Footballsouth Womens Premier League

 

Roslyn Champs Again ...
Rab Smith

A brilliant hat-trick from Brione Barclay bounced Roslyn-Wakari back from a two goal deficit to beat Northern and win the Footballsouth Womens Premiership 3-2 at the Caledonian ground yesterday.

Recovering from a broken collar bone, striker Barclay reversed Roslyn’s fortunes when she came on as substitute in the second half, and showed blistering pace and finishing power.

A New Zealand Futsal representative who also plays for Otago in the outdoor game, Barclay scored the matchwinner with minutes to go, in a thrilling match which had spectators permanently on their feet roaring encouragement to both teams.

The womens game has improved out of sight in recent years, and in this writer’s opinion generated more commitment, passion and good technique than many senior mens matches have done this season.

Northern started strongly and after 19 minutes when Roslyn keeper Caitlyn Fitchett spilled the ball, Mikaele Garland pounced to make the score 1-nil to coach Steve Brook’s side.

Garland struck again only three minutes later when she ran onto a defence splitting pass from Carena Oosterbaan and shot Northern into what looked like a comfortable 2-nil halftime lead.

However both sides played bright attacking football, with strikers keen to lace shots goalwards, and some inventive midfield play set up goalscoring chances.

In the second half Roslyn winger Sam Muirhead showed true pace before delivering a perfect right wing cross for Barclay to ram in a headed goal that lifted her sides morale.

Then it was Madden as the provider, setting Barclay free to equalize with ten minutes to go, and while Roslyn exerted relentless wind assisted pressure, Northern made several counter attacks that could have earned a win.

Under huge pressure, Northern’s keeper Cherie Boucher denied Roslyn with a string of superb saves that included a several corners and one-on-ones against Barclay and Madden.

In the midfield battle Elise Mamanu-Gray showed great poise and balance, as she and Kushla Glover battled for supremacy against Monique Francois and Alana Ainsworth.

The breakthrough came after Northern had an offside ‘goal’ disallowed, and from a perfectly weighted Muirhead pass, Barclay scampered round keeper Boucher and stroked in an acutely angled winner with two minutes to go.

Northern coach Brook said,’ Even at 2-nil up at halftime, we still had a big job to do. We have now played Roslyn five times this season and have yet to win.’

‘ We had a couple of good chances early in the second half, but it was Roslyn that scored, and it took some excellent goalkeeping by Cherie ( Boucher) to keep us in the game.’

Roslyn coach Marcus Glover was delighted to retain the Footballsouth Premier trophy. ‘ There were some gutsy performances out there playing through injury. Brione ( Barclay) is still coming right from her collar bone fracture, and there were some violent collisions during the game.’

‘ We eventually played to our strengths, turned their defence with some good wingplay and crosses and Brione’s second half hat-trick was a classy demo of top finishing.’

On Saturday,the lumpy Gardens ground did neither team any favours as Northern bounced back from last weeks 9-nil defeat by Dunedin Technical to beat Roslyn-Wakari 3-1 in a game that was a pale shadow of former matches between two of Otago's oldest clubs.

Early Northern pressure came from some pacey runs on the left wing by Tim Smith, and his cross in the 15th minute was driven in by Jason Anson to put the home side ahead.

The equally swift Fraser Cameron equalised for Roslyn after 34 minutes.

With coaches thinking of halftime team talks, Northern shocked Roslyn by scoring twice in as many minutes.

Liam Dungey drilled a penalty kick past Roslyn keeper Nathan Watt, then the hapless keeper fumbled a long range shot by Anson and the score remained 3-1 until the final whistle.

Mosgiel kept its unbeaten record and remained top after beating Dunedin Technical 4-1, while at Ocean Grove, Grants Braes beat University 1-nil.

End of Season Premier
Mosgiel 4, Dunedin Technical 1; Grants Braes 1, University 0; Northern 3, Roslyn Wakari 1:

 

EOS	P	W	D	L	For	Ag	Pts
Mosgiel	4	4	0	0	9	2	12
Dun Tech.	4	2	0	2	12	5	6
Northern	4	2	0	2	6	14	6
Gr Braes	4	2	0	2	6	5	6
Ros Wakari	4	1	0	3	4	9	3
University	4	1	0	3	3	5	3

 

Div 6: Dunedin Tech. Gerries 4, Dunedin Tech. Frotters 5; Green Island Gold 1, Highgate Hobbits 0; Mosgiel Masters, Bye:

Div 6 Middle 5: Roslyn Wakari Originals 5, Northern Masters 1; Melchester Rovers Soccer 1, Grants Braes Black 1; Roslyn Wakari Moas, Bye:

Div 6 Bottom 5: Green Island Green 1, Roslyn Wakari Stallions 2; Dunedin Tech. Oldies 3, Grants Braes Yellow 8;

Footballsouth Junior Results Saturday 29 08 2009

Dn Jnr 11th Grade: Melchester 11th Blue 2, Caversham 11th 3; Maori Hill 11th Gold 1, Roslyn Wakari 11th Red 2:

Dn Jnr 11th Middle 4: Dun Tech Terrors 5 Dn Tech Hot Shots 4.

Dn Jnr 11th Bottom Split 4: Green Isl. Dragons 2, Mosgiel 11th 1:

Dn Jnr 12th Grade: DunTech 11th Incredibles 3, Maori Hill 12th White 3; Maori Hill 12th Country 1, Green Is Phoenix 4:

Dn Jnr 12th Middle Split 4: Northern 12th Black 7, Green Island 12th Gold 4; Dun Tech Bears 1, Northern 12th White 2:

Dn Jnr 12th Bottom 3: Melchester 12th Gold 0, Mosgiel 12th White 2; Dn Jnr 13th Grade: Northern 13th 1, Melchester 13th 3; Grants Braes 12th Black 2, Mosgiel 12th Blue 2;

Dn Jnr 15th Grade: Northern 15th 0, Dun Tech 15th Red 2; Dun Tech 14th Strikers 0, Green Island 14th Gold 6;

Dn Youth Grade: Waitaki BHS 1sts 6, Green Is Gold 3.