Warners Bay moved five points clear at the top of the Herald Women's Premier League ladder with a 7-1 blitz over Wallsend as second-placed Merewether could only grab a point in a 2-2 draw with New Lambton on Sunday.
They could prove important results in the race for the minor premiership, especially ahead of the top-of-the-table battle between the Bay and United next weekend.
Jenna Kingsley produced a four-goal haul for Warners Bay, taking the W-League Jets player’s season tally to 25 goals with nine rounds still to be played.
Warners Bay held a 3-0 advantage over Wallsend at half-time in the match at John Street Oval.
It had been a tough week for the Red Devils, whose strike weapon Sass Seaborn announced she was leaving to join South Wallsend.
They also had key player Laura Hall on the sideline with a head injury and lost defensive midfielder Jess Evans to injury part-way through the match.
It was 4-0 when Libby Copus-Brown put Wallsend on the scoreboard with a free kick from outside the 18-yard box.
Warners Bay player-coach Cassidy Davis bagged a double, taking her own season tally to 15, and Sophie Stapleford also scored.
“We were good in patches but there were a few patches where they were on top,” Davis said.
“We were clinical in front of goal and we scored some good team goals today.”
Merewether took an early lead when Jamee Ellis found the back of the net with a trademark corner kick.
Carson McGovern scored for New Lambton to have the game deadlocked at half-time.
Rhali Dobson put United ahead again early in the second half when she scored a one-on-one goal after goalkeeper Alison Logue had sent the ball long.
But the Eagles found the equaliser through Jenna Kennedy who tapped in from close range in the dying stages of the match after Logue had parried away Stacey Day’s free kick.
United coach Cass Koppen was disappointed to concede a late goal.
“It was a good game of football and there were lots of positives but we’re a bit disappointed with the draw,” Koppen said.
“We spoke a lot about moments in the game and staying switched on and there were probably two moments in the game where we didn’t do that.”
Eagles coach Keelan Hamilton said it was “an important point in our season”.
“We lose that one and you get a bit deflated,” he said.
South Wallsend, reduced to 10 players after the send-off of Erin Wilson for dissent early in the second half, beat Thornton 3-2 at Walker Fields.
Maryjane Mason opened the scoring and had the Wolves 1-0 up at the break.
Thornton twice equalised the match, through Jennifer Jongbloed and Lauren Rouse-Upjohn, in the second half before Olivia Kennedy completed her second-half double by producing the match winner.
Wolves coach Brad Parkes described it as “a bit of a battle” but was happy to secure the points, which elevated them to fifth position ahead of Adamstown, who had the bye.
Round 12 results:
Warners Bay 7 (Jenna Kingsley 4, Cassidy Davis 2, Sophie Stapleford) defeated Wallsend 1 (Libby Copus-Brown) at John Street Oval. Half-time: Warners Bay led 3-0.
Merewether 2 (Jamee Ellis, Rhali Dobson) drew with New Lambton 2 (Carson McGovern, Jenna Kennedy) at Myamblah Oval. Half-time: 1-1.
South Wallsend 3 (Olivia Kennedy 2, Maryjane Mason) defeated Thornton 2 (Jennifer Jongbloed, Lauren Rouse-Upjohn) at Walker Fields. Half-time: South Wallsend led 1-0.
Points: Warners Bay 28, Merewether 23, New Lambton 18, Wallsend 13, South Wallsend 12, Adamstown 9, Thornton 0.
