U14 GIRLS SOUTH COAST FLAME 2 – 6 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

A crisp early morning at Pluim Park played host to the South Coast Flame’s 19th game of the season.

The home side were quick to hit the ascendancy with a barrage of early shots on the Flame goal. This pressure proved to be too much for the Flame to handle as they buckled, and the Mariners had their first.

The quick start would continue and in the 3rd minute, added their second. The girls from the South Coast would regroup but a 3rd and 4th were added by the home side in the 25th and 30th minute, respectively.

After some honest discussions at half time, Flame emerged a different side and with nothing to lose, attempted to take the game to the Mariners, pressing from the front.

Despite another goal from the Mariners, Flame would experience a few moments of sustained possession. This resulted in a well worked goal for midfielder, Isabella Elsner in the 51st minute. Elsner would go on to add a second, with one of the goals of the season. A mazy run in which she beat three Central Coast defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, despite being off-balance.

The game would not end the way in which Flame hoped with the home side grabbing a sixth, but a terrific effort int he second half, nonetheless.

Player of the week: Isabella Elsner

Bella was terrific in execution of her positional tasks in possession on game day. She had the Flame values on full display with her never give up attitude and thoroughly deserved the goals she scored.

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U15 GIRLS SOUTH COAST FLAME 0 – 5 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

No report available

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U16 GIRLS SOUTH COAST FLAME 1 – 2 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

After an impressive display on Friday evening against second placed UNSW, Flame made the long trip to the Central Coast to take on third placed, Central Coast Mariners.

The game began in explosive fashion when Maddison Day found herself 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper only to see her shot go narrowly wide. This started a bit of a trend that saw the Flame hit the target four times in as many minutes but ultimately could not find the back of the net.

The home side began to grow into the game and enjoyed a strong spell of sustained possession. Despite these moments, chances were few and far between for both sides. It was a free kick from deep that undid the Flame as a long ball into the box travelled through the crowd and found a player at the far post to tap into an empty net to send the Mariners 1-0 up heading into the break.

The second half saw the Flame make some tactical changes in an effort to get themselves back into the game. The chances came but again, the final touches were lacking. Insult was added to injury when the Mariners added their second with just 15 minutes left in the contest.

The girls refused to give up and goal machine, Maddison Day wouldn’t be denied as she brought the match back to life with 7 minutes to play. Despite flooding numbers forward in search of the equaliser, time was the enemy and the girls from the South Coast would make the long trip home, empty handed.

Player of the week: Melody Pierags

Reason: Melody’s execution of her tactical instructions out of possession was at a very high level on game day. She was crucial in ensuring the Flame got through a shaky period after going down 1-0 and seemed to be there to snuff out any Mariners attack all game long.

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U20 WOMEN SOUTH COAST FLAME 0 – 6 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Our furthest away match of the season to League powerhouse Central Coast Mariners was always going to be a strong test for South Coast Flame who were coming off a comfortable win last weekend against Sutherland.

The home side asserted control from the outset, bossing midfield and pressing hard from the front. The Mariners press resulted in their opening two goals as forced errors in the defensive third were punished by some clinical finishing from the Central Coast frontline.

Flame began to find some joy on the counter attack as Emily Kostovski and Mia Riza went close in quick succession but both shots going straight at the Mariners goalkeeper.

Before the first half came to a close, Mariners added a third goal from an unexpected cross/shot that beat Sharrock on her far post. Flame were also lucky to see a Mariners corner, which ended up in the net, be called back for a foul to South Coast. Flame down three nil at the break.

There was an awareness amongst the Flame players that they were not having a good footballing day, but there was the confidence that they could turn it around in the second 45 minutes.

A slight tactical shift saw Flame begin to play through the Mariners press and create goal scoring chances which was promising to see. Amelia Mastroianni executing her player tasks to perfection.

Unfortunately, it was just ‘one of those days’ for Flame as every mistake made, Central Coast buried with fierce accuracy. Mariners adding three more goals in the second half to make the final score six nil to the home side.

A humbling defeat for South Coast and a dose of the reality of the class and precision of the top teams in the League.

Player of the week: Sienna Humphrey

Sienna has been turning out some strong performances of-late and has been very consistent in her roles. Against Central Coast Mariners, Sienna was brave in possession and successfully executed tactical instructions asked of her. A true wearing your heart on your sleeve type of player. Well done, Sienna.

FIRST GRADE WOMEN SOUTH COAST FLAME 1 – 1 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

After a highly technical and tactical battle in the first round, this week’s fixture against Central Coast Mariners was a chance for the Flame Women to seek redemption.

In the first 14 minutes of the game, Flame and their opponents came out firing with high intensity. CCM’s played the ball around the back allowing for the front five of Rachelle Wang, Jess Cruickshank, Emi Skopal, Alexis Malizis and Caley Tallon Henniker to press hard and win the ball high.

A foul was won in the opponent’s half. Ruby Blanch stepped up and put in a free kick, finding Cruickshank free to combine with Skopal who was able to get a shot off on the target.

Minutes later Blanch stepped up for another free kick and had her shot parried by the goalkeeper for a Flame corner. Malzis whipped in an in-swinging corner finding Wang at the back post. Her Header was blocked by the Mariners defenders.

After quick transitions in possession between both teams, the Mariners almost got the upper hand when a player was left unmarked in the box for a cut back cross. Luckily, she miss-kicked it and the Flame girls were able to clear the lines.

In the next minute Kelly McIntyre won the ball deep in the Flame 18-yard box and played a long ball into Skopal who was able to combine with Cruickshank to get free in the box. Skopal’s cut back cross was sprayed just shy of the right-hand post.

The battle in midfield was fierce with Ebony Freeman and Blanch holding strong to disrupt the opponent’s possession.

Wang came flying across to intercept a Mariners pass and then ran at top speed to beat two defenders getting herself in the box. She was unable to get a clear shot off.

Moments later, the swing in possession led to the Mariners beating the Flame press to get their player free out wide who was able to get a crafty shot off to make it 1-0 against the run of play.

This did not dampen the Flame spirit. Minutes before half time, Blanch stepped up to take a 30-yard free kick. This time, the keeper could not stop it and parried it into her own net. 1-1.

The girls came out in the second half focused and motivated to get the three points away. Unfortunately, chances to Cruickshank, Malizis and Monique Koloski could not be capitalised on to get the win. Special mention to Charlotte Palmisano who made a class save on the 80-minute mark of the half to keep it 1-1.

Player of the game: Lisa Prior

Leadership and maximum effort in training and game.

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