Clarence Zebras have defeated Olympia Warriors 1-0 courtesy of Caitlin Stalker’s first half goal at Wentworth Park.
Wednesday night football may not always be everyone’s cup of tea, but with a good attendance of 200 in on a cold spring night at Clarence, I think both clubs did well to get the fans in. So kudos Clarence Zebras and Olympia for putting on a show.
Team lineups
| Clarence Zebras | Olympia Warriors | ||
| 1 | Cook, Shelley | Cane, Mia | 2 |
| 4 | Steventon, Selina | Teale, Phoebe | 3 |
| 5 | Marmion, Louisa | Leszczynski, Sophie | 4 |
| 6 | Stalker, Caitlin | Chambers, Charlotte | 5 |
| 7 | Berry, Allie | Roberts, Caitlin | 6 |
| 8 | Ferrier, Isabella | Chambers, Madison | 7 |
| 9 | Gadon, Bronte | Davies, Bonnie | 9 |
| 10 | O’Brien, Madeline | Bomford, Olivia | 10 |
| 11 | Gill, Rachel | Black, Maddie | 11 |
| 12 | Nichols, Zoe | Gubb, Leah | 12 |
| 15 | Dixon, Zara | Russell, Heather | 13 |
| 16 | Richardson, Samantha | Michael, Innocent | 14 |
| 17 | Burt, Georgia | Cane, Isabelle | 15 |
| 18 | Fiemann, Brooke | Johnson, Hannah | 16 |
| 19 | Rand, Taylor | Farrow, Jenna | 21 |
| 2/21 | Bowden, Alyssa | ||
Referee: Tony Peart
Defence was the pattern displayed by both teams in the early stages with neither team having the real edge. Olympia’s Madi Chambers had the only shot in the first 15 minutes but it was over the bar.
Zebra’s Georgia Burt sent in a corner delivery to the waiting Stalker who volleyed her shot onto the crossbar which landed out of reach Olympia’s keeper Jenna Farrow.
Zebra’s Selina Steventon was the lone player to pick up what was a yellow card booking. After Olympia’s Bonnie Davies raced past Steventon, Steventon took down Davies and went into Mr Peart’s book.
Speaking of Davies, she had the best chance for the Warriors to equalise in the first-half. Davies’s chipped shot from long range only accounted for the crossbar but it showed the attacking intentions Olympia wanted to implement.
HT Zebras 1 – Warriors 0
Statistics for Olympia were high but they couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. With nine corners and 10 shots off target, it wasn’t the Warriors night.
Olympia’s Olivia Bomford and Inocent Michael desperately tried to deliver the final ball for the difference, but Zebras were happy to sit back in the second-half with the back-four of Louisa Marmion, Zara Dixon, Madeline O’Brien and Steventon holding the line, thus keeping out the dangerous attack from Davies, Mia Cane and Madi Chambers.
Full time Zebras 1 Warriors 0
Clarence Zebras claimed all three points in a game they had to win. Their reward is a one point buffer over Olympia.
As for the Warriors, they will rue the chances they didn’t take tonight but you would imagine they will take this loss into account for their next meeting at WP once again.
Zebras will now look forward to their clash with 3rd placed Northern Championship’s Northern Rangers in the Statewide Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Warriors will be also be in the cup away from home against 3rd placed Southern Championship’s Beachside SC.
WSL table after tonight’s match.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence Zebras | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | +27 | 19 |
| Olympia | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | +30 | 18 |
| Ulverstone | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -4 | 9 |
| South Hobart | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 7 |
| Kingborough | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -22 | 3 |
| University | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -29 | 1 |
Women’s Statewide cup quarter-finals fixtures
Sat 5th Sept
University v South Hobart 12pm at Olinda Grove
Clarence Zebras v Northern Rangers 2pm at Wentworth Park
Kingborough v Riverside 2:30pm at Lightwood Park
Sun 6th Sept
Beachside v Olympia Warriors 12pm at Sandown Park
