WPL - Round 14 - Ashburton v Preston Lions - Sunday 27 July 2010
Ashburton managed to secure one point in a thrilling finish against a plucky Preston Lions team at Ashburton Park yesterday. Ashburton were extremely lucky to draw the game after a totally underwhelming first half and disastrous beginning to the second half which saw Preston score twice.
The first half saw Ashburton fail to get out of first gear, however despite this, a few half chances were generated. Despite not playing well Ashburton seemed to be travelling comfortably and probably thought they were still on target for a win.
Ashburton’s coach Chris Michail was not happy with his charges at half time and commented “Ashburton players were holding onto the ball for far too long and because of this opportunities went begging. “
The second half began disastrously for the home team with a defensive error leading to the first Preston goal. Ashy goalkeeper Ingrid Phillipe came off her line to challenge Joanna Meletis, however Meletis lobbed the ball over the keepers head. Not long afterwards Sarah Sumner found herself free with nobody within 20 metres and she made the most of the very sloppy marking.
Following the second Preston goal Michail made some changes and the Ashburton side picked up the tempo. The Lions continued to fight hard, but it looked like someone had flicked the “on button” for Ashburton. Ashburton were in constant attack for the last 35 minutes of the game and the game was now being played on half the pitch. With 10 minutes to go Christine Pfeiffer finished off a scramble in the goal mouth and the Ashy players dug deep to generate another goal. The tension was mounting, but the second goal seemed to take an eternity to materialise. Then, some 2 minutes into injury time Rachel Lamb sent a hard low drive from the right of the pitch where Elvana Curo was waiting and “Elle” managed to redirect the ball into the back of the net to the applause of the Ashburton supporters.
While Ashburton would be happy to take the draw the reality is that the team would have to play 100% better if they are to take the points against Sandringham next week.
Photos of the match are in the Gallery
Photos of the Reserves are also in the Gallery
WPL - Round 13 - Bendigo Vipers v Ashburton - Saturday 17 July 2010 Ashburton secured another 3 points with an away win against the Bendigo Vipers at Sheppaton yesterday. This leaves Ashburton reasonably secure in 4th spot on the WPL ladder, 6 points ahead of the Casy Comets.
Ashburton
couldn't have asked for a better start, when Elly Curo scored the first
goal in the opening minutes of the match from a very tight angle,
hitting it high into the back of the net.
Ashburton scored
one more goal for the half, through Sarah Walsh who scored from 30 yards
out. Early in the second half, Sarah Lovett scored Ashburton's third
goal, when her first shot was saved by Kristen O'Connor, but she got her
own rebound and put it away.
WPL Round 11 - Ashburton v Altona - Sunday 11 July 2010 By Damien Walsh (Courtest FFV Website) - Photos of the game are in the Gallery.
Ashburton earned their sixth
win of the season after a compelling six-nil victory over Altona City in
Round 12 of the Women's Premier League at Ashburton Park on Sunday.
Coming off three losses in a row, Ashburton got off to a great
start against Altona City, when in the fifth minute the ball was played
long to the left corner flag for Chloe Drinoczky to chase. She gained
control of the ball and played it back to Rachel Lamb, who crossed the
ball into the box where Christina Leland brought it down on her chest
and worked her way around the Altona defenders. Lamb got into a good
shooting position and let fly with her shot, which sailed past Altona
City’s keeper Emma Fonua and into the bottom corner.
After
the goal both teams were unable to produce any good goal scoring
opportunities with the majority of play taking place in the centre of
the ground.
The Senior Presentation Night will be held on Saturday 9 October, 6:30pm, at Georges Restaurant (upstairs)- 819 Burke Rd. Camberwell. $55 per person - tickets available from your coach or team manager
