Round 3 Review – Determined MUWFC Steal All 3 Points

MUWFC have continued an unbeaten start to the 2019 WNPL season with a late 2-1 victory over rival West Adelaide.

The night didn’t start ideally for MUWFC with an unwell Ellie Bills replaced by Jess Signoriello in the starting 11 shortly before kickoff.

The first 25 minutes was all MUWFC, with a great amount of possesion and knocking the ball around well. Kristy Moore had a half chance to extend her season goal tally, while the MUWFC defence not under much threat. Signoriello didn’t look out of place and was brilliant early through the middle of the park in just her second WNPL start.

Unfortunately, lapses in concentration by MUWFC meant paying the ultimate price, with West Adelaide playing a neat one-two pass which sent them through, and they were able to cut the ball back nicely to former MUWFC player Matika Hilliard-Faulkner who had an easy tap in to put the blue and whites 1-0 up against the run of play. West had the chance for a second when a straight ball through the middle released Macri through 1 on 1 with MUWFC goalkeeper Hunter Strudwick, who stood up once again when called upon with a brilliant strong 1 handed save.

Ness Reed picked up a niggle and was substituted off the park on the stroke of halftime as MUWFC went into the break 1-0 down, although probably counting themselves lucky it wasn’t 2.

Our MUWFC ladies came out knowing that they were lucky to not be further behind, and dominated the second half. Laura Stockdale replaced Reed, and was instantly repeating the impact of last week, buzzing around midfield and causing havoc for West Adelaide’s defence.

The experienced heads of Ebony Kyriacou, Kristy Moore, Laura Stockdale, Shelly Kuhar and Donna Cockayne all stepped up to the plate, with the younger players following suit and taking control all over the pitch.

Lauren Steer and Donna Cockayne began getting heavily involved on both flanks, and MUWFC started getting in behind the West Adelaide defence at will, but with the finishing touch still lacking, couldn’t find the back of the net.

Finally after 15 minutes of heavy pressure, the equaliser arrived on the hour mark. A Stella Rigon free kick fizzed into the area and was poked home by the sharp Laura Stockdale to bring the score back to 1-1.

From here on, it was one way traffic with our MUWFC ladies showing more hunger, determination and discipline then their counterparts, and kept piling on the pressure. Hunter Strudwick was forced into action just once more, to make an outstanding sharp reflex save at her near post after a shot from a corner.

With wave after wave of attacks, the pressure was eventually too much for the West Adelaide defence, and in the 88th minute, Kristy Moore went on another run into the area and was fouled with a clumsy challenge from Psaroulis who earned a yellow card for her troubles.

For the third time in three weeks, Chrissy Panagaris stepped up and made no mistake converting from the spot, dispatching the ball into the back of the net in clinical Panagaris fashion.

In the final stages of the match, West Adelaide threw everything they could forward to try and get an equaliser, but the MUWFC defence, lead by Ebony Kyriacou and Isabella Scazi stood tall to hold on and run out 2-1 winners.

Match Details: Friday, March 22 2019 South Australian WNPL 2019 – Round 3

West Adelaide 1 (Hilliard-Faulkner 33′) Cautions (D Kljajic 53′, E Psaroulis 88′, N Tilley 90+4′) MUWFC 2 (Stockdale 60′, Panagaris 88′(P)) Venue: West Beach Parks Football Centre