Women’s DP1 – Saturday June 14, 2003
Vs South Brisbane Eagles
Score: 1-1
We were coming up against a team that had scored their only two wins in the past three weeks, and one we had great trouble with last time. From the outset we started well earning penalty corners, but we soon were reminded of the excellent quality of their fullbacks who stopped our attacking raids. When scoring chances did present themselves we were unlucky not to score. Jodie’s deflection at the post was saved and Kym and Tonya had corner shots denied. Some desperation defense from Shanina, Michelle and Kayley saw us get out of jail at our own end as their accurate passes kept us on our toes.
After about 25 minutes we took the lead when Tonya turned her marker around to slam an unstoppable shot into the net. But immediately after they were pressuring our goal and scored from a penalty corner 5 minutes later. Nobody noticed the unmarked corner taker who received the ball back and rocketed a hard shot into the goal. Her shot deflected in off halfback Bronwyn who hit the deck. From where I stood it looked like she dived to head it in! So much for self-preservation I thought! Making her return following surgery, Danielle proved dangerous from the moment she came on the field, having a strong shot on goal, but unfortunately nobody followed in for the rebound. Keeper Bridgit made some crucial saves to see us go to the break tied.
In the second half our inners Shanina and Katrina had a great impact and helped steady our midfield, Danielle made inroads at right wing, while centre half Kym found her form and had a penalty corner goal denied. At one point we started to panic and hit balls straight to them which confined us to our own 25. We started finding the numbers up front, with fullbacks Kayley and Michelle upfield during some attacks. Nadine, Katrina and Jodie started dominating the left side but we couldn’t turn good pressure and field position into a goal, with some penalty corners and plays from outside the circle breaking down at the vital moment. At the other end we saw out counter attacks and several shots which just went wide.
We had some really good passing in the second half, and we benefited from limiting our turnovers. Poor communication meant that good chances near the circle were squandered, but that should be solved as players learn to play in new positions. Some harsh umpiring decisions went against us, and for the first time I can recall, an umpire penalised one of our players for having a foot inside the circle during a corner. To say the umpire was just a little bit too diligent is an understatement! The teams below us, including Commodores who we play next, are starting to catch up to the sides at the top. The competition is now very tight, so we can’t afford to slip.
Goal:
Tonya Collins
Other results:
South-West United 1 v Kedron-Wavell 0
Commodores 1 v Bulimba 1
St. Andrews 4 v QUT 1
Commercial 1 v Ascot 0
Points:
Ascot 18, St. Andrews 15, Kedron-Wavell 15, NORTHS 13, Bulimba 12, Commercial 10, Commodores 10, South Brisbane Eagles 7, South-West United 5, QUT 5.
Lee Oliver
© 2003 Lee Oliver