MATCH REPORT | #Lilywhites 5 v Hamilton Wanderers 2
Eastern Suburbs won this entertaining encounter courtesy of a well taken hatrick from Jade Parris and two goals from Hannah Pilley. Suburbs never really looked like losing this after scoring a couple of early goals, although Hamilton came back strongly in the second half and caused some panic in the suburbs back line.
Heavy rain fell on Madills Farm just before kick off and continued for much of the first half making the pitch slippery and fast. This may have contributed to some early mistakes from the Hamilton team and they also seemed slow to get going, perhaps feeling the effects of their long bus journey. After just 26 seconds, the Hamilton defence failed to deal with Amber Whitley’s cross and in the resulting confusion Jade Parris poked the ball past the keeper.
Suburbs maintained the pressure and continued to benefit from some loose Hamilton play, and within 8 minutes of the start they were 2-0 up after Jade Parris threaded a ball through to Hannah Pilley who finished calmly into the bottom left corner of the net.
Hamilton launched some attacks of their own but the suburbs back line of Rebekah van Dort, Kate Carlton and Leah Mettam coped well and, when in possession, they stroked the ball around nicely. Kate Seater occupied the space between defence and midfield and coordinated most of the suburbs creative play in the first half.
The third goal came as Jade Parris again found herself in space just outside the box and fired a firmly hit shot past the outstretched keeper.
3-0 down at half time, the Hamilton coach looked frustrated and whatever he said during his half time talk, it certainly seemed to fire up the Hamilton girls. They looked much more organised and energetic in the second half and they had soon reduced the deficit to two goals when their centre forward turned neatly at the top of the penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Corina Brown in the suburbs goal.
Hamilton were looking dangerous and they were also benefiting from a strengthening wind at their backs. This helped them keep possession in the suburbs half for long periods but it also left them vulnerable to quick breaks by the fast eastern suburbs forward line. This is exactly what happened mid way through the second half when Hannah Pilley broke away at speed, her initial effort being saved by the keeper. Fortunately, Amber Whitley was following up and fired a shot against the post which rebounded back to Pilley who buried it into the top of the net. Another quick break lead to the fifth goal (and Jade Parris’s hatrick).
This should have made the last 20 minutes relatively comfortable for suburbs but they lost some concentration and conceded a goal straight from the kick off as the Hamilton forwards ploughed straight through with minimal resistance.
From then on it was a matter of suburbs holding on against wave after wave of Hamilton attack. Fortunately they did this but not without some heart-stopping moments and some problems clearing the ball against the strong wind.
This was a good result for suburbs against a Hamilton team which has been difficult to beat all season. The Hamilton girls had a long journey home to reflect on how different it may have been if they hadn’t conceded those two early goals.