A strong second-half performance has helped to fire Kiama Quarriers to a 10-0 thumping of Fernhill in a Round 5 The Grange Women’s Division 1 clash at Ray Robinson Field on Sunday afternoon. Hat-tricks from Emma-Kate Dewhurst and Allira Giles-Gregory helped the Quarriers secure the points, while Kari Gonzalez, Natalie Henderson and Kristina Janeska all got on the scoresheet for the visitors.

The Quarriers had gotten the better of Fernhill during the 2018 season, winning 3-0 at Kiama Sporting Complex before downing the side 2-1 at Ray Robinson Field but throughout most of the opening half neither side seemed to want to take the lead, with both sides having a few chances to move in front before Kiama finally broke open the match in the 39^th minute when a scramble in the Fernhill box saw the ball fall to Emma-Kate Dewhurst, who was quickly able to fire the ball into the back of the net and hand the visitors the lead.

Kiama took no time in doubling their advantage, pulling a second goal ahead two minute later after Fernhill keeper Frances Kerkham denied a Natalie Henderson shot. However, the save forced the ball out to Kiama’s Kari Gonzalez, who was able to take full advantage of the loose ball and fire home.

But Kiama were not finished, and the side added their third goal of the match in the 42^nd minute after a quick break allowed Natalie Henderson to fire from range, with her curling shot beating a leaping Kerkham and finding the top-left corner.

With the side only three goals down heading into the second half, Fernhill went out into for the second period of play looking for a way to break back into the match, but it was Kiama who struck first in the second half, with Allira Giles-Gregory making a bursting run down the field and beating several Fernhill defenders before firing into the bottom right corner and putting the visitors four goals up.

Kiama then added a fifth goal five minutes later after Tamara Duckitt managed to get into a one-on-one chance against Fernhill’s Frances Kerkham. Duckitt’s shot was denied by a great save from Kerkham but unfortunately the ball wormed its way out of the Fernhill shot-stopper’s hands, allowing Emma-Kate Dewhurst to capitalize on the loose ball and fire a simple effort home to extend Kiama’s lead.

Allira Giles-Gregory continued to pile on the misery for Fernhill, with the Kiama player picking up her second goal of the afternoon in the 55^th minute after a great cross from Kristina Janeska from the right-hand flank found the unmarked Giles-Gregory in the Fernhill box, allowing the Kiama forward to fire a simple shot home and hand Kiama their sixth goal of the match.

Giles-Gregory completed her hat-trick two minutes later, tapping in a loose ball that was produced after Fernhill’s Frances Kerkham made a top-drawer save to deny a Natalie Henderson strike, forcing the ball loose and falling to the feet of Giles-Gregory, who was able to quickly send the ball into the net and push Kiama’s lead to seven.

Kiama continued to push in the search for more goals and the side picked up their eighth of the match in the 63^rd minute after Natalie Henderson capped off a fantastic run from just past the halfway line with a pinpoint strike that dug the ball into the bottom right corner, handing Henderson her second goal of the match.

Despite being eight goals down, Fernhill were determined to break Kiama’s clean sheet and the side came dangerously close to pulling a goal back in the 66^th minute after a great pass from Fernhill’s Pernille Dahl allowed Amanda Zuzic a one-on-one chance against Kiama keeper Megan Blanch. However, Zuzic was unable to direct her effort goalward, sliding the ball just left of the Kiama goal.

Kiama continued to assert their dominance as the game began to wind down and the Quarriers added their ninth goal of the encounter in the 74^th minute after a fantastic through ball from Alex Stronach found Kristina Janeska deep in the Fernhill half and in a one-on-one chance against Fernhill custodian Frances Kerkham. Janeska was able to work her way around the rushing Fernhill keeper, ducking right before firing the ball into an open net to extend Kiama’s lead even further.

However, the Quarriers were not yet finished and pushed the score into double digits three minutes later after a loose ball in the Fernhill box fell to Emma-Kate Dewhurst, allowing the forward to tap home the loose ball and secure her hat-trick.

Despite Fernhill pushing for the final moments of the match in search of a consolation goal, the hosts were unable to break the Quarriers’ clean sheet, with Kiama holding out to run out convincing 10-0 victors.

The result means Kiama move to seven points from their opening four fixtures, keeping the side in contact with the top of the ladder, while Fernhill remained rooted to the bottom of the ladder, with the side yet to secure a point from their opening four fixtures.

Kiama will be hoping to keep their goal-scoring form running when they travel to take on University next Sunday, while Fernhill will travel to Ocean Park to take on Woonona as the side seeks to break their 2019 campaign duck.

Sunday 12 May 2019 at Ray Robinson Field, Towradgi

Fernhill FC – 0

Kiama Quarriers – 10 (Dewhurst 39’, 51’, 77’, Gonzalez 41’, Henderson 42’, 63’, Giles-Gregory 46’, 55’, 57’, Janeska 74’)

Fernhill FC: Megan BARNES, Jessica CRUICKSHANK, Pernille DAHL, Jessica KELLY, Alice KERKHAM, Frances KERKHAM, Pollie MILLER, Lisa PATON, Adrienne RODERICK, Nicole THOMPSON, Caitlin WALKER, Amanda ZUZIC

Kiama Quarriers: Megan BLANCH, Tahlia BURKE, Emma-Kate DEWHURST, Tamara DUCKITT, Allira GILES-GREGORY, Kari GONZALEZ, Jessica GROZDANOZ, Natalie HENDERSON, Kristina JANESKA, Brooke PERKISS, Alex STRONACH, Rebecca WELSH, Louisa WOOD

*Interchange system in place.

Referee – Italo RONCATO

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo by Noel Wynn