Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Patrick Kearney

Two goals in two second-half minutes earned The Gap Women a 2-1 win over Olympic FC Women at Goodwin Park on Sunday.

Scoreless at the break, the away side burst clear shortly after the restart to make it six wins in seven matches but had a clean sheet scuppered late.

The opening 15 minutes belonged to both goalkeepers as Katie Ronan and Noran Abaza were both required to make important saves.

After earlier denying Ruth Blackburn with a sharp low save, Ronan kept out a goal-bound Leah Curtis shot in similar fashion midway through the first half.

Gators remained on top for the remainder of the half but were unable to force an opener before half-time.

They soon found more reward though as captain Bec Price was adjudged to have been fouled in the area when challenging for a loose ball after a corner.

The midfielder coolly slotted low into the bottom corner and seconds later it was 2-0 as Gabe Marzano classily finished first-time over the advanced Ronan.

Bethany Ashton soon turned one around the near post with Blackburn, Curtis and fellow midfielder Jess Dillon keeping control for the visitors.

Olympic found a foothold as the half wore on but couldn’t find a way back quick enough as Jazmyn Perin’s well-taken finish in the closing moments proved merely a consolation.

Speaking after the match, Olympic coach Phil Canham said he was looking forward to the break as a chance to work on snapping the side’s three-match losing run.

“I think it has shaken our confidence. The week off has come at a really good time for us and now we have to work hard to ensure it doesn’t become four in a row,” Canham said.

Gators coach Rob Askew said his side’s fitness has made the difference in recent weeks.

“I think increasingly now we’re running out the 90 minutes and making sure we’re putting teams away,” Askew said.

Listen to the full post-match interviews below.

Olympic FC Women 1 (Jazmyn PERIN 89’)
The Gap FC Women 2 (Bec PRICE p.51’ Gabe MARZANO 52’)