A second-half Albion Park comeback ensured the side remained on top of the Grange Women’s Division 1 ladder, recovering from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with University on Wednesday evening at Ian McLennan Park. In a tale of two halves, the Unicorns had the stronger start thanks to goals from Isabella Walker and Mara Cosentino, but a rally from Albion Park in the second half saw Michelle Foscarini and Kristina Glisic find the back of the net for the side, ensuring both teams got a share of the spoils.

Albion Park entered the match hoping to gain some revenge for their opening matchday thumping at the hands of University – with the Unicorns running out 5-1 victors and putting an end to Albion Park’s 40 match winning streak in local football – but it was University who started the stronger of the two sides, with Elise Battin firing off a warning shot in the 4^th minute from the edge of the Albion Park box which was dutifully collected by Park shot-stopper Grace Lockard.

However, the Unicorns found themselves on the scoresheet nine minutes later after a quick attack up the middle of the field allowed Lisa Prior to fire off a shot at goal which was deflected by the Albion Park defence, only to fall to Isabella Walker on the edge of the box. Walker was able to show great composure to fire the loose ball past Lockard and into the back of the net, handing University an early lead.

Stunned at the opening goal, the league-leading Albion Park attempted to push forward and grab an equalizer, and the side came close to levelling the scores in the 28^th minute after Michelle Foscarini burst down the left flank before cutting back in and firing a powerful shot at goal from range. However, Foscarini’s effort was unable to trouble the scorers, just sneaking left of the University goal and going out of play.

University saw a golden chance to double their lead squandered two minutes later after Greta Ricigliano picked up the ball on the edge of the box. Ricigliano was able to run the ball along the edge of the box before crafting a shot which was unable to find the back of the net, sliding across the face of goal and out past the right post.

However, the Unicorns finally managed to double their lead in the 44^th minute after a quick break orchestrated by Elise Battin found Kristen Gorgieski down the right-hand flank. Gorgieski was able to level a smart cross into the middle of the Albion Park box, where the ball was pushed into a scramble between Park keeper Grace Lockard and University’s Mara Cosentino, with Cosentino able to get a foot to the loose ball and tapping it past Lockard and into the back of the net to give University a two-goal lead at the break.

With the side now two goals down and seeking to retain its status as the league-leading side, Albion Park came out in the second half gunning for a goal and the side showed their intent in the 52^nd minute with a shot from Kristina Glisic from the edge of the box that skimmed just wide of the left-hand post.

But Albion Park did not have to wait that much longer for their opening goal of the evening, with the side pulling a goal back in the 58^th minute thanks to a stunning free-kick from Michelle Foscarini, with the kick from the edge of the University box leaping over the wall and sneaking past Unicorns keeper Hannah Farrugia and into the top right corner of the net.

Foscarini came close to nabbing her second goal of the evening four minutes later after picking up the ball at a tight angle from the University goal, but she was unable to direct the ball past Farrugia, with the Unicorns shot-stopper making a powerful save to direct the shot away from the University goal and maintain the side’s slim lead.

However, University’s lead did not last much longer, with Albion Park pulling level in the 68^th minute after the side was awarded a penalty for a challenge on Eliza Cowan in the University box. Kristina Glisic stepped up to take the spot-kick for Albion Park and made no mistake of the effort, directing the ball into the right side of the net, just past the reach of a diving Hannah Farrugia and locking the game up at 2-2.

With both sides on level terms once more, the game opened up as both sides attempted to find a winner in the final stages of the encounter, with Albion Park coming close to nabbing a late goal in the 87^th minute after a bursting run down the right flank from Brittany Ring allowed the Park forward to cut inside with the ball before firing a powerful effort at goal. Unfortunately for Albion Park supporters, Ring was unable to keep her shot down, with the effort thundering over the top of the crossbar and keeping the scores locked.

The Unicorns had a golden chance of their own to grab a late winner two minutes later when a corner from Chantal Page found the head of Lisa Prior in front of goal, but Prior was unable to etch her name into the headlines, failing to properly connect with the ball and knocking the ball wide of the Albion Park goal.

Albion Park had one final chance to take the three points in stoppage time with a corner from Michelle Foscarini, but her ball into the box was unmet by any player, sliding past both sides and just past the right-hand post, ensuring the sides both take a point from the encounter in a tense 2-2 draw.

The result leaves Albion Park top of the ladder, with the side retaining their two-point lead over University, but it is worth noting that the Unicorns have a game in hand over their fellow title rivals. Both sides will be back in action on Sunday as they seek to progress from their State Cup Round of 16 clashes, with Albion Park taking on Eastern Suburbs side Dunbar Rovers while University will face Northern Suburbs side Northbridge. Both games will take place at Myimbarr Park.

Wednesday 29 May 2019 at Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange

University FC – 2 (Walker 13’, Cosentino 44’)

Albion Park SC – 2 (Foscarini 58’, Glisic 68’)

University FC: Jaimie BAILEY, Elise BATTIN, Rhianna BROWN, Lexi CARTER, Mara COSENTINO, Kristen GORGIESKI, Jinneecka KLENKA, Pimwdee POLHILL, Lisa PRIOR, Greta RICIGLIANO, Kate SEBBEN, Tallara SHAW, Isabella WALKER, Lindsey WILEY, Hannah FARRUGIA, Chantal PAGE

Albion Park SC: Sarah ALWERT, Aleisha CHESSELL, Eliza COWAN, Tenaya DAVIS, Claire DUFFY, Michelle FOSCARINI, Kristina GLISIC, Jessica HANLY, Linda HILLARD, Grace LOCKARD, Nicole MCCRACKEN, Brittany RING, Casey-Leigh SUTTLE

*Interchange system in place.

Referee – Harriet GEE

Assistant Referees – Ryleigh JOHNSON and Ruby BLANCH

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

File Photo