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Written by Admin
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WPL Round 14 - Ashburton vs. Preston Lions
Ashburton took the points in a comfortable 4:1 victory over the Preston Lions at DISC (Darebin International Sports Stadium) on Sunday. Despite losing Stacey Louras, Sarah Walsh and Cindy Dussoye through injury and being further depleted with the departure of Annabelle Gibney who is pursuing soccer in the USA, the Ashy team came out with guns blazing in the first half. Aided by a slight wind advantage, Paola Bernini hit the back of the net from 25 metres out after 15 minutes following a slick cross from Seyma Erenli. Some ten minutes later Seyma drilled one herself with the left foot into the top left hand corner, completely off footing the Lions goalie. There was more trouble for the Lions goalie just a few minutes later when Rosey Mortellaro found herself 25 metres out and clear of any defenders. Rosey executed a clinical lob which sailed over the advancing goalkeeper - 3:0 at half time.
In the second half the wind picked up a notch and the Lions threw everything at Ashburton. The pressure finally saw Preston rewarded with a goal caused by an Ashburton defensive error. Following this setback the Ashy team tightened up in defence and Kristin Stensholt was given more of licence to push forward. Despite having numerous opportunities to score Kristin did not manage to trouble the scoreboard in her last game for Ashburton before she also departs for the USA along with captain Seyma Erenli. Ashburton sealed the game with another outstanding strike to Paola Bernini, but the match highlighted the large gap between the top sides in the WPL and those sides from 5th position down.
For Ashburton, who are about to lose 2 more to players to the USA, there were some positives to take out of the game. Firstly, WPL champion goalie Antoinette Michail started the game after 14 weeks on the sidelines. Secondly the players brought into the side to cover the injured and absent performed admirably. Emma Natoli and Danielle Jackson linked up well in the middle of the pitch and Silvia Rodriguez created some overlapping runs from defence which caught out the Preston defenders.
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