Tasmania’s Women’s Super League round three is in the books, and it was another memorable weekend! Beyond 90 looks back at all the action.

Match of the Round: Olympia FC Warriors v Ulverstone SC

Olympia Warriors 4 (Bonnie Davies 7′, Mia Cane 23′, Madi Black 70′, Olivia Bomford 90′) Ulverstone 0 at Warrior Park

These two teams always bring the best out of each other so the excitement levels were high.

Let’s flash back to 2018. Ulverstone SC had won the league winning 21 out of 21 games. They were unstoppable. Olympia was not featured that season as they battled for promotion to the WSL from the second tier Southern Women’s Championship. For the record they won their place back in the comp, coming out on top of their promotion vs relegation game in a 6-0 win over UTAS Soccer Club at KGV Park.

Round 7 last year also saw another entertaining match, where the Northern Coast side held Warriors to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ulverstone Showgrounds. Just to add further frustrations to the Eastern Shore team, Ulverstone rebounded this form later on in 2019 with two consecutive 2-0 victories, games that the Warriors really had to win in order to get the jump on the eventual champions Hobart Zebras. Those wins were enough for Ulverstone to secure a 3rd place finish and make their mark on the WSL once again.

In midweek transfer news Caitlin Roberts has made the jump from the Victorian Premier League to WSL Tasmania after signing with Olympia FC Warriors for 2020. Roberts was with Victorian Premier League side Eltham Redbacks before COVID-19.

Olympia FC Warriors erased all doubts from last season with a 4-0 win over Ulverstone SC at Warrior Park.

Bonnie Davies opening the scoring for the home side in the 7th minute when she was one on one with keeper Georgie Anderson. Davies was able to run around the daring Anderson and finished calmly into an open net.

Cane outdid her efforts from last week for the second goal, darting up the left wing and spotting Anderson off her line. Cane was able to take aim and finished into the top right corner beautifully.

Maddie Black scored the third in the second half after coming out best in a scramble for the ball off a corner. Olivia Bomford was awarded a penalty kick in the final moments, making no mistake in hitting the top right corner and thus ending the game 4-0 to Olympia.

Olympia coach Alastair Russell spoke to B90 after the match.

“I’m very happy to pick up the 3 points and get another clean sheet,” Russell said.

“Against an Ulverstone team that really worked hard and fought all the way. Defensively we are looking very strong at the moment, led by our two forwards Bonnie and Mia who set the tone with a huge work rate up front.

“We are always putting pressure on our opponent’s defence. The wind made it difficult to play our very best football but I’m a happy coach tonight.”

University 1 (Olivia Young 62′) South Hobart 4 (Pishon Choi 24′, Niki Moutsatsos 46′, Phoebe Djakic 68′ 71′) at Olinda Grove

Last weekend Uni were unable to hold their 2-0 lead and shared the points with Ulverstone. However, this was a better performance than the week prior when they were trampled 8-0 by Clarence Zebras. Round 2 was not kind to South either. After a promising performance against Olympia the previous week, they were also humbled by Zebras in a 4-0 home loss at D’Arcy St.

Both teams had to get a good result here, and it was South who got the breakthrough just before the half an hour mark. Misty Olsen sent in a lovely cross which was initially cut off by Uni’s keeper Rhiannon Steele, but Pishon Choi picked up the rebound and slotted it home from close distance. Monika Orlowski chipped in a great long ball to Niki Moutsatsos for South’s second. After noticing the keeper off her line Moutsatsos finished with ease into the bottom right.

The students got on the board in the second half, but in bizarre fashion. Olivia Young hit a near picture perfect free kick which rebounded off the crossbar. In true Tasmanian winter conditions the wind caught a hold of the ball and it somehow landed in the net!

The possible comeback was soon eliminated after super sub Phoebe Djakic scored a brace in 3 minutes, Bridie Cooling providing both assists. Djakic’s first was a lovely solo goal, dancing around three defenders and finishing with ease past Steele. The second was a scramble in the box, Djakic coming out on top and finishing comfortably.

B90 spoke to South’s Coach Craig Westwood after the match.

“I’m happy with how we worked into the game today despite a nervous start,” Westwood said.

“We were defending most of the opening minutes. We are working on our ability to keep the ball for longer periods and the inconsistent windy conditions made that difficult today, but I’m happy that we continued to stick to our principles.

“A number of players who played in our reserves side today continue to tick all the boxes and it’s wonderful signs for our club as we strive to develop our youth and be self-sufficient.”

Clarence Zebras 5 (Mady O’Brien 2′, Danielle Kannegiesser 38′, Zoe Nichols 57′ 65′, Stacie Burdack 60′) Kingborough Lions United 1 (Christabelle Moore 90′) at Wentworth Park

Before we go into the game, let’s do a brief overview. This is the first time that both clubs have faced each other after the merger of Hobart Zebras and Clarence United.

Back in Round 7 last year, Hobart and Kingborough put on an absolute classic under the lights of Lightwood Park. A hat-trick from former Young Matilda Jessie Williams was enough to seal a 4-3 win for the travelling Zebras. Since then Zebras have had the upper hand on results, having four wins in a row. This was a game the Lions had to win – with a shortened season points are so important if you want your team in the title picture.

All the talk last week was about the Warriors travelling to the Den, picking up a resounding victory over a tame Lions unit. Zebras on the other hand racked up a great win in their own right also, a 4-0 victory over the youthful South Hobart away at D’Arcy St.

The home side opened the scoring in the early minutes after Mady O’Brien was able to convert her penalty past Lions keeper Erika Mackintosh. Danielle Kannegiesser scored before the break when she finished with a low directed shot past the keeper to give the Zebras a 2 goal buffer at half-time. Zoe Nichols added to the score fest when she bagged a brace, while Stacie Burdack also added to the growing tally. Kingborough were able to get a consolation goal courtesy of Christabelle Moore before the final whistle.

Nichols spoke to B90 after the match.

“We had a lot of strong possession throughout the entire game and I don’t think the scoreline reflected that,” Nichols said.

“Kingborough really put in a really solid performance but we have lots of things to work on heading into next week up North with Ulverstone. Playing them at home is never easy.”

TABLE

WSL Round 4 Fixtures

Ulverstone SC v Clarence Zebras
Olympia FC Warriors v UTAS Soccer Club
Kingborough v South Hobart

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