Bonnie Davies took a giant stride towards securing the 2020 Golden Boot award, as she fired in five goals in the Olympia F.C. Warriors huge 8-1 road win over Ulverstone. The Warriors speedster now has 20 goals in just 11 WSL games this season and her Warriors side remain on course to claim the Super League title, as they avoided a potential banana skin game with a thumping victory away to the Reds.
Early promise from a risky approach by Ulverstone was quickly dashed. The Warriors overcame the Reds high press to stamp their authority by the 6th minute. Eyeing off the high line, Innocent Michael released her forwards with a quick pass over the top of the defence. A scramble ensued between Davies, Lucy Reimer and Georgia Anderson, but ultimately it was Olivia Bomford who hit the back of the net.
Conceding didn’t alter the game plan for either team. Olympia sat off deep when Ulverstone played out from defence. In contrast the Reds were hungry off the ball, hoping to catch a Warriors defenders napping. For all the territory, the home side were unable to capitalise, missing any bite that would’ve thrown Olympia on the back foot. Meanwhile the visitors fought with the offside flag throughout the half, with quick combinations and early balls out of midfield the orders of the day.
Twenty minutes in the Reds had an opportunity to tie the match up. Reimer, who was moved to centre back in the absence of Georgia Burley, surged forward, linking with the midfield to send a ball to Febey Mitchell. The winger had found a gap of space behind the defence, but her shot was wide of the mark.
Half an hour in and the Davies show began. The Warriors forced the quick turn over, nicking the ball from a punted goalkeeper kick. Exposing space down the right hand side, the ball was cut back to Davies in the centre of the box and the lead was doubled.
With the match teetering at 2-0, a mistimed challenge dented any plans of a comeback. Courtney Hingston cut down Davies, who was skipping past the fullback. The fouled player stood up for the penalty and found the bottom corner before Anderson could pick which side to dive.
Davies has demonstrated a knack of scoring multiple goals in quick succession this season, today was no different. Again stinging Ulverstone on the quick counter attack, a hattrick was a given once Davies had space to burn past any markers. Her efforts sent her side to the sheds at half time with a four goal buffer.
The second half saw Ulverstone come out again with the high line and much of the territory. Still, Olympia’s counter produced the first clear chance of the half, when Davies almost produced a rinse and repeat of her third goal, but shot straight at Anderson. The Warriors forward would make amends on the 66th minute, scoring in much the same way to extend the lead.
Again the Reds were stung with too much haste in the box, when a Bomford sandwich resulted in a penalty. Bomford stood up for the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way to find her second.
Reward for Ulverstone’s brave game plan was soon had. Eli Cropp put in the hard yards, driving through the defence and working it to Mikalha George, who was there in support, reaping the reward and pulling a goal back to put the score at 6-1 with ten minutes to go.
The goals hadn’t stopped despite the dwindling minutes. Five minutes later, Davies would have her final for the match, receiving a ball that cut through traffic. While in the dying minutes, the icing on the cake arrived. Michael, who had played the supporting role, having a hand in many of the goals, was rewarded with a gift. A cross from the right was there for the taking, finished but leaving the midfielder floored and requiring medical attention in the goalmouth. The match fizzled to a finish, with the full time whistle blown before the restart could be taken.
A bold move by Ulverstone to play a high line against a pacey Warriors attack didn’t pay dividends. Instead third place may be slipping away from the side from the North West, who will be ruing not having some pace and a goal-hungry centre forward to really scare the Warriors from the high press. Olympia now heads into next weekend in the driver's seat following their victory on the road. Perhaps more importantly they arrive to the top two clash with an in-form Davies.