In a scoreline that assisted neither side, traditional powers Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar played out a 1-1 at Lambert Park.

It was a result and performances that were indicative of the woes and the bright spots for both sides this W-League season.

After two losses on the trot both Daniel Barrett and Belinda Wilson made some structure changes in the hopes of gaining the desired result; three much needed points.

Sydney added the in-form Liz Ralston into the starting line up as the Sky Blues essentially played with three ball playing centre backs, making the returning Teresa Polias proving even more crucial in this match with her cover when they went forward.

And go forward they did as Barrett's move saw Sydney dominate possession early with Teigen Allen and Samantha Johnson joining the attack and the sheer numbers bombing on overwhelming Brisbane early.

With the reinforcements, Nicole Bolger and Chloe Logarzo were able to provide Jasmyne Spencer with the support she had been missing in recent games and consequently the intricate passing in the front third returned for the first time in a month of matches.

The result was several chances for Sydney and they only thing they didn't execute well was scoring.

That was to come back and bite them as the Roar, who took a good 25 minutes to adjust, slowly gained the ascendancy.

In this respect, Brisbane gave Sydney back their own medicine. Pre-match Wilson had made the surprise move of starting vice captain Elise Kellond-Knight at left full back.

For the last two seasons Kellond-Knight has transitioned into a holding midfielder for the Roar and the Matildas.

Melbourne Victory's Stephanie Catley has locked down that role at the Matildas since 2012, so it is easy to forget that in that position "KK" is one of the world's best (voted in the 2011 FIFA All Star team) but on Saturday the Sydney crowd were given a reminder.

KK and Brooke Spence provided the same drive Allen and Johnson did for Sydney and in doing so made the Sydney full backs accountable. Eventually Sydney sat deeper and deeper in their own half.

One of the engrossing battles of the afternoon was Kellond-Knight v Allen; the proverbial immovable object and the irresistible force paradox.

As Brisbane turned the tide, it wasn't long before Katrina Gorry got her grip on the game and began to conduct the Brisbane attacking orchestra. Gorry was again excellent and seems to be shaking off her uncharacteristically slow start to the season.

Amy Chapman, Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik were the beneficiaries of "Mini's" work and proved a handful for Sydney FC defence led by a very animated Renee Rollason.

While Rollason and Clifford were able to read the play and step in to break up Brisbane attacks, equally were the Roar's attacking trio able to get in behind the Sky Blue defence with the home side relying on the speed and phenomenal covering tackles of Ralston.

When that failed it fell to goalkeeper Alyssa Harris, in her first start, to stand up. Harris had a good game first up, making the saves required of her, competent (if not dominant) in the air and quick off her line to smother through balls.

That she was the busier of the goalkeepers from the 25th minute on was an indication of how much Brisbane controlled proceedings and chances.

In the end Brisbane's season ended on the individual brilliance of Jasmyne Spencer which needs to be seen to be appreciated.

After Sydney's early dominance, Laura Alleway and Clare Polkinghorne had done a good job of locking down the explosive Spencer. However, even as the identified threat, the diminutive striker has scored 7 out of Sydney's 10 goals this season, an incredible (and worrying) 70%.

It's an understatement that she needs more support if Sydney are to hold on and make the finals. When that occurred early in the match Sydney looked a different side, a more dangerous side.

Sky Blues supporters are surely counting down to the return of championship captain Kyah Simon. Polias, Harrison, Bolger, Uzunlar, Simon and Spencer look a championship threatening front six.

For Brisbane, well it's another match where they would feel they deserved the three points in arguably their best 90 minute performance of the season.

The questions have been floating around all season but now, with the season all but shot, it is more blunt; how can a team with so many talented individuals, so many Matildas, be sitting at the foot of the table?

Is it the coaching? Brisbane have not been able to find their best formation and combination all season.

Is it the training environment? Many of the players have been part of the set up for more than 7 years, with little squad turnover. This can be a positive (in the knowledge of each other's game) or a negative (in that it can breed complacency).

Is it the players? Have they not performed to the standard expected of them? Are the junior players advancing at the rate anticipated?

Or maybe it is combination of all three and many more factors.

What is certain is that the Roar have fallen short of the expectations of their supporters and, if the palpable frustration is any evidence, even themselves and in a results business, there could be far reaching consequences.

Sydney FC 1 (Jasmyne Spencer 85’)

Brisbane Roar 1 (Tameka Butt 66’)

Saturday 1 November 2014

Lambert Park, Sydney

Local kick-off: 5pm

Referee: Kate Jacewicz

Sydney FC: Alyssa Harris (gk), Teresa Polias, Liz Ralston, Alesha Clifford, Jasmyne Spencer, Servet Uzunlar, Nicola Bolger (Georgia Plessas 72’), Renee Rollason, Chloe Logarzo, Teigen Allen, Samantha Johnson

Substitutes – Sian McLaren (gk), Heidi Makrillos, Melissa Caceres

Cautions – Teresa Polias 35’, Renee Rollason 94’

Brisbane Roar: Kate Stewart (gk), Laura Alleway (Natasha Wheeler 76’), Amy Chapman (Vedrana Popovic 85’), Clare Polkinghorne, Brooke Spence, Hayley Raso (Ayesha Norrie 57’), Kim Carroll, Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina Gorry, Emily Gielnik, Tameka Butt

Substitutes – Teagan Micah (gk)

Cautions – Hayley Raso 45+1’