• Taradale's women footballers take two wins from Porthill

Taradale's women footballers take two wins from Porthill

Yesterday saw the first round of Knock Out Cup competitions in Hawke's Bay women's football.

Taradale's Federation and Development teams were both pulled out of the hat to play against Porthill first and second teams in the Federation Cup and local Hawke’s Bay Cup competitions respectively.

The day started brightly at Marewa Park for the away club with the Taradale Development team on the score sheet within the first five minutes before they scored an emphatic 11-0 win. Hannah Sykes scored five goals, Maia Kemp four and Angela Bauerfiend and Emily Grenside one each.

The Feds team had a few players away with illness and injury but were able to call on able reinforcements from the Development team. Taradale dominated possession and field position but some determined defending by Porthill particularly Jess Duff and young goalkeeper Sophie  Walker kept them scoreless at halftime. Taradale continued to string together long periods of play in the second half playing some very attractive football, showing the benefits of playing tough physical games week in week out as they kept the pressure on the Porthill defence.

The pressure finally told part way through the second half with Jamie Evans (pictured above right) scoring after coming close on a number of other occasions. Porthill then had their best chance of the game with a long range strike having Taradale ‘keeper Grace Fulford at full stretch to keep it out. 

Taradale finally made the nervous crowd feel a bit more comfortable with the scoreline late in the game with midfielder Helen Talbot getting her head on the end of one of  player of the day, Jamie Evans, Inswinging corners to make it 2-0 which was how it finished. A great crowd from both clubs were out in the sunshine at Marewa to enjoy an entertaining day of quality women’s football.

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