After playing fullback for Merewether last season, teenage talent Isabella Ramzan-Levy has been used in the midfield for Charlestown Azzurri's first two outings and the 19-year-old has not looked out of place.
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Ramzan-Levy got onto the end of a long-range Nicki Jones' ball into the box on Sunday to score her first goal in Herald Women's Premier League and do what many players can't by getting past former teammate and now Magic goalkeeper Alison Logue to give Azzurri an early 1-0 lead.
After trailing for around 45 minutes, Magic ended up winning 4-1 to remain unbeaten league leaders but Ramzan-Levy's effort was one of the positives for coach Michael Lee, who is confident his side can do well this season if only he can get all of his players on the pitch.
Azzurri are awaiting an international clearance for Jess Gentle, who has been playing college football in the United States and from all reports will cause some trouble when she is unleashed. Striker Lori Depczynski is sidelined indefinitely with a knee issue and midfielder Imogen Tusek is on restricted duties as she recovers from a knee complaint.
May Bailey was unavailable. Azzurri's other centre-back Carolina Cacic played with a knee injury, striker Ash Gavin was unwell and fullback Mischa Ball came off at half-time injured.
"We went alright in the first half and, again, you're doing it with the bare number of players," Lee said post-match. "It's a shame because with the whole lot there, they're not bad."
Azzurri will look to bounce back when they play Adamstown at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday night.
Taking flight
Young talent led the way as newcomers Maitland posted their first competition points with a 6-2 win over Adamstown at Cooks Square Park on Saturday. After a scoreless first half, Magpies coach Keelan Hamilton credited a deluge of goals in the second period to being "really clinical and effective" on the counter-attack.
Chelsea Gay, 19, scored a hat-trick, 15-year-old Mercedes Mcnabb produced a match brace and Kate Heap, 18, completed the rout. Strike weapon Sophie Stapleford was a last-minute casualty due to a quadriceps complaint but Hamilton hoped to have her back when they face "another test" in last year's grand finalists Warners Bay on Sunday.
New challenge
Former W-League Jets player Maddy Searl has taken charge of New Lambton after first-grade coach Greg Lowe stood down last week due to personal reasons.
The 27-year-old, who can no longer play after three major knee injuries, was "excited" by the challenge of working with a young Eagles group and encouraged by their performance in a 3-0 loss to defending champions Olympic last Friday.
"It's a new group but the effort was awesome, so there's a lot of positives to take from that and I think it's a really good base to build from," Searl said.
Elise Foster, 15, made her first-grade debut off the bench at right midfield and earned Searl's praise.
"Elise came on and did an awesome job," Searl said. "And our goalkeeper Lily-Rose Dunbar was terrific. She's only 14. It was three-nil but she kept us in the game."
Olympic reserve-grade striker Sophie Mcdonald made her first-grade starting debut and Callie Thomas came off the bench to score her first goal in the top grade.
Attacking player Keea Parrish was a last-minute withdrawal due to illness and Jemma House was unavailable. Olympic coach Harmonie Attwill said that "gave a few girls the opportunity and they took their chances".
Emerging talent
The Emerging Jets lost 4-0 to Football NSW Institute in their first home game of the NSW National Premier League Women's at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility last Sunday. They play North West Sydney at Christie Park in round four this Sunday.