By Peter Stephenson
A cool evening at the Kennel saw Barkerettes (second) host Lilydale Montrose United (10th) in their last home game of the season. To mark the occasion, the visitors arrived in a big blue and white bus, which they parked right in front of their goal. Perhaps this was wise, given the result when they met earlier in the year. However, a quick look at LMU’s goal difference, almost a mirror image of Barkers’, at least ensured that keeper Ashleigh Fraraccio could settle down with her tea and biccies as usual.
The game was played largely in LMU’s half, and on six minutes, Alexis Sketchley played the ball out to Emily Stokes on the right. Her cross was cleared out to Kelly Butera, whose shot wasn’t enough to trouble Melanie Closter in the home goal (for whom we’d booked in a post-match back rub as a precaution).
Five minutes later, Gracie Touliatos put a ball inside the left back for Stokes to chase (a common tactic on the night as it turned out). She got to the byline and crossed for Amy D’Ortenzio, whose shot was on target but was deflected wide. As the half wore on, it was becoming clear that Barkers, after a flat performance at Malvern the week before, were having trouble getting through the massed ranks of the LMU defence.
On 24 minutes, Alizah Jones laid back for Butera, whose long shot was well dealt with by Closter. Then Jones spread the ball out wide to Stokes, whose cross flashed across the goal. Barkers came closest to scoring five minutes before the break when a LMU goal kick was cut out by Butera. She played the ball forward to D’Ortenzio, who turned and shot narrowly wide.
In stoppage time, Jones went on a mazy run but took on one defender too many, and at half-time the score remained 0-0, with Barkers having almost all the territory but failing to convert.
As the second half began, the wind picked up. Two minutes in, Sketchley hit a low shot which was comfortable for Closter. Then Barkers won a corner on the right. It was played short to Jones, and back to the taker, who hit the ball to the far post. D’Ortenzio and Charlotte McCullough were lurking on the goal line, and it was the latter who bundled the ball home, once again proving she has the knack of being in the right place at the right time.
The goal seemed to settle Barkers, who up to now had been rather rushed in their play. They now found their normal incisive game. On the hour, Butera turned smartly in midfield and hit a great crossfield ball to Jones on the right. She ran on and shot at goal, Closter parried the ball out to McCullough, and her shot was blocked. This led to three corners in a row from D’Ortenzio on the left, to no avail.
On 73 minutes, a good cross from the right to Jones saw her shot closed down by a defender. Then the best move of the game. With 11 minutes to go, Touliatos hit an astonishingly good ball to Stokes on the right – again played inside the defender, perfectly weighted for Stokes to run on to. Stokes crossed to the far post, where D’Ortenzio attempted a first-time shot but couldn’t get the ball from under her feet. That would have been goal of the season.
Barkers now came in for some physical treatment, leading to a free kick from Butera which was hit low and just wide. Full time 1-0, but that’s only half the story. Barkers should have buried LMU, but football doesn’t work like that. The visitors set out their stall determined not to be clobbered, and they succeeded, save for McCullough’s opportunism. Collingwood also won, and stay a point clear going into the last round.
