Photos: Solstice Digital
Preview written by Dan Thurley
Devonport Strikers vs Olympia Warriors
Date: Saturday July 24
Venue: Valley Road
Kick-off: 12:00 PM
2021 Record: Devonport Strikers: 5-0-5 (fifth in WSL) Olympia Warriors: 6-3-3 (second in WSL)
Top Scorers Devonport Strikers: Jazmin White (11) Olympia Warriors: Mia Cane (8)
Preview:
This game promises to have plenty of attacking flair with exciting goal scorers lining up on either side of the field. While the title may be out of reach already, the Olympia Warriors will not stop pursuing the runaway Clarence Zebras and will expect nothing less than three points in Devonport. The two sides faced each other just three weeks ago with the Warriors triumphing 2-0 before a draw with Kingborough Lions and a loss to the Zebras. The main concern for the Warriors heading into this clash will surround the health of goalkeeper Kacee Ponting who was substituted due to injury after 31 minutes last week. Meggie Goscombe donned the gloves and did well to only concede three against a potent Zebras strike force. At the other end of the field, Josie Mamic has been a welcomed addition after her return from injury, and Ella McConnen is having a breakthrough season alongside the ever-present Mia Cane and Madison Chambers. After the Strikers defeated Taroona 4-2 in round 13, last week’s bye could be seen as a blessing or a curse as far as preparing for a clash like this. While it would have been good to carry over the momentum from the win, an extra week of preparation for a team of the Warriors’ calibre is always useful. The Strikers play an all or nothing style, and though they are capable of scoring goals, they are prone to conceding plenty as well. Still, it is a strategy that has served them well – while they sit fifth on the table, with two games in hand on the Warriors a win this week could be the beginning of their climb to overtake the Warriors in second place.Key Player: Josie Mamic, Olympia Warriors
There will be three established goal scorers on the field in Jazmin White, Madison Chambers and Mia Cane, but with three goals in four games the script is set for Mamic to steal the show yet again. She has had a stellar start to her season since returning from injury, and the Warriors will hope that continues this weekend.Taroona FC vs Launceston United
Date: Saturday July 24
Venue: Kelvedon Park
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2021 Record: Taroona FC: 1-2-8 (seventh in WSL) Launceston United: 6-0-7 (third in WSL)
Top Scorers Taroona FC: Eli Cropp, Emma Carbon (3) Launceston United: Danielle Gunton (7)
Preview:
Launceston United snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Taroona in round 12, but fortunes have changed as they now prepare to go three wins in a row against the same opposition. After a strong start to the season saw the WSL newcomers ahead of the pack, Launceston United have recently slipped back into third with the possibility of sliding further with a loss this weekend. However, United have a good track record of winning when Danielle Gunton scores, and last week she returned to the scoresheet in a 1-0 victory over South Hobart. July will continue to be an interrupted month for United as they go into the bye again next week, but it will be much better received if they can win three on the trot knowing that the Kingborough Lions and Devonport Strikers are nipping at their heels. While Launceston United’s maiden WSL season sees them sitting third with an appearance in the Statewide Cup final, Taroona’s introduction to the WSL has not quite been as smooth. The Pirates sit firmly in seventh place, however recent performances have given plenty of reasons to suspect they will earn a second win soon. After conceding 32 goals in the first six games of the season, they have gone on to concede only 11 in the next five with goalkeeper Isolina Ottavi stepping up in a big way. Recently, the main concern has been finding a way to get onto the scoresheet after Eli Cropp and Emma Carbon remain the only multiple goal scorers in the side. All of Carbon’s goals have come in the last five weeks however, and she will need to continue firing against the side with the third best defensive in the league.Key Player: Isolina Ottavi, Taroona FC
The Pirates’ shot stopper has been the rock on which this Taroona side are slowly building, and up against Gunton and co. who have rediscovered some form, she will need to lead from the back yet again.Clarence Zebras vs Kingborough Lions
Date: Sunday July 25
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2021 Record: Clarence Zebras: 11-1-1 (first in WSL) Kingborough Lions: 4-3-4 (fourth in WSL)
Top Scorers Clarence Zebras: Allie Berry (13) Kingborough Lions: Laura Davis (9)
Preview:
A second half strike from Zoe Nichols earned the Zebras a 3-2 win when these two sides last met in round 12. Fresh from a win over the second-placed Warriors, the ladder-leaders will be hoping to do it more comfortably this time around. After a promising pre-season, the Kingborough Lions would have been excused for circling this clash as a potential title-decider, however after 11 games they are left scrambling in mid-table. By contrast, the Clarence Zebras have charged ahead of the pack and find themselves 13 points clear at the top. This clash will all come down to the Lions’ ability to stop their opposition from finding the net, as Allie Berry and Zoe Nichols have scored a combined 25 goals and the Lions defence have gone five games without a clean sheet. The Zebras have defensive concerns of their own however, and have failed to keep a clean sheet since a 9-0 win over Taroona in round 8. If the Lions’ defence can find a way to keep the Zebras out, there is no doubt they will get their chance to score at the other end. For the Zebras, it is not a case of if, but when they will lift the WSL trophy. They could have it wrapped up as early as round 18 if they continue their winning ways, and possibly earlier depending on results elsewhere. They will not see another bye until the final round and have gone 12 games without a loss since suffering their only defeat of the season in round one. All signs point to the good run of form continuing in front of a home crowd this weekend.Key Player: Danielle Kannegiesser, Kingborough Lions
Kannegiesser will be a very familiar opposition for her former side this weekend, but she will need to outperform them to give the Lions a chance at winning. Laura Davis’ good run of form continues, but her goals do not come without a supply, and so much of Kannegiesser’s work on and off the ball allows that to happen.