Match of the Round- Bulli FC-0, Shoalhaven FC-2 @Balls Paddock
The game had both teams neck and neck for the first goal, with Bulli relentless to get their first win.
In the 23rd minute, however, Shoalhaven almost attained the lead as Sarah Kilby floated an in-swinger cross from a corner to the crowd of players.
Tiffany Stone dived and saved the headed effort that looked to be going in from one of the attackers.
Shoalhaven had a second bite at Bulli’s goal as Tiana Phillips-Maynard popped a long-ranged shot that hit the above frame of the goal under four minutes from their first near-goal chance.
A minute later, Bulli took the attack to their opposition with a quick counter where Nikki Taylor got on the end of a diagonal lobbed ball from midfield, the keeper forced an error with her run out of goals to pressure the winger.
In the last kick of the first half, heartbreak for Bulli occurred when Kilby again swung her cross from another corner.
This time, there was a rebound from both the Bulli defence and keepers’ attempted clearance with Shae Paananen to half-volley the loose ball.
Shoalhaven made their presence and intention of another goal clear with constant pressure that put the home side cornered in their own half.
In the 68th minute, Kilby looked to cause more problems for her opposition with a free kick on the edge of the area; however, she was unable to convert her shot as it went high and wide over the bar.
Six minutes after the chance, there was another chance, but on the other end, where Hannah Moore, just minutes after her substitution in, had a run into the box and cut it back, but was blocked in the nick of time.
Just under five minutes before the final whistle, Kilby’s corner kicks proved to be detrimental again for Bulli.
Her curled cross bounced off Claire Falls at the front post and looped over the keeper and ended up in the side net of the goal.
A late goal in both halves was what got the Shoalhaven the three points in this match.
Shoalhaven are matched up with Shellharbour in the first round of the Julie Porter cup at a neutral venue in Ian McLennan Park.
As for Bulli, they have a bye for the next game day, with more preparation for Coniston in round 8.
Thirroul Thunder JFC-3, University of Wollongong FC-6 @Thomas Gibson Park
Thirroul hosted a goal-fest of a game with the University of Wollongong as the victor in the nine-goal thriller.
The Thunderbolts struck first within the first five minutes, with Leah Carlon, who netted a goal.
Lexi Carter wasted no time in putting her side equal and then in front with two goals in the span of six minutes apart, both in the 28th and 34th minutes.
Both sides went blow after blow as Mila Gehrke equalised for Thirroul just five minutes after Carter’s quick-fire double.
In the second half, Gehrke continued her momentous form as she bagged her second of the game to put Thirroul in front at 3-2.
Thirroul’s hold of the game slipped as University took full control as Lexi Carter completed her hat-trick just after the hour mark, and then Jasmine Trajceski, not long after, joined the flurry of goals in the 63rd and 69th minutes.
Carter didn’t stop her goal purge as she added to her hat-trick with another two goals to her name in the 71st and 82nd to finish with a five-goal glut and stretch the goal margin to 3-6 for University.
University’s win streak has put them a point under Shellharbour, and expect to hold that spot against Woonona next match, who hope to leap above from third place.
Thirroul have a large travel ahead with their game against Shoalhaven, who sit above them in fifth place by four points.
In the other game, Woonona forfeited against Shellharbour City.
Report by Thomas Panayiotou
File Photo by @jackbaldassariphotography (Instagram)
