Welcome to the Weekend Wash-Up for another week as we hit the final fortnight of the 2022 season. The stage is set for a grandstand finish to the year after South Hobart stopped the Devonport Strikers winning streak to keep the pressure on Launceston United with a dramatic 2-1 victory. United for their part got the job done against Taroona with a 5-0 win to remain in the box seat. Perhaps the biggest shock from the weekend came on the Friday night however when the Olympia Warriors produced a stunning upset to down the Lions and claim a first win of the season with Jessie Williams running riot.
South Overcome Inspired Bennett to Keep Hope Alive
South Hobart kept their title hopes alive as they overcame the Devonport Strikers and some inspired goalkeeping from Brooke Bennet to win a thrilling match 2-1. For much of the afternoon it appeared as if South’s hopes were set to be extinguished as they dominated the match but simply couldn’t solve the Strikers’ keeper. But eventually, they found the answers and scored two goals between the 73rd and 77th minute to snatch a dramatic victory to keep up the pressure on United.
The only reason the game was locked at 0-0 at halftime was Brooke Bennett. She made several massive stops to frustrate the hosts including a remarkable point-blank range save to deny Cane what seemed a certain goal. In general play, it was all South Hobart from about the 10-minute mark onwards as they dialled up the pressure and created a host of scoring chances. The Strikers looked a little flat compared with the level they’ve shown across recent months and South were taking full advantage, pinning them back deep in defence.
Early in the second half it seemed South would be made to rue those misses when Danielle Capel steered home a goal from the first Strikers chance of the half to make it 1-0 Devonport. With a draw not going to be good enough, South now needed two goals and when Bennett continued her goalkeeping masterclass to turn aside Talia White’s 72nd-minute penalty it looked as if it simply wasn’t going to be their day.
Two minutes after the psychological blow of the missed penalty, South shrugged off the latest frustration and drew themselves level. With the defence hyper focused on Bonnie Davies, Ruby Batchelor was able to take full advantage and find some space on the left-hand side of the box, where she produced a composed finish to square the game.
That sparked the belief along with the Darcy Street crowd, and the pressure seemingly got to the Strikers defence as an under-hit back pass in the middle of the pitch allowed Bonnie Davies to swoop for her 33rd goal of the season, which might yet prove to be the most important of the lot. It secured the 2-1 win that keeps South’s title dreams alive for now.
Just as this game went down to the wire, so too will the title race as a result. South will now play their final game of the season next Sunday against the Clarence Zebras at Darcy Street. They will crucially know how United have fared in their game against the Lions on the Saturday, meaning they will either be playing to win the league title or to force United into needing a final day victory over Olympia to close it out. Either way it will be a massive clash next Sunday.
One Down, Two to Go for Launceston United
Launceston United kept their title bid on track with a 5-0 win over Taroona at Floorworld Park. They took to the pitch knowing that South had already won, so there was no room for error and after a slightly sluggish start they got the job done comfortably enough.
For much of the first half, Taroona frustrated Launceston United and appeared set to take the game into halftime at 0-0. With the pressure of the title race mounting on the home side, every minute the game remained locked was another minute the doubts could potentially creep in.
United would eventually take the lead just before the break as Laura Dickinson was able to produce a superb finish from a tight angle and it was a real settler for her side. They looked a much more comfortable side coming out of the halftime break and with the shackles thrown off they managed to add another four goals including a second from Dickinson who was arguably the best player on the ground.
United have handled Taroona comfortably each time they’ve played them this year and in the second 45 minutes this was no different as the goals started to flow. With La Monte and Gilpin missing, Dani Gunton was always going to be required to shoulder some of the scoring load and she duly did by firing in a well taken brace. The pick of the goals was unquestionably a brilliant hit from the top of the box from Katie Hill that rocketed in and was a stylish way for the defender to score her first-ever WSL goal.
By claiming the win United have taken another huge stride towards the title. They have two games remaining and they know if they win them both, they win the league title. Next up is the Lions at Floorworld Park, another one they should win but the pressure will once again be enormous and probably the biggest factor they will need to overcome in closing things out.
Williams Wizardry Delivers Warriors Breakthrough Victory
The Round began in spectacular fashion on Friday night as Olympia claimed their first victory of the season by downing the Kingborough Lions 4-3. As far wins go this was certainly one of the more dramatic you are ever likely to see, as the Warriors scored three times in the final 15 minutes, including twice in stoppage time to steal a stunning victory. All four of Olympia’s goals came from the brilliant Jessie Williams who showed class is permanent by producing a simply incredible display.
Till the late Williams heroics, the game had appeared to be heading towards a fairly routine win for the Lions. Ella Hood made her mark and scored twice in the first fifteen minutes as it appeared business as usual with the Lions seemingly en-route to make it 3 from 3 over Olympia this season.
Jessie Williams got her first of the evening on 20 minutes to cut it back to 2-1 with a well-timed volley, but Danielle Kannegiesser converted from the spot to restore the Lions two-goal buffer shortly after the halftime break.
With 15 minutes to go and the Lions leading 3-1, it appeared as if the Lions were headed to a fifth win of the season; enter the Jessie Williams show.
In the 78th minute, Isabelle Cranfield cleverly flicked a header on that turned into a perfect through ball for Williams to run onto, outpacing the defence, taking it past the keeper and finishing into the empty net.
The equalizer was pure individual brilliance. Taking the ball in her own half, Williams took off and cut through the heart of the Lions defence, leaving three in her wake before steering her shot into the bottom corner to square the game at 3-3 with a stunning solo goal.
She wasn’t done yet as a minute later another long ball was flicked into her path and taking it away from her marker and into the box, Williams squeezed a shot through the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a 92nd-minute winner and her fourth goal of the game, the very definition of a match-winning performance.
Whilst Williams rightly draws the headlines for her performance, you’ve also got to give credit to the rest of this Warriors side and their coaching staff. It’s been a long and difficult season for the group, but they have dug in, made themselves much harder to play against over the past month and now get the rewards for their perseverance with a victory here. The scenes of jubilation post-game showed just what the win meant to them and they will now be eyeing off Taroona next week as a genuine chance to grab another.