Queens Park advanced to the semi-finals of the Bankwest Womens State League Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 win over rivals Beckenham Angels in difficult conditions at Coker Park yesterday.
By Bianca Niederberger, footballwest.com.au
Although Beckenham Angels controlled most of the match, Queens Park were able to keep their feet, their nerve and their focus to chip away at the Angels in the second half.
Queens Park coach Grant Learmont said he could not have asked any more of his team to come out and get the win after conceding in the first half.
“I was hoping that we’d go in with a draw (at half time) after we’d conceded, so I was happy that the girls fought back in the second half after I’d asked for a little bit more from them,” he said.
It could have been a very different story considering the aggression and unrelenting pressure that Beckenham asserted in the first half.
Danielle Calautti and Katarina Jukic were instrumental for the visitors. But it was Jamie-Lee Gale, who gave them the lead when she found the net from the edge of the box, despite being surrounded by defenders and goalkeeper Maya Diederichson, who had been drawn out.
Beckenham were also strong defensively with Katharina Conroy and Lindsey Kenyon limiting Queens Park’s chances to get anywhere near their goal.
The equaliser came in the 31st minute when Stacey Learmont and Brooke Johnston combined with Emma Evans, who lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net.
In the second half, both teams continued with the same high intensity, although Beckenham had a slight edge through Jukic’s influence in midfield.
Queens Park took it up a gear with twenty minutes to play and tested goalkeeper Kristy Teschinsky, with Jess Darmago, Johnston and Evans peppering the goal. On one occasion, Johnston’s shot from the edge of the box was pushed aside by Teschinsky. From the ensuing corner, Monique Gordon tapped in to give Queens Park the lead.
A few minutes later, Thorpe narrowly missed the chance to increase the lead with a free-kick just metres from the halfway line, with what her teammates dubbed a classic ‘Thorpedo’ strike.
Having been at Queens Park for just 10 weeks, Learmont said his team were slowly adjusting to his style of football and delivering consistent efforts week in, week out.
“We’ve been working hard at training to do the right things in the right areas and things are starting to gel,” he said.
“Monique Gordon was outstanding for us today as was Jaymee Gibbons and Stacey Learmont. But I was pleased with all of them. They all worked hard and deserve the result.”
Queens Park 2 (Emma EVANS 31’, Monique GORDON 74’)
Beckenham Angels 1 (Jamie-Lee GALE 19’)
Sunday 6th July, 2014
ECU Arena
Attendance: approx. 70
Kick Off: 1:00pm
Referee: Mark Williams
Assistant Referees: Maran, Mann
QUEENS PARK: 1. Maya DIEDERICHSEN (GK), 2. Helene BORDAS, 3.EMMA EVANS, 6. Monique GORDON, 7. Brittany WOODFIN, 8. Stacey LEARMONT, 9. Brooke JOHNSTON, 10. Nikki CAMPBELL, 13. Georgie KENT, 15.Jessica DARMARGO, 17. Lesley ZMURCHUK, 21. Amy THORPE, 22. Jaymee GIBBONS, 24.Adel JACKSON, 28. Casey CARSWELL
Yellow cards: Nil?
Red cards: Nil??
BECKENHAM ANGELS: 1. Kristy TESCHINSKY, 3. Kirby LARSEN, 4. Lindsey JOBLING, 5. Jessica FERGUSON, 6. Jessica LINDQUIST, 7. Annique KEISLER, 8. Jamie-Lee GALE, 9. Danielle CALAUTTI, 10. Kathryn CONROY, 11. Emma LEANING, 12. Stephanie CAIN, 13. Lindsey KENYON, 14. Caitlyn BROOMHEAD, 15. Andrea PREIATO, 16. Katarina JUKIC