Sunday, August 23, 2009

Hobart Olympic's women triumph against a brave Clarence United




Photos (Top to Bottom): Hobart Olympic women's squad...winners of the State-wide Cup; Clarence United's women's squad...runners-up in the State-wide Cup; Match officials (L-R) Lauren Hargrave, Simon Natoli, Don Ambler and Peter Mason


Hobart Olympic 4-1 Clarence United [Women’s State-wide Cup Final]

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Clarence United made a mighty effort to win this cup against a vastly more experienced Hobart Olympic side.


Clarence’s central midfielders, Kathryn McLeod and Jame Archer, were excellent.


They demonstrated fine technique, read the game well, and often controlled this vital area of the pitch.


McLeod played a key part in the opening goal when, in the 11th-minute, she won the ball against Amelia Jones and put Paris Crowe away on the right.


Crowe advanced on goal and placed an accurate shot past Nicola Smith to give her side the lead.

But, when a side has players of the calibre of Bliss Cantrell, Vanessa Johnson, Sarah Fitzgerald and Crystal Dean in its ranks, they are hard to contain.


In the 13th minute, the tide began to turn as Cantrell and Jones were denied by fine saves from Amelia Van Der Niet.


In the 29th minute, Olympic were level as Cantrell kneed Johnson’s corner into the net.


Clarence missed two great chances early in the second half and that gave Olympic the break they needed and, within minutes, Sarah Morris and Cantrell had steered Olympic to a 3-1 lead.


Game over.


Cantrell wrapped it up by completing her hat-trick with Olympic’s fourth goal on the hour.


Clarence had one final chance in the 90th minute when Erin Hall broke through, but she aimed her shot straight at Nicola Smith.


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· Hobart Olympic coach, John Fiotakis, said:


“It was an excellent game and both teams played well.


“The first half was pretty flat for us and a typical Olympic start for us.


“We sort of take the first 15 or 20 minutes a bit easier, and the girls were nervous.


“We had a few injuries in the end, but, all in all, congratulations to Clarence for getting to this final and congratulations to our girls for winning it.


“It was a good game.”


· Clarence United coach, Ronnie Bolton, said:


“A game of two halves, I think.


“It could quite easily have been 3-1 to us early in the second half.


“But, credit to Olympic. When they got their chances, they took them. That was the difference.


“Experience against inexperience.”


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Squads (Interchange applied):


Hobart Olympic: Smith, Jones, Jarvis, Hooper, Dean, Morris, N Hale, Cantrell, Price, C Hale, Johnson, Shreeve, Fitzgerald, Markellos, Clark, A Ortmann


Goals: Cantrell 29, 55 60, Morris 52


Clarence United: Ven Der Niet, Herbert, Hall, Brighella, Cripps, Pagano, Kannegiesser, Ridler, Crowe, Undy, Edwards, E Ortmann, Archer, Gillbee, Goss, McLeod


Goals: Crowe 11


Att: 200


Ref: S Natoli

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