By Peter Stephenson
Barkerettes (third) hosted Endeavour United (second) at Esther Park. A win would see Barkers go above United with three games to go, so this was an important game.
In the first minute, the ball ricocheted to Amy D’Ortenzio, who beat her marker, turned and hit a first-time shot wide. Then the ball broke for her again, and she ran onto it and hit an angled shot at keeper Jordan Harel. United’s first chance came on seven minutes when Barkers lost the ball to Rubie De Almeida Gomes, who shot on target, but Ashleigh Fraraccio saved with her foot.
Hannah Lee and Alizah Jones were kept busy by United’s dangerous left-sided players, particularly the tricky Evelyn Alpuerto. However, Barkers constructed a nice passing move which saw a low shot from Kelly Butera, forcing a diving save from Harel. Then Courtney Wipperfurth robbed a defender and found D’Ortenzio, whose shot forced Harel to concede a corner.
Having played themselves into the game nicely, Barkers got careless. On 21 minutes, they conceded a free kick 25 yards out on a slight angle. Teresa Cataldo stepped up and curled an accurate low shot inside the near post to give United an unexpected 1-0 lead.
One thing about Barkers, though, is when they go behind, they stay calm and keep playing football, knowing their chance will come. Lisa Walsh nodded the ball into the path of D’Ortenzio, who lobbed the ball wide from close range. Then Butera hit a long shot wide, Walsh was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle, and Wipperfurth had a volley saved by Harel. At the other end, Fraraccio had to be alert to come out and beat Lourdes Mousaco to the ball.
Ten minutes before the break, the game turned from being absorbing to slightly crazy. D’Ortenzio put the ball through for Wipperfurth. She neatly dodged one defender and stuck a low shot past Harel – 1-1. Four minutes later, Butera brought the ball down near the left corner flag. She touched the ball to Walsh, who hustled to the byline and crossed invitingly for D’Ortenzio. She shrugged off her marker and squeezed the ball in the barrow gap between keeper and near post – 2-1 Barkers!
Four minutes later, Alexis Sketchley played the ball from the centre out to Wipperfurth, who in turn found Jones on the right. She took the ball inside her defender, and calmly hit the ball high and wide of Harel into the net for her first senior goal. There will not be a more popular goal all season – Jones has been knocking on the door of her first goal for weeks, but has remained calm and most importantly, is a team player – 3-1 Barkers!
Remember though that we are Barkers, and life is never simple. As the game moved into stoppage time, Cataldo robbed a defender and broke clear on the right. She sent the ball towards the far post, Fraraccio got a hand to the ball, but Alpuerto was lurking beyond her, and scored from close range. After four goals in 10 minutes, a breathless half ended with Barkers 3-2 up.
The second half was a little different, as United seemed to run out of ideas, and Barkers’ defence contained Alpuerto and co very well. Four minutes in, Fraraccio again had to play sweeper to clear the ball, but United were now forced to shoot from distance, and barely threatened.
Barkers won a series of corners, from which Walsh caused havoc with her pinpoint deliveries, and a possible handball against United wasn’t given. Ten minutes in, a long clearance ran kindly for Jones to chase. Any other kid her age would have gone for glory (and probably stuffed up). Not our Alizah – as always, she kept a cool head and squared the ball to D’Ortenzio, who, unmarked, stuck the ball home for 4-2.
A glorious piece of football on the hour saw Butera backheel the ball to Walsh, who crossed from the left for D’Ortenzio, who hit a shot against the bar – what a way to nearly get a hat-trick. The last few minutes saw Gracie Touliatos racing down the right a couple of times. First she crossed for Walsh, who headed wide. Then she crossed for D’Ortenzio, who volleyed over.
This was Barkers’ best performance of the season. Eleanor Ridley was absolutely everywhere, the defence eventually worked out how to cope with United’s dangerous players, and the attacking was, at times, sublime. Having gone behind, they proceeded to batter a good side into submission. United have lost only twice all year – both to Barkers. Barkers now go second, ahead of United on goal difference, and seven points behind Gippsland.
