COOTAMUNDRA’S Women Strikers overcame traditional rivals Wagga United in an exciting battle to win a preliminary final opportunity after scoring a heart stopping 3-2 win in extra time.
The Strikers, down two key
players to injury, came from behind on two occasions to draw level before scoring the winning goal in ‘golden goal’ extra time.
They now meet Wagga’s Tolland Wolves in next Sunday’s
preliminary final at Junee’s Burns Park for a place in the grand final.
Morgan Paterson’s winning strike in the 102nd minute added another fine page to the traditional rivalry between the two clubs that have contested the majority of championship titles over the past decade.
Cootamundra had the best opportunities of the first half, but a combination of good goalkeeping by Wagga’s last player and only centimetres in several shots saw the halftime score deadlocked at nil-all.
In slippery conditions Paterson twins, Abi and Morgan did well to direct the ball on target and were unlucky not to find the back of the net.
Elle Crowe got through a power of work in midfield and unleashed several shots that beat everyone except the crossbar and upright.
At the back, central defenders Anna Godman and Kristen Leak dominated the middle, while out wide Susan Ritchie and Jessica Leak withstood the strong forays of the Wagga frontrunners.
When the defence was breached for a short period midway through the first half, keeper Lucy McGlynn was equal to the teasing shots.
After dominating the first half, an injury to Cootamundra’s midfielder Crowe appeared it would be the turning point of the match.
Leaving the field with an ankle injury in the 53rd minute, Wagga scored within a minute as Cootamundra appeared to have lost their focus.
In a game where scoring appeared so difficult for Cootamundra, the Wagga players, to the delight of their supporters, looked to have snatched victory.
However, within minutes Cootamundra were back on equal footing when Morgan Paterson beat the defence on the right and steered the ball to her sister who made no mistake to equalise.
With the match see-sawing, Cootamundra were dealt their
second major blow.
As Cootamundra’s captain Anna Godman cut off an attacking move, she was fouled from behind by a blatant tackle by the Wagga captain which drew a yellow card from the referee.
The injury sustained shackled the Strikers key player in defence and opened an opportunity for Wagga to go 2-1 up.
With the final whistle looming and Cootamundra’s squad
dominating the park and attacking on all fronts, it looked as if an equaliser would never come.
The best opportunity that had everyone forgetting about the
wintry conditions was a diagonal cross by Morgan Paterson that beat the defence and Wagga keeper. With Abi timing her run on the far post to perfection justice looked to be in her grasp.
Unfortunately the muddy conditions in the open goal saw the ball keep lower and slip past her to the relief of the United supporters and heartbreak of the Coota fans.
Fortunately, the young side
continued to challenge for the ball and field domination to the final whistle.
Jessica Lambert, Laura Gardiner, Harley Trickett, Sophie McGlynn, Alyssa Reid and Stephanie O’Brien worked
feverishly across the middle of the park in support of each other.
From the centre circle, talented youngster Sarah Godman
displayed the determination and skill she is gaining a reputation for to beat several players and take the ball to the edge of the penalty area before slipping the ball to Abi Paterson who slotted it home to take the match to extra time.
The Cootamundra girls picked up from where they had left off and on the occasions where Wagga were able to find a path Annette Parkinson, who had taken over the keeping role, was equal to the shot.
After being the supplier on
previous occasions, Morgan Paterson took it upon herself to find a pathway to goal and fired a shot to seal the game for her teammates and supporters with a courageous effort which commenced on the edge of the penalty area.
After beating a couple of players with good ball control in a tight area, she was able to fire the ball wide of the outstretched arms of the keeper and inside the left upright.
A memorable win to keep Cootamundra’s flag flying, but the Strikers know they will need to convert more of their goalmouth opportunities if they are to enjoy the atmosphere of a grand final.
Email a friend