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08/07/09
Holders Lynn-Avon Edge Three Kings In Cup Thriller
by Jeremy Ruane
Two goals in three minutes late in the first half paved the way for National Women's Knockout Cup holders Lynn-Avon United to progress to the quarter-finals of this season's competition on July 8, as they overcame arch-rivals Three Kings United 2-1 in an enthralling contest at Albie Turner Field.
Over 300 fans braved a chilly winter's evening to watch these giants of NZ women's football go head to head as only they can, and were treated to a hard-fought, keenly contested duel well in keeping with the best traditions of Three Kings v. Lynn-Avon encounters.
This one was necessary following the abandonment of their first attempt to play this cup-tie at Keith Hay Park ten days ago, and both teams sported notable changes from that clash, with Three Kings' Merissa Smith pulling out pre-match with a stomach upset.
Lynn-Avon had been denied the services of Emma Kete by the striker's departure to take up an opportunity to play in the North American W-League competition, following in the footsteps of four of her club-mates who have gone down this road since the beginning of May.
Their departure has decimated the Lynn-Avon teamsheet, but not the team's unity and esprit de corps, which has been a key component of their season-long unbeaten run, and was again central to this triumph over their age-old foe in a clash which would not have looked out of place had it occurred at North Harbour Stadium on September 19, Cup Final day.
Sadly, the machinations of the never-seen draw meant the cup interests of one of these standard-setting clubs would be prematurely curtailed after this encounter, which both teams began brightly.
There was plenty of enterprising play in evidence, but it was the cup holders who gained the initial ascendancy, with hard-working front-runners Sarah Gregorius and Kim-E Maguire putting pressure aplenty on Three Kings' rearguard to create a couple of openings in the first eight minutes.
The first, from a Caitlin Campbell free-kick, was cleared to Emily Cooper, who pulled her fourth minute shot past the post, but it was Liz Milne's eighth minute intervention which came closest to breaking the deadlock.
She powered down the left before driving in a vicious low cross which Aroon Clansey spilled at her near post. The `keeper was fortunate to find Abby Erceg on hand to mop up the danger in her inimitable style.
After Campbell had failed to do justice to Cooper's through ball by pulling a shot woefully wide of the target half-way through the first half, Three Kings fired their first noteworthy shot in anger in the 25th minute.
A patient build-up from the back was suddenly ignited by Anna Green's inch-perfect ball over the top, onto which Lauren Murray latched as a result of Briony Fisher being caught out of position. The striker raced forward before opting to shoot early but inaccurately - over the top the sphere sailed.
It was the catalyst for a concerted spell of Three Kings pressure, during which a Nadia Pearl corner to the far post put Ashleigh Cox under extreme pressure on the half-hour. But with teal-shirted opponents aplenty in the immediate vicinity, Lynn-Avon's goalkeeper bravely pawed the ball to safety.
In the 34th minute, Erceg smartly created some space for herself on half-way to receive a pass from Green. Some deft footwork along the touch-line took her past an opponent before she linked with Annalie Longo, and raced forward for the return pass.
It duly arrived, allowing Erceg to get to the by-line and pull the ball back into the near post area, where
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Rosie White was arriving on cue. You'd have put money on the inaugural Oceania Women's Footballer of the Year opening the scoring from this position, but she snatched at the opportunity and shot wildly wide.
How White and Three Kings were made to pay for such profligacy, for within eight minutes, they found themselves with a mountain to climb, as two quick-fire Lynn-Avon goals put the cup holders firmly in charge of the tie.
Katie Hoyle's anticipation and interception of Erceg's pass to Pearl seven minutes before half-time was the incident which created the first opening, the midfielder passing to Campbell to hook in a cross.
Erceg cleared this for a corner, which Campbell duly delivered into the near post area. Amidst the gathered throngs lurked a player whose all-round game has visibly grown since being entrusted with the captaincy, and who is at the very heart of Lynn-Avon's team ethic. Little wonder Melissa Ray was engulfed by her colleagues after breaking the deadlock with a close-range header six minutes before half-time.
The cup holders were still celebrating when another opportunity befell them, three minutes later. Dana Humby hoisted the ball downfield, and hurtling after it was Gregorius, moments earlier the subject of a “We love you Gregors” serenade from some of her adoring fans.
The ongoing absence of Gregorius from the international arena, at least since the Junior Ferns' 2006 Women's World Cup campaign ended, is one of the few issues which continue to raise eyebrows during this otherwise exciting period in New Zealand women's football's history.
Surely it can't be for performance-related reasons, because as she proved once again on this occasion, the attribute of pace which is so coveted in modern-day football is something she boasts in abundance.
There was simply no way Clansey was going to win the race for the ball as she and Gregorius converged on the sphere near the edge of Three Kings' penalty area. The goalkeeper forced the striker well wide of the goal, though, and a second goal from such an obscure position didn't even appear to be an option.
It was, however, Gregorious uncorking a stunning finish from an obscure angle to leave, at 2-0 down, Three Kings' Cup hopes dangling by the proverbial thread.
The second spell was compelling fare, Lynn-Avon opting to roll with the punches and strike on the break rather than build still further on their lead, thereby handing Three Kings the initiative they sought - now they had to seek a goal which would get them back into the match.
Sure enough, they held nothing back. Green's 51st minute corner was cleared as far as Tessa Berger, who saw her effort deflect for a second attempt. This time, Pearl whipped in a delivery to the near post where Murray was among those lurking, and directed a header goalwards. Cox appeared to get a touch to the ball as it flew upwards prior to grazing the crossbar.
The goalkeeper certainly did get a touch five minutes later, shovelling Green's low-struck 25-yarder around the post. Then on the hour, Three Kings were awarded an indirect free-kick six yards out from goal, Fisher having smothered the ball, preventing anyone from getting to it.
If ever there was an opportunity to get back in the match for Three Kings, this was it. The ball was touched to White, who hammered it at the massed ranks of Lynn-Avon defenders lined up on the goal-line.
It was blocked and cleared, but had it crossed the line in the mad scramble? Referee's assistant
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Wandyk Freitas remained rooted to the goal-line, indicating to referee Kevin Stoltenkamp play should continue, much to Three Kings' dismay - a grand chance spurned.
The incident spoke volumes for Lynn-Avon's defensive resolve - it was terrific! Time and again they found themselves under the cosh as Three Kings pressed, but for the most part, they held firm - it made for captivating viewing.
In the 66th minute, Longo and Berger combined with Pearl to release Green down the left, from where she fired in a cross to the near post. Lurking in between defenders was White, but she couldn't direct her header on target.
This prompted Three Kings' coach, Andrew Clay, to shuffle the pack, Maia Jackman moving forward into a more attacking role as the home team in this tie continued to chase the game.
The change sparked near-instant dividends, for in the 72nd minute, Lynn-Avon's rearguard was finally breached - game on! Green and Longo worked a short corner between them, with Green's angled cross-shot deceiving all-comers en route to crashing into the net via the far post - 2-1.
Virtually straight from the kick-off, a Pearl error was swooped on by Sam Selwyn, who promptly slipped Maguire in with just Clansey to beat. That was until Erceg appeared on the scene, and got her body between ball and player to effectively shield the sphere back to her goalkeeper - a fine piece of defensive play.
Back came Three Kings, forcing yet another corner. Pearl's delivery prompted a looping effort goalwards from Murray, one which Cox did well to tip onto the crossbar from virtually right underneath it, such was the angle at which the ball was approaching the goal - it was a difficult save to make.
Three Kings were beginning to get frustrated by now, with Hoyle seeing stars after being caught by Leah Tagaloa's flailing arm, a challenge which earned the offender a yellow card from referee Stoltenkamp.
He issued another soon after to Selwyn, immediately prior to which Green had taken a quick free-kick, after White had found herself playing the role of meat in a Lynn-Avon defensive sandwich!
Longo was at her dazzling best upon receipt of the ball, and jinked her way through three challenges inside the penalty area before seeing her low drive smothered at her near post by Cox, eight minutes from time.
It was desperation stakes in the final minutes, with Three Kings pressing for an equaliser at every opportunity, and Lynn-Avon looking to counter with pressure-relieving raids of their own whenever the chance materialised.
Even referee Stoltenkamp appeared to get caught up in the excitement of it all. Even with a break for treatment to the injured Humby, from where six minutes of stoppage time materialised, heaven alone knows!
The respective defences held firm, however, even at the death, when Three Kings' umpteenth corner saw Clansey in the thick of things in Lynn-Avon's penalty area. But it was all for nought, Lynn-Avon holding on for a 2-1 win over their arch-rivals to advance to the quarter-finals, leaving Three Kings itching for revenge in eleven days' time, when the teams meet again in Northern Premier Women's League action.
Three Kings: Clansey; Jackman, Hill, Erceg, Green; Pearl, Berger (Hogg, 67), Longo; Tagaloa (booked, 79), Murray, White
Lynn-Avon: Cox; Fisher, Humby (Noble, 86), Ray, Milne; Selwyn (booked, 83), Cooper, Hoyle, Campbell; Gregorius, Maguire (Boyce, 89)
Referee: Kevin Stoltenkamp
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