NWS Spirit FC prove too hot to handle as Bulls falter
A convincing 3-1 victory has seen NWS Spirit extend their unbeaten run to nine matches after disposing of Bulls FC Academy at Christie Park.
Sarah Morgan got the ball rolling with two goals in two minutes for the home team before Rola Badawiya scored a goal of the season contender in the second half.
The Bulls managed to score a stoppage time consolation through Avaani Prakash, but it was Spirit’s day.
Spirit almost hit the front out of nothing as Badawiya turned and struck an early shot from the edge of the area, beating Trudy Simmons but not the crossbar.
The home side went close again shortly after, Sarah Morgan delivered a free kick into the box, only for Erin Pridmore’s header to go inches wide of the target.
Bulls had their first real shot around the 15-minute mark, as Amy Chessari found space on the edge of the area, sending her shot just wide of the top corner.
Chessari was involved in the action again for the visitor’s, feeding in Charlotte Lancaster, only for Mio Nemoto to make an excellent save, keeping the score locked at 0-0.
Twenty-two minutes in, Badawiya received the ball in the area before Chessari brought her down and the referee pointed to the spot.
Morgan stepped up and made no mistake with the finish, Simmons not even coming close to the penalty.
Spirit doubled the lead only two minutes later as Morgan scored her brace.
Mary Stanic-Floody broke through the Bulls defence with Simmons making the save, only for Jess Seaman to get her clearance wrong, allowing Morgan to pop up and slot the ball home.
It was almost three before the break as Rachel Perrins let fly with a spectacular effort from some way out, Simmons pulling off a stunning save.
Tamires Souza looked to get the Bulls on the scoreboard, sliding in Lancaster, only for the winger to shoot just over.
Lancaster had the first effort after the break, again though, unable to find the target, shooting over the bar.
With 15 minutes gone in the second half, the game sprung into life.
Badawiya used her body well to overpower her defender and turn, creating enough space to blast a shot into the top corner beyond an outstretched Simmons.
A spectacular goal for Spirit’s star off season signing.
With minutes remaining, the Bulls had a consolation.
A corner came in which wasn’t well cleared by the home side, the ball bounced into the path of Prakash who connected perfectly with her shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
Despite not keeping the clean sheet, Tiana Gauci would have been very pleased with how her team performed moving into the second half of the season.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit FC 3 (Morgan 22’, 24’, Badawiya 59’)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Prakash 90+2’)
Sunday, 3 June, 2023
Christie Park
NWS Spirit FC: 21. Nemoto, 2. Perrins, 3. Pridmore, 4. Morgan, 7. K. Buchanan, 10. Badawiya (34. Jensen), 11. Abdul Massih (14. Radman), 12. Tavares (18. Casha), 13. Roberts (32. Halmarick), 16. E. Buchanan, 17. Stanic-Floody (19. Holder).
Subs Not Used: 1. Offer.
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 4. Seaman, 5. Lancaster, 7. Prakash, 8. Popovic, 9. Chessari, 10. Souza, 13. Di Sciascio, 17. Volkanovski (16. Gyzen), 18. Clout, 19. Rutstein (22. Handcock).
Subs Not Used: 12. Corry, 21. Segavcic, 95. Manos..
By – Nikola Pozder
