There were some high-intensity clashes in Round 2 of the Women’s Illawarra Premier League, as the second week of the competition provided ample entertainment.
Here is what happened in the second round.
MATCH OF THE ROUND – Woonona Sharks 2 Thirroul Thunderbirds 1 @ Ocean Park
Woonona came from a goal down to beat a valiant Thirroul 2-1 at home, a result which ensured the team has maximum points after two rounds.
The match got off to a competitive start with the team battling to make an early breakthrough.
Thirroul stunned their opponents in the 20th minute, taking the lead. Grace Vaughan whipped in a right-sided cross, which flew over Woonona goalkeeper Ebony Warner and nestled in the goal.
Woonona sought to respond soon after conceding, and in the 27th minute, Laura Green fired an effort wide from the right of the field.
Tess Stephens was proving a challenge for the visitors to deal with. The winger’s direct play created several good moments for the Sharks.
On the stroke of halftime, Woonona had another chance through Danielle Blackett, but the attacker’s close-range shot was comfortably caught by Lilli Iredale.
Woonona almost had a flying start to the second half when, just a minute in, Matilda Armitt wriggled her way into the left of the box and cut it back to Sophie Heath, who skied a big chance.
The hosts continued this pressure right through the second, and it paid dividends in the 75th minute. Blackett scored with a curling shot from inside the box that dropped into the right of the goal. It was a goal for the makeshift striker against her former side.
The game stretched after this goal, with the action playing out in an end-to-end fashion.
Woonona completed the turnaround in the 87th minute as Armitt latched onto a ball down the left and delivered a cross for Blackett, who poked the ball in.
The Sharks saw out the remaining minutes to secure a vital come-from-behind victory early in the year.
Woonona coach Neil Castle said his side made hard work of the win, but was satisfied to pick up the points.
Castle also praised the performance of Blackett, who picked up a brace against her former side. The coach said the strong hold-up play of the normally defensive-minded Blackett gives her the skills to play higher up the field.
“It was tough going, and Thirroul fought really hard and made a good game of it,” Castle said.
“I think we were the better team over the 90 minutes.
“We’ve got a few defenders, so we thought we needed another attacker. We saw things in training with the way she [Blackett] held the ball up, and she’s developing into a really good attacker for us.”
Shoalhaven 2 Coniston 1 @ Ison Park
Shoalhaven earned their first win of the season, overturning an early deficit with two quickfire second-half goals.
Madelaine Steel had the away side a goal up within the first five minutes of the contest – a lead they took into the break.
Kaitlyn Sennitt scored in the space of six minutes after the hour mark to give Shoalhaven a narrow advantage, which they held on to and claimed an important three points.
The result takes Shoalhaven into the top four, but the side has a bye next weekend, which could see them slip out of the finals places.
Bulli FC 0 Shellharbour City 5 @ Balls Paddock
Shellharbour City continued their super start to 2026, registering a 5-0 win against Bulli.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through Dajana Popovic, before Kari Gonzalez and Samara Wehmeyer scored twice quickly around half an hour in.
Mia Riza’s goal on the hour mark extended City’s lead, with Wehmeyer making it a brace for the side in the dying embers.
The result sees Shellharbour remain at the top of the table, with a healthy goal difference after only a couple of rounds.
