Match of the Round- Woonona Sharks FC-0, Shellharbour City-5 @Ocean Park
Woonona suffered a heavy defeat at home as they were outmatched by Shellharbour’s ruthless attack.
Just inside the first ten minutes, Shellharbour’s goal threat and playmaker, Samara Wehmeyer, waited for no introduction and fired City into the lead with her flair and pace to beat the Woonona defence.
In the 19th minute, Wehmeyer caused more trouble for the Sharks as she latched onto a high lobbed ball sent by her keeper.
She controlled the ball in her stride and took the ball to the box, where the midfielder put the ball on a platter for Madelaine Costanzo, who smashed the ball into the net at the backpost.
Past the hour mark, Costanzo makes it a double for herself, three braces in three games for the forward.
The striker predicts a rebound from the keeper after Mia Riza half volleys her shot from a cross.
Costanzo blasted the loose ball into the empty net to make it three for City.
Seven minutes later, the sharks attempted to put a dent in the scoreline but were unsuccessful as Tess Stephens couldn’t find a way past the keeper’s gloves after her solo run from out wide.
In the 70th minute, Wehmeyer used her quick change of pace and got past her defender at the goal line, where she released a shot from a tight angle.
It caught the keeper by surprise as she was unable to get down in time to stop the shot at the close post.
The keeper’s attempted challenge on Wehmeyer earlier caused a free kick on the edge of the area, with Kristina Janeska standing over the top of it.
She stroked the ball with precision over power, and it floated into the top left bin to make it five to the good for Shellharbour in the 75th minute.
Shellharbour’s next game in their invincible campaign is a home fixture against Shoalhaven. The visitors will aspire to bridge the gap between the two as Shellharbour seem to be running away with the league.
For Woonona’s match, they have a decisive game for the top four against Coniston, who are above them by one point and have a game in hand. Coniston will have faith in their odds as the Sharks have only managed one win in their last five matches.
By Thomas Panayiotou
File Photo: Gragrapix
