|
 WPL:
Late Winner for Preston
Monday
07 July
2008
(Victor Sekulov) - The Preston
Lionessess won a crucial final five encounter against
close rivals Eltham North on Friday night with a last
minute goal to secure their 4th position.
Preston travelled to Eltham North to face a team that was
in 5th position and only a point behind Preston, so the
game was crucial for both sides. Coming off a loss against
Bendigo and missing a number of key players it was always
going to be difficult for Preston, especially against
Eltham, who were on a run of some very good results. But
Eltham too had a few players missing due to the State
championships being held in NSW.
The game kicked off in the cold night with 4th vs 5th and
only a point between them; a very interesting matchup.
Eltham started off briskly and Preston were forced into
the defence. Eltham began to dominate the midfield but
could not break through the Preston defence but the
Lionesses inability to launch a successful counter attack
meant that most of the play was in Preston's half.
Veronique Giulbert was marshalling the defence and despite
their early dominance Eltham did not produce any real
threat on the Preston goal.
Sheree Harris, playing her first game for the seniors, was
linking well with Amanda on the right side and starting to
threaten the Eltham goal but it was mainly Eltham at this
stage. Eltham took a nice shot which Nabby Saliba got down
well to and moments later Eltham should have taken the
lead.
Some excellent play on the left saw Eltham weave their way
through the for once static Preston defence and played the
ball to an Eltham forward standing free and unmarked.
Fortunately for Preston the player froze with the whole
goal open to her. The danger was quickly cleared.
Then Preston moved up a gear and began to take back the
midfield from Eltham and threaten their goal. Diana
Piculovski was brought down and from the resulting free
kick Ashleigh Kelly had a chance taken away from her by
the frantic defending of Eltham. Soon Paula Massouh worked
her way through some Eltham midfielders and played a
lovely pass to Sheree Harris. Her shot brought a great
diving save from the Eltham goalkeeper. The corner was
curled in and Diana Piculovski ran onto to tap it just
wide of the far post. A very close call for Eltham.
But soon Eltham came back and some nice passing resulted
in a corner. The ball was played in and a free header to
Eltham was easily collected by Nabby. From that passage of
play Preston again threaten with Shree coming close after
some determined play from Amanda. But then the game
gravitated to a battle of the midfield as first Eltham and
then Preston gained the upper hand. Casey Naumovski was
defending well as was Sarah Lovett, who occasionally would
work her way forward and unsettle the Eltham midfield.
Despite the frantic pace of the game the ball went back
and forward through the midfield and neither team looked
like scoring. At half time it was 0-0.
The second half started off a repeat of the first with
Eltham again taking control of the game. But once again
despite their early dominance they were unable to use
their dominance to create a real goalscoring chance.
Preston defenders were well composed and Paula Massouh was
chasing and defending against the Eltham threat.
A few chances did come Eltham's way but Casey Naumovski
was able to clear the danger both times. And as was the
case in the first half the Lionesses weathered the initial
onslaught and began to launch their own. The first real
chance came to Preston soon after. Diana was working her
way towards the Eltham goal when she was brought down.
Shouts of penalty were waved away and the free kick was
just outside the penalty area on the left. Sarah Lovett
took the free kick and hit it well but it cannoned off the
crossbar and Eltham cleared the danger.
Eltham were given an unnecessary free kick but could not
capitalise and soon after a lovely pass through the middle
was thwarted by both Nabby and Casey combining to deal
with the danger. Ashleigh Kelly was now becoming more
active in the midfield but her passes forward were not
being utilised. The game was looking more and more like a
stalemate as both sides were doing well to stifle any goal
threats.
Then Sarah Lovett was moved forward and within minutes a
lovely pass from Diana Piculovksi sent her free but her
shot went well wide. Still it was a message to the Eltham
defence, which they did not heed. Eltham came back but
Veronique Guilbert cleared the danger. Eltham again tried
to work their way through the Preston defence but Sheree
Harris, playing now in defence, was equal to the challenge
and stopped the threat.
Sarah Lovett had another chance but fluffed her shot and
minutes later was again in front of goal but missed her
opportunity. Time was running out. A draw would suit
Preston more than Eltham and the clock was winding down.
With only a few minutes to go both sides were becoming
frantic as the urgency of the game took over. The
composure of the game was more one of desperation but it
was Preston who were more composed and it was the
Lionesses who scored.
Once again Ashleigh Kelly worked her magic in the midfield
and played a lovely pass to Sarah Lovett. She in turn
raced towards goal and slotted the ball under the oncoming
keeper. It was 1-0 and only a few minutes remained. Now
Eltham had to attack in numbers and they did. But it was
to no avail as the Preston defence held firm and even
managed to launch a few more attacks of their own.
The game ended 1-0 to the Lionesses and it gives them a 4
point lead over Eltham, with a game in hand. A good result
and one that the large crowd on hand applauded.
In the earlier game the Reserves had a great result
drawing 0-0. With a few players missing due to holidays
and being seconded to the seniors the Cubs commanded the
first half and could have been up a goal. Injuries to
Laura Rullo and Kristen Petrovski resulted in the Cubs
playing most of the second half with only ten players and
having to defend against a very good Eltham side.
Preston will have a bye this week.
Photo by John
Punshon
Seniors:
Eltham North 0 –
Preston Lions WFC 1
Reserves: Eltham North 0
– Preston Lions WFC 0
Anderson Park
|
