Albion Park have soared to the outright top of The Builders Club Womens Premiership, with a strong midweek victory against second placed Woonona Sharks at Terry Reserve Wednesday night.

On a slippery pitch, the top of the table clash was hard fought with the ball ping-ponging between both goal squares for the entire 90 minutes.

The final scoreline of 3-0 made it Woonona’s second loss to Albion Park in season 2016, with the aggregate in the two fixtures now 5 -0.

Woonona Captain Morgan Potter felt it was execution in front of goal that let them down.

“We need to work on our finishing. We had a lot of chances and we just didn't capitalise on them,”said Potter.

“I think it was a lot closer than what the scoreline suggests.”

Woonona enjoyed the best of chances from the opening minutes, with striker Angela Graham sending down a threatening chance wide in just the opening minute.

High pressure defence from both teams and slippery conditions saw the ball skid to all corners of the pitch.

In the 20th minute, Woonona’s Kate Stewart found space down her right sideline but lacked polish on the boots, sending the strike soaring over the crossbar from a dangerous position.

Eboni Fraser of Woonona threatened in the 22nd minute, with a strong tackle leading into a strike on the edge of the penalty area forcing a tough overhead save from Albion Park goalkeeper Kendall Vaughan.

Albion Park shifted momentum only minutes later with Casey-Leigh Suttle seizing onto an open ball right of the goals unleashing a sweet strike that ricocheted off the crossbar in the 24th minute.

Moments later Linda Hallard found space with the ball and powered the ball in traffic towards goals, with the Woonona goalkeeper only able juggle the ball allowing Albion Park’s Carla Smith to win the race to the scraps and finish the goal.

The goal shifted the match’s momentum, with Woonona losing patience in attack allowing more and more opportunities for Albion Parks clinical and classy attack to take shape.

In the 35th minute Albion Park’s Casey-Leigh Suttle and Carla Smith linked dangerously in, with Suttle beating a couple of would-be defenders in the penalty area before sending the shot just wide.

An Woonona Sharks own goal doubled the deficit in the 37th minute, making it an extremely difficult proposition for Woonona to return.

A Faith Atkins corner was met at the near post by a Woonona defender charging to remove the threat, unfortunately glancing off her body past the goalkeeper into the netting.

The half-time score was 2-0 to Albion Park.

Albion Park continued the second half where they left off, continuing to search for a goal to extend their lead.

In the 64th minute Brittany Ring with impressive dribbling and speed against a retreating defence unleashed a venomous strike from distance, exploding through the Woonona’s goalkeepers outstretched glove into the netting for the third goal.

Albion Park’s defence was formidable with Woonona holding plenty of possession and territory, but struggled to have a genuine clear strike at the goals the entire fixture.

The full-time whistle blew for a 3-0 victory to Albion Park, with coach Richard Davis stoked with the scoreline.

“They are a strong team Woonona, they always make you play,”said Davis.

“It is always good to score goals, but it is great to keep a clean sheet.”

Coach Richard Davis saved special mention for Linda Hillard, Tenaya Davis and Brittany Ring.

Albion Park will travel for their Round 12 clash against 4th placed Wollongong Olympic, while Woonona will have a crucial clash against a third placed Tarrawanna.

 

Wednesday 8 June, 2016

 

Albion Park Womens FC 3 (Carla Smith 24’, OG Hannah Broadhead 37’, Brittany Ring 64’)

Woonona Sharks Womens FC 0

 

Albion Park:

Faith Atkins, Tenaya Davis, Kelly-Lea Draper, Jessica Hanly, Linda Hillard, Nicole Mccracken, Brittany Ring, Carla Smith, Sharnice Sola, Casey-Leigh Suttle, Kendall Vaughan, Aleisha Chessell, Hayley Markulic, Krystall Sullivan, Emma Gomez

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

 

Woonona Sharks Womens FC:

Angela Graham, Melanie Ireland, Georgia Lang, Fiona Leafe, Morgan Potter, Jordan Van De Voorde, Jordan Wheatley, Kelsey Clements, Kate Stewart, Sam Walker, Shenae Giraldi, Makayla Moore, Sophie Liefith, Ersoni Fraser, Hannah Broadhead

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Twitter: @mcgoookin93