Match report: Jem and the misfits 4-2 Fireball
Jem and the misfits prevailed 4-2 against Fireball on Sunday morning in a spout of bad luck for the defeated given how evenly matched both teams were throughout the ninety.
It was a game of close chances and changing conditions - with the match starting in drizzle and ending with sunshine - while both sides very much gave it their all in a tough contest.
The goals:
Mary Hay (Fireball, 20th minute) The ball was played in from the right wing and Hay would end up in a race with opposition goalie Leonie Henderson for the first touch. Hay would win, her poke just prodding it past Henderson to send it bouncing into the net.
Jemma Dacy (Misfits, 25th minute) The captain and namesake of Jem would even things out just five minutes later after one of Jem’s many attacks down the right hand side of the pitch. Like most Misfit attacks which came before it the result was the same - a scramble in the area with multiple blocked shots. But eventually Dacy got off her strike, and unlike those who attempted before her, her shot would sail past the Fireball keeper.
Kirsten Maste (Fireball, 28th minute) From quite a ways away from the goal, Maste noticed that the Misfit keeper was off her line and out of position. The shot slid through into the left hand corner of the goal with the keeper unable to do anything.
Jess Barrett (Misfits, 52nd minute) Barrett sped down the center of the pitch, and the Fireball defence just wasn’t able to get close to or tackle her. With no pressure whatsoever it was easy for Barrett to slot the ball into the net.
Jemma Dacy (Misfits, 73rd minute) With the Misfits probing the Fireball defence from a ways out, a gap opened in the middle. Dacy didn’t waste this opportunity, unleashing a powerful strike which thundered into the back of the net to break Fireball hearts.
Ruby Sommerville (Misfits, 85th minute) The Jem winger went down the right hand side of the pitch, cut inside, and pushed it well past the keeper in what must have been hair tearing frustrating for Fireball.
The pivotal moment: With the score still 3-2 to Jem, Kirsten Maste broke free of all defenders and pressure to sprint down the left hand side. On a right angle from the goal and with the defence at long last closing in, Maste took her chance. It was going to strike true but a hand from the goalie just pushed it inches wide. It had to sting for a Fireball side low on the ladder which had pushed a quality Jem side to their limits.
The stars:
Misfits - Jemma Dacy The captain of misfits was a general menace to her opposition’s defence, with two goals and an assist to show for it in a captain’s performance.
Fireball - Kimberly Kan So often you would see the defender get in there for a good challenge, make an interception, or turn up the pressure to 100. Kan’s defence nous were a real asset to Fireball in an encounter which was a challenge to their backline.
The comments:
Bryda Chamberlain, Fireball attacker: “I think we played pretty well in the first half, we always tend to struggle a little in second because of fitness and whatnot. But we did good, they just had a couple of really quality players especially at the front who just got away from us. Just needed some more luck.”
Jemma Dacy, Misfit attacker: “We had a bit of a slow start but we really came out firing in the second half, so it was a really good effort all round. The teams were pretty well matched and had some good battles especially in the midfield; they had some strong attacking players, but so did we and it showed!”
The bad girls: N/A
The meaning:
There isn’t really one. Jem stays in second, three points behind The Read Team while Fireball remains rooted to the wooden spoon spot.
The future: Both sides trade Boyd Wilson for Alex Moore next Sunday, with Jem facing School’s Out at 11.40 whilst Fireball take on The Red Team at 15:00.
The other game:
School’s Out 0-10 The Red Team