|
SMARTER THAN SMOKING WOMENS PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 8
Unlike last week where results went as per expected form, this week the lower table teams really expressed some fighting qualities to open up the top four positions.
A draw to first placed Northern Redbacks and second placed UWA allow a relieved Queens Park, who lost to Balcatta 2-1, to keep the pressure on both sides. Sitting 3 points off the top two are Queens Park and Subiaco who are six points off the pace. Subiaco and East Fremantle both had solid wins to put every team in the top half of the table within 7 points of each other. Balcatta sitting sixth still have two games in hand and Redbacks and Queens Park have a game in hand from junior state team commitments earlier in the season.
Queens Park v Balcatta: Match of the Round
The clash between 2007 Runners Up Queens Park and Champions Balcatta was billed as the Match of the Week and it didn't disappoint.
Balcatta arrived at Coker Parker ready to play and dominated possession in the opening minutes with great passing in the centre of the park and down their left wing. In the 4th minute they were duly rewarded with the opening goal. Once again attacking down the left, a throw-in, followed by 3 quick passes in succession, Jamie Carley's run to the touch line and a nicely weighted cross resulted in a neat volley at the far post by Kylie Chatto past the Queens Park keeper.
Queens Park, who had yet to be beaten this season, had a game on their hands. They rallied in the next 5 minutes but their long balls were no real threat to the tight Balcatta defence. At the 10 minute mark they fell further behind. An innocuous free kick was awarded at the top of the kick off circle. Defender Jessine Bonzas stepped up and slotted the long range free kick into the top right corner.
Led by 2007 Fairest and Best Prue Cormie, Balcatta poured on the pressure in the following 20 minutes looking for the killer goal but with little result. Towards the end of the half Queens Park stepped up their pressure and intensity. Stacey Learmont made a few good plays including a searching run down the right and several layoffs that were easily dealt with by the Balcatta back 3 and Coach Lisa Tana in goals. Queens Park's best chance in the half came via a Shay Heinsen free kick just missing the head of Clare Dunn coming in at the far post. The rest of the first half was a stalemate played out in the middle of the park.
Half time Queens Park 0 Balcatta 1
It wouldn't have been a wild guess that Steve Woodfin's side would come out all guns blazing after the half. Balcatta started off on a similar vein to the first with good midfield possession.
The game turned at the 59 minute mark with Queens Park's breakthrough. Gaining midfield control, Sammy Pearman made an overlapping run on the right side of the park and followed up with a cross into the 6 yard area. Striker Monique Gordon took control and calmly finished to peg one back for the Thunder. That was the spark that Queens Park needed and they went searching for the equaliser.
The 65th minute saw a missed chance by Sammy Pearman, followed by Lyndsay Easton's shot blocked by the feet of Balcatta's keeper after a Gemma Langley through ball. Learmont’s shot was blocked in the 73rd minute, another Langley ball reached its target but Easton’s shot went straight to the keeper and even a 77th minute goal line scramble involving Pearman and Gordon could not result in the equaliser.
The last 10 minutes were spent in Balcatta's half with their defence absorbing an immense amount of pressure and chances for their strikers few and far between. At the final whistle the score line was 2-1 in Balcatta's favour, leaving Queens Park to think about their missed chances, but relieved with some of the other unexpected results going their way.
Full time Queens Park 1 Balcatta 2
Northern Redbacks v Nedlands
A near full strength Nedlands team took to the pitch against the Premier League leaders with the strong prematch words by Coach John Warrington of ‘don’t allow them space to play,’ ringing in their ears. Nedlands were were mauled 9 nil against second placed UWA last week. The team started the match looking determined to impress Warrington. Redbacks Coach Tim Hodgson was not as impressed with his sides inability to express their usual display of potential against what must have been expected to be a far easier bet than fifth placed East Fremantle last week, whom they beat 3 nil.
With a reshuffled formation resulting in a lone striker and playing against the form team who were missing their talisman Lindsey Jobling, the opening exchanges saw a keenly contested, end to end, fast flowing game.
Playing with the strong wind and sun at their backs, Redbacks were utilising classy midfield playmaker, former NTC player now Coach Nicola Williams and were soon on the offensive, trying to stretch their well disciplined opponents by moving the ball wide on every occasion. Carys Hawkins, playing in the centre of defence to start, was instrumental in breaking up Nedlands onslaughts and countering with some superb balls through the middle of the park for the Reds.
The Nedlands defence, urged on by Penny Tanner in goal, were equal to the task and the home team became frustrated, often wasting possession by hitting long balls into the space behind the defence, only for Tanner to sweep up. Full backs Michelle Kent and Katy Rutter were winning tackle after tackle and right midfielder NSW’s Liz Dorman for the visitors in particular was working tirelessly to break up any threat and launch Nedlands forward on the counter.
Redbacks explored every cavity in the Nedlands team with some tireless passing and could not find a hole to exploit. Nedlands began to grow further in confidence and as the half came to an end some timely defending from the home side against speedster Ash Harling prevented some real threats outside the 18 yard box.
Half time 0-0
Nedlands looked like they came out napping as Redbacks kicked off the second half and stormed down the pitch.
With striker Ash Harling off injured and not chasing back into the midfield, Nicola Williams broke free from her marker and with a neat interchange with Carys Hawkins and a sweet ball between the defenders, put the Redback’s striker Rebecca Davies on the wrong side of Katy Rutter and through the visitors defence. Davies evaded a fast advancing Penny Tanner to slot home not 10 minutes into the second half.
A readjustment by Nedlands coach Warrington saw fast improving midfield enforcer Corryn Craven put the shackles on Nicola Williams and with that the game became an end to end exhibition. The Redback strikers urged on by their 100% record and their own adjustments, began to show more variety up front. Carys Hawkins left the Reds defence for the forward line. American import Emily Heller was starting to find some gaps for the visitors who were looking far more threatening at the other end.
At the midway point a scramble in the Redbacks 6 yard box saw a header from lone striker Jayne Bennett cleared off the line with keeper Jennifer Jobling beaten.
With Nedlands struggling to get possession from goal kicks mainly thanks to Rowena Caswell’s aerial superiority and a significant lack of strength and positioning on Nedlands part, the Nedlands coach threw on both of his injured strikers, seeing that his players needed an edge.
The move paid off with Nedlands winning a handful of corners in the later part of the half. In the 89th minute, player of the match for the visitors, Michelle Kent delivered an inch perfect lob from 30 yards out as the ball came back out from her corner kick. The ball sailed over the grasping hands of the Redbacks keeper Jobling and landed in the far corner, to groans of dismay from the home bench, and total lack of excited containment from the visitors.
There was no time for the restart as the whistle blew and the looks on both sets of players faces told the tale of the match.
A well deserved first point for fast improving Nedlands who continue to disappoint their doubters. Redbacks will look to get their great start back on track next week against Beckenham Angels, who have the goods but are yet to show it consistently.
Full time 1-1
UWA v Beckenham
Beckenham Angels slow start to the season could have been changed against UWA. Games between the two sides have always been tight affairs. The game was played mostly in the midfield with both teams evenly matched and creating few clear opportunities at goal.
Given the other results at the top of the table it was a golden chance to break free from the top 3 for UWA but for Beckenham it was a brilliant effort and proof that their season is starting to click into gear.
Full results for the round:
Cockburn 1 East Fremantle 4, Mandurah 1 Subiaco 3, Northerns Redbacks 1 Nedlands 1, UWA 0 Beckenham Angels 0, Queens Park 1 Balcatta 2
Ladder as at round 08, 08 Jun 2008
Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Agn Diff Points
Northern Redbacks A 7 6 1 0 27 8 19 19
UWA A 8 6 1 1 21 8 13 19
Queens Park SC A 7 5 1 1 22 6 16 16
Subiaco United SC A 8 4 1 3 18 10 8 13
East Fremantle A 8 4 0 4 12 11 1 12
Balcatta SC A 6 3 1 2 12 7 5 10
Mandurah City SC A 8 3 1 4 15 18 -3 10
Beckenham Angels A 7 1 1 5 8 17 -9 4
Nedlands FC A 7 1 1 5 6 23 -17 4
Cockburn City SC A 8 0 0 8 5 38 -33 0
Next Sundays match to watch out for:
Queens Park v UWA 3pm at Coker Park (3rd v 2nd place)
|
