WA Over 50's - 2009 Match Reports

WA vs SA - Saturday, October 3, 2009

After a rest day on Friday, the WA 50's were keen to start their tournament.  
The game got off to a great start with the WA girls penetrating the SA defence.  
Unfortunately the SA girls got a break early in the first half. With a quick turnover catching the WA defence out, SA scored the first goal. 
This woke the WA girls up and they started to link up and manned their players with more commitment.  

In the second half the WA players came out firing, making sure passes were more effective.  
Jilly broke the drought and scored a magnificent field goal.  
This was quickly followed by another goal by Gail displaying composure and skill.  
The next goal was another spectacular Jilly Sheehan goal from a short corner.  
The last goal was scored by Captain Janese McDougall with excellent linking off another short corner. 

Special mention goes to the defence in the second half for strength and persistence. It was a fantastic win for the fifties. 

Result: WA 4 - SA 1 

Goal scorers: Jill Sheehan (2); Gail Anderson (1); Janese McDougall (1). 
Best player as nominated by WA:  
Best player as nominated by SA: 

WA vs VIC - Sunday, October 4, 2009

A very tough match was had by both teams as both went out determined for a win. 

At half time the score was an even 0-0. However, in the second half the Victorians were awarded a penalty stroke, which was placed outside the left post. Still no score! 

There were quite a few short corners awarded against us in the second half with one of them resulting in the Victorians scoring with less than 6 minutes to go. 

The WA defence in Tracey, Sue, Maris, Kaye, Deb and Lesley all played their hearts out, under great pressure from the Vics. This makes us more determined to win tomorrow. 

Congratulations to Jill for her acrobatics! 

Result: WA 0 V Victoria 1

WA vs NSW - Monday, October 5, 2009

Given the number of times we have played New South Wales in a grand final over the years, we knew that this game would be dogged and both physically and mentally challenging. The team settled quickly, determined to improve on the previous day’s game. Midway through the first half WA capitalised on its second short corner. A direct shot on goal by Janese McDougall was put away by the quick reflexes from Jill Sheehan. 

WA played a stellar first half and went to the half time break 1-0 up.  

Thirty seconds into the second half an accidental collision resulted in a NSW player having a suspected spinal injury. Play was suspended for 30 minutes until an ambulance arrived. (Ricky Whelan has a sore and bruised upper arm). The remainder of the game saw WA 50’s continue to man up tightly, tackle back and execute brilliant switches of play in the back line. The highlight of the second half was an outstanding save by goalie, Sue Tide, who did a fantastic dive across goals to deflect a hard short corner hit on goals.  

WA kept NSW scoreless in the second half despite numerous NSW’s short corners.  

The game was played in great spirits by WA and NSW and after the game both teams sang in harmony together while enjoying their ice baths. 

Result: WA 1 V NSW 0

WA vs NT - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

After a rest day we were very keen to get on the pitch and have another win. Which we did. We started well and, using the centre pass were quickly into attack. 

The first goal at the 15 minute mark was from a short corner. Hit out by Jill Sheehan, trapped and direct shot by Janese McDougall and then rebounded by Jill. 

We went to the half time break with the score 1 nil. 

Coach Carol Samsa, stressed that we needed to keep our width and we resumed the second half determined to add to our score. 
At the 45 minute mark Gail Anderson took control after some scrappy play and slotted the ball home to make us 2 goals up. 
The third goal was a result of another short corner rebound, that was cracked into the back of the net, head high, by Kerry Mather. 

Overall it was a good win which still gives us a chance at making the finals later in the week.. 

Result: WA 3 - NT 0 

Goal Scorers: Jill Sheehan, Gail Anderson, Kerry Mather

WA vs QLD - Thursday, October 8, 2009

Temperature: 9° C 

In wet and cold conditions, WA started the game extremely well. The girls marked their Queensland opponents tightly and forced many errors. 
Unfortunately for the WA players, the Queensland team converted two short corners in quick succession. 

In the second half of the game, the WA girls worked extremely hard to nullify the result. 
Jilly Sheehan scored an excellent goal, early, which was followed by an amazing second goal – this however was disallowed and the game finished with a 2-1 win to Queensland. 
The WA team should be commended for an excellent game with strong, consistent defence. 

Result: WA 1 - Queensland 2 

Goal Scorers: Jill Sheehan 1

Finals Playoff for 3rd and 4th - WA vs VIC - Saturday, October 10, 2009

Day 8 saw us playing off in the finals for 3rd or 4th.  

We started with the first pass back and were immediately into attack. Despite not converting on this occasion, we soon scored through the persistence of Gail Anderson who jinked the ball over the goalie’s stick. 

Although Victoria soon replied with one of their own, we continued to play well and finished the game with a 1-1 draw. This meant that we finished third because we were higher than Victoria on the ladder. 

Great play from all our players – Sue Tide (Goalie), Maris Margetts (FB), Tracey Buswell (Vice Capt and FB), Kaye McGlew (HB), Lesley Mather (HB), Janese McDougall (Capt and CH), Debra Andrews (HB), and our forwards Shirley Cull, Rikky Whelan, Jenny Rogers, Kerry Mather, Lyn Tapper, Gail Anderson and Jill Sheehan. 

Result: WA 1 - Victoria 1 

Goal Scorers: Gail Anderson.