The Clarence Zebras scored an important win over the Strikers in the game of Round 7 in the MyState Bank Women’ Super League whilst the Lions survived a scare in their Statewide Cup Quarter Final against Ulverstone in the other action taking place on the weekend after Olympia’s forfeit to Launceston United meant there were just the two games played.
Nichols Turns the Tables on Strikers
The Clarence Zebras reversed the score line of their Statewide Cup defeat a week earlier by turning the tables on the Devonport Strikers to win 1-0 in the lone Super League game for the weekend. Just as it was a week earlier, it was a tightly fought affair with both sides having chances to take the lead and ultimately a single goal proving enough to decide it. It was Zoe Nichols who seized her moment and pounced early in the second half to score the goal that would prove decisive as the Zebras moved clear into third spot on the table and kept themselves firmly in the title race.
The best opening of the entire first half arrived just three minutes after kick-off when Elianna Diafokeris almost handed the Zebras the dream start as she made a darting run into the box. It was well spotted by Nichols who picked her out, but the shot was sharply denied by Brooke Bennett who would prove a rock in the Strikers net throughout the match.
The Strikers probably shaded the contest in the first half but were largely restricted to more optimistic efforts and were unable to really test out Kacey Ponting too much. Despite the attacking intent of both sides, clear scoring chances weren’t exactly flowing as the windy and wet conditions impacted things and made it tough for either side to play much pretty football.
The early exchanges in the second half saw things beginning to open up as the Strikers began with a flurry of shots and dangerous play around the penalty area. The first 10 minutes saw the Zebras defence coming under immense pressure, but they managed to hold out before producing a spell in the ascendancy of their own.
Brooke Bennet was twice called into action to make big saves to deny Diafokeris in one on one situations but there was growing sense a goal was nearing. When Zoe Nichols turned onto a long throw into the box and fired home truly to make it 1-0, it certainly felt like it had been coming.
The Strikers mounted a strong response, spending the next 10 minutes on the attack and they would’ve been level almost immediately if not for a wonderful point-blank range reaction stop from Ponting to deny Vernham.
A rather soft penalty decision then gave the Strikers the chance to draw level from the Penalty spot when Berry was adjudged to have fouled White in the box, but it would not prove the Strikers salvation in front of goal.
White tried to freeze out Ponting to get her to commit to move to one side, stuttering multiple times in her approach before rolling it down the middle but Ponting didn’t bite and held her ground, allowing a pretty regulation penalty save.
It would be as close as the Strikers would come, as they created precious little in the final 25 minutes with the best scoring chances coming up the other end of the park where Bennett made another pair of good saves as the Zebras closed the game out the stronger of the two sides.
On the balance of play, whilst the Strikers certainly had their chances to hit the back of the net and they had some chances to lead, it was the Zebras who ultimately created more scoring looks and were deserving of the end result. Brooke Bennett was outstanding in the Strikers net and if not for her strong form the Zebras probably could’ve added a few more. These are clearly two very evenly matched sides as we have seen over the past fortnight and I think we can expect just as tight contests in their future meetings to come later on this year.
Lashmar Saves Lions Hides
In the Women’s Statewide Cup there was almost a massive boil over as the Kingborough Lions just overcame a plucky Ulverstone outfit, who gave a great account of themselves. The Lions ultimately progressed through to the final four with a 3-1 win, but it was very much in the balance late on into proceedings till Cara Lashmar conjured a moment of brilliance.
The signs of a potential upset were certainly not evident early on as the Kingborough Lions took the lead just four minutes in through the first chance of the game in a pretty routine fashion. The Reds defence looked vulnerable as Kannegiesser cut right through the heart of them all too easily to score the opening goal and get the home side off and running.
But they would tighten the screws from that point on and ultimately prove a tough unit to break down for a Lions side lacking their usual talisman in attack with the brilliant Laura Davis absent. The Lions had a few half chances throughout the first half action, but nothing too clear cut as the Reds defence, marshalled by the ever reliable Emily Nellis, restricted their threat and kept them almost exclusively to shots from long range.
The Reds didn’t create much in an attacking sense till the second half but came close to an early second half equaliser when Aitken fizzed one just wide of the post shortly after the restart in a warning shot to the Lions that they were very much in a contest here.
The Lions continued to see plenty of the ball but not create many opening and midway through the half the Reds drew themselves level against the run of play.
Lucy Reimer expertly dissected the Lions defence, cutting onto her left to deliver a perfect through ball for Jemma Matthews to run onto. Matthews finished truly, guiding her shot past Gardner to square it up at 1-1 after 74 minutes.
That combination almost had the Reds ahead five minutes later when Reimer again created a good chance for Matthews, but this time she directed her finish narrowly wide of the post. It was a very near miss though and suddenly the upset was looking well and truly on the cards.
Enter Cara Lashmar on 82 minutes, who saw the ball deflect into her path 25 yards out from goal. Taking a couple of touches to control the ball, then set herself for the shot, she delivered a perfect long-range drive that flew in off the upright and restored her sides lead in spectacular fashion.
Given they had found themselves unable to break through the red wall at the back all afternoon, this long-range smash dealt with that issue most effectively, by bypassing the need to play through them altogether. It was certainly a goal worthy of winning any contest.
It would prove enough to secure their progression as the Reds couldn’t respond and Ella Hood made certain of the result in stoppage time when she squeezed one through Anderson with the final whistle imminent. It saw the game ending at 3-1 in the Lions fashion and booked their place in the Statewide Cup Final 4 where the Devonport Strikers now await them.