The Builders Club Women’s Division 1 – Round 11 wrap

It’s a sign of how tight competition is in this year’s Builders Club Women’s Division 1 that three of this weekend’s Round 11 matches were tied at 0-0 at half time. Two of them remained scoreless and in the third fixture Albion Park had to come from behind to beat a determined Kiama Quarriers.

The woodwork denied University’s Kristen Gorgieski in the match against Woonona, so ending her extraordinary run of scoring in every round of league action in 2018.

 

Kiama 1-3 Albion Park

Casey-Leigh Suttle scored her 12^th goal of the season to help Albion Park come from behind to beat Kiama Quarriers in this top of the table clash. Michelle Foscarini and Kristina Glisic got the other goals for the Park, but this was no easy victory.

With the match goalless at half time, it was Kiama who came out the strongest in the second half and Kristina Janeska gave the home side hope of an upset. The game was still tied at 1-1 with 20 minutes remaining, but the Champions came out on top in the end.

For Kiama coach Umberto Sorrentino, Janeska was his player of the match ‘for her dominant display and orchestrating from midfield’. “But it was a great team display with huge efforts in all positions. There’s real character in this side and I’m proud of them.”

Victory for Albion Park next week against Thirroul would tie up the Division 1 league title again, while Kiama will be looking for a win at Fernhill in Round 12 to keep their grip on one of the Finals berths as the season heads into the final straight.

 

Fernhill 0-0 Russell Vale

Russell Vale kept alive its hopes of making Finals football with this draw at Fernhill, though before kick-off, this may have looked like a good chance for three points against a side they beat earlier in the season. A win next week for Russell Vale at home to Woonona, and that race for Finals berths becomes very interesting

Fernhill have now picked up four points in the last two weeks, and coach Josh Sebben couldn’t be more pleased with his side’s performances of late. “We dominated large sections of the game and peppered their goal in the second half, with one shot coming off the crossbar.”

He singled out Caitlin Walker and Kya Godbier for their control of midfield, but was also proud of two players who stepped up from the Division 4 squad for this one: Samara Mikhael and Sharon Craig.

Sebben is concerned about absentees from his squad in the remaining weeks of the season, but he’ll still be needing at least one more result – probably from the Round 13 tie against Thirroul – if his side is to avoid bottom spot after the 14 rounds are complete.

 

Thirroul 1-4 Balgownie Rangers

Eda Yakan’s hat-trick steered Balgownie Rangers to their biggest win of the season at Thirroul. It was sweet revenge for Earle Canvin’s side, which had lost the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Canvin confirmed that obviously “Eda’s hat-trick was a highlight, but overall there were some outstanding performances across the team, and it was a great result, especially with injuries and holidays meaning we only fielded 10 players.”

Balgownie can still make the end-of-season Finals but some tough fixtures in the run-in make this unlikely. Next up is a visit from University.

Defeat for Thirroul leaves them a point adrift at the foot of the ladder now, making the Round 13 fixture against Fernhill the likely decider on which team will prop up the league at the end of the season.

 

University 0-0 Woonona

The match between two of the league’s top three teams might have ended goalless, but this was far from being a bore draw. It was an end-to-end tussle for most of the match, with the woodwork denying both sides and chances aplenty until tired legs took their toll late on.

Having only just played Albion Park on Thursday night in the Round 10 catch up game, this was a tough week for Woonona. Mick Sutton’s side failed to score in either game, but he came out of this one positive about his players’ ability to stay the distance. Victory over Russell Vale next time out should see Woonona guarantee their Finals spot, though the Round 13 tie against Kiama might be a dress rehearsal for the Finals later this winter.

This was the first time University – and star striker Kristen Gorgieski – had failed to score in a match this season. At the other end of the pitch, a fourth clean sheet in a row for University’s defence means the Unicorns go into next week’s clash against Balgownie looking to extend almost 400 minutes of football since they last conceded (55^th minute in Round 7 v Woonona).

For coach Brod Crighton “It was a fair result. We created chances but had an off day in front of goal.”

Crighton’s main concerns for the season run-in are three long-term injuries and the loss of two overseas players who have returned home. Finals football is already guaranteed for the Unicorns, and second spot on the ladder looks a pretty sure bet, but all eyes will be on the Round 13 clash with Albion Park.

Report by Simon Duffin
File photo: Dylan Arvela