Bulli FC-0, Woonona Sharks FC-5 @Balls Paddock
Matilda Armitt produced the goods to finally open the scoring after 25 minutes of the Sharks knocking at Bulli’s door in attempting to score.
Three minutes later, her efforts were followed by her teammates’ goal to make it 2-0, the goal scorer being Courtney Wiseman.
In the 34th minute, Armitt found the net again, a double for the day.
Three goals were scored in the first half; however, Bulli were trying their best to make Woonona work for their goals.
Two minutes after the break, the Sharks struck again, Fiona Leafe being the contributor to the goal to make it 4-0 to the away side.
Leafe hunted for another, giving the Bulli defence a handful to deal with and soon Woonona got their reward as Leafe put it past the keeper in the 72nd minute.
The victory was handed to the visitors after putting five past their opposition.
Bulli have a chance to give a headache for their next opposition in Coniston, who sit outside the top four on the table.
Bulli could take advantage of Coniston’s desperation and make it a hard game for them.
Woonona are paired with Shoalhaven in an away clash, fourth versus third; every game result affects the ladder massively because of the small point difference between each team.
Coniston FC-0, Shellharbour City FC-4 @JJ Kelly Park
Shellharbour stir more trouble for Coniston as they sink their opposition out of the top four.
Coniston were caught napping as they let in a goal in the first two minutes, poked in by Samara Wehmeyer.
The first goal to sway the tides of the game.
Christina Videla created more problems for Coniston as they were now down by two in the 22nd minute.
Wehmeyer closed Coniston’s hopes of getting a late goal back in the first half as she completed her double in the 40th minute.
Three goals to the visitors.
The mood for the second half was different as there were no early goals scored, and the match remained at 3-0.
Mikayla De Jong did not want to finish the match with no goal to claim.
So she took her opportunities with determination as she secured a goal with her finish to end the game at 4-0 in the 82nd minute.
Coniston, for their next game, is against Bulli.
They will have to take every chance they have with composure as they need the three points to stay in the race for the top four.
Shellharbour will enter the next round as visitors as they match up with University of Wollongong.
Their last encounter was won by only one goal to nil by City; it all points to a tight and entertaining occasion to spectate.
Shoalhaven FC-0, University of Wollongong FC-1 @Ison Park
University find the strength to keep Shoalhaven in their place as Wollongong score a late goal to break the tie of the game.
Shoalhaven have been prying on the heels of University for the past five matches, with a key win against them in round 16.
This game was the perfect occasion to put Wollongong in panic and tie even on the ladder in second place.
The eagerness for a victory that could decide who takes second place was seen in this game as both sides were at a standstill.
The tension was unbearable as they could not find a goal to win it over the other.
The first half finished with the game having to be decided in the second half.
Chances could not be finished, and it eventually got past the hour mark, and it was still goalless.
It hit the last ten minutes of the game; any goal scored would be the undeniable winner.
In the 84th minute, a goal was scored; relief and glory for one, heartbreak and misery for the other.
The goal came from none other than Ariana Fleming, the deciding figure for University.
The goal sealed the fate for Shoalhaven, who have to wait another day to try and take Wollongong’s spot.
Late winners, University now host against Shellharbour.
Wollongong will not be put down so easily by the league leaders and will give the league leaders a fight in the next round.
Shoalhaven also host in their next match, their visitors being Woonona. Both teams need the three points as much as the other, so an unexpected result could occur on the day.
By Thomas Panayiotou
