Our Women’s Youth Team defeated Marconi Stallions 4-3 in the Football NSW League One Women’s Match of the Round
Lineup: 15. Lara Turner, 17. Lillia Rae, 18. Mackenzie Preston-Poole, 26. Ellie Boulton, 33. Sarah Patmore, 35. Sunny Alston, 37. Navah Crofton (C), 38. Isabella Walshe, 40. Lily-Rose Dunbar (GK), 55. Ruby Murray, 70. Matilda Fleming
Subs: 5. Aaliyah Kilroy, 13. Julieanne Fox, 16. Layla Sharpe, 19. Makayla Clifton, 60. Hayley Tisseur (GK)
The Youth Team opened the scoring against Marconi, as a corner was forced into the net off the head of a Marconi defender, giving the Youth Team a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the match. Mackenzie Preston-Poole doubled the advantage in the tenth minute, turning on the edge of the box before beating her defender and smashing her shot into the top left corner.
Ruby Murray came close to scoring a third for the Youth Team, turning and firing from the edge of the box with her shot narrowly missing the target. Half-time came with the Youth Team holding a firm 2-0 lead.
Preston-Poole scored her second in spectacular fashion in the 49th minute, twisting between two defenders before beating a third and firing into the side-netting. Marconi managed to grab a lifeline just a minute later, as they poked home after a messy goal-mouth scramble.
Two minutes later, and Marconi had a second, reducing the Youth teams lead to just one goal. Marconi came close to equalising in the 62nd minute, but Lily-Rose Dunbar stepped up to the challenge, blocking a shot from close range before pushing away the second attempt.
Mackenzie Preston-Poole sealed her hat-trick in the 71st minute, racing in behind the defence before calmly slotting her effort past the on-rushing Marconi shot-stopper. Marconi grabbed a third in the 81st minute, as a cut-back across the box couldn’t be dealt with, before falling to Olivia Cole at the back post who powered her shot into the net.
Marconi pushed hard for an equaliser, but couldn’t breach the Youth Team defence again, as they held strong to secure a 4-3 win.
