Great win for women's soccer

Woman's soccer

Playing with the wind, the Island ladies got off to a quick start with 2 goals very early from Kelly Wall. One of which was started by Finley Dempsey with some great vision and lovely distribution of the ball from deep mid-field and out to the right-wing where Kitt Ingold was well positioned in space to launch an attack. Inverloch hit back with a goal.

The island then went up 3-1 at the 30' with another goal. Inverloch fought back fiercely to level up to 3-3 at about the 35’.

Inverloch’s defence was well organised and began to frustrate the island who couldn’t manage to convert opportunities. In addition, through balls rolled forward very quickly in the Islands forward-line being carried by the wind and the ball out-ran the Island’s forwards over the by-line. The game became a tight battle for the latter period of the first half. The game was hotly contested, a great challenge for players of both teams and was a very enjoyable match for those on those sidelines, as both teams challenged each other but with neither team being able to break the deadlock. Without the ball, Lara Smythe made some great fast break runs, flying down the left-hand wing, causing the Inverloch defender’s great stress.

Kiera Rowe in goals for the Island, faced a one-on-one with an Inverloch striker, and charged towards the striker, narrowing her angle at goal and doing enough to force the striker’s shot wide of the post. Great goal keeping.

The half time break was entered at a 3-3 score line.

The second half, playing into the wind, assisted the Island who’s through-balls behind Inverloch’s defence were holding up nicely and the deadlock was quickly broken by the Island with a long-distance strike from Kitt Ingold which had the Island ladies running towards each other in celebration.

Amanda Black was very well positioned at left-back and made a particularly critical interception. Pauleen helped the team to keep good shape with great positioning in the defensive-midfielder role and provided plenty of helpful talk and coordination during the game. The Island began to dominate possession in parts and linked some lovely passing sequences together, one of which led to a fantastic strike by Abi McCulloch, who from the left side of play near the 18-yard line, stepped inside with the ball and with the inside of her right foot, bent the ball around the keeper’s far-post-side, bulging the back of the net. Some goal. Abi, playing attacking mid-fielder, looked dangerous often and from deep inside the 18-yard box played a great cross with her left foot, which resulted in a tap-in goal.The coaches award for the match going to Abi for her effort.

Elladie Lewis and Nat Bardis in defence made it very tough for their opponents, applying great pressure and winning the ball. Alyssa was fantastic in sweeper and as the last defender on a few occasions, timed her interceptions wonderfully. Young Coco showed how much she is quickly improving as a player and played a fantastic game at centre-back, racing back to get goal-side of her opponent, refusing to be beaten or conceding ground in one-on-one situations and using great judgement on when to tackle and when to just hold the fast breaking opponent without unnecessarily jumping in and without fouling, which allowed other Island team mates to get back behind the ball, to help to defend.

Island piled on 6 goals to nil in the second half.

Thanks to the Inverloch ladies for a great game which was played in good spirits.

Next week’s match will be away again to Wonthaggi in what promises to be another great contest.

Final score: Island defeated Inverloch 9-3.

Goals: Abi (3), Kelly (3), Kitt (3).