In what was billed as the biggest match of the weekend, West Panthers women’s side thrashed the Mighty Goats of Alma 7-1 in a top of the table clash at O’Neill Park on Sunday.
The match began with a minute’s silence in solidarity with a deceased family member of one of the BHSA community.
The result was never in doubt as West dominated the first half, restricting Alma’s opportunities to get the ball into their forward half, whilst scoring two goals of their own. A penalty in the twentieth minute got the good times rolling for George Bugeja’s side, before a goal right on the half time whistle doubled their advantage.
Zoe Ferris was on fire in attack, helping herself to four goals, while Chelise Jones and Jess Roberts were magnificent in defence, restricting the usually rampant Alma attack to just one goal.
“The girls were incredible, they never stopped running. I congratulated them all in the change room on that,” Bugeja told the Truth.
The staunch defensive effort was no fluke either, but something that was discussed and worked on.
“We went through stuff Wednesday night at training. What we were doing wrong. What we were doing right defensively, and it sunk in and we got a better idea of what we needed to do on defence,” George said.
Alma coach Codey Ralph’s half time team talk must have done something for the Goats, as they opened the second half with a goal inside a minute. That was as close as they would get to a rampaging West side who scored five second half goals to ensure the emphatic victory.
The Goats man on the touchline gave no excuses for his side’s performance and heaped praise on the attacking Wests.
“Credit where credit’s due. West played phenomenal. They played some really nice passing play around the box and in the midfield. They just cut us apart,” Codey Ralph told the Truth.
Some absentees affected their ability to control the midfield, and the hamstring injury Emma Reeves has been dealing with all season didn’t help the Goats midfield when she switched to goalkeeper in the second half.
“Emma has had a hamstring injury that’s plagued her from last season. and she’s usually our on-ball player in the middle of the park with Lakeisha [Sloane)], so it makes it a bit hard,” Codey said.
The result leaves The Panthers a game clear at the top of the table with a very healthy goal difference.
In the other fixture in the Women’s competition, St Joes took on Celtic in the early kick off with Joeys hammering Celtic 11-0 and keeping their season alive.
There are no games this coming weekend due to the South Australian Junior Soccer Association State Championships in Adelaide.
RESULTS
West 7-1 Alma
St Joes 11-0 Celtic
BHSA WOMENS STANDINGS RD 6
| TEAM | MP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| West | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 10 | +34 | 16 |
| Alma | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 15 | +14 | 13 |
| St Joes | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 15 | +14 | 6 |
| Celtic | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 62 | -62 | 0 |
