MATCH OF THE ROUND- University of Wollongong- 2, Bulli FC – 0 @ Kooloobong Oval
University of Wollongong secured their first win of the season on Sunday against a goalless Bulli.
In only the 3rd minute, University was at Bulli’s throat as Jasmine Trajceski went clean through and tried to round the keeper, but Tiffany Stone managed to get a glove on the ball to stop the attack.
University’s fast transition from midfield to attack put more pressure on Bulli’s defence as Lexi Carter tried a shot from distance, barely testing the keeper as the effort went over the bar.
The hosts’ pressure was rewarded in the 39th minute. A ball from midfield cut open the defence into the feet of Trajceski, who got away from her marker and placed the ball into the left side of the goal.
Less than five minutes after the break, the students struck again, with Trajceski at the double.
She collected the ball from the halfway line and shrugged off two defenders while charging to the Bulli box. The forward then squeezed the shot under the arms of the keeper and rolled into the away side’s net to make it 2-0.
The home side in the 53rd minute attempted to increase their lead with Sophie Boyd, who caught the keeper out from outside of the box, but the effort missed the unprotected goal by a small margin.
Nikki Taylor, in the 56th minute, attempted to reduce the deficit as she drove the ball far up to the box, but couldn’t find an opening from her deadly ball in the goal area.
72 minutes in to the game, and Bulli’s hopes of finding a way back in the game slipped as Bulli hit a free kick over the wall, but Emma Carstens remained firm in goal and caught the ball with confidence.
From the 80th minute onwards, the series of chances all went in Wollongong’s favour, who sent a barrage of shots at Stone, who continued to keep the score level down.
The result gets University off the mark for the 2026 season as they look to build on that in their next fixture against Coniston. Bulli, on the other hand, face Thirroul with both sides desperate for points.
Photos courtesy of @Gragrapix
Woonona Sharks FC – 1, Coniston FC – 4 @Ocean Park
Coniston showed they mean business as they established their first win in the season with a four-goal win over an inconsistent Woonona.
Before the 10th-minute mark, Jessica Cruickshank opened the scoring after she forced an error from the goalkeeper and slotted home to get the scoring started.
Tara Cannon joined in on the action with the second goal coming in the 34th minute after she made a dazzling run through the defence before tucking it neatly past the goalkeeper.
Coniston came out in the second half with the intent of scoring again, with Jessica Rossi, who added to the lead in the 52nd minute after a pin point finish from the edge of the box.
The score remained at a comfortable 3-0 until the 74th minute, when Elena Miccoli got on the end of a cross from the right which was missed by everyone, leaving her with a simple tap-in on the far post.
Fiona Leafe restored a little bit of pride with a great individual effort on 85 minutes which saw her thread through a tired defence before calmly finishing bottom left.
Coniston’s shock away victory puts them into third place, two points below Shellharbour in first and Woonona in second.
Woonona will have to wait after their bye in round four to build on their season whilst Coniston have the opportunity to surpass them in their game against University of Wollongong, who also secured their first win of the season.
Shellharbour City and Thirroul Thunderbirds – washed out
Shoalhaven FC – bye
Report by Thomas Panayiotou
