University picked up their third win of the season with a 4-1 win over the Balgownie Rangers at Kooloobong Oval. Three goals in the final minutes of the first half set up the win for the Unicorns who remain within touching distance of top spot.

 

The opening 10 minutes of the match were quite even with either side having opportunities on goal. University’s first decent chance came in the 6th minute when a scramble in the box led to Kristen Gorgieski getting a shot away which was blocked in the six-yard box by Alicia Anderson. In the 10th minute Balgownie worked their first chance when Indeya Canvin played a defence-splitting pass to Ashleigh Anderson in the left channel, she cut the ball infield for Shaeley Aldridge whose touch evaded her in a potential one on one situation with the ball rolling out for a goal kick.

 

The Unicorns began to edge ahead with their quick counters causing concerns for the Balgownie defence. In the 12th minute, Gorgieski was the beneficiary of the pinpoint ball over the top of the Rangers’ backline but striker rushed her shot, hitting it wide. Gorgieski had another decent chance three minutes later when she found space on the edge of the box but her shot was saved by Lorraine Edkins. In the 20th minute, Autumn Ford lofted a free kick into the box for Rhianna Brown to attack but her header was well held by Edkins.

 

University took control of the match in the final 10 minutes of the first half scoring three quickfire goals. The first came in the 36th minute through Elise Battin who toed a bouncing ball into the net from close range after Balgownie failed to clear it. In the 42nd minute, Georgina Mcdonnell netted her first goal of the afternoon when she outmuscled her defender before beating Edkins in a one on one. Two minutes later, Mcdonnell had her second after a surging run into the left of the box before hitting a shot across the goalkeeper who got a hand to it but could not keep it out of the net.

 

The dominant spell from the Unicorns saw them go into the break leading by three goals to nil.

 

The home side scored the fourth after seven second-half minutes. This goal was similar to the third instead this time it was Gorgieski breaking into the left of the box before shooting for the far corner, once again, Edkins got a glove to the ball but she couldn’t keep it out.

 

In the 67th minute, Balgownie nearly got the goal which could have kick-started a comeback. Mikayla Hill pounced on some chaotic defending in the box but her snap at goal found the arms of Grace Lockard.

 

In the 82nd minute, University came close to adding their fifth. Rianna Le cut in from the right before attempting to strike the ball inside the far post, this time Edkins was up to the task, producing a smart save before the ball was cleared.

 

Balgownie managed to get on the scoresheets with five minutes left to play. Ashleigh Anderson’s overhit cross from the left touchline managed to catch Grace off guard and find the inside of the right post. In the final minute of the match, they came close to adding a second when Isobel Humphreys beat the offside traps but Grace was able to pull off a brave one on one save to keep the score at 4-1 on the full-time whistle.

 

After the match, University coach Brod Crighton was pleased with his side's performance which mirrors his views on the first month of the season, “We have been pretty good, we learnt a lot from our defeat to Russell Vale where we were 3-1 up before going on to lose 5-3.” Crighton also said he looks forward to the challenge of facing Albion Park next weekend, a team he describes as the “benchmark” of the competition. An upset win for the Unicorns at Kooloobong next weekend would see them move level with first placed Albion Park.

 

As for Balgownie, their coach Earle Canvin believes there was plenty of positives to take out of the match in which they were competitive for large portions, “I’ve got a bunch of girls who won’t give up… for us, it’s a learning curve and there’s always next week.” The match next weekend will see them visit Cawley Park to play Russell Vale who have the league’s second leakiest defence, a win for the Rangers could move them as high as fifth place.

 

Listen to the full post-match interviews with the two coaches on this week’s FSC Weekly.

 

Sunday 29 April 2018 @ Kooloobong Oval

 

University - 4 (BATTIN 36’, MCDONNELL 42’ 44’, GORGIESKI 52’)

 

Balgownie - 1 (Ashleigh ANDERSON 85’)

 

University - Rachel ABBOTT, Elise BATTIN, Rhianna BROWN, Cayla CONSTABLE, Keely DODD, Autumn FORD, Kristen GORGIESKI, Kylie LAMBERTY, Rianna LE, Grade LOCKARD, Georgina MCDONNELL, Edith MELI, Pimwadee POLHILL, Tallara SHAW, Lisa TOLSON, Stella-Maria Veith

 

Balgownie - Mikayla AIR, Shaeley ALDRIDGE, Alicia ANDERSON, Ashleigh ANDERSON, Indeya CANVIN, Soraya CANVIN, Lorraine EDKINS, Aymie HILL, Mikayla HILL, Isobel HUMPHREYS, Courtney RIORDAN, Rikki-Lee WARDLE, Kayla ISMAIL, Gabrielle DAVIS

 

Referee - Brett McAuley

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela