It was back to business as usual for the Olympia Warriors in the MyState Women's Super League, as they put in a composed performance to defeat Launceston United 2-0. While the wide expanses of UTAS Stadium could have led to a free-flowing shootout, the Warriors put forward a rock-solid defensive effort along with goals from Leah Gubb and Bonnie Davies to claim a comfortable win.
The game rolled gently into first gear from the kick-off as both sides struggled to adjust to the pristine playing surface early. With long through balls carrying further than usual it was the pace of Bonnie Davies and Madi Chambers that looked most threatening, but Launceston United's defence held strong and snuffed out any danger. Things did start to open up after a quiet opening 20 minutes and it was the home side with the bulk of the chances, with Danielle Gunton and Jess McCallum-Smith firing at goal but missing the target high. Their other opportunity came from a close-range scramble, but part-time Warriors goalkeeper Meghan Goscombe's futsal background came to the fore as she clamped down on the ball to deny Gunton.
The Warriors spent the bulk of the game's opening portion in their defensive half, but they still managed to take the lead thanks to the set piece brilliance of Gubb. With a free kick from the top of the penalty area, she hit a shot with the outside of her boot that wrong-footed the goalkeeper and flew into the back of the net untouched. It was either a goalkeeping error or a vicious late curve on the ball, but either way it put the defending champions in front against the run of play.
Launceston continued to press forward despite that setback, and they continued to create the bulk of the scoring chances. Most of those shots came from long range, though, as Olympia's defence halted any progress closer to goal. At the other end, the Warriors used their more occasional attacks to better effect, with Chambers shooting into the side netting and a strong appeal for a penalty turned down. There was no further score before the break, though, with the game well and truly still up for grabs.
The game continued to be played at a slow pace after the restart, and while that would normally suit Launceston United it left them struggling to chase the game from behind. Olympia's talented forwards continued to threaten, but with Chambers being blanketed by Laura Dickinson and Davies struggling to find her finishing touch, the minutes continued to tick by without much meaningful action.
It felt like a matter of time before one of the Warriors stars broke the shackles, though, and it was Davies that did so with a thumping strike in the 72nd minute. Her first-time shot from long range rocketed into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Imogen McCormick no chance as it hit the underside of the crossbar and went in. Davies very nearly added another less than ten minutes later after a storming run down the right, but this time McCormick did well to dive low to her right and save.
After trying to force their way closer to goal for much of the second half, United finally looked to test Goscombe with some long-range bombs in the game's dying minutes. Jessica Robinson was the main outlet, putting one shot just wide and one shot just over the top before hitting the target with her third effort. The Warriors goalkeeper was up to the challenge, though, making a diving save to keep her clean sheet intact.
That was the final action of the afternoon, with Olympia claiming a 2-0 win to move into a share of first place with the Clarence Zebras. A second straight loss for Launceston United sees them slip below the defending champions, but they remain right in the thick of things in an even season.
Launceston continued to press forward despite that setback, and they continued to create the bulk of the scoring chances. Most of those shots came from long range, though, as Olympia's defence halted any progress closer to goal. At the other end, the Warriors used their more occasional attacks to better effect, with Chambers shooting into the side netting and a strong appeal for a penalty turned down. There was no further score before the break, though, with the game well and truly still up for grabs.
The game continued to be played at a slow pace after the restart, and while that would normally suit Launceston United it left them struggling to chase the game from behind. Olympia's talented forwards continued to threaten, but with Chambers being blanketed by Laura Dickinson and Davies struggling to find her finishing touch, the minutes continued to tick by without much meaningful action.
It felt like a matter of time before one of the Warriors stars broke the shackles, though, and it was Davies that did so with a thumping strike in the 72nd minute. Her first-time shot from long range rocketed into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Imogen McCormick no chance as it hit the underside of the crossbar and went in. Davies very nearly added another less than ten minutes later after a storming run down the right, but this time McCormick did well to dive low to her right and save.
After trying to force their way closer to goal for much of the second half, United finally looked to test Goscombe with some long-range bombs in the game's dying minutes. Jessica Robinson was the main outlet, putting one shot just wide and one shot just over the top before hitting the target with her third effort. The Warriors goalkeeper was up to the challenge, though, making a diving save to keep her clean sheet intact.
That was the final action of the afternoon, with Olympia claiming a 2-0 win to move into a share of first place with the Clarence Zebras. A second straight loss for Launceston United sees them slip below the defending champions, but they remain right in the thick of things in an even season.