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WOMENS PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH REPORT |
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 WPL:
Preston upset old foes
Tuesday 20 July 2010
(Liam Coventry-Poole) - The Preston Lions have recorded
only their second win of the season by defeating old
rivals South Melbourne in the Women's Premier League.
It took a brilliant strike from Melissa Rodriguez Lorenzo
in the 76th minute to break the deadlock and take Preston
off the bottom of the ladder. The loss puts an end to a
four match undefeated streak for South Melbourne.
The match got off to a slow start; with South Melbourne
allowing Preston to apply the pressure up front, with a
few half chances around the box.
Once South Melbourne settled they began to make life very
difficult for the Lion's defence, struggling to move the
ball out of defence every time they had possession in
their back half.
In the 36th minute South Melbourne’s Lucrece Laverdure
broke through the Preston defence and would have had a
great chance on goal if it weren’t for her heavy touch.
South Melbourne dominated possession throughout the first
half, but failed to pierce the 18-yard box enough times to
look really dangerous.
South Melbourne came out firing at the start of the second
half, immediately creating attacking chances for their
forwards.
First Laura Spiranovic unleashed a strike from just inside
the box. Her shot was blocked by a barrage of Preston
Lion’s bodies; the rebound then fell to Annabelle Gibney’s
feet, who forced a terrific save at feet by Preston’s
Jamie Floros in goals.
Floros was at it again just one minute later, swinging a
dangerous looking ball into the box, which was well
cleared by Preston’s Ashleigh Kelly, with South Melbourne
shirts lining up behind her for the finish.
There were appeals for handball in the box on Preston’s
Kate Christoff in the 53rd minute after South Melbourne’s
Jade Barnden appeared to have hit Christoff’s hand with an
attempted ball into the centre of the box.
Barnden came close in the 58th minute when she slid in to
hit a ball in the 18-yard box. Her shot forced Floros to
dive to her left, parrying it away and keeping her side in
the game with another great save.
In the 65th minute Genia Avram unleashed Christine Duffy
with a terrific long ball out of defence and down the
right. Instead of running the full distance into the box,
Duffy decided to take the early shot, and made it no
problem for Floros to make one of her easier saves of the
day.
In the 74th minute South Melbourne substitute Drew Egan
tried her luck from distance, only managing to hit Floros
on the chest.
Preston looked as if they weren’t going to have any other
chances for the match until the winner came in the 76th
minute courtesy of a superb strike by Melissa Rodriguez
Lorenzo from outside the box. Rodriguez Lorenzo gave Sarah
McKeon no chance as she smashed the ball into the top of
the net.
The goal came totally against the run of play, much to the
frustration of South Melbourne.
The win takes Preston to eight points to swap places with
Altona City on goal difference, while the loss ends any
chance of South Melbourne making the finals for 2010.
Next Saturday afternoon Preston travel to the third-placed
Ashburton, while South Melbourne also play on Saturday
afternoon, at home at McIvor Reserve against the Casey
Comets.
Preston Lions: Jamie Floros, Paula Massouh, Jacinta
Mazza (Jacquelene Ghirxi 67’), Kirstie Shearing (Bianca
Rosano 84’), Diana Piculovska, Sarah Sumner, Ashleigh
Kelly, Melissa Rodriguez Lorenzo, Kate Christoff, Casey
Naumovski, Antonia Boljesi
Substitutes: Joana Meletis, Jessica Cvetkovska, Natalie
Chea
Goals: Melissa Rodriguez Lorenzo 76’
South Melbourne: Sarah McKeon, Amelia Spiranovic,
Annabelle Gibney, Christine Duffy (Tiffany Eliadis 67’),
Genia Avram, Jade Barnden, Laura Spiranovic, Lucrece
Laverdure, Natalie Brajanovski, Penny Bakopoulos (Marcela
Marques 85’), Shelley Moskowitz
Subtitutes: Esther La Greca, Lisa Hodgkin, Drew Egan |
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