Tuggeranong United finally earned some much-awaited points in their midweek encounter with the ANU WFC showing their class with a 4-1 success at Greenway Enclosed. The players coached by Paulo Romero were in the lead early and managed it well until the end to claim their first victory since Round 1.
Ask any players and coaches about an ideal start, and rarely will they imagine what happened at Greenway this week. Within seven minutes, the unlucky “hosts” had scored two own goals, giving Tuggeranong an almost game-ending advantage.
A corner kick taken from the right opened the scoring, Samantha Wood striking a firm effort that Claire Joseph saved, only to see the ball unluckily ricochet off defender Rebecca McKenzie and bounce pass her teammates and goalkeeper into the back of the net.
Mere seconds later, almost immediately from the kick-off, a quick and precise Tuggies’ counterattack saw Alexandra Serras trying to stop the forward, but instead slotting the ball in her own net.
The nightmare scenario for Rob Illingworth and his troops was complete. The University players tried to answer promptly, but time and time again hit the Tuggeranong wall that stood firm.
Several times, and sometimes not the most academic way, Amy Wiggan showcased her talent, always finding a way to put an arm, a hand, or a leg in the way. Tuggeranong knew their opponents would keep pushing all along and kept trying to hurt them on the counterattack.
The opportunity presented itself five minutes past the hour mark and it came from a set piece taken by Daisley. The midfielder expertly delivered a cross that her captain Zoe Terry headed past Joseph.
The comfortable advantage was reduced fifteen minutes later when Wiggan unfortunately tapped a corner into her own goal, but it was too little too late for ANU WFC.
Ashlyn Lewis even gave her team the three-goal lead back in injury time, with a superb half volley from the edge of the box that lobbed Joseph. Tuggeranong could celebrate, not only their first point since week one, but also the four goals, quite the feat considering they had only found the back of the net seven times this season in the domestic league.
Thursday 13 July
ANU WFC 1 (Wiggan 84’ (og)) Tuggeranong United 4 (Mckenzie 6’ (og), Serras 7’ (og), Terry 65’, Lewis 90’)
