POSGSC made their debut in a Cup competition today hosting Flinders Flames from Division 2 at Park 17. It was expected to be wet and windy with a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius but turned out to be beautiful weather with the sun peeking through the clouds for most of the match.
In what was expected to be a tough encounter, Coach Weng Wong altered the POSGSC line-up with a slightly more defensive formation. The girls came out fired up and put in a dominating first-half performance.
Midway through the first half, a diagonal through ball from centreback Katie Budenberg sent winger Emily Gilbert free of the last defender. Gilbert cut in from the right and finished with aplomb past the keeper.
This gave the girls even more confidence as they continued to dominate the match. Budenberg and fellow centreback Young Nang Jung were making key interceptions in defence with sweeper Emma McBean making vital stops when needed. Defensive midfielder Lauren Lepore has come into form the last couple of matches and today was her best match to-date, adding a steeliness to the midfield.
Just before half-time the Queens extended their lead with a clinical finish from playmaker Jakarra Hill after an assist from striker Sarah Lowe. Hill, who picked up last week's Best-on-Ground award for POSGSC, was playing up to her usual high standards - taking on players, looking for the killer pass and tracking back to help out in defence.
Unfortunately it turned out to be a game of two halves as the Flames came out wanting to get themselves back into the match. Straight from kick-off they won a corner and with the ball ping-ponging around inside the 6-yard box it was a Flames player who got the vital touch putting the ball into the back of the net.
Pembroke had a chance to make it 3-1 and make it difficult for the Flames' comeback when Hill drew two defenders before playing in Gilbert who was 1-on-1 with the Flames' keeper. With the goal gaping at the far post, Gilbert mishit her shot and it flew wide past the near post.
With time running out, Wong took off striker Lowe and replaced her with defensive midfielder Edwina Williams hoping to shut down the Flames attacks. However the Queens conceded a corner with only a couple of minutes remaining and as the corner came in, a Flames player had lost her marker and ran straight onto the ball, rifling it first time past keeper and captain Amy Wiseman into the back of the net for the equaliser.
Suddenly the wind was knocked out of the Queens' sails but it was important for the girls to lift their heads and see out the match as they went into extra-time with two 10-minute halves to be played. Wong reverted to his starting line-up as he looked to get the girls playing like they did in the first-half.
Five minutes into the first half of extra-time though and it was the Flames who took a 3-2 lead when their right-winger was not picked up and finished coolly into the far-post in an identical situation to that of Gilbert's miss.
Pembroke were not going to go down without a fight however and 3 minutes later they were back on level terms when Hill returned the favour to Lowe, playing her in with a through ball. Lowe managed to hold off the defender and slotted it in to the corner. Unfortunately for Pembroke though, Hill went off soon after with an old knee injury.
The sides then swapped halves as they went straight into the second half of extra-time. Unfortunately it was the Flames who took the lead again with only a few minutes left to play. They then started wasting time making constant interchanges but Pembroke still had an opportunity to take the match into penalties when Lowe found herself free behind the defence and the keeper stuck in no man's land. Lowe shot first time but could not get enough lift on the ball which found its way straight into the keeper's hands.
So POSGSC bow out in their first ever Cup match but can definitely hold their heads up high having given a Division 2 team a run for their money. If the girls can keep this sort of form up for the remainder of the season they are definitely in with a chance to compete for the Women's Collegiate Division title.
McBean was picked as Best-on-Ground by Wong for today's match and receives a $25 voucher courtesy of POSGSC's major sponsor The Kensi.
Next week will see POSGSC travel to last year's third place finishers Mercedes Old Scholars for another tough match. Mercedes recently held St Peter's, 7-0 victors over POSGSC, to a 0-0 draw. Hope to see all POSGSC supporters out for that match! Kick-off at 3pm on Sunday the 19th of May.
