A Bonnie Davies hat-trick helped spark a dominant second half performance from the Olympia Warriors, as they overcame South Hobart 7-2 on Sunday at Warrior Park. Holding a 2-1 lead at half time, the Warriors went up a gear in the second half and South simply couldn't stick with them as the Warriors ran out big winners to remain clear on top of the league after 10 rounds.
Selection news saw Olympia with a strong starting XI while South continued to be hit with injuries with the absence of striker Phoebe Djakic being left out of the match squad. After having her first shot down the middle cleared away by South keeper Georgia McMullen, Olivia Bomford broke the deadlock beating the keeper with sheer power into the top right from a tight angle.
Bridie Cooling nearly scored a goal of the year contender from 40 yards out, before Ruby Batchelor found her way down the left wing and somehow despite being on an acute angle, chipped Warriors keeper Jenna Farrow in incredible fashion. It was an incredible way to conjure equaliser.
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Ruby Batchelor (c) celebrates her goal with teammates. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]
South's Misty Olsen and Cooling began to stamp their mark on the game, controlling the midfield passages while streaming forward for the hopeful attacking plays. Missed chance would come back to haunt South however, when Leah Gubb was fed through by a great low cross from Davies. Gubb calmly tapped it home past the keeper and gave the home side the 2-1 buffer at the break.
Despite the gap on the ladder, South should be commended for taking it to the title favourites but unfortunately for them Olympia kicked it up a gear in the second half with star striker Bonnie Davies doing the damage.
Davies first goal came right after half-time. McMullen was able to clear successive shots away but Davies finished cooly on the 3rd attempt to give Olympia the two goal margin at 3-1. Moments later Davies completed her brace after getting onto a great through ball by Gubb. Davies sprinted down the left wing and finished past the keeper to make it two goals in two minutes.
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Davies paces herself before hitting past McMullen into an open net. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]
Center-back Caitlin Roberts was the next to get amongst the Warriors goal-fest. Roberts found herself all alone in the midfield and launched a hopeful shot which eventually sailed over the keeper's head much to the surprise of Roberts and her teammates. It made it 5-1 to the Warriors and it was looking like it wasn't going to be South's day, despite taking it up to the hosts for large periods of the day.
Speaking of Roberts, herself and Davies combined to produce a wonderful passage of play to set up for Madi Chambers for goal number 6. While under South's pressing Roberts somehow back-heeled it to Davies. Davies first shot was cleared away but only as far as Chambers who was all alone had no issues finishing past the keeper to make it 6-1.
Bridie Cooling was rewarded for her continuous efforts and got a consolation goal for South after some link up play with Eliane Fader. Fader sent in a ball to Cooling who got onto a great pass and hit it hard past Farrow into the bottom right.
Davies then completed her hat-trick in quite remarkable fashion. Sprinting down the pitch like usual, Davies darted past 3 defenders and hit home past McMullen with sheer power to move four goals clear in the Golden Boot race.
That proved to be the final action of the day with Olympia winding up 7-2 victors. The Warriors' will now face the biggest road trip in TAS football heading up to the Showgrounds for a must win v Ulverstone on Saturday. As for South they will look to regain some form against bottom placed University at D'Arcy St next Sunday.
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Caitlin Roberts is all smiles after being embraced by Inocent Michael. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]
Ruby Batchelor (c) celebrates her goal with teammates. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]
South's Misty Olsen and Cooling began to stamp their mark on the game, controlling the midfield passages while streaming forward for the hopeful attacking plays. Missed chance would come back to haunt South however, when Leah Gubb was fed through by a great low cross from Davies. Gubb calmly tapped it home past the keeper and gave the home side the 2-1 buffer at the break.
Despite the gap on the ladder, South should be commended for taking it to the title favourites but unfortunately for them Olympia kicked it up a gear in the second half with star striker Bonnie Davies doing the damage.
Davies first goal came right after half-time. McMullen was able to clear successive shots away but Davies finished cooly on the 3rd attempt to give Olympia the two goal margin at 3-1. Moments later Davies completed her brace after getting onto a great through ball by Gubb. Davies sprinted down the left wing and finished past the keeper to make it two goals in two minutes.
[caption id="attachment_15767" width="615"] Davies paces herself before hitting past McMullen into an open net. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]
Center-back Caitlin Roberts was the next to get amongst the Warriors goal-fest. Roberts found herself all alone in the midfield and launched a hopeful shot which eventually sailed over the keeper's head much to the surprise of Roberts and her teammates. It made it 5-1 to the Warriors and it was looking like it wasn't going to be South's day, despite taking it up to the hosts for large periods of the day.
Speaking of Roberts, herself and Davies combined to produce a wonderful passage of play to set up for Madi Chambers for goal number 6. While under South's pressing Roberts somehow back-heeled it to Davies. Davies first shot was cleared away but only as far as Chambers who was all alone had no issues finishing past the keeper to make it 6-1.
Bridie Cooling was rewarded for her continuous efforts and got a consolation goal for South after some link up play with Eliane Fader. Fader sent in a ball to Cooling who got onto a great pass and hit it hard past Farrow into the bottom right.
Davies then completed her hat-trick in quite remarkable fashion. Sprinting down the pitch like usual, Davies darted past 3 defenders and hit home past McMullen with sheer power to move four goals clear in the Golden Boot race.
That proved to be the final action of the day with Olympia winding up 7-2 victors. The Warriors' will now face the biggest road trip in TAS football heading up to the Showgrounds for a must win v Ulverstone on Saturday. As for South they will look to regain some form against bottom placed University at D'Arcy St next Sunday.
[caption id="attachment_15768" width="615"] Caitlin Roberts is all smiles after being embraced by Inocent Michael. Photo credit : Tanner Coad[/caption]