Perth SC 3-0 Hyundai NTC
by Ben Gilby (13/9/23)
Above: Gemma Craine, scorer of Perth SC’s first goal, in action against Hyundai NTC earlier this season. Photo: Fotoenzo.
Perth SC overcame injuries and unavailability to produce a superb first-half performance that yielded three goals to defeat Hyundai NTC in the Top Four Cup Preliminary Final tonight.
Despite Perth head coach Pete Rakic having to shuffle his pack once more, his side looked to establish themselves in the early exchanges.
Indeed, The Azzurri hit the front with just seven minutes played as Ella Lincoln put in a superb challenge to dispossess Anna Powell and motor away before sliding a pass in for Gemma Craine which bisected the NTC defence. Craine took one touch and side-footed the ball across Lilly Bailey in the visitors’ goal and into the net.
Perth continued in the ascendency with Craine imposing herself on the game at every opportunity. Also catching the eye in the opening period was youngster Alanna Ottobrino with her eagerness to get involved in this vital encounter for her side.
With 21 minutes played, Faye Phillips played a ball into the centre from the right for Lincoln on for Ottobrino who found Rachel Jarvis. Her low shot took an awkward deflection off of Lincoln which wrong-footed Bailey and allowed the ball to trickle in.
It got better still for the hosts 12 minutes before the break as Lincoln moved along to the right-hand side and played a pass square for Phillips who looked up and curled a sensational finish into the far corner from around 25 yards.
NTC tried to respond with good work from Niamh Devitt who worked her way through and hit a shot that rolled narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
The visitors came out after the break on the front foot as they looked to get a foothold back in the game. They couldn’t quite find the breakthrough – despite Maja Archibald providing for Sophia Brooks to flash an effort narrowly over the bar.
Perth SC now go on to Saturday’s Top Four Cup Final against Perth RedStar at the State Football Centre in Queen’s Park. Their efforts across such an injury-ravaged season have been heroic – they will now be going out to end the year the way they started it in the Night Series Final against the same opposition.
Teams: PERTH SC: Bennett, Papalia, Connolly, Jarvis, Henderson, Godding, Phillips, Cook, Craine, Ottobrino, Lincoln. Substitutes: Meakins, van Heurck, Duncanson, Bohm, Caceres, Tulp.
Scorers: Craine 7′, Lincoln 21′, Phillips 34′.
HYUNDAI NTC: Bailey, Longmore, Johnson, Anderson, Devitt, Marwick, Collins, Archibald, Powell, Tana, Britton. Substitutes: Collinson, Ingrey, Clayton, Brooks, Healy.
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