South West Phoenix completed a Night Series club double on Sunday as they added the Women’s State League trophy to the Men’s Belt Up Amateur title won 24 hours earlier.
The Bunbury side defeated UWA Nedlands 5-1 at Macedonia Park in a game unfortunately littered with goalkeeping errors.
Phoenix were ahead after only seven minutes with the first of three goals which came via Kai Anna Prendergast corners in the first half. UWA keeper Tori Carta fumbled the delivery and Lucy Scott tapped in from a couple of yards out.
It was a nightmare start for UWA and things got worse just five minutes later when Prendergast put over another teasing set-piece. This time Carta missed it completely and the ball went directly into the net.
It took only 22 minutes for Nedlands coach Lawrence Lewis to act as he watched his team’s chances slipping away. Lewis made a double substitution, bringing on Erin Armstrong and Rebecca Dudek for Elisha Anstiss and Jacqueline Chiastra, but before either of the new players could touch the ball it was 3-0.
In Carta’s defence with the opening two goals, both balls came from the left which perhaps had her looking into the low sun. Sadly for the Nedlands keeper there was no such mitigation with the third as she once more dropped a Prendergast corner, but this time from the right, and Shauna Wetherell volleyed in.
At that stage there looked no way back for Nedlands. But they were offered some hope before half-time when Phoenix keeper Nicole Suttie – last season’s Golden Boot winner – came out for Emily Dinsdale’s cross but was left stranded as Dudek nipped in front to head in.
To Carta’s credit, she never let her head drop and made a couple of good saves to keep her side in touch. But with 20 minutes remaining she miscontrolled a pass and Scott was in like a flash to make it 4-1.
UWA’s night to forget was completed when Savannah Olsthoorn ran through to add the fifth. Carta then showed her ability with a flying tip-over which prevented Scott from claiming a hat-trick, but there was no denying South West Phoenix who, like their men’s Amateur side on Saturday, were worthy winners.
Filed Under: Women's State League