(Women’s Super League, KGV Park, Saturday, 31 August 2019)
Hobart
Zebras 2 (A
Berry 61, J Williams 95)
Olympia
Warriors 1
(O Bomford 53)
HT: 0-0 Ref: J McInerney
Hobart
Zebras: Cook
- Kannegiesser, Mason, Steventon,
Gill -
Ferrier, Burt, Rand - Hulton, Berry, Nichols (Interchange:
Delaney, Fulton, Graham, Ponting, Williams)
Olympia
Warriors: Farrow
- Puli, Michael, Leszczynski,
Teale -
Williams, Russell, Bomford - Davies, C Chambers, M Chambers (Interchange:
Prokopiec, Pinkewiecz, Quinn)
Photo: Zebras' Kayla Mason tries to stop Olympia's Madison Chambers [PlessPix]
Hobart
Zebras haven’t beaten Olympia Warriors in three meetings this season and all
they needed to clinch the title was a draw in this final Women’s Super League
match.
They
did better than that. They won 2-1 with
a Jessie Williams goal deep into stoppage time at the end of the game to claim
the 2019 title.
Williams
and Olympia’s Amy Prokopiec arrived at the ground later after playing an AFL
women’s match at Bellerive. Both came on
after an hour of this game.
A
media person who attended the AFL women’s game told me that the attendance was
about half that at KGV Park, which makes one wonder whether the popularity of
women’s AFL is just a media beat-up.
Photo: Zebras' Jessie Williams prepares for battle [PlessPix]
The
tactical approach in this game was fascinating.
Zebras coach Chris Hey used Daniel Kannegiesser at right-back to counter
the speed of Olympia’s left winger, Madison Chambers. Chambers switched regularly with Bonnie
Davies on the right flank, but neither was able to score. Both are usually amongst the goals for the
Warriors, so Hey’s tactics were vindicated.
Olympia
were the better side in the first half and might easily have led 4-0, but poor
finishing and good defending by Zebras ensured the game remained goalless at
the interval.
Selina
Steventon was outstanding at the heart of the Zebras defence and she was well supported
by central defender Kayla Mason.
Zebras
best chance of the first half came after just 3 minutes when Lily Hulton broke
down the left, but a fine tackle by Sophie Leszczynski put an end to the danger.
It
was all Olympia for the remainder of the half.
Madison Chambers and Bonnie Davies often found a way past Kannegiesser
and Rachel Gill on the outside, but their resultant crosses or shots came to
nothing.
Photo: Olympia's Innocent Michael, who had an excellent game at centre-back, tries to stop Jessie Williams from crossing [PlessPix]
Olympia’s
constant pressure told in the 53rd minute when Olivia Bomford scored
from a free-kick that beat keeper Shelley Cook at her left-hand post.
Allie
Berry equalised in the 61st minute after she raced down the inside-right
channel and lifted her shot over Olympia keeper Jenna Farrow, who was way off
her line.
Both
sides then introduced their AFL players and it was Zebras’ Williams who had an immediate
impact with her fine touches and pace.
At
1-1 it was Zebras’ title, but to their credit, they did not shut up shop and
continued their search for a winner.
That
came in the 95th minute when Zoe Nichols worked her way through the middle
and release Williams down the left.
Williams advanced on goal and deftly found the back of the net with an
out-side of the right-foot shot that beat keeper Jenna Farrow.
The
champagne flew after the trophy presentation as Zebras celebrated another
title.
Photo: Zebras' Zoe Nichols and Allie Berry enjoy the celebrations [PlessPix]
Photo: Zoe Nichols and Danielle Kannegiesser stop a run by Olympia's Madison Chambers [PlessPix]
Photo: Olympia's Charlotte Chambers shoots for goal as Zebras' Rachel Gill and Selina Steventon track back [PlessPix]
