The Olympia Warriors secured a comfortable 5-0 win over Clarence United on Saturday afternoon in their Round 11 WSL encounter. The Warriors bossed the contest and threatened to score more, but a resilient defensive effort and inspired goalkeeping display from Amelia Vanderniet ensured the Reds avoided a major blowout.
Having been on the end of a thumping result in their last meeting, Clarence seemed to determined to avoid a repeat and kept plenty of numbers behind the ball as Olympia probed away in the early exchanges. Room was at a real premium for players and anyone receiving the ball around the box often found themselves surrounded.
Olympia eventually took the lead, though it was a contentious opener. Zara Dixon had done brilliantly to charge back and recover to prevent a shot from Williams. That saw the ball spill to Vanderniet, who seemingly had Williams kick it out of her hands. That was certainly the Clarence appeals, but they were waved away as Madi Chambers picked up the ball and drilled home the opening goal.
Heather Russel doubled the lead shortly after as she pounced on a rebound that Vanerniet left on the doorstep after making a quite stunning reaction save to deny Madi Chambers volley. It was harsh on the keeper having made such a good save, but full credit to Russel for getting into the position.
[caption id="attachment_12023" align="alignnone" width="506"]
Vanderniet was brilliant for Clarence- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Emily Grznic was fighting hard to contain Madi Chambers in a battle down the left wing, watching her closely and engaging in a number of foot races. She won a key battle just prior to half time to keep it at 2-0 heading into the break, and whilst the brilliant Chambers would get the better of her on a few occasions, that was always likely through the sheer weight of opportunities.
Clarence were doing a nice job choking up the top of the box and getting plenty of bodies in between the ball and the net, frustrating and Olympia team who felt they should be getting more scoreboard reward for their play. They were utterly dominant in possession and Jenna Farrow didn't have a save to make all afternoon.
There was nothing the Reds could do to stop Darci Quin just prior to the hour mark though, as she turned on the jets and burnt off the defence with a storming run down the left before finishing into the bottom corner of the net.
That made it 3-0 and suddenly it seemed like the dam wall had burst. Clarence were tiring and suddenly the Olympia players had a little more space to work in, which they profited from three times in five minutes.
Inocent Michael blasted home a powerful shot to make it 4-0 after a threatening sequence had seen the ball pin-balling around the penalty area and shouts waved away for a penalty.
Then it was 5-0 as Madi Chambers tapped home from close range in another goal that was incredibly harsh on Vanderniet. Bonnie Davies was denied what would have been an incredible solo goal, as she knocked it over an opponent on halfway then tearing down the right wing into the box, only to be stopped by the long arm of the Clarence keeper at full extension. The rebound sat invitingly though and Chambers made no mistake to produce the final goal of the game.
[caption id="attachment_12022" align="alignnone" width="466"]
Davies pace down the flanks was a constant menace- Solstice Photography[/caption]
It could well have been more if not the for the Reds keeper who made some 6 saves in the final 20 minutes of the match, including two absolute top drawer stops in the dying minutes.
It ended 5-0 to Olympia, in a game they might have expected to win by more but will settle for the comfortable win. For the undermanned Clarence, it was a good fighting effort in defence but one that lacked any offensive threat.
https://youtu.be/SCvAGHp9t6o
Vanderniet was brilliant for Clarence- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Emily Grznic was fighting hard to contain Madi Chambers in a battle down the left wing, watching her closely and engaging in a number of foot races. She won a key battle just prior to half time to keep it at 2-0 heading into the break, and whilst the brilliant Chambers would get the better of her on a few occasions, that was always likely through the sheer weight of opportunities.
Clarence were doing a nice job choking up the top of the box and getting plenty of bodies in between the ball and the net, frustrating and Olympia team who felt they should be getting more scoreboard reward for their play. They were utterly dominant in possession and Jenna Farrow didn't have a save to make all afternoon.
There was nothing the Reds could do to stop Darci Quin just prior to the hour mark though, as she turned on the jets and burnt off the defence with a storming run down the left before finishing into the bottom corner of the net.
That made it 3-0 and suddenly it seemed like the dam wall had burst. Clarence were tiring and suddenly the Olympia players had a little more space to work in, which they profited from three times in five minutes.
Inocent Michael blasted home a powerful shot to make it 4-0 after a threatening sequence had seen the ball pin-balling around the penalty area and shouts waved away for a penalty.
Then it was 5-0 as Madi Chambers tapped home from close range in another goal that was incredibly harsh on Vanderniet. Bonnie Davies was denied what would have been an incredible solo goal, as she knocked it over an opponent on halfway then tearing down the right wing into the box, only to be stopped by the long arm of the Clarence keeper at full extension. The rebound sat invitingly though and Chambers made no mistake to produce the final goal of the game.
[caption id="attachment_12022" align="alignnone" width="466"] Davies pace down the flanks was a constant menace- Solstice Photography[/caption]
It could well have been more if not the for the Reds keeper who made some 6 saves in the final 20 minutes of the match, including two absolute top drawer stops in the dying minutes.
It ended 5-0 to Olympia, in a game they might have expected to win by more but will settle for the comfortable win. For the undermanned Clarence, it was a good fighting effort in defence but one that lacked any offensive threat.
https://youtu.be/SCvAGHp9t6o