Sandringham Impress In A Tidy Win Over Ashburton
Ashburton 0-2 Sandringham
Sandringham controlled most of the game scoring in the first half via a Nicola Prins strike. As the second half commenced Ashburton hampered the Sandringham goal only for Sandringham forward Emma Runnalls to add the second on 67 minutes to whether a fighting Ashburton and restore the away sides dominance.
Sandringham began the game dictating possession, moving the ball quickly, pressing upon shaky Ashburton defenders. Playing with the wind, Sandringham sought to exploit the opposition back four, opting to play long balls over the defence.
The first genuine attempt on goal came from Sandringham’s Eliza Gleadell in the 17th minute, delightfully controlling the ball with her chest on the edge of the penalty area and striking a first time volley towards Ingrid Philippe’s goal, only to sail over.
Moments later Sandringham forwards continued to pepper Ashburton’s goal as Philippe parried away a strong Stephanie Tanti strike with the resulting cross headed in by Runnells, nevertheless only to be ruled offside.
Sandringham, despite their dominance were inefficient in front of goal, having numerous shots sail wide or over the cross bar from promising positions.
The deadlock however was broken on 40 minutes with Tanti making an energetic run down the left wing; cutting back a pass to the on running Prins who finished a low first time strike passed a helpless Philippe closing the half with a 1-0 lead.
Ashburton came out after the interval looking a more determined side, seeking to hold more possession and moving the ball with greater intent.
With the nerves settled, Ashburton pressed for an equaliser, having numerous attempts on Lucy Kapusta’s goal, utilizing the wings to great effect, particularly via the pacey Chloe Drinockzy in getting behind the Sandringham back four.
However, Ashburton much like Sandringham in the first half idled many of their opportunities.
Sandringham sought to regain hold of the game and had a great opportunity on 64 minutes to go 2 – 0 up. Beating the offside trap Runnalls found herself unmarked with a free header inside the box only to head wide of the upright.
The 67th minute alternatively saw Sandringham score against the run of play.
Prins skilfully held the ball up in the middle of the pitch playing wide to the right wing to Kirstie Shearing. Shearing was able to latch onto the pass before colliding with Philippe who had commit off her line, squaring to Runnalls who calmly tapped home the visitors second in a vacant net.
Upon conceding their second, Ashburton struggled to maintain possession as Sandringham reasserted their dominance in pursuit of a third goal.
Sandringham assistant coach Deborah Nichols commented after the game that her team should have won by more, as chances went astray for the remainder of the game which included an agonizing goal line clearance in the 85th minute.
Nichols was rather pleased with the result as the goal was to start the season off with three points holding the ambitions of making finals and possibly going one better than last year’s result of the 2nd place and exiting in the preliminary final.
In his first match in charge of the club, Ashburton coach Ariel Reigosa, was more so pleased with the performance of his outfit in the second half, and yet noted that the result based on the performances of both teams was “justified”.
Reigosa further commented that his side were aiming to make the finals in the 2013 campaign and the new system he has adopted will take time for the players to adapt to.
Ashburton: Ingrid PHILIPPE, Christine PFEIFFER, Bonnie BARNES, Chloe DRINOCKZY, Jesse KOTSIKAS, Maria PATRIKIS (Julia SKOWRONSKA 89’), Jasmina PEDIC, Kristin STENSHOLT, Stacey LOURAS, Antonia NITEROS, Alyssa SPROULE-CARROLL-TYLER. Unused Subs: Jacinta ROSALES, Kaitlin CAREW, Stephanie COPE, Belinda CONNOR.
Goals: none
Yellow Cards: none
Red Cards: none
Sandringham: Lucy KAPUSTA, Emma GUNN, Alli KAPUSTA, Christie PARTON, Sienna FOGARTY, Hannah STUART, Kirstie SHEARING, Stephanie TANTI, Eliza GLEADELL (Paige EDWARDS 80’), Emma RUNNALLS, Nicola PRINS (Emily MORRIS-KRAUSE 28’). Unused Subs: Sian ROGERS, Irena ANSET, Amy SILVER.
Goals: Prins (40’), Runnalls (67’)
Yellow Cards: Runnalls (47’), Stuart (59’)
Red Cards: none
Sean Ellicott 
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