Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 10 Review
The only match to survive Sydney?s wet weather was the Blacktown Spartans v Lady Hawks match at Francis Park. The pitch conditions were excellent as the area had received little of the rain that fell elsewhere. Top of the table Spartans were set for a tough afternoon?s work against a gritty Lady Hawks side.
The Spartans came forward with the first opportunity in the opening minutes after they won a corner. However the home side failed to take advantage with Lady Hawks defusing the situation comfortably.
Lady Hawks were then awarded a free kick on the right edge of Blacktown?s box. Michelle Brown?s place kick looked good but Blacktown keeper Yeliz Dogan, though she dropped the high ball in front of goal, kept the ball out of the net.
A good interchange of passing between Grace Ryanhart and Alishia Dudman then brought a second Lady Hawks chance but Dudman?s shot was well held by keeper Dogan. Both sides were attempting to play football with good passing games but the early exchanges were not too threatening.
A strong run by Kaitlin Harms ended with a pass to Stacey Hetherington. The Blacktown number 10 then found Kimberley Pope who slammed the ball into the back of the net only to be called offside. Despite this neither side were dominating. Lady Hawks then pressured the Blacktown defence with Ryanhart dispossessing Maryanne Mikhail deep in Blacktown territory. After a series of passes the ball was laid back for defender Steph Fyfe to hit but her effort caused little problem for The Spartans keeper.
Bronwyn Jarvis then made a handy run before finding Lauren Vosota with a pinpoint pass. Vosota?s strike went straight to Lady Hawks keeper Kim Doohan. The Spartan?s then broke from defence through a long run by Erin Connell. Connell ran all the way into the Lady Hawks area before firing a shot that was taken well by the Lady Hawks keeper.
But in the 24th minute Spartans broke again down the right flank. A perfect centre by Lauren Sparkes found Kimberley Pope who calmly slotted away the opening goal of the match. Blacktown had taken a 1-0 lead. Blacktown almost doubled their lead moments later with Lauren Vosota?s strike bringing a fine save from Kim Doohan. Lady Hawks were still dangerous though with Ryanhart and Dudman combining once more to prise open the Blacktown defence. Ryanhart?s persistence saw her grab a shot at goal but she was well wide of the mark.
Blacktown had started to create the better opportunities with a great shot from Kaitlin Harms bringing an equally impressive save from Kim Doohan. The Spartans almost scrambled another chance from the rebound but Lady Hawks managed to hold on. In the 40th minute a wonderful interchange of passing between Connell, Vosota and Pope seemed to have brought Blacktown their second goal but, once again, the linesperson?s flag was up for offside. The pace of the Blacktown side was causing the Lady Hawks defence plenty of problems. Connell in particular seemed to have the Lady Hawks mesmerised, ending another fine run with a thumping shot which was saved by a diving Doohan.
In the shadows of half time Connell, Vosota and Pope combined again to shred the defence with Pope completing the passing rush to score her second goal. Blacktown had now snatched a 2-0 lead. The Spartans weren?t finished yet though as Hetherington, Sparkes and Pope completed some classy play with Pope grabbing her hat trick moments before the half time whistle. The Spartans held a 3-0 break as the teams went to the sheds for a well earned break.
Blacktown broke quickly from the blocks as the second half commenced; forcing the Lady Hawks back on their heels. A superb corner from Kimberley Pope found an unmarked Zineta De Beer at the edge of the box. De Beer?s blast at goal hit the cross bar and stayed out. The Spartans had obviously decided that they wouldn?t be taking any backward steps in the second half. Lauren Vosota was a constant thorn in the side of the Lady Hawks and penetrated again to bring a Blacktown corner. The corner itself was ineffective but was followed moments later by a stinging Bronwyn Jarvis shot which was stopped by keeper Doohan. Blacktown threatened again soon after when a Lauren Vosota cross found Erin Connell in front of goal. Connell hit her shot solidly but it was tipped over the bar by the outstanding Doohan.
Blacktown had become quite dominant. Blacktown took the opportunity to rest Captain Bronwyn Jarvis who had come into the match under an injury cloud. Her replacement was Caitlin Mahony.
Blacktown were showing some frustration at not being able to add to their score quickly after half time. The near misses were abundant and were added to when Lauren Vosota made a dash down the flank before shooting across the goalkeeper only to be denied by the far post. However, salvation was soon as hand as yet another Vosota run saw her centre to Erin Connell who calmly potted away Blacktown?s fourth goal.
Lady Hawks then made a substitution of their own with Sam Benbow being replaced by Katherine Potts. Nothing much was going Lady Hawks way as they struggled to stay in touch with The Spartans. A glimmer of hope then arrived for Lady Hawks when a free kick awarded some thirty metres from goal saw Danni Pringle hit the back of the net with a sweetly hit kick. The Spartans still had a comfortable lead though at 4-1.
The pressure was soon back at the other end of the park though but Blacktown were unable to turn either a free kick or the following corner into anything of value. Lady Hawks had their moments; mainly involving Michelle Brown, Grace Ryanhart or Alishia Dudman , but the moments were few and far between.
Another free kick brought some excitement for the Lady Hawks with Danni Pringle hitting the place kick solidly but it was held at the second grab by Spartans keeper Dogan. An injury to Steph Fyfe then saw her replaced by Kim Northey. Blacktown took the opportunity to also make a replacement with Erin Connell being given a well deserved early mark as Megan Bertenshaw took the field.
Lady Hawks came up with a nice sequence of passing which ended in a shot by Katherine Potts which hit the bar and bounced clear. At the opposite end Lauren Vosota almost turned nothing into a gold nugget with a turning shot which hit the post, almost in the same spot as her previous effort. Vosota could have had four goals at this stage but was still battling to get her first.
Blacktown then replaced Stacey Hetherington with Monique Pedialis.
A Blacktown corner by Kim Pope found Lauren Vosota in front of goal but Vosota?s header zeroed in straight on keeper Doohan. Corners and shots at goal had become commonplace for Blacktown in this game but the goal to shot ratio hadn?t been what they?d hoped for. However, they?d played some bright, attractive football which had them in total control.
Full time saw the scoreboard read 4-1 in favour of The Spartans, a well deserved result for the competition leaders.
Blacktown Captain Bronwyn Jarvis, speaking through the pain barrier after coming off injured, said that she was pleased with her team?s performance. ?We played well? said Jarvis. ?In the first half all the things we do at training came together. In the second half though we just couldn?t find the back of the net.?
Lady Hawks Captain Danni Pringle was upbeat about her team?s effort. ?It was a good game. Both sides fought hard? said Pringle. ?We have to work on some things at training this week but we?ll be back next weekend.?
Pringle also singled out the referee for praise saying that it was the best refereeing performance she?d seen in a long time. ?The referee helped to make the game quite enjoyable? said Pringle. No, she wasn?t kidding. It was nice to hear such positive comment from the Captain of the losing team.
Blacktown were just too good on the day. They played some excellent football at various stages. The final score probably flattered Lady Hawks as Blacktown missed a plethora of chances. Blacktown maintained first spot on the competition ladder and continue to press their claims as title contenders.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 4 (K.Pope 24/42/44m, E.Connell 63m)
LADY HAWKS 1 (D.Pringle 68m)
All other WSL matches set down for this weekend were washed out. They will be rescheduled for a date to be fixed. Let?s hope that the wet weather abates, allowing us to get the competition completed with a minimum of fuss.
I look forward to seeing you at a game next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
