WESTERN NSW Mariners FC have snapped their four game women’s National Premier Leagues 2 losing run in style with a 2-1 victory over UNSW FC at Lithgow.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Poorsha McPhillamy enjoyed one of her most memorable games in Mariners colours, finding both goals for the Western women to help her side record a fourth victory this season.
Mariners and UNSW were locked at 1-all during the break but McPhillamy’s second goal of the match – almost a copy of her first from the top of the 18-yard box – got her team the victory they’ve craved for over a month.
The win over the Lions ends a run of unfortunate results for a Mariners squad who had showed a lot of heart in their previous two losses coming into Sunday’s game.
“It was an exceptional effort from everyone that was out there. It was a physical game but it was good to finally get a win thanks to that effort we put on the field,” Mariners’ Jasmin Courtenay said.
“It was really close throughout. Poorsha hit two amazing goals and that was the most excited I’d ever seen her.”
Following a scuffle inside the UNSW box the ball bobbled out to the feet of McPhillamy.
The Mariners player made no mistake and opened her team’s account, but Paige Ayton’s goal for the visitors ensured the scores would be level at the break.
Once McPhillamy found her second goal Mariners were hesitant to throw too many bodies forward, opting to sit back and erect a wall of defence.
That was the most excited I’d ever seen her.
- Jasmin Courtenay
Courtenay said the result has instilled a lot of belief in the Mariners lineup, who had been denied in close 3-1 (Inter Lions) and 3-2 (Marconi Stallions) losses before the meeting with UNSW.
“We kept them out. We did hard defence for the last 10 to 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t get one back on us,” she said.
“You could tell all the girls were thinking ‘Finally, our work is paying off’.
“Hopefully we can keep the momentum going into the next couple of games because I feel like they’re games that we’re definitely in contention for.”
The result turns around a 1-0 loss against the Lions from the opening round.
Mariners now hold a 12-point buffer over the winless duo of St George and Southern Branch.
The Western women sit only six points away from fifth-placed Gladesville Ravens.
Ravens are the next opponent for the Mariners women, the first of back-to-back appearances for the Mariners at Orange’s Sir Jack Brabham Park.
