University have hit some form as the students amassed a 5-0 win over Thirroul on Wednesday night at Thomas Gibson Park.
Despite a fighting effort from Thirroul, it was the away team who took home the three points as they now sit fourth on the ladder.
An early opportunity for the home side saw Chloe Hocking pick up the ball in the centre of the pitch before sending an over the top cross into Lauren Tait, firing her low shot wide off the post.
In the 12th minute of the match, the Unicorns then came close with a slip in ball from Sian McGavock into Amy Morrell, but a long range high shot would soon be denied.
The away side almost scored once again just nine minutes later when Bethany Nielsen’s switch ball landed at the feet of Holli Turner, but an angled shot wasn’t enough to claim a goal.
University’s chances became consistent, and in the 34th scored the opening goal of the match.
A brace from Nielsen came first, before the ball rebounded infront of Morrell who made no mistake infront of goal, sending her shot into the top corner for a 1-0 lead.
The first half wasn’t over just yet when Rhianna Brown got on the end of McGavocks precise cross, and a brilliant first time volley saw Brown score the Unicorns second goal just minutes before the half-time blow, heading into the sheds with a 2-0 advantage over the home side.
The home side headed towards their goal and could’ve had a brace with just two minutes into the second half with the likes of Tait and Jamie Ryan, but were effortlessly denied by the hands of Coleman.
51 minutes in and UOW added their third goal through an outstanding Nielsen who fired a shot from the halfway line, flying over the head of Shahne Hocking and into the back of the net.
However, Nielsen wasn’t finished just yet being involved once more, just five minutes later, where she picked up a clean ball in the centre of the 18-yard box before neatly placing the ball into the net, grabbing her second for the match.
Thirroul would shortly conjure up an opportunity through a free-kick in the 79th minute but Kirsten Ward could not successfully get on the end of it.
At the 85th minute mark, Ward came close once more with an interception in the 18-yard box, but her shot would fly just inches off the near post.
The 90th minute mark hit and it was the Unicorn’s substitute Mia Saverino who would score another spectacular goal from a strike at halfway, securing a 5-0 lead for the away side in their round ten catch-up fixture against a well-fought Thirroul side.
University FC will head to Myimbarr Park this Sunday afternoon as they come up against first place Shellharbour, whilst Thirroul will head to Terry Reserve in a battle against APWE.
Date: 26 July, 2023
Venue: Thomas Gibson Park
Referee: Martin Rowney
Report by Alison Dinh, on Twitter @alisondinh_
