It was an 11-goal fiesta on Saturday as ladder leaders, Clarence Zebras welcomed Devonport Strikers on a crisp winter’s day at Wentworth Park.
There was a fine show of community football, as the fields were at capacity with several junior and youth games being played around the grounds. The Clarence Zebras outstanding hospitality catered for the many families that had also travelled from the North-West to watch the MyState Women’s Super League and National Premier League games against Devonport Strikers.
The spectators were not to be disappointed, as the scoresheet remained empty with a battle for the first goal lasting for 13 minutes. A throw-in landed at the feet of Zoe Nichols and met the approaching Mady O’Brien. O’Brien didn’t hesitate in hitting the back of the net with a clinical strike to open the Zebra’s account.
Youngster Sophie Fone earned her place in the Clarence Zebras side, with several great runs down the wing, servicing the strike-force of Allie Berry and Zoe Nichols and preventing the Strikers from breaking through.
[caption id="attachment_17158" align="aligncenter" width="569"]
Sophie Fone was key on the wing for 'Zebras. Picture: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Clarence Zebras increased their goal account as the ball landed to an empty Devonport defence and league top-scorer Berry made it 2-0. Striker’s luck appeared to be running out as a reflex save denied Berry, who made another attempt, which was subsequently saved by a Devonport defender in the goal. Unfortunately for the Strikers, predator Zoe Nichols was on hand nearby to make it 3-0 to Clarence after 19 minutes. Berry, in a display of her goal-scoring best, broke loose again with a run towards goal, hopped over Striker’s keeper Sam Hardy, to take the Zebras 4 goals in front.
With this scoreline, it appeared that Devonport were out of the contest but a run by speedster Jazmin White who put in a beautiful cross to the awaiting Maddie Payne. Payne answered with an easy strike past Shelley Cook and who started the Striker’s comeback, 30 minutes into the game.
[caption id="attachment_17157" align="aligncenter" width="612"]
Maddie Payne started the Striker's goal comeback with a brace.[/caption]
This spurred the Strikers on, and they turned up the heat to make Clarence Zebras work harder for their victory. It was Maddie Payne again, 5 minutes after her first, a second stunning strike from distance, to loop over Shelley Cook and into the back of the net to record a brace.
HT score:
Clarence Zebras 4 (O'Brien '13, Berry '17, '28, Nichols '19, )
Devonport Strikers 2 (Payne '30, '35)
Zebras looked dangerous after the return from the break, but Devonport did not give up fighting for chances. Zebras appeared the more structured and organised side, but Devonport broke them down with a string of attempts on goal, which were ultimately foiled by Zebra’s keeper Shelley Cook. However, Strikers didn’t give up the challenge and continued to press the Zebras defence, until a clever backheel from Jazmin White in the 61st minute, met the feet of Danielle Mitchell to bring the scoreline to 4-3.
With a Devonport comeback looming, the Zebras pressed hard and closed down their defence, denying the Strikers possession. After a precision Berry cross to Nichols in the box who was challenged with a kick to the ankle en-route to the goal, Zebras were awarded a penalty.
Selina Steventon, stepped up for the penalty and cleanly slotted it past Hardy to make it 5-3 in the 72nd minute. After this, the Zebras added to the difference with an outstanding backwards kick by Zoe Nichols who collected a brace to make it 6-3.
See the goal here: (courtesy of FFTTV - YouTube)
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sliceofcheese.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Nichols-Goal.mp4"][/video]
Some communicative passing, a delightful first touch by Lou Marmion, and a cool strike took the score to 7 goals to 3. Marmion then went on to score a similar goal cleverly passing through the tired Devonport defence. Caitlin Stalker with a through ball to Marmion, awaiting in the box sealed the final goal of the game to make it 8-3.
Ronnie Bolton, Clarence Zebra’s co-president, and WSL coach congratulated the Strikers side for a challenging game.
[caption id="attachment_17159" align="aligncenter" width="486"]
Clarence Zebras Coach Ronnie Bolton. Picture: Solstice Digital.[/caption]
WSL Goal scorers at 27th June
Sophie Fone was key on the wing for 'Zebras. Picture: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Clarence Zebras increased their goal account as the ball landed to an empty Devonport defence and league top-scorer Berry made it 2-0. Striker’s luck appeared to be running out as a reflex save denied Berry, who made another attempt, which was subsequently saved by a Devonport defender in the goal. Unfortunately for the Strikers, predator Zoe Nichols was on hand nearby to make it 3-0 to Clarence after 19 minutes. Berry, in a display of her goal-scoring best, broke loose again with a run towards goal, hopped over Striker’s keeper Sam Hardy, to take the Zebras 4 goals in front.
With this scoreline, it appeared that Devonport were out of the contest but a run by speedster Jazmin White who put in a beautiful cross to the awaiting Maddie Payne. Payne answered with an easy strike past Shelley Cook and who started the Striker’s comeback, 30 minutes into the game.
[caption id="attachment_17157" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Maddie Payne started the Striker's goal comeback with a brace.[/caption]
This spurred the Strikers on, and they turned up the heat to make Clarence Zebras work harder for their victory. It was Maddie Payne again, 5 minutes after her first, a second stunning strike from distance, to loop over Shelley Cook and into the back of the net to record a brace.
HT score:
Clarence Zebras 4 (O'Brien '13, Berry '17, '28, Nichols '19, )
Devonport Strikers 2 (Payne '30, '35)
Zebras looked dangerous after the return from the break, but Devonport did not give up fighting for chances. Zebras appeared the more structured and organised side, but Devonport broke them down with a string of attempts on goal, which were ultimately foiled by Zebra’s keeper Shelley Cook. However, Strikers didn’t give up the challenge and continued to press the Zebras defence, until a clever backheel from Jazmin White in the 61st minute, met the feet of Danielle Mitchell to bring the scoreline to 4-3.
With a Devonport comeback looming, the Zebras pressed hard and closed down their defence, denying the Strikers possession. After a precision Berry cross to Nichols in the box who was challenged with a kick to the ankle en-route to the goal, Zebras were awarded a penalty.
Selina Steventon, stepped up for the penalty and cleanly slotted it past Hardy to make it 5-3 in the 72nd minute. After this, the Zebras added to the difference with an outstanding backwards kick by Zoe Nichols who collected a brace to make it 6-3.
See the goal here: (courtesy of FFTTV - YouTube)
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sliceofcheese.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Nichols-Goal.mp4"][/video]
Some communicative passing, a delightful first touch by Lou Marmion, and a cool strike took the score to 7 goals to 3. Marmion then went on to score a similar goal cleverly passing through the tired Devonport defence. Caitlin Stalker with a through ball to Marmion, awaiting in the box sealed the final goal of the game to make it 8-3.
Ronnie Bolton, Clarence Zebra’s co-president, and WSL coach congratulated the Strikers side for a challenging game.
[caption id="attachment_17159" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Clarence Zebras Coach Ronnie Bolton. Picture: Solstice Digital.[/caption]
“The score line didn’t reflect the challenge the Strikers brought to us,” Bolton said. “You brought a lot of quality to the game and kept us fighting for the win.”Final Score: Clarence Zebras 8 (O'Brien '13, Berry '17, '28, Nichols '19,76, Steventon '72(pen), Marmion '84, '85 ) Devonport Strikers 3 (Payne '30, '35, Mitchell '61) Match Officials: Ryan Phelps, Stephen Fagg, Luca Pitt In other WSL games over the weekend: South Hobart vs Olympia FC Warriors 0-2 Kingborough Lions 3 - Launceston United 1 Taroona - Bye Southern Championship for Women South Hobart 0 -2 Olympia FC Warriors Taroona 2 - 6 Glenorchy Knights Kingborough 0 - 6 University Clarence Zebras 7 -1 New Town Eagles Northern Championship for Women Launceston City 1 - 6 Northern Rangers Ulverstone 7 - 0 Launceston United Burnie United vs Devonport (score to be confirmed) WSL table as of Sunday 27th June (courtesy of Sports TG)
WSL Goal scorers at 27th June