Welcome to the Weekend Wash-Up for another week as we recap the action from Round 18 in the MyState Bank Women’s Super League. It was a weekend of games that has now set up a grandstand finish to the season as Launceston United relinquished their grip on top spot when they fell to Devonport and South Hobart took full advantage by downing the Kingborough Lions on Sunday. Elsewhere the Clarence Zebras took the points against Taroona in what was a far closer affair than the two previous meetings between the pair had offered up.
Devonport Strike Down Wobbling United
In the game of the round and one of the biggest of the season to date, the Devonport Strikers produced an emphatic performance to dispatch Launceston United 3-0 at Valley Road. The Strikers controlled the contest from start to finish and the result means United have now slipped to second place on the table with just 3 weeks remaining in the season.
The Strikers had been the form side of the competition for the past couple of months and they signalled their intent from the outset here taking the lead just 16 seconds into the match! From the kick-off they worked it forwards before it was laid back to Renske Rombouts who let fly with an ambitious effort from 25 yards out that lobbed perfectly into the back of the net. It was a hammer blow right out of the blocks and set the tone for the match to come.
United struggled to create much in the first half and were dealt a further blow when star attacker Ellie La Monte limped off midway through proceedings.
Despite controlling the play and having the better of the chances the Strikers couldn’t find a second goal till midway through the second half when they were given the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot. A harsh decision against Nichola James for a foul in the box saw Jazmin White given the opportunity from 12 yards and she didn’t pass it up. On balance of play it was probably a deserved two-goal lead, but United can probably feel aggrieved about the manner in which it arrived.
White would then claim her second of the afternoon and 43rd of the season just minutes later to kill off the game when she was waiting in the middle to finish off some nice build-up play.
The win extends the Strikers winning streak to six matches and they remain unbeaten in their past 11 outings. Whilst the title surely remains out of reach for them, they certainly put a dent in United’s title aspirations with this result. With a game against South Hobart next week, United will now be hoping they maintain this winning form and do likewise to the side who just jumped them.
They aren’t dependent on that though, they remain masters of their own destiny and will win the league title so long as they win their final three games. With those three games coming against the bottom three sides, who have not taken a point from any top four sides all season, that is something they really should do. The toughest of those three games is undoubtedly Kingborough and they will be glad to have home ground advantage in that one as they rather wobble to the finish line.
South Defeat Lions To Move Top
Launceston United’s defeat left the door ajar for South Hobart to move to the top of the table and they duly did, lifting their level in the second half after a close-fought first 45 minutes to overcome Kingborough 5-2.
This was a game of two distinct halves and the first 45 was a tough battle that saw both teams creating plenty of scoring chances.
It was an explosive opening to the game as South Hobart took the lead via their first attack, when Pichon Choi showed a lovely first touch and quick release on the shot to finish off Wright’s work out on the right-hand side.
But the Lions responded almost immediately, Laura Davis threading one through for Amy Ollington to run onto and fire home to square the game at 1-1.
South began to work their way on top and it felt like the weight of corners may soon take its toll with Lucy Roberts fizzing in some dangerous set pieces. Eventually it led to Talia White looping a shot that dipped underneath the bar and handing South the lead.
On 35 minutes White turned from hero to villain when she scythed down Laura Davis in the box to concede a penalty. She was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow for the challenge, but the Lions converted from the spot via Danielle Kannegiesser and it was all square once more.
Just before the half time break, South claimed the lead for the third time and this time they would not relinquish it. Again it was Pichon Choi providing the goal, getting to a rebound after the initial shot had cannoned off the crossbar. A collision between two Lions defenders and Moutsatsos saw bodies strewn across the penalty area, but in amongst the traffic, it was Choi who reacted first to make it 3-2 at half time.
After a tight first half it seemed like we were in for a real battle, but the second half was all one-way traffic as South Hobart seized control of the match. They completely bossed the contest, hemming the Lions back deep in their own end for much of the half and striking early on the scoreboard to make sure of the result.
Three minutes after the restart South had a two-goal lead when Mia Cane reacted first to another rebound off the crossbar, this time via a long-range Lucy Roberts shot.
The final nail in the coffin came on 72 minutes when Nikki Moutsatsos picked out the bottom corner with a well-placed shot. It sealed a 5-2 win that sent South to the top of the table, but their title hopes still remain outside of their control.
They can only control their final two games and ensuring they get 2 wins from them to pile the pressure on United. That may be easier said than done however with the rampaging Devonport Strikers awaiting them next week before they end their season away to Clarence Zebras. They reclaim the lead on the ladder for now, but they very much remain the outsiders in this title race.
Nichols Steers Zebras Past Pirates
Lastly at Kelvedon Park on the Saturday, the Clarence Zebras secured a 3-1 win over Taroona with Zoe Nichols scoring two and setting up another in a classy display up top.
With both sides seemingly locked into their positions on the table barring some major upsets in the final rounds, there wasn’t a whole lot left to play for here but having copped two hidings in their two prior clashes with the Zebras, Taroona were out to demonstrate their improvement. That they did by pushing the Zebras far more than they did in their prior encounters, but ultimately they couldn’t contain the threat of Nichols who was the match winner.
She opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a sharp turn at the top of the box before picking out the bottom corner of the goals. Five minutes later she turned provider, expertly dissecting the defence to spring Caitlin Stalker in behind the lines. Stalker took the ball past the keeper and slotted home her 12th goal against the Pirates for the season.
The goals didn’t continue to flow this time around though and early in the second half Taroona was daring to dream when they cut the lead back to 2-1. On 57 minutes Daisy Parsell drew a save from Kacee Ponting which bounced up and Cholada Gale reacted fastest to somehow sneak in between two defenders and get the decisive touch to prod home.
The response from the Zebras was near instantaneous as two minutes later Nichols received the ball with her back to goal, 20 yards out. She drove inside, skipping into space and from the top of the D she bent one to perfection that flew into the top corner. It was a stunning strike and quickly put any thoughts of a Taroona fightback to bed. It secured a 3-1 win for the Zebras to make it three wins in a row. Taroona won’t be too displeased with the defeat however as it was the first time they’ve got within 2 goals of a top 4 side this year which suggests they are on the right track after enduring a tough season to date.