Match report

Match report

After widespread torrential rain, Strath’s miracle pitches remained playable, just. A fishtailing wind and a fishtailing game ensued. Stirling played a good possession game in the early minutes with the midfield of Zoe York, Auriana Healy and Feiya Huang controlling the ball and recycling it, time and time again, to the attack featuring Zora Huang, Jess Verryt and Polly Harrison. While Mount Barker’s defensive shape was excellent and blunted many attacks eventually Zora Huang pierced the armour to net Stirling first goal at 11 minutes. In reply, the Stirling defence of Jae Fitch, Emma Dalton Isabelle Bailes and Nora Biljsma were composed and impenetrable. Five minutes on and Polly Harrison took Stirling’s lead to 2 and they looked to be running away with the game. Mount Barker however were having none of it and proceeded to dominate the next phase of play to put Stirling under great pressure with several near misses and rebounds “off the woodwork”, and then at the 27th minute a goal (although it could easily have been two or more in reply at this stage). Stirling found some second wind and the game remained more balanced for the remainer of the half – but again Zora Huang found away and netted a second goal just before half time to take Stirling into the break 3-1 up.

The second half resumed with both sides making some good attacks and the momentum swung quickly from end to end. Stirling wingers Rosalie Talyor and Jasmijn Weits made some pacey runs down the outers and were very unlucky on several occasions with shots just wide, or great keeping from Mt Barker, to deny them. Noa Ransom kept Barkers central defenders busy with some skilful footwork and distribution. Hannah Noonan meanwhile worked tirelessly in midfield to turn the game round again and again while Emma Dalton, Nora Biljsma and Jae Fitch fought pitched battles to keep the Barker attack, mostly, under control with En Ueda in goals tidying up. Then Mt Barker scored a second at the 66th minute to make it 3-2 and the game was very much alive. Both sides had their chances but it was Stirling who generally controlled the play and had more opportunities with the highlights including a long-range free kick from Auriana Healy and that skimmed the cross bar, Noa Ransom hemmed and blocked by Barker defenders countless times just inside the 18-yard box, and some penetrating runs down left wing by Feiya Huang who eventually sealed the deal with Stirling’s 4th goal at 72 minutes.