SOUTH COAST FLAME v KIAMA QUARRIERS | WD1 ROUND 12 | MATCH REPORT
A double from Sariah Wilson saw South Coast Flame defeat the Kiama Quarriers 3-1 at Ian McLennan Park on Friday night for the Women’s Division 1 round 12 fixture.
It was a rainy evening fixture at Ian McLennan Park with the two side’s battling it out until the final whistle.
It only took one minute into the match for the Flame to have their first goal-scoring opportunity with winger Jessica Cruickshank taking a quick strike at goal but was denied by the hands of Stephanie Galway.
A well-organised defence line for South Coast saw the team hold out Kiama’s attack from taking a shot at goal within the first 10 minutes of the match.
It wasn’t until the 15th minute when Katie French was sent in behind the Flame’s defence line before hitting the ball just wide off the far post.
A well-structured combination between Natalie Henderson and Louisa Glyde saw a through ball slip into the feet of Angela Graham before being denied a goal by Flame’s goalkeeper Sage Dixon.
The Quarriers continued having a flood of chances with a clean intercept of the ball from French before being denied again at close range.
It wasn’t long until the Flame took control of the match when Sariah Wilson curled a spectacular corner ball into the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead for South Coast in the 22nd minute.
Kiama immediately picked up their intensity but was continuously denied in the final third by a trusty Ruby Blanch in the centre of the Flame’s defence line.
The Quarriers were eager to bounce back and were able to find the equaliser when French picked up a rebound ball in the 18-yard box before taking a shot at goal and hitting the back of the net to set the score at 1-1 in the 35th minute.
The Flame looked dangerous in the attack with Wilson and Cruickshank, but it was the Quarriers defence line who were able to walk into half-time with a 1-1 draw.
The second half instantly became fiery as the Flame continued to pile on the pressure for the visitors with a long-range shot from Monique Koloski that tested the hands of Galway.
Emilia Skopal took control of the midfield and played a brilliant ball into Bethany Portelli who was able to get a shot at goal but this time, could not test Galway.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to take the lead again with Skopal playing another impressive ball into Wilson who did well to break through the defence line, plotting the ball into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.
An instant reaction from Kiama saw Graham send Henderson down the line before beating her last man and taking a near-post shot at goal but could not put the ball past Dixon.
Wilson was having a spectacular game before she sent an impressive switch ball over the top of the Quarriers defence line into hard-working Cruickshank who precisely placed the ball into the far top corner to extend the Flame’s lead to 3-1 in the 65th minute.
The last 15 minutes of the match became quiet with both side’s defence line holding each other out.
It wasn’t until the last two minutes of the match when the Quarriers were able to gain the last goal scoring opportunity for the match with French taking a long-range shot at goal but was unable to find the back of the net.
With a second-half comeback and a double from Wilson, South Coast Flame were able to take home the three points with a 3-1 victory over the Kiama Quarriers.
South Coast Flame will visit Kooloobong Oval next Sunday as they face off against University White, whilst the Kiama Quarriers will host the Thirroul Thunderbirds in an afternoon fixture next Sunday.
South Coast Flame: 3 (Sariah Wilson 22′ 58′, Jessica Cruickshank 65′)
Kiama Quarriers: 1 (Katie French 35′)
South Coast Flame: 1. DIXON Sage, 2. BLANCH Ruby, 3. DE LAZZARI Erin, 4. FRANKLIN Emily, 5. KELLY Taya, 6. KOLOSKI Monique, 7. LOVE Brooke, 8. PORTELLI Bethany, 9. RUSSELL Caitlin, 10. SKOPAL Emilia, 12. WILSON Sariah, 14. HASAN Zinah, 15. WEBSTER Eliza, 16. CRUICKSHANK Jessica
Kiama Quarriers: 1. GALWAY Stephanie, 2. STRONACH Alex, 3. BATCHELDOR-NOLTE Tiffany, 4. GRAHAM Angela, 5. PAYNE Breanna, 6. BLACKA Ailin, 7. FRENCH Katie, 8. GLYDE Louisa, 9. HENDERSON Natalie, 14. MIDDLETON Gabby, 15. BURKE Tahlia
Date: 18 June 2021
Venue: Ian McLennan Park
Referee: Martin Rowney
Report and photo by Alison Dinh, on Twitter @alisondinh_
