Match of the Round
Kanwal 0 – 2 Umina
Despite a below-average away record in 2024, Umina turned up to Wadalba Sports Complex knowing a win would secure them a place in the top four and a determined E-Gals claimed victory and showed why they deserve to be in the Finals come the end of the year.
With so much to play for as a win for Kanwal would have also kept their Finals chances alive, the contest started end-to-end as Kanwal looked to play out from the back and work their way up the field as the opposition set up to press and force turnovers along the Bulls backline.
A few early chances from the two teams saw both goalkeepers forced into action early as they did well to protect the goal and keep the scoreline a stalemate.
It was a real intense midfield battle but whenever Umina won the ball, they looked for their pace upfront to try and get behind the defensive line of Kanwal and get an opportunity on goal.
Kanwal also looked to break early when gaining possession, their midfield tried playing their attackers into goal with balls over the top but were flagged multiple times for offside as the Umina backline were all in sync with their offside trap.
Very few clear-cut chances came from either side in the opening 45 minutes as both teams entered the sheds with the score remaining locked at 0-0 after the first period.
The start of the second half played out almost exactly the same as the first with neither side dominating possession and opportunities hard to come by.
The deadlock was eventually broken twenty minutes into the second stanza when Kate Styles found herself on the ball in the opposition’s half. Styles managed to evade two defenders and carry the ball to the sideline as she looked for a cross to a teammate.
However, the ball was lofted over the Kanwal goalie and sneaked into the side netting to give Umina a crucial 1-0 lead.
With their season on the line, Kanwal pushed hard and threw everything they could at the opposition, but the defensive line of Umina would not break.
A Tori Sheriff interception on halfway from a Kanwal throw-in saw Sheriff dribble towards the goal with only the goalkeeper in her way. Sheriff expertly guided the ball into the bottom corner to ensure her side claimed all three points and finished the weekend in third place.
Match Official – Con Pantos
Terrigal 3 – 0 East Gosford
In a top-of-the-table clash at Duffys Oval, the Terrigal Tords proved why they are sitting comfortably at the top, delivering a masterclass performance against the East Gosford Rams with a convincing 3-0 victory.
The opening goal came in the 16th minute when Tahlor Thackray, with a sensational untracked run, found herself at the top of the 18-yard box. Thackray’s first-time strike against her old club was clinical, sending the ball sizzling into the bottom right corner, leaving the Rams’ goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
The second half began with a bang as Maddie Yates doubled the lead in the 47th minute. From a seemingly impossible angle near the sideline, Yates unleashed a powerful free kick that curled and dipped spectacularly into the top corner, a goal worthy of applause from both sets of fans.
Terrigal continued to dominate, and in the 74th minute, they sealed the win with a beautifully orchestrated team goal. Maddie Yates, involved again, started the move that saw Caitlin McMahon deliver a pinpoint long-range pass behind the Rams’ defence. Indiana Moyes latched onto the ball with perfect timing and volleyed it home with precision, capping off an excellent performance.
“I am thrilled for the girls after today’s performance,” voiced an ecstatic Gab Blanch. “We’ve had our eye on the prize and the girls have executed week in and out, exactly as we’ve planned. Today was no exception.”
“East Gosford will always give us a run for our money, but today we were just too good. The girls will enjoy a very well-earned weekend off before regrouping for semi-final football.”
Jorge Chavez also commented on the result. “Full congratulations to the Terrigal girls for winning the league and winning the game. It just came down to the Terrigal girls wanting it more than we did, especially in that first half, we didn’t match their intensity.”
“To my girls, not the day we wanted, hopefully, we get a few key players back and our goalkeeper back next week.”
“We look forward to the finals series coming up, we learnt a lot about ourselves and what we need to do differently in two weeks when we face Terrigal again. We just need to get back to loving football and playing the style we like to play.”
Match Official – John Shaw
Killarney 8 – 1 Woongarrah
With their hopes of making the top four on the line as they entered the contest, Killarney delivered their biggest win of the season, however, the Terriers fell just short of their quest to play Finals in 2024.
A beautiful across-the-goal shot made by Killarney captain Melissa Young brushed the goalie’s hands as she lobs it into the net, into the top corner to give Killarney their first goal of the afternoon.
The score was then doubled thanks to an amazing assist by Tori Roberson, hitting the crossbar and leaving an open goal for Laura Knight to swoop in and tap home.
However, the visitors were able to pull a goal back thanks to in-form Kelly Hogan who added to her recent goalscoring tally to make it eight goals in the last four games, taking her tally for the year to twenty.
After weathering a spell of Woongarrah dominance, Laura Knight once again powered through the defence, picking up a scrambling ricochet inside the 18-yard box, volleying it beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.
After a fast start in the second half from the home side, a cross from Tori Robertson landed the ball at the feet of Melissa Young allowing for a one-on-one with the opposition goalie as the Terriers captain nicked herself in front to prod it home.
Tori Robertson set the scene as she stepped up for a long-distance free kick close to the touchline. With the box covered by the Wildcats, Tori took her chances and lobbed the keeper in dramatic fashion for the Terrier’s fifth goal.
On her well-awaited return to the playing squad and an early touch on the ball, Kirsten Loveridge was able to weave her trademark magic, cutting in and out to curl a rocket around a Wildcat defender into the top left corner.
Aleisha Radford, operating as a deep-lying playmaker, found some time and space in the wide areas to whip a perfectly executed cross into the stride of Young who heads home from close range for her hat-trick.
Killarney’s eighth and final goal of the day was a beautifully taken free kick by Kirsten Loveridge who whipped into the area and was met by a half-volley from Melissa Young, leaving the keeper stranded and the net rippling.
“A day full of combination play from the girls, lots of extremely positive football to exploit spaces, having lots of positive shots on goal,” stated Jai Menser.
“Defensively strong and everyone doing their job and performed them at a high standard,
Unfortunately, finals are out of our hands now, one more game together for the 2024 season as we head to Umina for a battle.”
Killarney’s assistant coach also commented on the fixture and the year as a whole. “First and foremost, shout-out to Woongarrah for their resiliency, their determination and their commitment to rock up each and every week in what has been a difficult season for them. Their recent performances and results have proven they have a young squad full of potential and talent hungry to be tapped into. Those young girls and their coaching staff should be proud of themselves for facing that tough adversity and using it as a learning opportunity for future seasons, cause the future is bright for the Wildcats if they can build on it.”
“For our girls, what can l say? It was as close to a complete performance as you are going to get. Our combination play and our discipline and movements both on and off the ball were by far the best performance and application we have seen this season. We knew the stakes going into the game were high and we rose to the occasion and played our football brilliantly. Stubborn in defence and clinical in front of goal, l am incredibly proud of their efforts. We know that level of performance, that level of effort is the benchmark standard moving forward and into our battle next week with Umina.”
“Unfortunately, with results from the other games not going our way, our race to the top 4 and finals is over. It was a beautiful journey our girls were fighting hard to continue writing but sometimes that’s football. The development and improvement our girls have made in the last year or 2 is incredible. To be able to restore a bit of pride and belief back into the WPL program at Killarney and dream of a spot in finals football is beyond amazing. We know not making finals despite our belief is tough, and it will definitely sting and hurt, but it’s also fuel for us to gear up and go one step further next season. We got our belief back and we can believe in the magic of our ambitions once again! Massive congratulations to Terrigal, East Gosford, Umina and Kincumber for all qualifying and setting the benchmark in their own rights, we wish them the best of luck in their finals endeavours!”
Match Official – Nathan Boler
Golden Boot Standings –
| 22 | Jessica Dominello (East Gosford) |
| 20 | Kelly Hogan (Woongarrah) |
| 16 | Madelene Yates (Terrigal), Kate Styles (Umina) |
| 15 | Laura Mundy (East Gosford) |
| 10 | Emma Hurley (East Gosford), Indiana Moyes (Terrigal) |
| 9 | Charlotte Heath (Kincumber) |
Points Table –
Division 1
Round 20 Results –
Points Table –
