This week’s previewed match sees Division Three's sixth placed Oak Flats Falcons take on Helensburgh sitting at fourth.

From the kick off Oak Flats were up against it starting the game a player down until reinforcements could arrive. Despite Helensburgh having the early territorial advantage it was Oak Flats to have the first shot on goal in only the 5th minute. This was followed by an immediate Helensburgh counter attack and a goal denied only through the Oak Flats keeper putting her body on the line.

Helensburgh kept on the pressure and despite successive corners were unable to score.

When in about the 20th minute, the Oak Flats D Horsey went down with what looked like a serious injury, things were looking ominous for the Falcons, but the magic water did the trick and she was soon up on her feet. There was no such trouble for Helensburgh however, whose coach took the opportunity to go to the bench with 4 changes.

The game continued in a similar vein for much of the first half with Helensburgh retaining the territorial advantage, and Oak Flats making rare but optimistic forays into the Helensburgh half.

About 30 minutes in and against the run of play, Oak Flats A Priestley put a great through ball through to K Nowakowski  whose shot on goal came off the cross bar before bouncing back up onto the back of the goal keeper who somehow managed to save the ball going over the line.

Keeping to the script, Helensburgh mounted a quick counter attack and again the Oak Flats keeper pulled off yet another brave save.

The Helensburgh number 3 was starting to make her mark on the game and in the 35th minute made a great run through the midfield and slotted the ball past a fast approaching keeper and into the goal.

Oak Flats were not about to give up and a promising run from number 10 resulted in a corner for which she was on hand to line up for a shot, only to have the ball taken off her toes at the last minute.

With about 10 minutes until half time the Helensburgh coach again went for whole sale interchanges and Oak Flats were finally able to get their 11th player on the pitch.

The score remained unchanged and the teams headed into the half time break with Helensburgh up 1-nil.

The second half started with a switch in the Helensburgh goals which the Falcons seemed keen to test out with a couple of a couple of early corners.

Not to be out done,  Helensburgh went on the attack with a long ball finding their number 2 whose deft ball work led to a shot on goal that required another good save by the keeper.

Oak Flats lifted their game in the second half, playing with much more vigour and intent despite their lack of subs and younger opposition. Meanwhile the Helensburgh coach was continually rotating his players through the interchange.

Although playing with more enthusiasm Oak Flats inability to clear from the goal line was putting them under continual pressure eventually leading to a penalty in the 60th minute from   a hand ball in the box. The shot was well taken by Helensburgh's L Morahan to increase their lead to 2-0.

As the game progressed Helensburgh’s younger and fresher legs were delivering a territorial advantage but both teams continued to create chances. Despite several more corners, a free kick and a shot off the cross bar, Helensburgh were unable to add to their tally.

The game finished 2-0 to Helensburgh who were deserved winners showing more composure on the ball and a better passing game. Meanwhile the Oak Flats Falcons strengths were their scrambling defence and their attitude.

After the game the Oak Flats captain/goal keeper Elaine Hudson and Coach Robert Hudson thought their team didn't play as well as they knows they can do. Given they were down on numbers they thought the girls put in a great effort and never dropped their heads. Special mention to their whole back line who held strong all game.

Next week they are up against Shell cove and are hopeful to have a full squad enabling them to be more competitive.

The coach felt that Helensburgh had it over his team in that they had speed all over the pitch, and his team were a little bit hesitant on the ball. He nominated S Souvleris as their player of the match for Helensburgh.

Helensburgh coach Mattias Samuelson was happy with the result. He said the girls seem to be getting better every week which is a testament to their love of the sport. The girls are also starting to play well as a team.

In picking a player of the match he paid credit to the team as a whole, with everyone lifting their personal game as well.  He singled out Emma  Vaughan  and S Souvleris as having particularly strong games.

Samuelson saw the difference between the two teams being team work and composure on the ball.  He thought Oak Flats Falcons put in a really good effort despite only having 10 players for much of the game. His player of the match for Oak Flats was their A Priestley who although did not get to see much of the ball the, always looked dangerous including a shot denied by the crossbar.

 Sandy Depers

 
From last nights FSC Women's Competition club meeting (Tuesday 11/6/2013 7pm at the Builders Club) the issue of clubs asking for a card check and the opposition refusing, what is the procedure?
 
The following is set out in the playing rules, which can be found on the FSC website.
2.1 TEAM SHEETS AND ID CARDS
D. Each player must have his/her ID card inspected by both team managers at the same time and compared with the team sheet in the presence of the Ground Marshall before a player can take part in a match. Should an ID card not be available for an individual player(s), then the said player shall not be eligible to take part in that game. Copies of ID cards will not suffice.
 
E. If ID cards are not produced, the offending team will incur automatic forfeiture.
 
If a club refuses, notify the Competition Secretary 0402359288 or Administration officer 0432500230
 
Please conduct the card inspection 10 to 15 minutes before the game, to ensure the match starts on time. The referee is not to do the card check.
 

Jody Cornford
Football South Coast
Chair, Women's Competition
 

Wednesday 29th May - Berkeley Sports and Social Club 

 
Drawn by Sandy Depers

Congratulations to Tarrawanna and Unanderra

7:30pm 14th May at the Builders Club
 
6pm  Tarrawanna 2 vs University 0
 
8pm  Unanderra 3 (4) vs Berkeley 3 (2)

Shellharbour Spirit Women's First Division Team are in need of players.

Anyone interested in playing please contact Women's Competition Manager Joan Hudson on 0432 500 230.

In this round second placed Tarrawanna takes on 9th placed Figtree. TheTarrawanna girls are coming off a 5-0 victory over Fernhill last weekend while Figtree are coming off a 7-0 loss against Dandaloo.

Tarrawanna with its former Stingrays and Hippo players is clearly a quality side and many reckon the team to beat this season. The team this year is a blend of experienced players and younger recruits. Figtree, onthe other hand is a very young side mostly under the age of 18 who have just stepped up from the junior competition.

Within only 4 minutes from the kick off, Tarrawanna's Leah Carlon was on the score sheet. This was followed shortly after by a strong corner kick that was well handled by the Figtree keeper, but things were starting to look ominous for her side.

The Tarrawanna girls were showing their experience, with more composure on the ball and ability to retain possession. The first real chance for Figtree came in the 16th minute when awarded free kick, but it was well handled by the Tarra defence.

Two more goals to Leah Carlon in the 20th and 25th minutes had the Figgy girls down 3 - 0 but the score could have been much different if not for the good work of the Figtree keeper and defence. Strong clearances by Jaimi Vanwoerkom were also keeping the Figtree girls in the game.

In the 36th minute, another good cross by Cassie Halloway, led to a goal mouth scuffle and a very soft goal to add to Tarrawanna's tally. This only seemed to spurn the Figtree girls on with some attacking moves and committed tackling down the left side but all to no avail with Tarra knocking in their 5th goal in the 42nd minute.

Despite the scoreboard, the game was not as one sided as it might seem.

The second half started off much the same with Tarra dominating possession and Figtree working hard in defence.

In the 53rd minute, a free kick was awarded following a foul on Bec Garland just outside the 18 yard. Once again it was well taken by the Figtree keeper.

The 60th minute saw a promising break by the Figtree girls only to be shut down by the Tarra defence. This was almost immediately followed by Tarra's first corner of the half which saw the Figtree keeper take the ball from a fast approaching Bec Garland.

Leah Carlon came back onto the pitch with immediate impact, a great run through the middle of the park and an almost certain goal denied with the Figtree keeper putting her body on the line and making a strong save. Whilst chances kept falling to Tarrawanna, Figtree's committed defence meant they were unable to score until the 70th minute.

Then, following an attacking move by Figtree in the 76th minute, the ball was cleared by Tarrawanna finding an unmarked Fran Halloway taking the score to 7-0.

Things were heating up for Tarrawanna with regular corners and free kicks which were either well taken by the Figtree Keeper or were not on
target.

In the cruellest of blows for the committed young Figtree players, a corner in the 85th minute lead to an own goal.

Final score Tarrawanna 8 - Figtree 0

Following the game, Figtree captain, Jaimi Vanwoerkom paid credit to her team saying the girls had really stepped up this week and had improved significantly from their last game. She noted that the difference between the two teams today largely came down to experience with her team being a really young squad largely made up of 16 and 17yr olds who were playing juniors last year. Jaime nominated her right back, Hayley Clark as her player of the match.

Similarly, Tarrawanna captain, Leah Carlon was very proud of her team's efforts stating that it was the first hit out for the year where they had the whole squad available. They were also getting used to a different playing style under new coach Grant Jacobs. Attention now turns to the mid week Association Cup game against Thirroul.

Whilst admitting that the Tarra squad was the more experienced of the 2, they too had a number of younger players making the step up to Division One. Carlon was pleased with how these young players stepped up today.

Carlon credited her midfield and defence for todays result and named Lindsay Andrew as her player of the match. She also made special note of the Figtree goalkeeper who had an outstanding game.

Asked if she had any advice for her younger opponents, Carlon said 'to get along, both on and off the field'. She said the Figgy girls have a great attitude and didn't give up at all during the game. If they are able to maintain that, they will quite competitive against other teams
in the comp. Also that while the step up this year was a big one, they will be even stronger next year after this experience.

Carlon went onto mention how the quality of the competition has dramatically improved over 5 or so years, largely due to the number of women playing and Stingrays players coming back into the competition. The fact that a team like Figtree can step up from the Juniors into
Division One and be so competitive is further testament to this.
 
Written by Sandy Depers

This round sees Berkeley in sixth place take on 4th placed University, both teams with a game in hand.
 
Berkeley's intent was clear from the kick off, to get the ball to Robin Moylan who lined up for her first shot in the 5th minute. Strong defence and a good clearance led to an immediate opportunity for Uni's J. Zouch at the other end. 
 
The first corner of the game went to Uni in the 10th minute but the ball was well cleared by the Berkeley defence.
 
With Robin Moylan looking dangerous and strong balls delivered from the right hand side it only seemed a matter of time before Berkeley scored, but the Uni girls were holding strong. Moylan was not only looking the most likely to score but was also providing good ball distribution. 
 
Uni however were not to be outdone and had a goal disallowed and a shot wide of goal in the 23rd and 25th minutes. 
 
It was starting to look like one of those days for the Uni girls who were unable to capitalise on a free kick close to goals in the 27th minute, while two minutes later a break by M.Vearing and an unselfish pass to J. Zouch saw a shot go straight to the keeper.
 
Uni was beginning to enjoy a territorial advantage. They were also having a number of shots that frustratingly ended up just wide of the goal or straight to the keeper.
 
Shortly before half time and almost against the run of play Berkeley did what they had been threatening all game, a quick break with the ball finding Moylan who passed it off to K Russell whose long range shot sailed over the keepers head and into the top right hand corner of the goal. 1 Nil Berkeley.
 
Half time Berkeley 1 - University 0
 
The second half was only 10 minutes old when Uni's A Muscat found herself unmarked in front on goal, one all.
 
Five minutes later following another break, Moylan looked destined to score but for the fast reaction of the Uni keeper. Moylan did however manage to have her name added to the scoresheet just one minute later. Berkeley 2 Uni 1.
 
The game continued in the same vein with chances at both ends until in the 73th minute when  Uni's L. Gjessing  brought her team back into the game with a soft goal that beat the outstretched Berkeley keeper. Two  all.
 
This certainly livened up the game with Berkeley being the more physical of the 2 and Uni frustrating their opponents by double teaming the oppositions main play maker.
 
The best chance for Uni came in the 78th minute when a classy Uni corner resulted in a great shot on goal that evaded the Berkeley keeper but was somehow saved on the line by the defence. 
 
While the Uni girls were starting to find the target, the Berkeley girls were still looking dangerous on the break.
 
Ten minutes before full time the Uni girls found themselves ahead in the game for the first time following a second goal to I. Gjessing.
 
Final score Berkeley 3 - University 3.
  
Following the match, Uni's coach, Peter Henderson was ecstatic at how his girls played and how they fought back twice from being a goal down. They were very hungry for the ball and played with more confidence today. The girls stuck to the game plan and were keen to make it 4 wins from 4 starts. Henderson complimented Berkeley stating this was his team's toughest match to date. He was unable to name a player of the match feeling the overall defence deserved special mention.
  
Berkeley's Nat Cook her team played well. Some lapses in concentration led to fairly soft goals to Uni. She said that while having some 15 and 16yr old youngsters in the squad, the team played strongly right across the paddock.

Cook thought there wasn't much in it and both teams were fairly evenly matched. Both had strong counter attack.

Cook nominated Robyn Moylan as her player of the match as she was able to provide good distribution and score despite being heavily marked.
 
Written by Sandy Depers

Berkeley Sports and Social Club

6pm University Div. 1 3(4) vs. Woonona Div. 1 3(3)

8pm Berkeley 4 vs. Fernhill 1

Thirroul - Gibson Park

6pm Unanderra 1 vs. Woonona 30's 0

8pm Thirroul Div.1 1 vs. Tarrawanna Div.1 9