Amber Phillips [green] scored a brilliant goal. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
FOOTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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Tumu ITM Wairarapa United defeated Western Suburbs 6-3 for their second big win in two games; however, the score could have been much higher.
Striker Sam Whyte found her goal-scoring form early, finding the back of the net twice in the first 12 minutes.
That was as good as it got for Whyte, who on any other day would have scored five or six goals.
Right winger Sydnie Williams added a third after 18 minutes and left winger Gorgi van Lienen scored the fourth with a powerful header from a corner.
The chances continued in the second half and midfielder Kennedy Bryant capitalised on a rebound from a goalkeeper’s save to make it 5-0.
United continued to create chances but Wests were next to score when their outstanding midfielder Macey Fraser was given too much room from about 25m and she placed her shot over stranded goalkeeper Courtney Norman.
Amber Phillips soon restored United’s five-goal advantage with the goal of the game when she ran on to a superb pass and smashed the ball past the Wests goalkeeper.
Wests scored another two goals, including another long-range effort by Fraser, to wrap up the scoring.
This was a game though that United could have won by double figures only to be denied by some outstanding goalkeeping and a few fluffed chances.
United captain Tui Dugan was pleased the team were finding their goal scoring form.
“It was good to get a good win and we’ve now scored 13 goals in two games,” she said.
“We’re still building and we’re still not at the best we can be, and the contrast between training and games is still massive. During the week we’re training so well but at the weekends we still aren’t putting teams away.”
Dugan said a top-three finish is still the target for the team.
