After a week off with the Julie Porter Cup, the competition resumed with some changes. Thirroul have withdrawn from the competition and are now playing in Community League. Teams now will play 22 rounds with all clubs facing each other four times across the season.
Match of the Round
Coniston FC-1, Shoalhaven FC-0 @JJ Kelly Park
Coniston emerged as the victor with one goal to decide the result after being locked together for the majority of the game.
Nine minutes in, Meredith Cheyne found Kaitlyn Sennitt in the box from a free kick from halfway, but the forward couldn’t get enough power on the header.
In the 18th minute, Coniston countered back with Jessica Cruickshank sliding in a ball through from the flank to Tara Cannon.
She unleashed a rocket to the bottom left corner from a tight angle, but the keeper kept it out of harms away.
Six minutes after Coniston’s chance, Shoalhaven created a chance against the run of play.
Shae Paananen caught the high lobbed ball over the top into her stride and found Sennitt at the edge of the box.
The striker couldn’t get it beyond the keeper, who lunged at the effort and deflected it out of play.
In the 28th minute, Coniston had the opportunity to break the deadlock between the two teams as Cannon sent Cruickshank through in behind the defence.
She had all the time and space, but the keeper, with a diving save, kept Shoalhaven in the game.
Six minutes into the second-half, Coniston have the answer to break the cagey affair of the game as Cannon gets onto a throughball from the midfield.
She stopped the ball on the edge of the box and then cut it inside to send the defender the wrong way and smashed her effort bottom left, nothing the keeper could do about it.
1-0 to the home side.
Coniston took advantage of the momentum and began to dominate the next series of chances throughout the game.
In the 89th minute, Shoalhaven had the chance to get a last-minute winner to spoil the victory for their opposition.
Rachel Guess crossed an outswinger ball from the corner to Sennitt, but couldn’t redirect her header as it was eventually cleared out of danger.
Coniston have another tough fixture, which is against University of Wollongong.
If Coniston win, they can go from fourth to second place, so all to play for in the upcoming match.
Shoalhaven take on Bulli at home, a highly favourable fixture to capitalise on.
Shellharbour City FC-6, Bulli FC-0 @Myimbarr Park
Shellharbour picked up where they left off after their Julie Porter final triumph with a thumping win of six goals against Bulli.
Six minutes after the kick-off whistle, Kari Gonzalez knocked in the first to put Shellharbour up in front.
She has continued her goal-scoring form after getting on the score sheet in the final.
In the 30th minute, Madelaine Costanzo added to the advantage, the pacey forward making it 2-0 to City.
Not long after, Samara Wehmeyer made it three goals to the good in the 36th minute for City.
Before the hour mark, Wehmeyer makes her mark again in the 54th minute; the playmaker and scorer has made it a brace.
In the 73rd minute, Wehmeyer continued to use her scoring momentum to bag another to complete her hat-trick, two hat-tricks in a row for the creative attacker.
Minutes before full-time, Costanzo scored another chance to achieve her double of the game in the 88th minute.
Shellharbour’s next game is away against Woonona, who are eager to get back into the top four fight.
Bulli visit Shoalhaven away, who continue their pursuit of second place in the table.
Woonona Sharks FC-4, University of Wollongong-2 @Ocean Park
Woonona bite back after their series of losses with a statement win against second-placed, University of Wollongong.
The Sharks welcome their visitors with a goal in the half-hour mark by Morgan Potter in the 24th minute.
In the 37th minute, Danielle Blackett joined her teammate on the goal sheet to add to the deficit.
The game remained 2-0 to Woonona heading into the second half; however, Blackett was keen to get on the score sheet again, bagging another to make it a double in the 60th minute.
University wasn’t out of the game completely as Ariana Fleming converted her chance eight minutes after Woonona’s third.
Grace Cooper settled the game in Woonona’s favour as she finished her opportunity in the 76th minute to make it 4-1 for the home side.
Wollongong could only answer back with one goal in reply, as Sian McGavock netted her chance just two minutes later.
Woonona came out victors, ending their losing streak; they now face an unfavourable confrontation with league leaders Shellharbour City.
University of Wollongong need a result against Coniston away from home as only three points separate fifth place and second place on the ladder.
By Thomas Panayiotou
Feature image: Jack Baldassari (File photo)
