Women Warriors grab win with last-minute goal

Photo: Olympia's Olivia Bomford tackles Zebras' Isabella Ferrier [PlessPix]


(Women’s Super League, North Hobart Oval, Sunday, 17 March 2019)

Hobart Zebras 2 (S Steventon 43 pen, Z Nichols 54)

Olympia Warriors 3 (R Puli 33, B Davies 82, J Mamic 89)

HT:  1-1   Att:  150   Ref:  A Giusti

Hobart Zebras:  Cook;  Mason, Kannegiesser, Steventon, Delaney, Ferrier, Villwock, Gill, Nichols, Graham, Hulton, Fulton, I Moutsatsos, Burt, Ponting

Olympia Warriors:  Farrow;  Cure, Leszczynski, Mamic, Black, Chambers, Williams, Bomford, Davies, Puli, Michael, Russell, Flack, Marino, Allanby

Photo:  Zebras' Isabella Ferrier tackles Olympia's captain, Innocent Michael [PlessPix]

Hobart Zebras gave a better display than many predicted and just lost this game by the odd goal in five.

Olympia Warriors were a little disappointing as they returned to the top-flight Women’s Super League, but their 3-2 win was a welcome three points.

The Warriors took the lead in the 33^rd minute when Raffaella Puli broke free down the right and beat Zebras keeper Shelley Cook with a powerful finish.

Olivia Bomford almost added a second a minute later, but Cook produced an excellent save, turning the ball against the crossbar.  It was then cleared as it rebounded into play.

Photo:  Olympia's Sophie Leszczynski pursued by Zebras' Lily Hulton [PlessPix]

Zebras drew level just before the interval through a penalty despatched by Selina Steventon.

Zoe Nichols gave Zebras the lead in the 54^th minute as she rounded defender after defender before firing past Warriors keeper Jenna Farrow.

The speedy Bonnie Davies restored the equilibrium in the 82^nd minute as the Warriors fought back.

With a draw seemingly on the cards, Josie Mamic produced the winner for Olympia a minute from the end when Cook could only parry Davies’s shot and Mamic was left with a tap-in.

Photo:  Zebras' Lily Hulton looks for a way past Olympia's Maddie Black (left) and Olivia Bomford [PlessPix]