The Western Sydney Wanderers finished their Westfield W-League season with a hard fought 3-1 loss against Brisbane Roar.
It was a long time coming as the match lasted three hours and ten minutes whistle-to-whistle thanks to a series of lightning delays.
In fact after an even opening to the match it was after the first lightning delay that Brisbane drew first blood through AFC Player of the Year Katrina Gorry.
Fresh from her awards ceremony in Manilla, Gorry added another scorcher to her growing highlights reel as she hit a long range shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Shell-shocked, Wanderers had no answer as Brisbane soon had their second when Tameka Butt slotted in following a nice passing sequence.
The Red & Black then waked from their slumber as Linda O’Neill had two opportunities within a minute of conceding as a long-range effort when slightly wide before a snapshot was saved well by Nadine Angerer.
Half time was a longer than expected affair as the lightning returned meaning the impressive crowd had to endure a 65 minute half time before the teams emerged from the dressing rooms.
The early exchanges were all Wanderers as the home team looked to do their best to avoid the wooden spoon.
Michelle Carney and Hannah Beard both had chances with their efforts blocked on the line and going wide by a millimetre respectively.
With pressure mounting the Red & Black finally grabbed their reward when Helen Petinos scored her second goal of the season.
It was a smashing finish by the young striker after meeting Keelin Winters’ cut-back to the penalty spot.
The home team could not have come any closer to an equaliser when Linda O’Neill’s slaloming run looked certain to finish with a goal until her curling shot slammed against the far upright.
Michelle Carney was on hand to finish from the rebound but it was disallowed due to offside.
From there the match petered out somewhat and when Sunny Franco nabbed Brisbane’s third the match was all over.
Which neither side had a chance to make finals heading into the match both teams left everything on the pitch to provide an entertaining regular-season finale for the supporters who firstly braved the searing heat and then the teeming rain.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Helen Petinos 66’)
Brisbane Roar 3 (Katrina Gorry 20’, Tameka Butt 41’, Sunny Franco 85’)
Sunday 7 December 2014
Sportingbet Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Katie Patterson
Western Sydney Wanderers: Jessica Urquhart (GK), Caitlin Cooper, Jessica Seaman, Helen Petinos, Rachael Soutar, Grace Henry, Keelin Winters, Michelle Carney, Hannah Beard (Catlin Jarvie 81’), Linda O’Neill, Chloe O’Brien
Unused substitutes: Demi Koulizakis (GK), Jordan Baker, Laura Donnelly
Cautions: Hannah Beard 26’, Grace Henry 78’
Brisbane Roar: Nadine Angerer (GK), Amy Chapman (Sunny Franco 68’), Clare Polkinghorne, Brooke Spence, Kim Carroll, Elise Kellond-Knight, Larissa Crummer (Vedrana Popovic 85’), Katrina Gorry, Tameka Butt, Natasha Wheeler, Emily Gielnik (Ayesha Norrie 68’)
Unused substitutes: Kate Stewart (GK)
Cautions: Larissa Crummer 54’
