The Olympia F.C Warriors have marked themselves as the team to beat in the Women's Super League, scoring a second win over a title rival in as many games, as they accounted for Ulverstone 3-1 at Warrior Park. Having downed Hobart Zebras 3-2 on Sunday, the win makes it 2 from 2 against the sides expected to be their main title rivals this season, with goals from Mamic and Davies helping secure the win. The loss is Ulverstone's first in the WSL since 2017 having gone unbeaten last season, a feat they won't be repeating in 2019.
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Solstice Photography[/caption]
The opening twenty minutes of the match was a cagey affair, primarily due to the torrid conditions that descended on Warrior Park just before kickoff. A swirling wind and sudden down pour made clear cut chances difficult to come by. Ulverstone were forced to use their only available substitute early in the match, as Faith Cochrane succumbed to injury after eighteen minutes. Olympia dominated possession throughout the first half, as they had done a week prior against the Hobart Zebras, and looked to their flying wingers in Davies and Chambers to exploit the relatively high line Ulverstone's defence began the game with.
Olympia made the breakthrough after 38 minutes. Mamic got on to the end of a through ball down the middle of the defence, leaving her one on one with Georgia Anderson. Mamic, spotting Anderson off her line, attempted the chip from 20 metres out, and whilst Anderson got a hand to it, the ball rolled into the back of the net for a goal that Olympia's pressure and possession ultimately deserved.
A 1-0 lead going into half time didn't leave Olympia with much room for complacency, and Ulverstone certainly came out the strongest side in the second half, with chances to Nellis and Gaffney early in the half. Just as Ulverstone were gaining the ascendancy, Olympia struck. The searing pace of Bonnie Davies finally got in behind the compact defence, and the winger coolly slotted the ball home at Anderson's near post.
A third goal to Olympia was added at the seventieth minute mark, with Chambers this time getting in behind the defence, and curring the ball back to the 6 yard line, where an unfortunate Nellis, who had been imperious at the back, couldn't quite adjust her body in time, and the ball rolled into her own goal. As expected with early season matches, the intensity waned a little deep into the second half, with Ulverstone playing with ten players towards the end as Locke also succumbed to injury. The reigning champions then pulled a goal back through Jazmin White, who showed great composure in rounding Olympia's keeper Farrow, and gave Ulverstone a consolation goal their play deserved.
3-1 was the final score, and on the balance of play, a victory that Olympia ultimately deserved. With two straight victories over two title rivals, plus the Summer Cup triumph, the Olympia Warriors are the team to beat early on in the 2019 Women's Super League. Ulverstone will look to bounce back after there first league loss since 2017 at home next week against the Kingborough Lions.
[caption id="attachment_10096" align="alignnone" width="586"]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10094" align="alignnone" width="575"]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
The opening twenty minutes of the match was a cagey affair, primarily due to the torrid conditions that descended on Warrior Park just before kickoff. A swirling wind and sudden down pour made clear cut chances difficult to come by. Ulverstone were forced to use their only available substitute early in the match, as Faith Cochrane succumbed to injury after eighteen minutes. Olympia dominated possession throughout the first half, as they had done a week prior against the Hobart Zebras, and looked to their flying wingers in Davies and Chambers to exploit the relatively high line Ulverstone's defence began the game with.
Olympia made the breakthrough after 38 minutes. Mamic got on to the end of a through ball down the middle of the defence, leaving her one on one with Georgia Anderson. Mamic, spotting Anderson off her line, attempted the chip from 20 metres out, and whilst Anderson got a hand to it, the ball rolled into the back of the net for a goal that Olympia's pressure and possession ultimately deserved.
A 1-0 lead going into half time didn't leave Olympia with much room for complacency, and Ulverstone certainly came out the strongest side in the second half, with chances to Nellis and Gaffney early in the half. Just as Ulverstone were gaining the ascendancy, Olympia struck. The searing pace of Bonnie Davies finally got in behind the compact defence, and the winger coolly slotted the ball home at Anderson's near post.
A third goal to Olympia was added at the seventieth minute mark, with Chambers this time getting in behind the defence, and curring the ball back to the 6 yard line, where an unfortunate Nellis, who had been imperious at the back, couldn't quite adjust her body in time, and the ball rolled into her own goal. As expected with early season matches, the intensity waned a little deep into the second half, with Ulverstone playing with ten players towards the end as Locke also succumbed to injury. The reigning champions then pulled a goal back through Jazmin White, who showed great composure in rounding Olympia's keeper Farrow, and gave Ulverstone a consolation goal their play deserved.
3-1 was the final score, and on the balance of play, a victory that Olympia ultimately deserved. With two straight victories over two title rivals, plus the Summer Cup triumph, the Olympia Warriors are the team to beat early on in the 2019 Women's Super League. Ulverstone will look to bounce back after there first league loss since 2017 at home next week against the Kingborough Lions.
[caption id="attachment_10096" align="alignnone" width="586"] Solstice Photography[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10094" align="alignnone" width="575"] Solstice Photography[/caption]