Sun 10 Apr – WPL 1st Grade

Having played Illawarra last week and then back up against Inter Lions this week was always going to be challenging. Both teams fought out the grand final last year with Illawarra winning.
Having players away and 3 players carrying injuries was going to be tough against Inter.As we were going to start the heavens opened up and rained for the remainder of the game.The first ten was played at a fast pace and inter were attacking or goal mouth. Goalkeeper(Renee) and our defence with stood their raids.As the game went on we started to play same quality football. Our short passing game was troubling inter as we were turning them around and keeping possesion.Inter wre frustrated as we were dominating the game. Our shots were on target and their keeper was pulling of save after save.The sutherland girls just kept going forward and putting pressure on inters defence.With 1 minute left on the clock for the first half ,Maggie took on the defence and was bought down in the box. Daila stepped up and slotted the in the back of the net. 1- nil Sutherland.
Team was on a high as they have been in this situation the last 3 weeks and drawn and lost. With the rain still coming down i told the girls to keep playing the short passing gaming as they are chasing us. Well it didnt take long as inter were getting frustrated as our defence was holding inter at bay. In saying that we again had the better chances to score but could not finish them off. Inter were making changes and started playing physical to put us of our game. The girls stood up and gave it right back to inter. The only problem was they were getting the free kicks. In the the end we coud not hold on as a well taken free kick was met at the far post by their striker. 1-1 with 15 to go. Straight from the kick off we went on the attack and were forcing Inter into mistakes. Then after some smart play down the right was met with a great finish from Dalia just out side the box. This seemed to stun Inter as they were shell shocked. 7 to go Inter threw everything at us, but our defence stood strong.
Sutherland 2- Inter 1.
The most pleasing thing for Fiona and myself were the smiles after the game. Well done girls.