Gators Too Good For Souths
The Gap 4 (Askin 26’, Miller 38’, Harper 53’ 88’) Souths Utd 0 HT: 2-0 Played at Walton Bridge Reserve
Without enigmatic captain Kate Lawson and with star striker Isabella Krecek occupying the right full back position, Souths struggled in the cold at Walton Bridge Reserve. In a pretty dull opening 10 minutes, Georgia Harper had the best of the chances when she got her right foot on the end of a cross, but she spurned the chance, sending it wide. Jessica Hogg won her own ball close to halfway and paraded down the right hand side to find Harper in bundles of space in the Souths penalty area, but she couldn't capitalise again, missing to the right this time. Only moments later though, and Lauren Askin strode past the Souths defence after a failed set piece from her own side and powered the ball into the far right corner leaving Serena Conyngham in the Souths goal no chance. Some good play out on the left from The Gap opened up Souths once more, and Sarah Miller found her way into the box to curl a ball into the right corner in similar fashion to Askin, to double her side's lead just before half time. Paul Lonton will be hugely disappointed with the opening period watching his side slip to a two goal lead and continuing to be their own worst enemy as they struggled to play out from the back and gifted The Gap possession far too often in the opening period. Souths had a good opening chance to reduce the deficit early in the second period, when Renee Montgomery was bought down. But Kelsie Minty shot over the bar from the set piece just outside the box. It just wasn't to be for Souths as Harper made amends for early wastefulness in front of goal, producing a stunning long range goal to put the game to bed. Montgomery was Souths most dangerous player in the second half as she consistently got at The Gap defenders, and she saw her best chance go begging when she found herself one on one but was unable to challenge Jessica Anderson in the Gap goal. Late in the game and some nifty ball control from Miller resulted in her having the time to shoot, but Sandringham pulled off a good save to deny the gap a fourth. A sliding Harper got her second of the game when she turned in a low cross in the dying stages. The Gap had one more good chance with substitute Kirsty Muir hotting the wood work from almost 40 yards out with a thunderous shot.
The Gap will be more than happy with 4 goals, a clean sheet and 3 points going into next round. Things are getting bad for Souths now though as they look dejected and devoid of confidence after slipping to another defeat. Their difficulty playing out from the back has cost them in games this season and it’s easy to play against a side that keeps giving you back the ball. Credit to The Gap though who carved open the Souths defence on multiple occasions and probably should’ve finished with a greater winning margin.
Coaches Remarks:
Paul Lonton (Souths Utd) - ““To say I’m disappointed, would be an understatement, we’ve worked hard all week on changing things, doing things differently, and then to watch them go out and perform like that it’s just heartbreaking. We gave them 2 goals, we just can’t keep doing that or using excuses, we can’t keep saying we came in late, we can’t keep relying on that. We need to do the hard work in games in training. Our decision making is poor, we’ve forgotten how to win; purely and simply we’re just not competing. Tough to say, hard to say, but it’s the truth”
Kelvin Wheeler (The Gap) - Was unavailable.
Match Stats:
Overall Possession: 56% - 44% Shots on Target: 12 - 3 Shots off Target: 4 - 2 Corners: 6 - 0 Free Kicks: 4 - 6 Offsides: 3 - 1 Yellow Cards: 0 - 0 Red Cards: 0 - 0
Team line-ups
The Gap: Peri Warwick, Jessica Anderson (GK), Sarah Miller, Tiffany Dibley, Jessica Hogg, Georgia Harper, Juliana Silva, Grace Chalmers, Lauren Askin (45’), Jamie Dillon, Besa Biba Subs: Georgia Bailey, Phoebe L’Estrange, Kirsty Muir (45’) Souths United: Serena Conyngham (GK), Ayla Fetahagic, Esma Coskun, Alexandra Martin, Renee Montgomery, Shayne Lock, Caitlin Weier (45’), Isabella Chstensen, Kelsie Minty, Isabella Krecek (62’) Brianna Phillips (72’), Subs: Stephanie Mavorick (72’), Amy Armistead (45’), Bianca Clarey (62’)
REFEREE: Simon Brodie
