Lightning postpones APIA and Jets match
Lightning and thunder cut one of the games of the season short on Easter Monday in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, as APIA Leichhardt and the Newcastle Jets were locked at 3-3 at Lambert Park.
The visitors opened the game in style, only 30 seconds in Layla Sharpe played in an inch perfect pass for Claire Adams who slotted the ball beyond an out rushing Sophie Magus.
India Breier almost set up the Jets’ second, finding Adams who this time couldn’t compose herself, shooting over the bar from a good position.
There were six minutes on the clock when the Jets doubled their advantage, Alexis Collins springing the offside trap and again placing the ball passed the APIA keeper.
Gisella Pipino had the home teams first effort, cutting in from the left but shooting just over the bar.
APIA continued the pressure on the Jets as Mona Walker forced Tiaharna Roberston into a fantastic reaction save, tipping the ball over the bar.
There were 16 minutes on the clock when APIA cut the deficit, a nice team move saw Pipino slip in Ash Crofts as the home sides captain blasted beyond Roberston, into the side netting.
The Jets responded and Collins almost had her second, this time Magus saving, getting her fingertips to the strike.
Adams was in the mood and almost found the back of the net, her blocked shot deflecting just wide of Magus’ goal.
APIA had two chances in quick succession to equalise, first Pipino had a last ditch effort cleared after a corner, before Mel Caceres went on a mazy run, forcing Roberston into another excellent save low to the right.
As the balance of the game began to tip in APIA’s favour, chaos struck for the home team.
Teal Kilbride was adjudjed to be the last player in the line of the defence as she brought down Collins, seeing red in the final moments of the first half.
There was still time for further damage to be done though, this time Adams becoming provider for Breier who once more sprung the offside trap, and for the third time in the game, the Jets had found the back of the net.
APIA had to show character in the second half and did just that, halving the deficit in the 49th minute, Crofts heading home after a corner and rising highest in the six yard box.
60 seconds later and the home team were level, captain Crofts latching onto a delightful pass from substitute Charlotte Lancaster, blasting the ball into the back of the net, the powerful strike thundering off the cross bar and over the line.
And that thunderous strike would be the final kick of the game, the match abandoned due to nature taking things into its own hands.
Football NSW will announce a new date for this rescheduled fixture in due course.
