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 WPL:
Lions douse Comets flame
Monday
26 May
2008
(Victor Sekulov) - The Preston
Lions Womens team faced a confident Casey Comets at
B.T.Conner reserve on Saturday 24th May 2008.
Casey Comets had come to the game with a number of
successive wins and were brimming with confidence against
a Preston side that had not beaten them in more than three
seasons.
But within minutes of the kickoff it was clear that the
Lionesses were still playing the kind of football that did
them well last week and completely dominated the game.
Such was their dominance that the Preston keeper, Nabby
Saliba had very little to do, touching the ball a handful
of times and making a couple of simple saves.
From the kickoff Preston attacked from all areas. First it
was the ever impressive Raudh Houston who collected a nice
pass from Sarah Sumner and played the ball into the
panicking Casey defence which cleared the danger, only for
it to come back when Paula Massouh made a weaving run
through the middle. Her pass to Peta Lipec fell nicely but
Peta could not control it and Casey were relieved.
Again Preston attacked and this time a cross from Raudh
Houston fell nicely to Petra Van Egmond and her shot
cannoned into a desperate Casey defender away for a
corner. The corner came to nothing but Petra would make up
for the miss a few minutes later. Casey cleared the danger
but their attack was thwarted by Veronique and Julie
Baldwin took possession of any pass that Casey tried to
play in the middle of the park. It was all Preston as the
Lionesses played a nice passing game which frustrated the
Casey defence. This dominance was to eventually result in
a goal.
Once more Raudh Houston made a darting run down the wing
and crossed the ball into the middle. This time Petra van
Egmond ran onto the ball with perfect timeing and her shot
rocketed into the back of the net, with the Casey
goalkeeper only watching helplessly as the ball shot past.
A wonderful strike and Petra's second goal of the season.
Casey did come back but Sarah Lovett quickly closed down
the threat and made some telling runs up the park, which
Casey had difficulty dealing with defensively. Another run
by Sarah and the ball came to Diana Piculovski who managed
to elude her marker and fired a shot at goal, just missing
the upright. Casey had to do something and their first act
was to replace the goalkeeper.
Paula Massouh was again strong in defence and not only
stopping the Casey attacks but also going forward and
playing intelligent passes to the forwards. Sarah Sumner
was harrassing across the park and both Petra Van Egmond
and Julia Baldwin were controlling the middle of the park.
But for all the possession Preston could not finish off
their opponents. Passes were not connecting in the last
third of the park and Casey were slowly coming back into
the game. A free kick was cleverly taken but Nabby Saliba
was equal to the task. Another chance was hit well over
and Nabby had little to do for the rest of the first half.
The game began to get bogged down in the middle of the
park as both sides lost possession and regained it without
seriously threatening either goal. This passage of play
went on for a good ten minutes as neither side was able to
score or at least threaten their opponents goal.
With about ten minutes to go Sarah Lovett broke away from
her marker and played it to Peta Lipec, who made a lovely
move around the defender and passed it in for Raudh
Houston. Her shot was well saved by the keeper. This was
the spark that Preston needed and they again took
possession of the game. Paula Massouh layed a pass to Peta
Lipec but she was called offside. Petra Van Egmond passed
to Raudh Houston, who passed it back and again the Casey
goalkeeper saved well. Despite Preston's dominance they
could not add to the score and the first half ended.
The second half was a repeat of the first with Preston
continuing from where they left off. Petra Van Egmong hit
a shot wide and Peta Lipec had a chance but her first
touch cost her. Nevertheless she would make amends soon
after. The Comets did threaten and Preston cleared for a
corner. The incoming cross was easily collected by Nabby
Saliba.
Preston launched their own attack but Casey also cleared
the danger for a corner. From the resulting kick a
desperate Comet defence managed to scramble the ball away
to safety. This was only a temporary reprieve for soon
after a fortunate ball forward bounced over the static
defence and both Sarah Lovett and Peta Lipec raced for the
ball. Peta got their first and her calm touch placed the
ball well wide of the advancing keeper for Preston's
second of the match.
Being two goals up did not stop the Lionesses as they went
all out looking for a third. Sarah Lovett had a chance
when she did well to go around the keeper and her pass
into the empty goal was cleared for a corner. Raudh
Houston was mesmerising the Casey defenders but could only
manage a corner. Nothing came of it as Casey packed the
goalsquare. Preston had another corner, but that too came
to nothing.
With minutes remaining Paula Massouh muscled her way past
the defenders and her effort hit the crossbar, the ball
bouncing back into play and cleared to safety. Julie
Baldwin got into the act but her shot went well over and
the game ended with Casey defending against further
Preston ventures.
A pleasing win for the Lionesses, coming after four losses
and further strengthening their position in the top five.
In the earlier game the Reserves had started off well and
within the first ten minutes could have been three goals
up. But the game ended with a 0-2 loss to the Cubs. Dom
Dorning played a solid game in the middle of the park as
did Shez Harris who ran tirelessly throughout the game.
Photo by John
Punshon
Seniors:
Preston Lions WFC
2 – Casey
Comets 0
Reserves: Preston Lions WFC 0
– Casey Comets
2
BT Connor Reserve
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