A goal fest at Darcy Street has seen Clarence claw their way back from two goals behind to run out winners over South Hobart. A first half double by Pishon Choi wasn’t enough to keep Clarence at bay. Instead a second half comeback saw Emily Grzinic running the show on the right flank, before providing her side the winning goal to finish the scoring at 4-3.
South were the side to put turn the gas up early. Some darting runs by forward trio of Gadon, Choi and Moutsatsos created some quality opportunities and meant Dixon at centre back and Vanderniet in goals were both put to the test early. Meanwhile Clarence initially looked to pump the ball forward quickly, but it was when they found their pacey wingers and got them into the play that they started to trouble the South defence.
The scoring began with a back pass gone wrong. A loose pass back from a Clarence defender saw Vanderniet sold short in goal, as Choi took the gift and smashed the ball low and hard.
Clarence fought back, and whilst they were creating some opportunities and placing the home side’s defence under pressure, it was South who had the best of the chances. Having just hit the crossbar moments earlier, Choi was determined to get her second of the match. Again showing good strikers instincts, she slotted home the rebound of the initial shot that had been palmed away.
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Choi was at the double for South- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Half time arrived with South ahead having taken the better of the opportunities, whilst Clarence really needed something magic from their half time talk. Harry Potter may well have been in the Clarence changing room at half time, because magic was produced after the break.
South looked to put the game away with some early fire, however it was Clarence who found the back of the net first. A searching long ball over the top found Hall in behind the defence. With McMullen well off her line and in no man’s land, the forward saw the opportunity and chipped the ball over the South keeper. The goal was a signal of a game about to come to life.
Having shown some dangerous signs earlier, Gadon produced the goods to give her side the two goal cushion once again. Producing a fine solo effort, she darted down the right flank, leaving her defenders for dead and backed herself with a blast of the ball into the net.
It was a quality goal but Clarence responded almost immediately. With barely any time to soak in Gadon’s single handed effort, Clarence bounced back to keep the game within touching distance. It was Grzinic with the initial effort, forcing a stretching save from McMullen. However, unable to keep hands on the shot, Downham was there to tidy up the scraps and the score line found itself at 3-2.
[caption id="attachment_10135" align="alignnone" width="588"]
Downham pulled on back- Solstice Photography[/caption]
While South continued to switch between long balls to clear the danger Clarence were creating and looking to pull some combinations together, working their way through the middle of the park, Clarence had found the chink in South’s armour and utilised it with Grzinic running the game out on the right flank.
Another goal was always on the cards, however it came from an unlikely source in Zara Dixon, whose only earlier opportunity was a header well wide of the post from a corner. Dixon wound up with the ball at her feet after South cleared a free kick. The Reds defender had some space, saw the keeper off her line slightly and produced a jaw dropping shot from 30 yards out to level it at 3-3.
With the scores level, it was Clarence with all the momentum and barely five minutes later Clarence found the match winner. Grzinic, who had been a terror all half, dropped her should, flipped her defender like a pancake and stormed through on goal, before absolutely burying it.
Despite the whiff of another goal on the cards for the remaining fifteen minutes. It wasn’t to be. Clarence coming away with a massive, come from behind win to open their campaign for the season. While South will be ruing missed chances and bemoan their inability to shut up shop and preserve their two goal lead.
Choi was at the double for South- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Half time arrived with South ahead having taken the better of the opportunities, whilst Clarence really needed something magic from their half time talk. Harry Potter may well have been in the Clarence changing room at half time, because magic was produced after the break.
South looked to put the game away with some early fire, however it was Clarence who found the back of the net first. A searching long ball over the top found Hall in behind the defence. With McMullen well off her line and in no man’s land, the forward saw the opportunity and chipped the ball over the South keeper. The goal was a signal of a game about to come to life.
Having shown some dangerous signs earlier, Gadon produced the goods to give her side the two goal cushion once again. Producing a fine solo effort, she darted down the right flank, leaving her defenders for dead and backed herself with a blast of the ball into the net.
It was a quality goal but Clarence responded almost immediately. With barely any time to soak in Gadon’s single handed effort, Clarence bounced back to keep the game within touching distance. It was Grzinic with the initial effort, forcing a stretching save from McMullen. However, unable to keep hands on the shot, Downham was there to tidy up the scraps and the score line found itself at 3-2.
[caption id="attachment_10135" align="alignnone" width="588"] Downham pulled on back- Solstice Photography[/caption]
While South continued to switch between long balls to clear the danger Clarence were creating and looking to pull some combinations together, working their way through the middle of the park, Clarence had found the chink in South’s armour and utilised it with Grzinic running the game out on the right flank.
Another goal was always on the cards, however it came from an unlikely source in Zara Dixon, whose only earlier opportunity was a header well wide of the post from a corner. Dixon wound up with the ball at her feet after South cleared a free kick. The Reds defender had some space, saw the keeper off her line slightly and produced a jaw dropping shot from 30 yards out to level it at 3-3.
With the scores level, it was Clarence with all the momentum and barely five minutes later Clarence found the match winner. Grzinic, who had been a terror all half, dropped her should, flipped her defender like a pancake and stormed through on goal, before absolutely burying it.
Despite the whiff of another goal on the cards for the remaining fifteen minutes. It wasn’t to be. Clarence coming away with a massive, come from behind win to open their campaign for the season. While South will be ruing missed chances and bemoan their inability to shut up shop and preserve their two goal lead.