It was a nervous start to the game with both teams coughing up possession too easily and rushing in for tackles. The Titans had the first shot of the game when their captain shot from outside the box forcing Shellharbour keeper Aleathia Wilson-Gowans to make an impressive save. Shellharbour started to get a grip on the game and almost took the lead when a nice through ball from Monique Koloski sent winger Angelica Barraza through on goals. Unfortunately Barraza skewed her left footed shot wide of the posts. Not long afterwards some good lead work down the left side of the pitch resulted in Barraza dribbling past their right fullback and delivering a low cross straight to midfielder Caitlin Russell but unfortunately her shot went straight to the keeper. Neither team created much for the rest of the half resulting in a nil all scoreline at half time.

 

The half time talk from head coach Mark Dos Santos and his assistant Sasho Petrovski definitely worked as Shellharbour came out firing and dominated the game. In the 2nd minute of the half the Titans lost possession in their final third. The ball fell to Isabella Zipparo who knocked in a beautiful ball to Barraza who took one touch to control and coolly slot the ball past the Titans keeper much to the delight of the vocal SJFC supporters. This rattled the Titans and 2 minutes later Wilson-Gowans released the ball to Russell who in turn knocked a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the defence for Barraza to run onto. One on one with the keeper Barraza skipped past the keeper and tapped the ball into an empty net.  

 

Shellharbour added a third midway through the second half when Aleksia Petrovska drilled her shot past the keeper after running onto a defence splitting inch perfect pass from Jynaya Dos Santos. The Titans reacted and had a handful of corners but there was no way through the solid Shellharbour defence. Shellharbour then continued to win the midfield battle and were putting massive pressure on the Titans backline.   

Russell capped off a fine performance by adding the 4th goal. A perfect corner from Barraza was matched by a perfect back post run by Russell who unleashed a bullet header past the stunned keeper. Barraza had a chance to complete her hattrick late on but her tame shot went straight to the keeper.

 

On the day but there could be no complaints as Shellharbour thoroughly deserved the win. Every girl done themselves and the club and supporters proud.

 

Match Stats

Shellharbour JFC 4 (A.Barraza 26’,28’, A.Petrovska 35, C.Russell 41)

Cooks River Titans 0

Shellharbour JFC: Aleathia WILSON-GOWANS, Denica JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Allanah SALI, Isabella ZIPPARO, Imogen DOS SANTOS, Caitlin RUSSELL, Monique KOLOSKI, Angelica BARRAZA, Jynaya DOS SANTOS, Amelia MASTROIANNI, Emily KOSTOVSKI, Mia RIZA, Aleksia PETROVSKA, Hazel ATKINS.

Cooks River Titans: Krystallia KALLIDAKIS, Mia ARABI, Georgia BINIARES, Paris PLADAS, Isabel McBRIDE, Georgia STAVROU, Peta ARGYRIS, Katerina MILLIS, Vicky KONSTANTINIDIS, Bianca MUSUMECI, Pamela MANTSOS, Ellie TOSKAS