By Peter Stephenson
Barkerettes began a new season on a sunny Sunday at Esther Park, with a cup tie against Williamstown of State 4W. There were debuts for Rebecca Brown, Emily Stokes and Hannah Turnbull, while three prodigal daughters were back in the fold, with Anita Caro Salve, Miranda Jackson and Simone Otto returning to Barkers after long stints elsewhere.
Barkers began brightly, with Caro Salve finding Stokes on the right, who hit her shot wide. Then three minutes later, a Barkers corner on the right was cleared out to Caro Salve. Well it was as if she had never been away, as she lobbed a beauty over the Williamstown keeper to give Barkers an early lead – she doesn’t score often, but they are usually worth waiting for.
On 12 minutes, Alizah Jones had a shot blocked, and again the ball fell to Caro Salve, who hit a ripper first time shot narrowly wide. On the quarter hour, the pacy Stokes flew down the right and almost found Otto in a dangerous position. Then three minutes later Barkers attacked down the other flank as Brown found Turnbull, whose shot crashed off the bar. The rebound was hit back towards goal by Jones, but the visiting keeper tipped the ball brilliantly onto the post. Jones threatened again on 20 minutes when going past three players before being foiled by the onrushing keeper – surely another goal would come soon?
Surely it did – but at the wrong end. Just after the half hour, Williamstown won a corner on the right. As Barkers stood ball-watching, the ball was played out to Nassou Baro, who chipped the ball towards goal, and a retreating defender could only help the ball into the net for 1-1, much against the run of play.
The final chance of the half fell to the visitors. Four minutes before the break, Baro outpaced the Barkers defence and shot, but keeper Ashleigh Fraraccio rushed out smartly to save. Half-time: Mooroolbark 1-1 Williamstown. An entertaining battle, with Stokes and Jones causing havoc in the Barkers forward line, but equally, Baro and Matilda Owen looking sharp for the visitors.
Eight minutes into the second half, Turnbull played a nice one-two with Otto, but her shot was saved. Stokes was continuing to give herself the freedom of the right wing and provide dangerous crosses, but they weren’t converted. What we needed was a newly-discovered scoring sensation.
Just on the hour, the ball ran loose to Kelly Butera. Just as with Caro Salve, this is a player who knows how to hit a ball, as Williamstown found out when she sent a lovely shot looping into the far corner of the net to restore Barkers’ lead at 2-1.
Now Caro Salve delivered a couple of dangerous corners from the left. The first was almost sliced in by a defender at her near post, and the second eventually found Amy D’Ortenzio, who lobbed over.
Williamstown then had a dangerous break on 71 minutes when Baro absolutely flew down the left wing leaving defenders in her wake, before cutting in and shooting wide. They attacked again, this time down the right, and it was only a saving tackle from Hannah Lee that prevented Williamstown breaking clear.
The last few minutes saw the visitors tire, allowing Barkers to send long balls for Jones to chase. However, Barkers got careless right on full time as they conceded a free kick 25 yards out for handball, but Baro hit the shot wide. The cherry on the cake arrived when D’Ortenzio fed Jones, who found Stokes, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-1 and put Barkers into round 2.
In the end this was a comfortable win for Barkers, but there were a few sliding doors moments when the game could have changed. Next week, the Barkers men begin their State 2SE campaign with a home game against Hampton East Brighton, kick-off Saturday 1pm (reserves) and 3pm (seniors) at Esther Park. Later that afternoon, the Barkerettes will play their second round Nike FC cup tie at Monbulk Rangers, kick-off Saturday 5pm at Monbulk Regional Soccer Facility.
