A clinical display by the Hobart Zebras saw the side claim a massive win on the road over Ulverstone. Two contrasting goals: one conjured by magic, the other born of defensive negligence, would prove to be the difference between the sides. In a contest that was stuck in the middle of the park in the way bubblegum can be stuck to hair, scoring opportunities were a rare commodity. But that didn’t stop Allie Berry and Zoe Nichols from finding the back of the net and handing the Zebras a crucial 2-0 win.
The clouds drifting in front of the sun at kick off was fitting for the occasion, because a bright start was dampened as the game wore on, with the ball stuck in the traffic of midfield for lengthy spells. Given the high line employed by both sides, it didn't take long for Ulverstone to look to take advantage.
Lucy Foote popped a ball in behind the defence for Jazmin White to go on yet another run towards goal with ball at her feet. The only thing to stop the Reds forward was the Zebras keeper, as Shelley Cook met the forward cleaning her up in the process. A penalty and yellow card was the result of the keepers brash move to halt White's process.
Georgia Foote stood up to take the penalty. Picking the right corner the Ulverstone captain was to be denied by Cook, who guessed the right way and made amends out of the situation.
A lack of many clear cut scoring opportunities didn’t deny the goalkeepers at both ends the ability to stamp their authority on this game. Up one end, Georgia Anderson was often well off her line, sweeping up play. While Cook took control of her box, making cutting out incoming crosses look easy.
Otherwise this match was a tussle of the midfield, where neither side were able to really gain traction until a lapse of concentration at the end of the first half. A ball whipped in from the Zebras right flank looked routine enough for the Reds defence to sort out. But it wasn’t, as the ball bobbled around in the 6 yard box to find Berry free at the far post and an empty net at her disposal. It was a golden opportunity not to be missed and it handed the Zebras the lead at a pivotal time before the break.
The second half opened up a touch, with both sets of defences happy to move slightly deeper at times to produce more space to play in. However, it was still very much a battle in the middle of the park despite the congestion easing up from a level of 'mall car-park at Christmas' to just your regular 'peak hour parking.'
It was a touch of genius that was to seal the match and secure the win for the Zebras. Near the hour mark, Berry found the space to turn in front of the Ulverstone defence with the ball at her feet. With Nichols making a crafty run in behind the centre backs, Berry chipped the ball over the head of the defender, into the path of her teammate. In a one on one with Anderson, Nichols made sure to send the ball home with enough power that even the keeper getting gloves on the shot couldn’t deny the goal.
Ulverstone tried to fight back. However their attack couldn’t find a way through, with White marked out of the match and the ball unable to find its way into the path of their play-maker Lucy Foote, often enough. Whilst the Reds searched for a reply, the Zebras looked just as good on the quick transition. A couple heart in mouth foot races between a Zebras forward and Reds defender, a timely offside call and a last minute save all conspired to deny the Zebras from extending their lead.
It was a match that lived up to the expectations of being fiercely fought, and the difference was that the Zebras were more clinical in front of goal. The early penalty miss for Ulverstone set the tone for the rest of their day, unable to find the back of the net when the chances presented.