Albion Park produced a barnstorming 9-0 win over North Sydney United to progress to the semi finals of the Champion of Champions. In the previous round, Albion Park had a 3-0 win over Balmain DFC while United beat Umina SC 5-0.

 

The local side were dominant in the opening 20 minutes, however, they could not find the back of the Sydneysiders’ net. Kristina Glisic was the first to get a shot away after three minutes but Holly Walker pulled off a tight save, two minutes later Walker spilt a cross but Linda Hillard couldn’t capitalise as her effort blazed over the crossbar. After 17 minutes, talismanic striker Brittany Ring hustled around her marker and into the box but her low strike was well saved by Walker’s outstretched boot.

 

The constant Albion Park pressure finally led to a goal in the 24th minute. It came through Ring who latched onto a Shakiah Tungai through ball before tucking it into the bottom left corner from an acute angle. Ring doubled Albion Park’s advantage six minutes later and once again Tungai was the supply line, her cross was spilt by the United goalkeeper and Ring was on the spot to poach her brace.

 

Rylee McGartland, who was having a quiet opening half injected herself into the match and in the 33rd minute, she had Albion Park’s third. The ball came to her just outside the box and her low drive found the bottom corner despite Venessa Thomas nearly kicking it clear off the line.  

 

In the 39th minute, McGartland lined up for another long range attempt. This one was destined for the top right corner but Walker produced a fantastic save to tip the ball over the bar. Walker’s efforts would be in vain as McGartland headed home from the resulting Michelle Foscarini corner.

 

Albion Park went into the half time interval with a dominant advantage thanks to four goals in a tick over 15 minutes.

 

Five minutes into the second period, Albion Park continued to pile on the goals. Ring got on the end of a long ball before cutting out her defender with a delightful chip pass to Glisic who slid in Casey-Leigh Suttle who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

 

In the 54th minute, Suttle swung in a dangerous cross that evaded the goalkeeper and fell for Philippa Robinson who had made an intelligent run into the box but her shot was skied over the empty goal. A few passages later, Suttle made up for this miss by getting her second, she outmuscled her defender to get just inside the box before thumping the ball across the keeper and into the left of the net. Suttle became the third player to grab a double for the afternoon.

 

North Sydney would stem the flow of goals for the next 20 minutes, however, their thin squad didn’t have the legs to mount any pressure and score a consolation goal.

 

The final 10 minutes saw another three goals find the back of United's net. Tungai’s back heeled pass found Kaelah Austin free on the left, she cut it back for Glisic who managed to convert from close range. Austin had her second assist a minute later when she dinked a pass to Ring who rolled the ball into the bottom left corner. The rout was complete in the 87th minute when Foscarini’s 25-metre strike snuck through Walker’s legs and into the net.

 

The ruthless 9-0 win sees Albion Park move within two wins of a stunning quadruple which also includes the League Championship, Grand Final and State Cup. It is also Albion Park’s 25th win from 25 games. They play their semi final next weekend against a yet to be determined opponent.

 

There were eight other local sides involved in Champions of Champions action on Sunday and four managed progress to the semi finals, they includes; Figtree (13 Boys), Lake Heights (16 Boys), Thirroul (21 Women) and Russell Vale Pink (over 30 Women). Unfortunately Russell Vale (12 Girls), Fernhill (14 Girls), Wollongong Olympic (14 Boys) and Warilla (18 Women) lost their quarter final matches.

 

Click this link to access the draws for the Champion of Champions - https://footballnsw.com.au/competitions/puma-champion-of-champions/

 

Albion Park - 9 (Ring 24’ 30’ 81’, McGartland 33’ 40’, Suttle 50’ 58’, Glisic 80’, Foscarini 87’)

North Sydney United - 0

 

Sunday the 8th of October at Macedonia Park (Hooka Creek)

 

Albion Park - Aleisha Chessell, Philippa Robinson, Nicole McCracken, Kaelah Austin, Shakiah Tungai, Michelle Foscarini, Casey-Leigh Suttle, Tenaya Davis, Linda Hillard, Brittany Ring, Rylee McGartland, Faith Atkins, Clare Duffy, Kristina Glisic and Jessica Hanly

 

North Sydney United - Holly Walker, Katherine Ariovati, Toni Evitts, Vanessa Thomas, Kristy Tradell, Jamie Ware, Leonore Carr, Jaimee King, Jonia Faragiter, Hayley Burn, Kelsey Worth and Ash Hudson

 

Referee - Caleb Blanch

 

Assistant Referee - Anna Phipps and Caitlyn O’Flynn

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela