Ulverstone has blown the Women's Super League title race wide open, downing the ladder-leading Olympia Warriors 2-0 at Warrior Park on Saturday.
A brace from the WSL's leading goalscorer Jazmin White saw the visitors take down the Warriors for the second time this season. After their first home defeat of the year, Olympia have now dropped into second place on goal difference after the Hobart Zebras claimed a comfortable win against Kingborough. With just four rounds left they would have hoped to build on a three-point buffer, but a frustrating afternoon in attack and some clinical finishing from White means they'll have to chase the title the hard way.
The visitors were on the front foot from the opening whistle, as a turnover from Warriors goalkeeper Jenna Farrow almost gifted White a goal inside the first minute. She continued to loom dangerously in the game's early exchanges as Ulverstone peppered the Warriors goal, with Farrow making multiple saves early to deny them the lead. The home side slowly settled and had chances of their own, with Innocent Michael and Olivia Bomford going close at the other end.
Just as it looked like Olympia might take the upper hand, though, the visitors struck to grab the lead just before the half hour mark. As has so often been the case this season, it was the pace of White that caught out the defence as she ran onto a through ball down the middle, burnt her defender and finished well past Farrow. That goal had the momentum firmly in Ulverstone's favour, and White almost snagged her second soon after with one shot saved by Farrow and the rebound scooped just over the crossbar.
The Warriors, meanwhile, continued to show glimpses of their best when moving the ball forward but struggled to convert that play into goalscoring chances. That saw them go for the last half hour before the break without a clear shot on goal, as they went into half time facing a 1-0 deficit.
They came out with high energy to start the second half and pressed forward in numbers, but Ulverstone's defence continued to repel every attack. That saw the first twenty minutes locked in something of a stalemate, as the Warriors continued to struggle creating chances while Ulverstone were happy to be patient when on the ball. A thumping header over the crossbar from Davies and an easy save from Ulverstone goalkeeper Georgia Anderson were the only real moments of note in that time, before the class of White once again shone through to double the lead for the visitors.
Once again it was the pace of White that broke through the Warriors defence. Another through ball into space found her in a one-on-one with Farrow, and she slid the ball past the goalkeeper for a simple finish. There was a chorus of complaints from the Olympia players, coaches and fans over a possible offside, but the flag stayed down, the goal stood and the deficit increased.
The Warriors continued to attack with intent, but as the clock quickly ran down they still couldn't find any easy opportunities. Stifled for much of the day, Madison Chambers started to come alive with some dangerous crossing and a rocket from the edge of the box that just snuck over the crossbar.
Inside the last ten minutes and still two goals behind, the Warriors needed something to spark a late push. They looked to have found that something when, in the 85th minute, substitute Amy Prokopiec was set to shoot before being cut down inside the area by the advancing Anderson. The referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot and award the Warriors a potentially game-changing penalty.
Up stepped Innocent Michael for one of the biggest kicks of the season. She hit the spot kick low and hard, but the quick reflexes of Anderson saw her down to her right in a flash to push the ball away to safety. On a day filled with glimpses of attacking promise but no finishing touches, it was a fitting end to a wholly frustrating day for the Warriors.
The final whistle followed soon after, leaving Ulverstone celebrating another huge scalp and the Warriors ruing a huge missed opportunity. The title race now rests on the final four games of the season, with a final-round clash between Olympia and the Zebras looming as a potential last-day decider.