win. 

Player of the Week: Caley Tallon Heniker & Kate Gorham 

Caley Tallon Heniker put on a breath-taking second-half performance and was the X-Factor that got Flame over the line against Nepean. 

Her two goals and one assist were ultimately the difference. Kate Gorham deserves a mention this week also. 

Her defensive work throughout the game was inspiring as she tied down the Nepean attack with confidence and composure.

1st Grade | Nepean FC 1 South Coast Flame 2

South Coast Flame looked to get their first win of the FNSW League One season after a promising attacking performance last week. 

Flame started the game in control and were able to break down the Nepean defence in the wide channels through Rachelle Wang and Piper Cowen. 

Nepean were resorting to long-ball football in an attempt to catch the Flame defence sleeping. 

On 20 minutes, South Coast took the lead. 

Alexis Malizis delivered a fantastic cross to the back post which was met by the head of Emi Skopal. 

Skopal’s header going back across goal for Jessica Cruishanks to smash home from six yards. 

The lead was short-lived unfortunately as a Nepean striker broke the offside trap and headed towards goal. 

Her attempt to square the ball was half-cleared by a Flame defender, unfortunately, the clearance fell to the feet of a Nepean player who calmly placed the ball in the top left corner to level the scores at 1-1. 

After halftime, Flame were encouraged to continue more of the same, but tidy up the passing in the final third. 

Alexis Malizis and Sariah Wilson were beginning to pull the strings in midfield and create chances in the Nepean penalty area. 

Six minutes into the second half, a deflected cross fell to the feet of Sariah Wilson 25 yards out from goal. 

Wilson hit the ball first-time with her left foot, her shot cannoning in off the crossbar to give Flame a 2-1 lead. 

Nepean continued with their ‘kick and chase’ tactics deep into the game but the defensive line of South Coast held strong and ground out the win with some help from the upright and some excellent goalkeeping from Charlotte Palmisano. 

Congratulations to all the girls and coaching staff for their first win in the FNSW League One Competition. 

A huge effort from everyone involved.