The Hobart Zebras scored a crucial three points in their title challenge today as they downed Kingborough Lions 4-2 at KGV. It was 2-0 at half time thanks to a Lily Hulton brace and then in an entertaining second half the Lions looked to fight back thanks to an early goal from Zoe Horgan but it would be Zebras who ultimately came out on top.
In a rematch of the Statewide Cup final we saw two weeks ago it took a little while for both teams to settle into the contest, the first real chance not coming until the 11th minute when Zoe Nichols got a shot off under pressure from Hanna Manuela. Despite being through on goal with only Gardner standing in her way it was the persistent presence from Manuela that lead to Nichols' shot being rather tame in the end.
It was Nichols via the foot of a Kingborough defender that came close again in the 17th minute as her shot on goal was deflected just wide of the near post, Kingborough narrowly avoiding an own goal.
In the 21st minute the Zebras found their break through as Nichols got a toe on the ball ahead of Manuela to skip past the Lions' centre back. She then fed a ball into the feet of Kannegeisser who had no trouble crossing to the back post for Hulton to score unopposed into an empty net.
Laura Davis, quiet up until this point, got her first real chance in the 24th minute when she jinked inside of Mason and let off a good looking shot however Cook had no trouble in making the save. Just a minute later it was Zoe Horgan who took a settling touch and unleashed from 20 yards with an effort that seemed goal-bound only for it to continue rising over the bar and settle onto the roof of the net.
Allie Berry had a frustrating day as her persistence and desire landed her trouble on multiple occasions, a warning coming her way from referee Craig Phillips following a tangle in the 35th minute. It did nothing to dampen her efforts however as just minutes later she found herself on the end of a Delaney cross only to watch her first time volley continue wide.
Lily Hulton double the lead for her side on the stroke of half time as she caught the Lions asleep at the back. She pounced on some sloppy play and after seeing her initial shot saved by Gardner she made no mistake with her follow up that settled into the back of the net over the Kingborough shot-stopper to secure her brace.
It was a goal that seemed to deflate the visitors heading into the break but the second half started with newly found vigour as Horgan closed the gap to one in the 48th minute. After missing a shot just a minute earlier, she was the beneficiary of some great work by Davis on the by-line and as it was cut back to Horgan near the penalty spot she showed composure in a back post finish past the outstretched Cook.
This sparked Horgan into gear as her brilliant first half performance was backed up by twenty minutes of the highest calibre in which she was pulling the strings for Kingborough via the midfield as well as winning the ball back and creating chances. Zebras had their own workhorse in midfield by the name of Allie Berry and in the 66th minute she just about got onto the score sheet however the low cross was just behind Berry as she stormed into the box.
Natalie Roubickova was an important piece of the Lions' comeback attempt in the second half after she was introduced at the break. On multiple occasions she split the Zebras defence with some dynamic passes attempting to get the Lions front three more involved in the game. Despite Kingborough's strong press it was Nichols who came close to finding the net in the 74th minute as Kannegeisser got the ball to her feet with a low cross. Nichols held the ball up until she could muster a shot but it was well saved by Gardner who was doing everything in her power to keep her side in the contest.
Berry was left bemused in the 75th minute as she was denied what seemed to be a clear penalty shout. She looked to be one on one with Gardner until a desperation tackle from the retreating Kingborough centre back left her floored but the referee wasn't interested. They didn't have to wait long to see their two goal lead restored however as Kannegeisser haunted Kingborough again, two weeks after her brace in the cup final. She curled a fine shot toward the back post and despite Gardner getting a hand to it she couldn't deny the Zebras their third with just eleven minutes remaining.
The game ended in a flurry as Berry then added a fourth to the rampant display by her side. After pressing all game for a goal to her name she capped off her 'best on ground' performance with a 93rd minute goal after rounding Gardner and finishing into the empty net.
Despite being three goals down the Lions weren't discouraged and ended up stringing together a fantastic move that resulted in their second for the game. In what was a delightful passing move and a taste of what this side is capable of, Horgan and Davis exchanged passes all the way through the Zebras midfield before Horgan fed through Hickman who scored past Cook.
It was all for nothing however as the whistle came just seconds later to confirm the Zebras victory. Combined with the fact that Ulverstone defeated Olympia 2-0 today in other WSL action the Zebras are now in a great position to close the gap on the ladder leading Warriors even further with a game at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night against Clarence.