Gosford 7 – 2 Doyalson
Despite heavy rain all week, our match of the round went ahead on a remarkably dry Gavenlock Oval on Sunday afternoon. It was a free-flowing and attacking affair, as the undefeated Doyalson faced Gosford in Women’s Division One round 4.
The action-packed and fast game ended in a big win for Gosford, who played compellingattacking football from the first whistle to the last.
From the kick-off, Gosford began their onslaught on the Doyalson defence, and it came from someone who will be mentioned a lot throughout this report: Belle Stammers, who was a constant thorn in Doyalson’s side throughout the match.
Stammers’ first key involvement came early in the match. She cut in from the left and skipped past defenders to get her shot off, which was well saved by Doyalson keeper Tru Parker.
It was an ominous beginning that became a masterclass as the game developed, and it wasn’t long before the scoring opened.
Gosford earned a freekick down the left wing when Doyalson’s Tamzyn Fittler fouled Stammers. Brooke Souter put it into a dangerous position near Parker, who just couldn’t get her hands on it cleanly. It deflected off her and ended up in the back of her net, making it 1-0 Gosford.
It was here that Gosford settled into their work. Their attack was dynamic and fluid, mainly revolving around Stammers and her partner in crime, Sally Gentle, as both popped up everywhere along the front three.
Doyalson was focused mainly on counterattack, with their central midfielder Ashley Sweetnam, in particular, snapping onto any Gosford mistake and looking to distribute to her forwards.
However, despite some half chances for Doyalson, Gosford would soon double their ascendancy courtesy of Stammers.
It was a simple and clinical goal that came about when Doyalson’s Tori Sharp got caught on the ball halfway into her half, and Stammers pinched it, instantly making her one-on-one with Parker, who valiantly rushed out but couldn’t stop Stammers from slotting it low to her left making it 2-0.
From here on out, it was just more of the same from Gosford, who refused to take their foot off the accelerator. Their press constantly won them the ball back, and Doyalson simply couldn’t find the right passes to break it. As a result, it was soon 3-0.
The third goal of the afternoon was almost a carbon copy of the second. Sweetnam was caught in midfield this time by Gentle, who played a perfectly weighted through-ball to Stammers. This cut open the scrambling Doyalson defence, and once again, Stammers calmly stuck it home for her second of the day.
After this, Doyalson finally started to gain some momentum, pushing more counters into the Gosford half. Yet, they were still looking for their first clear-cut chance, and just before halftime, it came.
After some nice work down their left, Doyalson earned a corner that Sweetnam dangerously crossed in.
No Gosford player was able to make contact with it, and it was ultimately headed directly upwards into the air by Doyalson striker Marley Masters; as it came down, Gosford again couldn’t clear, so it fell to Destiny Schuck to the right of the box who thrashed it on the half-volley into the roof of the net to make it 3-1 and to give her side a glimmer of hope heading into the break.
Unfortunately for Doyalson, Gosford kept at it, striking not long after the second half commenced.
Doyalson defender Emilie Lumsden played a freekick straight into Gentle, who once again found Stammers, who completed her hat-trick with a sly finish to Parker’s near post. It was now 4-1, making it a luckless way for the half to start, and it felt like the result was now fully sealed.
Still, Gosford attacked, and Gentle constantly threatened to add her name to the score sheet.
Throughout the contest, it felt like she was everywhere. She constantly won the ball high up the pitch and fed it through the lines, causing all sorts of issues for Doyalson.
Eventually, after having two strikes of her own disallowed for offside, she got a well-earned goal.
It came when Stammer, once again through on goal, attempted to take it around Parker, who rushed in to make the best save of the game. But, her defenders failed to clear it out of the box once it deflected off her, and Gentle tapped it into the empty net, making it 5-1.
Stammers would then earn her side a penalty not long after, cutting in from the left and getting cut down. Samara Carson, who had a strong game in midfield winning the ball, put it over the bar.
It must be said that throughout this, the Doyalson side never stopped trying to strike back; at points, it was almost as if they didn’t know the score, so they just kept going, showing immense heart in the process.
Danielle Helou, who played most of the game at left wingback, showcased this most of all, sprinting all game, leading many of Doyalson’s attacks, and was unlucky not to find the final pass.
Despite this persistent effort, Gosford would continue to have the better chances, and things would go from bad to worse for the women in purple.
Through on goal for what felt like the hundredth time Stammers was fouled from behind by Lumsden who was shown a straight red card for her tackle and a penalty was awarded.
Stammers then rolled the ball home into the bottom right corner from the spot to make it 6-1 and spectacularly give her a fourth for the afternoon, capping off her masterful performance.
But even with no hope left in the game, Doyalson showed off a bit of flair by scoring the best goal of the match.
Sweetnam got the ball with time and space on halfway, and with no clear passing options, she took off herself; it felt at first like she was a certainty to pass it, as she had done all game to some success.
But this time, she just kept running, beating multiple Gosford defenders on her way into the right side of the box. Once in there, she struck a shot of solid gold over Jessica Lee between the posts and into the far side of the net. It was a glorious piece of individual brilliance that gave Doyalson a bright spark in an otherwise challenging game for them.
Perhaps justly though, it was Gosford who would have the final say, scoring one more goal through substitute Tayla Wise, who found herself behind the Doyalson line and placed it across Parker into the net to complete the rout and end the game 7-2.
Doyalson coach Ryan Tanti reflected on the game as a learning experience and noted the effort of his side despite adverse circumstances.
“Just wasn’t our day today. 3 regular players out this week, 2 players on the field that probably shouldn’t have been out there due to illness, but soldiered on like the troopers they are for their teammates” Tanti said.
“Just didn’t play our brand of football today, tough day at the office. We’ll learn from today and be better for it”.
Gosford coach Dale Reeson was happy with his sides clinical finishing, and their much more successful defensive display after leaking goals in their tight opening fixtures.
“Really happy with the way the girls played, they started strong and took their chances and just never gave Doyalson a chance to get back into the game” Reeson said.
“What also was good yesterday was it was a much better defensive effort from us, we have leaked some goals this year, so I think that will be key for us to move forward, we know we can attack we just need to sure up those defensive displays”.
Match Official – Gino Dicandilo
Written by Mark Goodyear
Women’s Division 1 Results –
Men’s Division 1 Results –
