Weston Creek surged up towards the top end of the Women’s futsal premier league ladder with a stellar 3-1 victory over Belconnen United on Friday night (click the link for highlights). After a scoreless first half which saw both teams unable to break through despite having several clear shots on goal, it was Weston Creek who struck first just minutes after the main break, leading to an onslaught on goal that Belconnen could not withstand.

The match started with both teams reluctant to take any risks through the midfield, looking to maintain possession and attack when the opportunity arose rather than forcing the issue.

Weston Creek looked to be in control of the match from the outset with several shots on goal within the opening 10 minutes, one of their best chances came from a magnificent solo effort from Weston Creek’s Sabrina Spinapolice forcing Belconnen’s Goal Keeper Jessica Giovanazzo to make an athletic saves to keep the scoreboard even.

The ball was mostly played in Belconnen’s defensive half, yet they still managed to generate some meaningful forward thrusts themselves, missing the opportunity to take a lead towards the end of the half with Clare Munro making Natalie Lacey work in goals to keep the ball out of the net.

The deadlock remained into the main break however, with Weston Creek’s dominance not converting into a half-time lead.

It did not take Weston Creek long to break through in the second half though, with Spinapolice finally finding the back of the net after a brilliant cross from the corner delivered by teammate Nicole Somi troubling Belconnen’s Natalie Lacey for the majority of the first half. It lead to a flurry of offense from Weston Creek, with playmaker Luisa Marzotto setting up the play through the midfield, even getting forward to shoot on goal, an effort that just sailed over the top of the crossbar.

Yet it was Belconnen again who stunned the healthy crowd at AIS, getting forward to level the scores courtesy of Claire Munro who had threatened to break through for the majority of the night. Scores were level again at 1-1 with a distinct feeling that the game would go down to the wire. Not everything went according to plan though, with a horrendous blunder from Belconnen’s Goal Keeper Natalie Lacey letting a long range ball from her opposition GK in the  form of Jessica Giovanazzo trying an audacious ball for her forwards that bounced through and into the back of the net.

The mistake seemed to deflate Belconnen as Weston Creek pressed on for the remainder of the game, eventually giving them an unassialable 3-1 lead not long before the final whistle with Nicole Somi finishing off the brilliant work of Luisa Marzotto to propel Weston Creek into the upper echelons of the Women’s futusal Premier League ladder.

Women’s Futsal Premier League
Belconnen United 1 (Claire Munro) Weston Creek El Diva 3 (Natalie Lacey, Nicole Somi, Sabrina Spinapolice)

TABLE

LEADING SCORERS
5 Jasmine NORTON (Canberra FC)
4 Annica SCHOO (Tuggeranong United)
3 Kate DAVOREN (Brindabella Blues), Dianne WILSON (Canberra FC), Brittany PALOMBI (Woden Valley)
2 Jessica GOYNE (Belconnen United), Kendall SMITH, Kate WALKER (Kids FC)
1 Claire MUNRO (Belconnen United), Rachel CRITTENDEN, Sarah CRITTENDEN, Becky ROCHE (Boomerangs FS), Lisa CEELY (Brindabella Blues), Rachael GOLDSTEIN, Mel LEARY (Canberra FC), Najwa ALLEN, Hayley BUCKINGHAM, Alice CHURCHILL (Kids FC), Erika PENNYFIELD (Tuggeranong United), Kim CROCKER, Natalie LACEY, Alison LOUND, Nicole SOMI, Sabrina SPINAPOLICE (Weston Creek El Diva), Jaline HOEK, Ashleigh PALOMBI (Woden Valley)