Macarthur Rams, who won the NPLW premiership last year but this season are desperate to avoid the wooden spoon – and relegation – have put a six point buffer between them and bottom placed Newcastle Jets.
The Rams defeated the Jets 2-1 yesterday in Newcastle in round 18 of the 2025 NSW women’s competition.
It was essentially the battle for the wooden spoon in this clash, played at Lake Macquarie regional football facility.
The home side were keen to put on an improved performance in front of their home fans.
However, the Rams were equally desperate to get the win to stave off relegation a season after being premiers.
Jets struck first in the 38th minute by capitalising on the referee signalling play-on after a foul.
Macarthur had to wait for the second half to secure an important equaliser.
Six minutes after the re-start, Bronte Trew sparked a clinical sequence of play after working the ball inside to Sakura Nojima, who assuredly ran toward the goal line, drew out the goalkeeper and calmly setup Tea Mucenski for a finish into the back of an empty net.
Thirty one minutes later the Rams scored their second, which was enough to give them victory and the three points.
Substitute India Breier fired a low cross into the box that was met at the back post by Gabriela Silva, who was fresh off of the bench herself, and put away for 2-1.
At the other end of the ladder, Bulls FC Academy were 2-1 down in an away match with Sydney University when a delay for lightning ultimately forced the match to be abandoned.
The home side got on the scoresheet first thanks to an own goal from the Bulls in the 34th minute.
It took just 60 seconds after the second half got under for the Bulls to level things up in the scoreboard.
Half-time substitute Isabella Coco-Di Sipio made an instant impact by producing one of the goals of the season.
Sipio picked up the ball on the left side of the box, cut in and unleashed an unstoppable hit from distance that nestled into the top right corner of the net.
Four minutes later, the home team struck back to regain the lead, before the weather intervened and the game eventually abandoned.