The Hobart Zebras have pulled off the comeback of the season, coming from three goals down to defeat the Kingborough Lions 4-3 at the Den. A hat-trick from former Young Matilda Jessie Williams inspired the come back, that keeps their title hopes alive, as they closed within a point of ladder leaders Olympia.
The opening twenty minutes saw the Lions come roaring out of the block and it was Natalie Roubickova who scored the first goal of the day. She made a run into the box and fired a shot into the top corner past Zebras keeper Shelley Cook.
Laura Davis would continue her incredible goalscoring form shortly after when she got onto a nice cut back from Emile Tatton and slotted it home into the bottom left corner.
Davis was at the double moments later when she received another cut back. This time Samantha Watkins gave her the assist and Davis made no mistake booting it home and after just 23 minutes it was 3-0.
The Hobart Zebras title hopes had already taken a bump last week with their loss to Olympia and a loss here would have had them in major trouble. They were not going to go down so easily though and sure enough they rallied back into the contest, even without Manager Chris Hey who was on the way to the game from the airport.
It would be Jessie Williams, who finally made the breakthrough for the away side and pulled them back into the contest before the break.
In the 40th minute Williams found herself alone outside the box and picked out the top corner beautifully for the Zebras first of the game.
Williams wasn't done yet as she eased past the Lions defence and shot home on a tight angle from outside the penalty box to cut the Lions lead to 3-2 heading into half time.
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Solstice Photography[/caption]
In the 52nd minute Emille Tatton's header appeared to have crossed the goal line but the referee waved play on much to the dismay of the Lions.
They were made to rue it shortly after when Zoe Nichols got the equaliser in stylish fashion for the Zebras. Lions keeper Olivia Gardner was off her line and Nichols chipped it right over her head.
With the game locked at 3-3, it was Williams who made herself the hero and completed her hat trick in the 81st minute. Making her way through the midfield, she skipped past a couple defenders, got through one on one with the keeper and buried it home for what would prove the deciding goal of the game!
After the game Chris Hey praised his team. "Just shows the character we have to comeback.... it was good to see Zoe on the scoresheet... Jessie is quality".
"To me if we keep our injuries down, play consistently hard games week in week out, we can still win the league."
[audio m4a="https://www.sliceofcheese.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Chris-Hey-20.7.m4a"][/audio]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
In the 52nd minute Emille Tatton's header appeared to have crossed the goal line but the referee waved play on much to the dismay of the Lions.
They were made to rue it shortly after when Zoe Nichols got the equaliser in stylish fashion for the Zebras. Lions keeper Olivia Gardner was off her line and Nichols chipped it right over her head.
With the game locked at 3-3, it was Williams who made herself the hero and completed her hat trick in the 81st minute. Making her way through the midfield, she skipped past a couple defenders, got through one on one with the keeper and buried it home for what would prove the deciding goal of the game!
After the game Chris Hey praised his team. "Just shows the character we have to comeback.... it was good to see Zoe on the scoresheet... Jessie is quality".
"To me if we keep our injuries down, play consistently hard games week in week out, we can still win the league."
[audio m4a="https://www.sliceofcheese.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Chris-Hey-20.7.m4a"][/audio]