The Clarence Zebras have picked up a routine win against Kingborough Lions at Wentworth park on Sunday. A youthful Lions outfit struggled to gain traction from the opening whistle, after conceding early and from there the Zebas did it easy, with the late goal conceded not enough to truly threaten the home side.
A bright opening by the Zebras found early success when Stacey Burdack won a penalty after being sandwiched in the box, as trouble reared its head early for the Lions. The duty of the centre backs at Clarence is to take penalties, with this opportunity gifted to Madi O’Brien. Making no mistake the defender picked the keepers right side, and put it just out of range from the reach of the diving Erika Mackintosh.
One opportunity for the Zebras just before the half an hour mark saw Mackintosh wiped out of play, rushing to get back to her feet. Caitlin Stalker had skipped past the keeper and fired a shot on goal at a tight angle, but Phoebe Clifford was there for the last ditch effort for a goal line clearance. It was a long day in the office for the Lions defence led by Clifford and Eva Edwards. Both performed their scrambling best to keep the scoreline respectable.
Space was tight when the ball moved to the middle third, with both teams playing high lines in those moments. In the first half the rare forays forward for the Lions saw Laura Davis dealt with comfortably by the experienced duo of O’Brien and Zara Dixon.
It was Clarence who consistently surged, finally cracking the Lions in open play at the 38th minute. The earlier switch between Isabelle Ferrier and Danielle Kannegiesser, provided success as Kannegiesser received the ball around the box, wrestled past her player and provided a sure finish low and hard past the keeper to double the Zebras lead.
Life was spent living dangerously by the Lions as they saw out the opening half as an offside call and a general inability to capitalise on their chances by Clarence saw Kingborough survive without further damage.
A revitalised Zebras entered the fray in the second half. The corners began tallying up and the Lions were unable to move much beyond the halfway line. The flood gates soon opened in the 57th minute.
Zoe Nichols cracked the first after Kannegiesser turned provider with a low cross. Minutes later Kannegiesser racked up another assist, this time for Burdack who had found space between her defenders. Nichols rounded off Clarence’s scoring not even ten minutes after her first. Caitlin Stalker’s cross doing most of the work, with Nichols getting just enough for the ball to bumble over the line.
With five goals on the scoreboard and the game all but wrapped up, the home team lost their urgency and Kingborough sensed an opportunity. With more possession, hope was in the air and the Lions found a glimmer of gold in the dying seconds as the build up of pressure and territory was rewarded.
Moving the ball across the box, against a line of defence, Christabelle Moore was the final outlet. Finding just enough space to line one up, Moore found the top bins, with her finish one an striker would envy as it picked out the top corner.
With the 5-1 victory Clarence Zebras continues to set the pace in the Women’s Super League. While Kingborough Lions will hope to rediscover their form, after finishing the dreaded back to back fortnight against competition heavyweights.