Monday evening saw the Barkerettes venture to the western suburbs to take on State 2 side Hoppers Crossing in the 2nd round of the women’s Nike FC Cup. It was a mild evening at Grange Reserve, but the timing of the fixture meant that Barkers had no substitutes, so this would be a tough test for the State 3 visitors.
The pattern of the game was set early with Hoppers raiding regularly down the right flank, and well marshalled by a midfielder who was very confident on the ball. On 12 minutes the Hoppers right winger cut in and crossed low to the far post, leaving a forward to hit home from close range past Ashleigh Fraraccio – 1-0 Hoppers.
Hoppers were on top but Barkers did have a couple of good chances. On 28 minutes Lisa Walsh burst through unchallenged, but couldn’t get a shot in and the ball rolled to the keeper. Then 8 minutes before the break she beat the offside trap and her shot hit the post. At the other end, Hoppers came close when a shot hit the bar. Half time – Hoppers Crossing 1 Mooroolbark 0.
The second half was a reprise of the first, with hoppers dominating, but Barkers somehow holding out. Then on the stroke of full time, Barkers won a corner on the right. It was a good delivery into the box, and Jordyn Clausen rose unchallenged to head the ball into the corner of the net for her first senior goal, to force extra time. Full time – Hoppers Crossing 1 Mooroolbark 1.
Barkers began extra time with a bit of spring in their step, but unsurprisingly Hoppers again regained the upper hand. There were no goals in the first period of extra time, but with just 10 minutes to go of the second period, Fraraccio had to come to the edge of her penalty area to clear her lines. The ball came back in and with the keeper stranded, Hoppers found the net to take a 2-1 lead.
Five minutes later, Fraraccio punched clear under pressure, but the ball found a forward who put the ball into the net for 3-1, and the Barkerettes finally succumbed. Final score – Hoppers Crossing 3 Mooroolbark 1 (after extra time).
When you consider that Barkers had only 11 players for 2 hours and were under the pump for much of that, then to take the higher-ranked hosts to within 10 minutes of a penalty shootout is a creditable showing. On another day, Walsh could have had a hat-trick. They never stopped running and can be pleased with their performance. Barkerettes now continue their preparations for the league season, which begins on the weekend of April 22-24.
