Welcome to the Weekend-Washup for Round 16 of the MyState Bank Women’s Super League season. It was the weekend where South Hobart officially sealed the title, doing so in style by downing the Kingborough Lions 5-0, capping off what has been a truly dominant campaign from the first time winners.
South Claim League Crown
South Hobart celebrated sealing the 2023 Super League title with a commanding performance, smashing the Kingborough Lions 5-0. The win leaves South 14 points clear on top with just four rounds remaining.
Lucy Roberts sent South on their way when she bent in a free kick in the 25th minute. The Lions somewhat curiously left a hole in their wall and Roberts took full advantage by firing straight through that gap and into the back of the net.
Laura Davis almost got her side back on terms but found herself denied by Jenna Farrow who saved brilliantly to keep her out. Farrow hasn’t always found herself overly busy playing behind this defensive unit this season, but whenever she has been called upon she has answered the call. The volume of work might be less than her peers but the sheer quality of some of her saves this year has been top draw. So not always the busiest, but still probably the best keeper in the competition. The win was their ninth clean sheet in a row as they continued their remarkable consistency at the back. When you have a defensive record like that, you’re always likely to end up the champions.
From there the game played out similar to South Hobart’s victory last week, with Josi Mamic running riot, taking over the second half and scoring four times to make it 8 goals for the returning front-woman in 2 weeks.
Her first goal arrived just after halftime, as she turned sharply at the top of the box and showed a quick release to get the shot away and it flew into the back of the net.
Her second was a beautifully curled effort from long range, spying some room at the near post and expertly bending it up there.
Her hat-trick goal was set up by Choi, sliding it through for Mamic to run onto and clinically lift her first-time shot over the onrushing keeper.
The cherry on top arrived in the 76th minute as she buried a header at the back post to make it 5-0 and cap off the celebrations for a South side who were simply enjoying themselves by this point, despite the rather inclement weather. They knew they had done enough and this was just a celebration of their season.
It was a win that featured many of the factors that have led to their success this season shining through. A complete assuredness at the back, scarcely giving their opposition a sniff and a midfield dominance led by their brilliant pairing of Choi and Roberts who have been so central to their success this season by bossing the engine room.
Devonport Strike Down Zebras
The Devonport Strikers scored another big victory, this time downing the Clarence Zebras 5-0 at Wentworth Park.
It was clear from the outset the Strikers were out to avoid a repeat of their last venture to Wentworth Park when they found themselves stunned by the Zebras.
They took the lead just 8 minutes into the clash as Jazmin White was played in by Maddy Payne who seized on a misplaced pass playing out from the back.
The lead was doubled ten minutes later as Georgia King absolutely walloped a free kick from just outside the box that blazed by a returning Amelia Vanderniet in the Clarence Zebras net.
The Strikers had the game well under wraps by the half-hour mark as White turned provider for Payne, drawing a crowd to her at the near post before sliding it back for Payne to steer home on the left foot.
Payne extended the lead early in the second half with the goal of the game, picking out the far top corner with a brilliantly placed shot from just outside the top right-hand corner of the box.
White then completed the thumping win when she fired in her 26th goal of another outstanding individual campaign, streaming in behind the defence after a perfectly played-through ball from Nikita Boyd.
The win leaves the Strikers in second place four points ahead of Launceston United, who do still have a game in hand, leaving a tight battle between the pair for the runner-up spot in the final month.
Otto Brace Helps Overcome More Williams Magic
A brace from Adilat Otto helped guide Launceston United to a 3-2 victory over Taroona FC, despite another brace from Jessie Williams for the Pirates.
The home side got off to the perfect start as they took the lead in the 12th minute via Otto, who was left with a tap-in after it was cut back to her by Angelique Ikeda who just beat Ottavi to a ball played into the box by Dani Gunton from the left wing.
But Taroona got themselves back on terms as Williams launched a goal-of-the-season contender with a stunning strike from 25 yards out that left Venn with no chance in the United goals. It was a sublime hit and levelled the match at 1-1 midway through the half.
Williams was once again an enormous threat throughout the match and the competition is certainly all the richer for her involvement in this final month or so.
The United defence was able to keep her at bay throughout the half though and they recaptured the lead shortly after the restart when they forced a turnover high up the pitch. Otto launched a speculative hit from outside the box which seemed to deceive Ottavi in flight and it found its way into the back of the net. It was probably one the usually excellent Ottavi would’ve liked back, but it had the hosts back in control and looking more comfortable playing with the lead once again.
They extended their lead further in the 80th minute, seemingly putting the result to bed when Ange Ikeda lifted an effort home after the ball was deflected into her path in the penalty area. She had been denied seconds earlier by a superb save by a desperately unlucky Ottavi, as the Pirates were made to pay for not clearing their lines after it.
Williams would strike again to provide some late drama in the 87th minute, running onto a wonderfully played pass from Jaylynn Barton to cut the score back to 3-2, but it was ultimately too late, as United held firm to take the victory and three points.
The victory helps United stay within touch of Devonport and keeps them in the mix for a second-placed finish as we enter the final month of the campaign. Taroona meanwhile will be hopeful that they can claim some more points in the final month, as they continue their improved level of play.
MyState Bank Women’s Super League
Round 16
Kingborough Lions 0
South Hobart FC 5 (L.Roberts 25” J.Mamic 48” 67” 75” 76”)
Clarence Zebras 0
Devonport Strikers 5 (J.White 8” 70” G.King 19” M.Payne 28” 51”)
Launceston United 3 (A.Otto 12” 49” A.Ikeda 80”)
Taroona 2 (J.Williams 20” 87”)