Ylias goal earns Queens Park cup

Former Melville City midfielder Emma Ylias came back to haunt her former club by scoring the only goal as Queens Park won the Women’s Premier Night Series Final 1-0 at Coker Park last night.

Report by Peter Simcox

In front of a big crowd, which included former Socceroos coach Frank Arok, the home side took the lead early but both sides had chances in an entertaining game.

Queens Park coach Ben Anderton said the team’s hard work in the pre-season had paid off.

“I thought we deserved the win,” he said. “They pressed us late but I thought we did enough to win it.

“The two sisters at the back for us were outstanding tonight, Stacey (Learmont) and Brittany (Woodfin) play so well together. And Stacey, well what can I say, I can play her anywhere on the park and she will be good.”

“We’ve worked hard in pre-season, and we have a few new faces in the squad, and tonight I thought Ylias was good, also Jessica (Darmargo), she has been great throughout this tournament and it bodes well for the up-coming season.”

Ylias, who joined Queens Park this season, said she came to the club to win titles.

“It was a great contest and playing against my old club, who play a fast type of game, made it challenging but we’re happy we came out on top,” she said.

“I’ve never won a trophy with a club outdoors, so it’s extra special for me, and that’s why I came to the club. It’s a good start but there is a long season ahead.”

It was a perfect start for Queens Park and they were ahead after only four minutes. Brooke Johnston played the ball out to Darmargo on the right and her deep cross picked out the unmarked Ylias at the back post, who headed home from close-range.

Despite conceding the early goal Melville hit back and on a sweeping counter attack Lucy Jerram raced forward and slid the ball into the path of  Holly Dangen, whose shot on the run flashed just wide of a post.

Both sides had late chances as the game opened up. Johnston headed wide from Nikki Campbell’s corner for Queens Park, before Melville’s Holly Dangen raced in on goal, but a superb last ditch tackle from Stacey Learmont cleared the danger

Melville and Perth Glory keeper Evie Gooch saved well from Johnston early in the second half before Darmargo’s first-time shot deflected over the bar.

It was still anyone’s game and Melville pressed late looking for the equaliser but with Brittany Woodfin and Learmont outstanding at the heart of the Queens Park defence they couldn’t find a way through.

Queens Park defender Stacey Learmont was named Player of the Match.

Women’s Premier Division Night Series Final
Queens Park SC 1 (Ylias 4 mins)
Melville City 0
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Venue: Coker Park, Cannington
Referee: Mark Williams

Queens Park: GK Danelle CORNISH, RGK Loren MAHONEY, 3 Rebecca DICARLO, 4 Natasha RIGBY, 7 Brittany WOODFIN, 8 Stacey LEARMONT, 9 Brooke JOHNSTON, 10 Nikki CAMPBELL, 11 Sadie LAWRENCE, 13 Georgie KENT, 15 Jessica DARMARGO, 17 Tiana BOTHA, 19 Noi PUKKAEW, 21 Emma YLIAS, 22 Jaumee GIBBONS, 25 Jannay KOHLER
Yellow cards: Nil

Melville City: GK Evie GOOCH, RGK Candice CROCKETT, 2 Shannon TURNER, 3 Taya COGHLAN, 4 Tia STONEHILL, 6 Savannah AHEARN, 9 Jenny HOLMES, 12 Lucy JERRAM, 15 Laura WALTMAN, 18 Manon GEBAUER, 19 Jaime DUNCANSON, 20 Isabelle BRIDGER, 34 Mikayla LYONS, 37 Holly DANGEN, 39 Zoe YAO
Yellow cards: Nil