On Wednesday night, Terry Reserve hosted a Women's Division 1 doubleheader involving each team in the top four. The first match saw Albion Park score a goal near the end of each half to knock off a resilient Kiama 2-0 before two University goals in the final ten minutes saw the Unicorns overcome a gutsy Woonona in a seesawing affair.

As expected, the first match had Albion Park control large periods of the first half but apart from a couple of stray headers from Rylee Mcgartland, their best opportunity of the opening half hour came off a nice passing move before Kristina Glisic skyed her effort over the bar from just inside the area.

Albion Park managed to grab the lead ten minutes before the break. Mcgartland swung in a cross for Casey-Leigh Suttle who was able to tap the ball over Megan Blanch. As this was technically a Kiama home match, the de facto visitors were able to maintain their advantage heading into halftime.

Kiama enjoyed a strong ten-minute start to the second half with their best opportunity of the match coming in the 50th minute. Katie French was able to muscle her way into the left of the box before her goal-bound shot was deflected out for a corner.

Albion Park regained control of the match but the only chances they were able to muster came from distance. The best of which came in the 70th minute when the ball bounced out to Brittany Ring 20 metres from goal where she lashed at it only to find the arms of Blanch. The match would be sealed with seven minutes on the clock when Mcgartland steered a free kick from just outside the area into the top right corner.

After the match, Albion Park coach Richard Davis complimented the opposition believing they had vastly improved on last season, “It was a hard game, I’ll give it to Kiama, I think they are a good team,” before adding, “They really put us under pressure but we hung in there and we scored two good goals which won us the match.” The win maintains Albion Park’s six-point lead at the top of the table and their next match sees them host fifth-placed Russell Vale who they beat 6-0 in Round 3. Despite the defeat, the Quarriers hold on to third place on goal difference and their next match sees them travel to Judy Masters to face a Balgownie side they drew with in Round 2.

The second match got underway in the midst of a noticeable temperature drop. The first solid chance fell the way of Woonona with Kate Stewart dribbling into the box before her shot was saved by Grace Lockard. University had a similar opportunity two minutes later through Kristen Gorgieski but her attempt was kept out by Khalia Rasch.

Gorgieski would make up for this missed opportunity in the 19th minute when she put Uni ahead. Elise Battin played through a delightful through ball from the halfway line for the young striker to run on to and she made no mistake in tucking the ball into the bottom left corner.

Woonona were able to pull themselves level a couple of minutes before the break. Kayla Draper’s cross from the left wing was misread by Lockard which gave Ainsley Hawes an opportunity to pounce on the loose ball and find the back of the net.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Sharks found themselves in front through an Elyse McNally goal. Woonona were awarded a free kick to the right of the box which was knocked in by Draper before the ball was cleared to McNally whose strike flew into the net, out of Lockard’s reach.

University began having large spells of possession as Woonona sat back in a desperate attempt to hold on to their lead. The Unicorns had two big chances to return to parity, the first being a Gorgieski tap in which was cleared off the line by the retreating Jordan van de Voorde while the second was a goalbound Stella-Maria Veith cross which Rasch tipped onto the bar.

It seemed as if Woonona were going to hold out and claim an impressive three points but the Unicorns were able to come up with a bit of magic in the final ten minutes. In the 80th minute, Gorgieski hit a curling effort from 20 metres out which deceived Rasch and snuck into the back of the net. Five minutes later, University took the lead in spectacular fashion when Lexi Carter struck a perfect half-volley from just outside the box into the top left corner, well out of reach of almost any goalkeeper. The Sharks tried to rally but they couldn’t find a third goal with Uni winning 3-2.

The win tightens University’s grip on second place and they now have a five-point buffer on Kiama and Woonona. The Unicorns return to Kooloobong Oval on Sunday to face Fernhill who prop up the table in last, but they should not take them lightly as they only beat them 3-2 in Round 3. As for Woonona, despite committed performances, they have now lost four on the trot in all competitions. They sit inside the top four by a single point and they will need to dust themselves off ahead of a trip to Thirroul on Sunday, these sides last met in Round 2 where the Sharks won 2-1.

 

Wednesday 23 May 2018 @ Terry Reserve

Match 1 - Kiama vs Albion Park (Note - Kiama home game)

 

Kiama - 0

Albion Park - 2 (SUTTLE 35’, MCGARTLAND 83’)

 

Kiama - Megan BLANCH, Caitlin CARDWELL, Emma DOWSE, Tamara DUCKITT, Allira GILES-GREGORY, Kari GONZALEZ, Josie-May IORIANNI, Kristina Janeska, Hannah PELLEGRINO, Brooke PERKISS, Shantelle SMITH, Alex STRONACH, Rebecca WELSH, Louisa WOOD

 

Albion Park - Renee CROWE, Tenaya DAVIS, Michelle FOSCARINI, Liandra GAYKAMANGU, Kristina GLISIC, Jessica HANLY, Linda HILLARD, Nicole MCCRACKEN, Rylee MCGARTLAND, Brittany RING, Philippa ROBINSON, Casey-Leigh SUTTLE, Tracie BIRD, Maddison ANGEL, Sarah GOMEZ, Aleisha CHESSELL

 

Match 2 - Woonona vs University

Woonona - 2 (HAWES 42’, MCNALLY 55’)

University - 3 (GORGIESKI 19’ 80’, CARTER 85’)

 

Woonona - Hannah BROADHEAD, Kelsey CLEMENTS, Kayla DRAPER, Sara HAMILTON, Ainsley HAWES, Georgia LANG, Fiona LEAFE, Rachelle LOGOZZO, Elyse McNally, Morgan Potter, Khalia RASCH, Kate STEWART, Jordan VAN DE VOORDE, Jordan WHEATLEY, Rachelle WILSON

 

University - Elise BATTIN, Rhianna BROWN, Grace BRUSTAD, Lexi CARTER, Cayla CONSTABLE, Keely DODD, Paris FORD, Kristen GORGEISKI, Jinneecka KLENKA, Kylie LAMBERTY, Rianna LE, Grace LOCKARD, Edith MELI, Tallara SHAW, Lisa TOLSON, Stella-Maria VEITH

 

Referee for both matches - Italo RONCATO

Report and file photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela