Easts Women Into First
Words: Matt Dorman
Eastern Suburbs Women have leapfrogged Olympic FC Women into first after a 1-0 win at Heath Park on Saturday night.
In a tight contest, the quality of Westfield W-League experience won out as former Adelaide United Player of the Year Jenna McCormick nodded in a late winner for the hosts.
Both sides savoured heavy victories last weekend but found the early going tougher against each other.
Tegan Riding has already scored five times across the opening two rounds and came closest for Easts in the early stages, heading over Ashlee Watkins’ cross.
Fellow goalscorer Liz Doherty, who netted a hattrick in Olympic’s last-start victory, had the visitors best chance of the half following a defensive lapse but shot over the crossbar.
Chances began to flow more regularly after the restart and Michaela Hatzirodos managed to round Olympic ‘keeper Katie Ronan in the 51st minute, only for her effort to be cleared off the line.
Ronan was again amongst the action in the final 15 minutes as she pushed Teagan Thompson’s shot around the post.
The corner allowed McCormick to take centre stage on her PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland debut by heading home the ensuing corner, making it 1-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Olympic had a chance to grab an equaliser in the 86th minute through Jazmyn Perin but the winger’s shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Easts saw out the remaining moments to remain unbeaten and record a second straight win, while consigning Olympic to its first defeat.
Speaking after the match, Easts coach Garrath McPherson praised his players’ ability to implement training ground preparations.
“I was very happy with the team’s performance. They executed our game plan quite well,” McPherson said.
Olympic coach Phil Canham was pleased with his team's efforts in attempting to equalise,
"I felt like after the goal they tried to find another gear and tried to keep going forward," Canham said.
Listen to the full post-match interviews below.
Eastern Suburbs Women 1 (Jenna McCORMICK 78’)
Olympic FC Women 0
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