Plucky Knights just fall short against South Hobart in WSL Summer Cup

Photo:  South Hobart's Josephine Mamic (right) in hot pusuit of Glenorchy Knights' Jessica Shreeve. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart just scraped home 4-3 against Glenorchy Knights in the Women’s Super League Summer Cup at KGV Park this evening.

The teams were level at 1-1 at the interval but South Hobart stormed to a 4-1 lead in the second half.

Knights refused to surrender, however, and managed to score twice before the end to make for a nail-biting finish.

It was a costly victory for South Hobart as they had four players injured.

Photo: South Hobart's Amy Ollington (right) takes on Glenorchy Knights' Summer Neal. [PlessPix] 

Sophie Westwood was stretchered out of the dressing room and taken away for further treatment.

Lisa Booth was in agony and had to be helped from the pitch, while Niki Moustatsos and Aaliyah Browning were also substituted because of injury.

Amy Ollington hit a hat-trick for South Hobart while Josephine Mamic grabbed the remaining goal.

Photo:  South Hobart's Josephine Mamic controls the ball. [PlessPix] 

Ella McConnen equalised for Knights before the interval after Ollington had fired South Hobart ahead.

Goals by Ollington and Mamic gave South Hobart a commanding lead before a wonderful long-range effort by Brown put the Knights back into contention.

A penalty converted by Meg Goscombe made it 4-3 shortly before the end but South Hobart clung to their lead and collected the 3 points.

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights coach, Ivica Bolonja. [PlessPix] 

Glenorchy Knights coach, Ivica Bolonja, said:

“I think we came into the game.  I think we came into the game towards the end and I think we showed a lot of feist.

“I was super impressed to see the young girls step up like they did.

“Jemima Brown, what a goal.   Fantastic.

“Emma Christie in midfield showed amazing heart.

“Ines Gadon.  You can just see that these girls are going to be the next generation of great female players down here.

“It wasn’t the best performance.  No.  Was there heart? Yes.

“I think there’s a lot to work with.  I think there’s a lot to build on.

“I don’t see us getting worse.  I see us getting better and developing as the year goes.”

Photo:  South Hobart coach Alistair Russell watching from the bench. [PlessPix] 

 South Hobart coach, Alistair Russell, said:

“We had an awful lot of bad luck with injuries and things in that game which really didn’t help us at all, but at the end, they’ve shown really good character to come away with the win.

“Credit to Knights.  They did a good job in making it pretty tricky for us.

“But, it’s early season and only our second game  and we’re heading in the right direction.

“An expensive win.  Our centre-back stocks are pretty low anyway.

“We could be the walking wounded next week.”

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights' Emma Christie elufes South Hobart's Lucy Booth. [PlessPix]