Match Review by Admin-SWGB 15/09/13 - AFF Women’s Knockout Cup Final Papakura City (1) 1 Bay Olympic (1) 3 (Jessica Waterer, Katie Bennett (pen), Shannon Goldstone) (venue – Ellerslie FT) Cup Final day out East comes with the kind of anticipation and excitement that one could expect. There is even some pre match entertainment, well if watching the Under 17 NTC Women’s talent entertainment. Helping to run the show is ex Bay Olympic player, Michael Mayne. Have to say, even though it was a training exercise on the Ellerslie artificial turf, our attacking stocks do not look good, as the attack versus defence exercise showed not a lot of imagination in the attackers. To the game, and the match day squad was always going to be a tough one to choose. Of the normal non-first teamers, Kiri Austin continued in goal, and Rebekah Withers was also part of the squad. At this time it would be correct to remember the efforts of those who got us to the final, especially Esetera Carson who did well last week. It is also tough on those carrying injuries. Still, it was nice to see Heather there to share in the game. With a full set of officials, and a reporter from the Western leader, Bay Olympic kicked off the game attacking the Eastern end. Initially, both sides were trading chances. First, for us Shannon Goldstone had an effort stopped by the Papakura keeper in a one on one situation. City had the next chance when their number 6 shot wide of the Northern post. In response, Charlotte Abbott shot from the edge of the Northern half of the penalty area, but it was comfortably saved by the keeper. At this stage, we are looking the better team showing more skill. But, a bit like our Men’s team, if you do not create and finish chances, you are prone to counter attacks. Still, Alosi Bloomfield is having another good game so far. Her ball winning ability, skill and pace is setting up attacking options for us. 1-0: sure enough, City playing to their strengths open up the scoring with a breakaway goal. Their number 3 goes on a breakaway on the Southern side of the pitch. Making it to the edge of the penalty area, she shows some skill by hitting low shot with the outside of her foot inside the near post. Still, it is a bit of a soft finish as the ball slipped under our keeper’s dive. 1-1: thankfully, it is not too long before we equalise. We win a free kick just outside the Southern angle of the penalty area. I ask the gaffer does his better half have the ability to hit the free kick with the outside of her foot to curl it in. Instead, he replies that she can change the angle by using her other foot. Sure enough, Katie Bennett shows the advantage of being a two footed player. Switching form her right to left foot, her free kick finds Jessica Waterer (Maher) head on the Northern side of the penalty area. The precisely placed header ends up in the Southern corner of the net. The keeper is left stranded, not that she would have dived, but it is still, a great finish. This is where the training routines pay off. City, are however, not going to cave in and they produce the last two chances of the half. First, their number 3 shoots wide of the Southern post. The next chance sees our keeper, Kiri Austin, play sweeper to stop their number 3 from scoring again on the Northern side of the pitch. So a tight tussle at half time is locked at 1-1. The sun makes an appearance, which is a first for me at Ellerslie this season, but the wind is not abating. We will have it in the second half, not that it will give us a great advantage as it blowing mainly across the field. To the second half, and we start off strong as a Brooke Smith run on the Northern side of the pitch sees herself make her way into the penalty area. Intelligently, she hits a low shot, but it goes wide of the Northern post. Little did I know that at that stage, but the game swung back in City’s favour. First, from a dangerously placed free kick from outside of the penalty area on the Northern half of the pitch, Kiri tips the ball over the bar. Their next chance is created by a cross from the Northern flank, but thankfully, their number 9 at the far post cannot direct her shot back on goal. Next, their number 10 hits the side netting on the Southern side after getting a cross from the Southern flank. Our defence and team are looking nervy. Next comes up a possible turning point in the game. A scramble in our goal box on the Southern side sees the ball freed from the keeper. Their number 6 hits the underside of the bar before the ball is played out to the side lines. It seems that the ref signals a goal –even the lines person on my side asks who scored – instead, not the first time the ref’s hand signals are confusing. Instead, she signals a foul on our keeper on the advice of the lines person on the Southern side. Hopefully, now that we weathered this bit of pressure, the game can now flow in our favour. In other words, we can finish more strongly with our fitness. Indeed, we create the next set of chances. First, Shannon Goldstone has a shot on the Northern side of the penalty area which is saved by the keeper. We need to move this keeper as most of our shots seem to be straight at her. Next, Shannon Goldstone nearly gets to the end of a great move down the Southern flank….we are getting closer. The next chance sees Nicole McMillan trying a long shot. However, her shot went over the goal on the Northern side. We get closer with the next chance. A Brooke Smith corner from the Northern side is well delivered into the heart of the goal box. The ball punched cleared by the keeper, however, Jessica Waterer cannot repeat her first half heroics as her headed rebound goes wide of the Northern post. The next two chances come courtesy of BS. First, a Brooke Smith shot in the penalty area towards the Southern side of the goal was again comfortably saved by the keeper. Next, Brittany Saylor chips the ball just over the goal as the keeper advanced to the edge of the area on the Southern half of the penalty area. A case of bad luck for a good bit of football intelligence. City remind us of how dangerous they are on the break when Leah Mettam got caught on Southern side of the pitch when faced with two attackers. Luckily, their number 4 hits her shot over the goal. 1-2: finally, we take the lead. Nor that the opposition coach cares too much as he loses it totally….Georgia Martin seems to be hearing my cries from the other side of the pitch as I urge her to take on the City defenders on a breakaway. Backing herself she does make a run into the Southern side of the penalty area. She is up ended, and she wins a penalty. Katie Bennett steps up to take the spot kick. I am asking that she hit it low anywhere not near the keeper. Instead it was hit into the Northern corner at a height that keepers like to try to save. Luckily for us, the keeper did not move. If this is to be the winning goal, it seems like a nice end to the season, baby, cup final goal, what next? The ever busy Shannon Goldstone has the next chance as her shot from Northern side of the penalty area is saved. 1-3: not to be denied, Shannon scores to make life easier for us. Her bravery pays off when she beats the advancing keeper to steer the ball into the empty net from the edge of the penalty area. Time is now against City as we empty our benches, and they produce their last chance. Their number 3 shoots wide of Southern post. We close out the game with the final chance of the game, from a Brittany Saylor feed from the Southern side of the pitch, Rebekah Withers shot is saved by the keeper. So, we get some long overdue silverware for a Women’s first team for our club with a 3-1 win. As I overheard JB’s pre match talk, this is a fair reward for how far the team has come under his and KB’s guidance…not long after I came on-board with the Facebook page. Let me tell what I wrote about that first game played by the Women’s first team, and the game today bears no resemblance, even though a fair number of players on the field today were there at the beginning. A pity that the clubrooms were not open for celebrations. Anyway, JB has his eye on a third trophy after the Under 15’s and the AFF Cup. Maybe, the time to acknowledge this team and coaches is at the Senior prize giving. Well, that is my hope, as a small bit of recognition from the club. Of course, I posed the obvious question for JB, how do you top this next season? Well, I will leave that answer a secret. Instead, if all goes well, KB and JB will be back next season, and the club could be in for more exciting times on the Women’s front. Indeed, if we bounce back on the Men’s front, as we are capable of doing as a club, then 2014 could be one heck of a year. Anyway, here is to future Prem football for the Women so that our recognised Youth players can continue to be so at Senior level. 2013 AFF WOMEN KNOCKOUT CUP WINNERS
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 11:19:37 +0000