Welcome to the Weekend-Washup from Round 12 of the MyState Bank Women’s Super League season. It was a weekend where South Hobart opened up what looks like a decisive break at the top of the table, with their win over Devonport, coupled with the Lions defeat of Launceston United meaning they now sit 10 points clear with just 8 rounds remaining. Elsewhere the Clarence Zebras got back on the winner's list as they held off a fast-finishing Taroona.
South Place One Hand On the Trophy
South Hobart claimed a 3-0 victory over the Devonport Strikers at Valley Road to open up what looks a title-winning 10-point gap atop the MyState Bank Women’s Super League table.
Knowing a win in this fixture would see them taking an enormous stride towards the title, with this one of the tougher tests left facing them, South Hobart passed with flying colours, claiming a 3-0 win that has them on the brink of a League/Cup double.
They wasted no time in getting started, racing to a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes, though there was a slight element of fortune about the opening goal, as Lucy Booth sent a ball into the box that seemed to be heading across the face of goal before it spun back wickedly and snuck inside the back post to hand South the early advantage.
There was a hint of offside about the second goal, but the flag stayed down on Amy Ollington who was played in by Booth, and she squared it to Choi who calmly finished, and South had a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes.
The Strikers tried to make inroads, but they couldn’t find the goals that had flowed so easily for them over the past fortnight, as South’s defence and midfield did a good job denying them time and space.
Choi then landed the knockout blow and continued her sensational season, by making it a brace with her second goal in the 76th minute.
Mamic raced in on goal as Ponting came off her line to make a stop to deny her shot at the top of the box, but the rebound fell to Choi, and with Ponting now well off her line, she was able to curl in a perfectly placed shot from 25 yards into the vacant net and ice the win for South.
It secured the win and was yet another brilliant performance in a big game from a player in Pishon Choi who must surely be considered the front-runner for the end-of-season awards as it stands.
This was one of the two most challenging fixtures remaining on South’s schedule, against a Strikers side who had been gathering major steam over the past fortnight and a win here was always going to leave South firmly in the box set to claim the title. But this result coupled with United’s defeat to the Lions makes their lead almost unassailable. South would need to lose half of their remaining 8 games, which given they’ve got a 10-2-0 record is unlikely, and neither United or the Strikers look like a side capable of winning their remaining 8 games consecutively to capitalise even if South did inexplicably collapse. This feels very much like the weekend that South Hobart sealed the title.
Lions Make Successful Return To the Den
The Kingborough Lions celebrated their return to Lightwood Park, by downing Launceston United 3-2 in a game that exploded into life just past the hour mark.
After an hour of scoreless football, the teams suddenly found their goalscoring touch and combined for five goals in the space of 15 minutes, with the Lions scoring three of them to claim a memorable victory that may have sunk United’s slimming title aspirations.
Launceston United had the better of that scoreless opening hour and probably should’ve built a match winning lead in that period, but they left the door ajar and the Lions crashed on through.
In the 63rd minute, somewhat against the run of play, Laura Davis handed her side the lead when she cut in from the left and curled an expertly placed shot over the head of Jazlin Venn.
United responded almost immediately as Lucy Smith controlled a ball at the top of the box and worked it past Rose to level things up at 1-1.
When Dani Gunton just struck two minutes after that, cutting onto her right and smashing a powerful shot home, it seemed like United had regained control of things and were going to avoid slipping up in a game they should’ve taken care of.
But the Lions rallied again and Farquhar failed to deal with an in swinging corner on the goal line, seeing the ball sneak home and Cara Lashmar celebrating an Olimpico goal.
Another corner two minutes after that had the Lions ahead, as Teigan Hennessy curled in a cross-turn shot that the howling wind picked up and saw it float over the keepers head and into the back of the net to make it 3-2 to the Lions.
It was scrappy stuff, but a case of the Lions handling the conditions better than their opponents and it would ultimately see them walk away with a 3-2 victory, a fine way to celebrate the reopening of their redeveloped home base at Lightwood Park, and a likely death knell to United's title hopes.
Zebras Down Fast Finishing Pirates
The Clarence Zebras held off a late rally from Taroona to claim a 5-3 win in their Sunday clash at Wentworth Park. Taroona struck three times in the final 10 minutes but were simply coming from way too far back after Clarence had dominated the opening hour to race to a 5-0 lead.
The Pirate's late rally was a good display of fighting spirit and battling to the final whistle, but the damage had been well and truly done when the game was there to be won, where the Zebras were completely dominant.
Millie Baric was one of the stars of the show, notching a trio of goal assists, whilst the highly impressive Graciella Baez bagged a brace and assist of her own, as she continues to look a player of considerable promise.
The Zebras took the lead 17 minutes into the contest when Baez threaded a through ball for Bronte Gadon to run onto, storm in behind and dispatch cooly.
The combination was reversed for the second goal, as Gadon launched a long through ball for Baez, which Ottavi failed to deal with and Baez rounded her before depositing home.
Just before half time, the Zebras drove the dagger in deeper and Louisa Marmion struck from a corner, bobbing up at the near post to tuck home a volleyed effort that left them 3-0 ahead and it felt like a match-winning break.
They picked up where they left off in the second half, as another corner led to another goal, this time to Anna Fewkes tucking home from close range. Baric then found Baez at the near post who showed some sharp scoring instincts to get her shot away and make it 5-0.
With the result beyond doubt, the Zebras concentration waned a little, allowing Taroona to claw back some respectability on the scoreboard with a flurry of late goals.
Some sloppiness at the back led to Jade Walker chiming in with a well-taken brace, either side of a goal to substitute Cholada Gale from point-blank range, as the Pirates took advantage of some defensive errors and they showed some late fight.
It was too little, too late to alter the end result though, as the Zebras walked away with the points for a 5-3 win that moves them within 5 points of the competition's top four.
Round 12
Devonport Strikers 0
South Hobart 3 (L.Booth 11” P.Choi 18” 82”)
Kingborough Lions 3 (L.Davis 63” C.Lashmar 75” T.Hennessy 77”)
Launceston United 2 (L.Smith 66” D.Gunton 70”)
Clarence Zebras 5 (B.Gadon 17” G.Baez 26”59” L.Marmion 45+3” A.Fewkes 57”)
Taroona FC 3 (J.Walker 80”89 ”C.Gale 84”)