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Words and images By Craig Stockdale.
With the return of Beattie Goad and Maddy Stockdale from U17 National Team duties and the addition of Melbourne Victory W-League players Jess Humble, Tiff Eliadis and the injured Alex Natoli, the NTC Girls were firing on all cylinders bombarding the Essendon defensive line for the majority of the game.
Kate Fotopoulos and Cindy Lay were again dominant in the midfield working with the experienced Humble playing number ten to set-up many forward movements and feed the hungry wingers.
At the 26 minute mark of the first half it was the class of Young Matilda Beattie Goad on show again. Running amock up the left wing Goad shot a left foot cross to Cindy Lay who sidestepped the defender to fire a shot on goal which bounced of the hands of the desperate Essendon keeper into the path of Phoebe Parker.
Parker pounced and capitalised on the mistake to take the NTC Girls to a 1-0 lead.
Tiff Eliadis continued with her good form from the Women's Premier League playing a significant role in holding up play and distributing the ball for the speedy flame haired wingers to strike on goal. Goad was peppering the net all night and causing absolute mayhem for the Essendon defensive line as she continuously weaved in and out of traffic with that elusive left foot and Parker was like a bulldog tackling and harassing every boy on the pitch.
The Essendon boys displayed some good passages of play through the midfield pushing up forward securing a free kick after a big 'hip and shoulder' from one of the NTC Girl defenders. The resulting shot on goal sailed over the net and keeper Tori Snelleksz's head as the defensive line of Bella Scott, Alex Natoli, Maddy Stockdale and Steph Catley regrouped to organise another well-structured exit up the pitch.
The intensity of the game was increasing as the boys became frustrated at the constant steals and sublime skills being administered by the NTC Girls as they continued to move the ball quickly and effectively up the entire length of the pitch through some wonderfully executed passages of play.
No further additions to the scoreline by either side saw the one goal lead to the NTC Girls remain intact for the break.
The second half highlighted the work rate of NTC and their physical fitness was evident against a slowing opposition. With the addition of youngster Beth Mason-Jones in goal, Marianna Anthony into the defensive line and the two Zoe's - Stamatopoulos to the midfield and Corbett to the wing - the boys were being pushed hard with a flurry of shots on goal by NTC.
Leading the charge were Jess Humble and Cindy Lay. The two were everywhere across the pitch lapping up the opportunity to direct traffic from defense through midfield and sneaking down to the top of the box to take several shots on goal. Lay, Humble, Fotopoulos and Catley teamed up on numerous occasions to bury the opposition with some stunning passing and tackling.
In fact the majority of the NTC girls suffered from a severe dose of 'leather poisoning' on the night as they dominated play across the entire ground which may have even drawn a smile from Coach Dave Edmondson on the sidelines.
The goals then came thick and fast. Eliadis quickly scored after beating the keeper with a sharp toe poke and shortly afterwards Humble secured her brace for the match - not bad for a player who mainly plays defense. Zoe Corbett snapped a goal from a sensational Catley cross on 57 minutes to finish the match. Five goals to nil to the NTC Girls.
Congratulations to the Essendon SC Reds team who displayed some good passages of play and wonderful sportsmanship on the night. Best wishes for the remainder of the season.
A job well done by the NTC Girls with coach Edmondson now firmly set on preparations for the upcoming NTC Challenge in Canberra at the end of the month.
Ya gotta love women’s football!!!
Sayonara, Stocky.