By KATIE LAMBESKI
VU St Albans Spurs got their Victorian Women’s Football League Premier Division season back on track with a thumping 49-point win over the second-placed Diamond Creek on Sunday.
In a fascinating contest, both sides looked to impose their individual styles on the high standard and intense game.
The Spurs were determined to bounce back from a disappointing performance against the Eastern Devils last week and that showed in an impressive first quarter.
St Albans got away to a six-goal lead and left Diamond Creek stunned.
However, the visitors weren’t about to lie down, and in the second quarter lifted their attack on the ball.
The margin was pulled back to 15 points thanks to some hard running down the wings, but the Creekers also let a number of opportunities slip in front of goal.
Despite being in front on the scoreboard, the two teams were even in general play to start the second half, but it was a defensively disciplined St Albans who was able to swing the contest its way.
The nine-goal-to-three second half saw the Spurs run away to a 49-point win.
A six-goal final quarter was the icing on the cake for the Spurs who celebrated key forward Amy Catterall’s 100th game in style with the 18.6.(114) to 9.11 (65) win.
Earlier in the day, Diamond Creek stunned St Albans in the reserves on a sunny start to the day at Kings Park, keeping their finals hopes well and truly alive with a narrow 7.5.(47) to 6.3.(39) win.
A fast start from Diamond Creek would prove crucial in setting up a big win for the travelling side that had been in impressive form in recent weeks.
Diamond Creek exposed a sluggish Spurs side that had no answers to the Creekers’ (led well all game by Alana Olivieri and Joana Vogt) intensity.
As a result, St Albans paid dearly for their poor first half, trailing by 25 at the first change and by 28 at the main break.
The contest then turned into a game of two halves. What seemed to be a St Albans willing to correct their errors from the first half emerged from the long break to almost stage a remarkable comeback.
It wasn’t to be though as the Creekers bravely held off the Spurs’ challenge.
With Emily McIntyre thrown into midfield and Alana Tully and Bridget Caddy standing up, St Albans narrowed the margin to 20 points at the last change. Three goals in 12 minutes had the Spurs only trailing by two points, only for a Diamond Creek goal with two minutes remaining to break Spurs’ hearts. Both teams now look certain to play a role in what is shaping to be a very exciting finals series.
