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 WPL:
Determination wins three points
Monday
09 June
2008
(Victor Sekulov) -
The Preston
Lions Womens team travelled to Keilor without their star
goalkeeper Nabby Saliba, but first time goalkeeper Thomay
Nicolaou did herself and her team proud with a faultless
display as Preston won a hard fought game.
The match was only a minute old when Petra Van Egmond
pulled up with a calf injury and had to be substituted.
Kate Christoff was brought on, her first game back from
injury, and the Preston team regrouped. Nevertheless it
was Keilor who were playing the better football with
excellent passing and running as Preston chased the ball
around and tried desperately to defend. In the first ten
to fifteen minutes the ball was predominantly in the
Preston half as Keilor pushed forward. Veronique Guilbert
met every challenge and cleared the danger.
Despite Keilor's dominance it was Preston and Sarah Lovett
who had the first real chance. Sarah managed to muscle her
way passed the goalkeeper and with an open goal beconning
shot across goal. Keilor used that lucky break to press
even harder and one dangerous move resulted in Sarah
Sumner clearing the initial danger and the resulting shot
went, fortunately for Preston, past the post.
Thomay Nicolaou was called upon to make a good save and
again came out to block a shot, receiving a knee to the
head for her efforts. She played on.
Keilor were coming forward in numbers and again Veronique
Guilbert was marshalling the defence and clearing the
danger. Julia Baldwin was chasing everything in midfield
and harrassing the Keilor midfield every chance she could,
forcing them to play it wide on the wings as they tried to
find a way through the Preston defence.
One chance did come and a shot at goal was well saved by
Thomay. She played it out and Veronique Guilbert hit a
long ball forward where it found Peta Lipec. Her
determined run towards the goal beat the Keilor defence
and she slotted the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper. It
was 1-0 to Preston against the run of play. Keilor were
made to pay for not making more of their dominant
possession and excellent passing.
With that goal Preston came out stronger, gaining
confidence. Sarah Lovett again broke through the Keilor
defence and her shot was well saved by the keeper. From
the resulting corner Preston could not capitalise and the
first half ended with Preston well in control.
The second half commenced with the Lionesses playing the
better football. The feeble Keilor attacks were easily
dealt with and now it was Preston who were in control.
Nice play by Ruadh Houston and Peta Lipec on the right
split the defence and the ball was played into Sarah
Lovett who pulled away from her marker but was brought
down outside the penalty area.
Sarah stood up and took the free kick herself cheekily
placing the ball into the corner of the goal and leaving
the Keilor goalkeeper flat footed. It was 2-0 to the
Lionesses and they were in complete control now. A number
of offside decisions robbed the Preston forwards from goal
opportunities. Peta Lipec broke through yet again and she
had three Preston players all waiting in the box but her
cross was hit too hard and Julia Baldwin just managed to
get a foot to it for a goal kick.
Sarah Lovett was put through but the goalkeeper saved
well. Minutes later Rauadh Houston saw her chance hit the
top of the cross bar and bounce out. Peta Lipec was
released but her shot went well over. It was all Preston
now but their misses in front of goal would give Keilor
the reprieve they needed.
Keilor began to play the ball through the right wing and
this was causing Preston trouble. They would launch
another attack from the right and this time it would give
them just rewards. Clean passing caught the Preston
defence out of position and Keilor broke through on the
right to score. It was 2-1.
The Lionesses did not lie down though and soon Sarah
Lovett was racing for goal with only a solitary defender
in her way. She was brought down but from the resulting
free kick from Peta Lipec was easily collected by the
goalkeeper. Keilor took the initiative back from the
Lionesses and again attacked from the right with a lovely
cross falling to an unmarked keilor player. Fortunutely
for Preston she headed well wide.
Keilor were now getting back into the game and playing the
better football. A move on the opposite side from a throw
in and a Keilor player was left free to head for goal. She
made no mistake. It was 2-2. Preston had lost a 2 goal
cushion and from completely dominating in the second half
looked like giving the game away.
Keilor were searching for the winner and Preston were
defending desperately. A shot at goal was blocked by the
Preston defence. Another shot at goal by Keilor but
Veronique Guilbert charged down the shot. The home crowd
could sense the winner was coming. It did come - for the
Lionesses.
The ever tireless Sarah Lovett played a defence splitting
pass to Peta Lipec and with the Keilor defence desperately
scrambling back she cooly placed it past the goalkeeper.
The ball trickled into the back of the net. It was Preston
3-2.
Now it was the away fans who wanted the referee to blow
the whistle as Preston tried to hold onto their tender
lead. Keilor tried to regroup but Sarah Sumner played Peta
Lipec through, though her shot was saved by the
goalkeeper. The game ended thereafter.
A thoroughly draining game of football for coaches,
players and fans and a well deserved win for the
Lionesses.
In the earlier game the Preston Reserves played a good
game of football. Having some great chances in the first
ten minutes including a shot by Sheree Harris which hit
the crossbar and one where Nikki Garner beat the defence
but not the goalkeeper it was unfortunate that Preston
fell behind to Keilor's first real attack on goal. Playing
against the side that beat them 3-1 in the opening round
of the season the Cubs were playing well and were
challenging and beating their higher ranked opponents.
In the second half their performance was rewarded with
first Sheree Harris getting onto a spilled save from a
Nikki Garner shot to make it 1-all and then Nikki Garner
breaking through to score and put Preston 2-1 in front.
Despite their control over much of the game it was keilor
who came back and scored to level the game at 2-2. The
Cubs could have won it but chances went begging.
Nevertheless it was a great team performance and the girls
should hold their heads up and get ready for their next
opponents.
Photo by
Pece Siljanovski
Seniors:
Keilor Park
2 –
Preston Lions WFC 3
Reserves: Keilor Park
2
– Preston Lions WFC
2
Keilor Park Reserve
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