Bulls Academy shake up NPL women’s premiership

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Bulls FC Academy put on an attacking master class to defeat Northern Tigers 3-1 in Round 17 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition.

The Bulls are now just two points behind competition leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers as the business end of the season starts to come into view.

That they are so close to topping the table is no surprise, given they are now undefeated in 11 rounds.

Coming up against a Northern Tigers side struggling for form after two losses in three matches meant complacency was the main enemy for the Bulls, but showed no signs of that at all.

Claudia Valletta gave the Bulls a brilliant opener in the 27th minute after cleverly curling in her free-kick from a difficult position on the left wing.

The visitors hit back seven minutes later to make it 1-1 in the 34th minute.

However the Bulls weren’t fazed by the equaliser, and restored their lead in the 40th minute when Tamires Souza escaped her marker to head home with ease.

Petria Phillips capped off her side’s quality performance by playing a one-two with Olivia Cartwright and unleashing a sensational strike from distance that walloped into the top right corner of the net to make it 3-1 in the 57th minute.

At the other end of the ladder, where reigning premiers Macarthur Rams find themselves, there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

The Rams, desperate to avoid finishing with the wooden spoon, were 3-0 victors over UNSW at Lynwood Park.

The win snapped a four game losing streak, as well as helping the Rams put a three point buffer between them and the side running last, Newcastle Jets.

A Rams free-kick into the box led to the first goal for the Rams 29 minutes into the game.

Tea Mucenski picked up a loose ball form Darcey Malone’s deflected strike and skilfully hit a quality strike with her back to goal.

Mucenski was also heavily involved in her team’s second goal of the afternoon.

She guided a beautiful cross into the path of Bronte Trew, who latched onto the ball and steered it in for 2-0 seven minutes after the start of the second half.

In the 77th minute a sensational pass from Sakura Nojima unlocked the UNSW defence and allowed Halle Callow to run into space in behind, with the Rams winger putting the finishing touches with a classy strike planted in the bottom right corner.

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