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30/08/98
Heiford Hat-Trick Hits Three Kings Where It Hurts
by Jeremy Ruane
A second half hat-trick from Dana Heiford, answering back recent criticism of her efforts in the best way possible, proved inspirational for Lynn-Avon United at Ken Maunder Park on August 30, as the former Bluebird Northern Premier Women's League champions stormed to a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over their successors to the crown, Three Kings United.
Heiford's performance was rich in pride, passion, commitment and conviction, and her three goals were the icing on the cake of a personal display which earned her the renewed respect of, among others present, this writer.
The example she set in this match is one which her opponents would do well to take heed of. With the exceptions of Michele and, in particular, Tarah Cox, who battled like a trojan throughout in a vain effort to stem the tide, the elements which made up Heiford's game were noticeably absent from Three Kings' passionless display, replaced instead by a mixture of complacency and an attitude borne from a recent New Zealand Herald article which suggested that this fixture was inconsequential.
In some regards, it was, the league championship having already been decided, but you would have thought that a team with twenty-nine consecutive wins to its name would have been intent on extending that run into the thirties. Or, failing that, would have at least done the colours of their club justice against their greatest rivals.
They were certainly on course to do so after just ten minutes of this encounter. Indeed, Pernille Andersen gave Three Kings the lead inside 120 seconds, her curling free-kick clearing the wall and the outstretched hands of Danielle Hobby en route to the top far corner of the net.
Lynn-Avon's 'keeper redeemed herself somewhat eight minutes later when smothering a Michele Cox drive, but within seconds, Andersen had struck again in stunning fashion. Beth Clark swung in a cross which cleared the head of Alisse Robertson. Andersen was lurking behind the defender, and produced a text-book hip-turn volley to fire Three Kings into a 2-0 lead.
It may have been establishing this early lead which led to the onset of complacency in Three Kings' play. Throw in the fact that Lynn-Avon were intent on not having their rivals "piss on their own patch", for want of a better phrase, and what followed was a cracking encounter.
Amanda Crawford, in the seventeenth minute, played the ball wide to Jill Corner, who slipped it inside to Angela Vujnovich. Her shot beat Michelle Hodge, and the race between Crawford and Michele Cox to win the loose ball was won - just - by the latter, who steered it to safety from under the shadows of the crossbar.
Jennifer Carlisle tested Hodge with a twenty-five yarder soon after, before Lynn-Avon pulled one back in the twentieth minute. Corner's free-kick was headed clear by Michele Cox to Carlisle, who scuffed her shot at goal. The ball ricocheted off Helen Exler and into the path of Vujnovich, who drilled home the loose ball in unerring fashion. Her celebratory gestures, however, left a great deal to be desired.
Hobby plucked the ball of Maria Wilkie's head on the half-hour, following a Michele Cox-led raid, after a brief spell in which thrust and counter-thrust had been highly prevalent. Then Clark squandered a golden chance five minutes later, dwelling on the ball in the penalty area after being set up by Andersen - a first-time shot was what was required.
Seven minutes before the interval, Vujnovich sent over a cross which beat both Carlisle and Hodge, leaving Jane Simpson to clean up the last act of a first half in which the visitors had played with the prevailing wind at their backs.
The home team had that advantage in the second spell, and made it count after just seven minutes. Marlies Oostdam needlessly let a hopeful Vujnovich effort carry on through towards Hodge, unaware that Katrina Sharpe was coming inside from the left flank. The goalkeeper brought down her opponent in her attempts to gather the ball, and Heiford hammered home the equaliser from the penalty spot.
Six minutes later, Heiford struck again to give Lynn-Avon the lead. Corner, Vujnovich and Crawford combined to engineer the opening for the midfielder, whose twenty-yard shot left Hodge flailing as it zoomed into the top far corner of the net - 3-2.
Three Kings, unused to being behind on the scoreboard, were prevented from drawing level by Hobby on the hour, Wilkie combining with Tarah Cox to supply Clark with the shooting chance.
But Lynn-Avon sensed this was their day, and Heiford made certain of it in the 62nd minute with a hat-trick-completing shot, her twenty-yard drive on the run fair soaring into the top corner past a stunned Hodge.
Crawford, courtesy Heiford's lofted pass, unleashed a thunderous eighteen-yard volley just past the post soon after, as the visitors, with the exception of the Cox sisters, offered little resistance to their opponents' advances.
Hodge gathered another Crawford effort in the seventieth minute, but was beaten by a Sharpe shot three minutes later. The ball cannoned off the crossbar onto the 'keeper's back and spun over the line before spinning back into the hands of Hodge, who protested that the ball hadn't gone in. The linesman was in no doubt that the whole of the ball had crossed the line, however, and the scoreboard was again altered in Lynn-Avon's favour.
Michele Cox's shot deflected through to Karin Jensen a minute later, as Three Kings looked to rally, only for Hobby to bravely save at the feet of the substitute. Wilkie then sent a teasing chipped effort narrowly past the upright three minutes from time, but by then the game was over as a contest, Lynn-Avon thoroughly deserved 5-2 winners.
Steve Cain's side have set their sights on winning the Knockout Shield now, and this result will give them every encouragement that they can relieve that trophy from Three Kings' grasp.
How the newly-crowned league champions respond to this result, however, will indicate their true level of character. There can be little doubting that they are a fine team, but criticism of their efforts since their last defeat, by Lynn-Avon on July 6, 1997, has been rare, because more often than not their performances simply haven't warranted it.
Now, having copped a deserved hiding, and a suitably toned serve to go with it, they have to go out and earn the renewed respect of both their peers and their critics once again. They need only look to the example set by Dana Heiford in this match as proof that such an achievement is possible.
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