University and Woonona played out a scoreless draw in a game that wasn’t short of chances. University came into the game in fine form winning their last five games and scoring 20 goals in the process. They faced up to a Woonona side coming off of the back of 3-0 defeat to champions-elect Albion Park.

The action began just five minutes into the game when Woonona’s Georgia Lang made a charge down the wing going past several players but as she made her way into the box a well-timed tackle ended the promising attack. Two minutes later University came forward as Lexi Carter played a ball down the line of the right-hand channel finding the run of Kristen Gorgieski who delivered a ball into the corridor of uncertainty, but no one could get on the end of it. Two minutes later a Woonona corner from Sinead Bailey met the head of Kate Stewart at the near post but she couldn’t direct the ball goalwards and it went out for a goal kick.

With 11 minutes played, University had another chance to open the scoring when a cross from the left-hand-side by Tallara Shaw found its way to Keely Dodd who was able to shoot but Khalia Rasch was equal to it in goal for Woonona. A quarter of an hour into the game, Woonona’s Elyse Mcnally capitalised on a giveaway in midfield getting a shot away but couldn’t put it between the posts, a huge let off for University. Woonona’s positive period in the game continued moments later when Kayla Draper lined but a volley from range but cleared the crossbar. Three minutes later Woonona won a freekick which was nearer the halfway line than the goal line, but never the less the ball was sent goalwards and it nearly paid off as Grace Lockard originally didn’t hold onto the ball meaning Elyse Mcnally thought that she might have a chance of steering the ball into the unoccupied net but Lockard quickly smothered the ball to prevent the latter occurring.

The halfway point of the first half was marked by Gorgieski for University laying a ball off on the edge of the box to Elise Battin who hit a shot which was saved by Rasch. A couple of minutes later University continued their pressure when Carter showed great skill in the middle of the park to get around her marker and then played a ball into the path of Dodd on the right-hand-side who drilled a ball towards Gorgieski at the back post, but the ball was cut before she could apply the finishing touches. Woonona responded not long after as a cross from Kate Stewart found Fiona Leafe in the box who got a shot off but an excellent save prevented the bulging of the back of the net. University were lucky not to be behind when a cross from Ainsley Hawes provoked a miss-communication at the back which resulted in the ball rolling onto the post. This was Wooona’s best spell of the game so far and it only continued as Kelsey Clements took on a shot from range which needed to be tipped over the bar by Lockard for a corner.

In the 33rd minute, University were able to break out of the pressure and have an attack of their own as Carter directed a ball from the left-hand-side towards the near post but Rasch was aware to it and made a strong save. The rest of the half was a midfield battle where neither side could break down the other.

At halftime, the sides were still locked in a scoreless draw but there had been chances at both ends and there could’ve easily been a few goals scored.

The second half started how the first half finished with University attacking, on this occasion Battin made her way into the box firing a strike which was blocked. In the 54th minute, Woonona had a chance of their own when Sinead Bailey had a shot from outside the box which was comfortably saved by Lockard.

Midway through the second half Gorgieski produced an excellent piece of skill to flick the ball up over the defender’s leg and unleashed a shot onto the post, a spectacular effort which nearly paid dividends. Just before the hour mark Gorgieski had another opportunity to win the game for University when Cayla Constable played an inch-perfect pass which played Gorgieski in the clear one-on-one with the goalkeeper but the shot was straight down the middle on an issue.

The rest of the match failed to provide the same flow of chances as before, meaning the game ended 0-0.

Despite the goalless draw, Woonona coach Mick Sutton said that there were positives to take from the game saying, ‘the fact that we backed up so well from Thursday night showed that we can match it with those teams even if we are going a bit more tired towards the end.’ Woonona play Russel Vale next time out who currently a place behind Woonona in 5th. Woonona will want to pick up a victory against Russel Vale to build a bigger gap between themselves and their opponents.

As for University, this is their first draw of the season and brings to an end their five-game winning streak and this also becomes the first time the side have failed to score all season. They will play Balgownie Rangers next time around and will hope for a more positive result considering last time they managed to beat them 4-1.

 

Sunday 24^th June 2018 @ Kooloobong Oval

University – 0

Woonona – 0

 

University: Grace LOCKARD, Elise BATTIN, Rhianna BROWN, Lexi CARTER, Cayla CONSTABLE, Keely DODD, Paris FORD, Kristen GROGIESKI, Jinneecka KLENKA, Rianna LE, Pimwadee POLHILL, Tallara SHAW, Lisa TOLSON, Lucy CRIGHTON, Geraldine PONCE, Lisa PRIOR

 

Woonona: Khalia RASCH, Sinead BAILEY, Kelsey CLEMENTS, Kayla DRAPER, Sara HAMILTON, Ainsley HAWES, Georgia LANG, Fiona LEAFE, Rochelle LOGOZZO, Elyse MCNALLY, Morgan POTTER, Kate STEWART, Jordan WHEATLEY, Rachelle WILSON, Ashley BROADHEAD

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @timg123_
File Photo: Pedro Garcia