Girls with Game: Westfield W-League semi-final 2

So it's the final that I, apologies to Mariners fans here, I think everyone wanted to see when Brisbane Roar come down to Sydney to take on the Sky Blues at Shark Park next Saturday.
So how did they get there? A sole goal to defender Karla Reuter was the difference and in the end, a very similar story to yesterday. Experience won through over enthusiasm was combined with another well-founded football rule, that a team with 10-players often rises to the occasion. Today's was a bit different as it was Roar striker Sasha McDonnell who was red-carded after Brisbane had already scored, but to still hold-on facing an onslaught from a Mariners team that desperately wanted to score, was a decent effort. I was only able to catch patches of the game tying in with my other actual work, but I did see that tackle that left Mariner Jenna Kingsley with a possible broken leg. Coach Stephen Roche said in the press conference afterwards she went straight to hospital, but there didn't seem to be any hard-feelings. "Jenna.. she's in a pretty bad way I think, she might have a broken leg. She's gone to hospital. Yes, there was plenty of feeling. Good hard football, a very physical contest," Roche said. It just seemed like it was that kind of game, tough, physical and unrelenting pressure from both teams. From what I did see, it was a cracking semi-final, exactly what finals football should be, close, physical and exciting and it had all of those.

THE WINNERS - BRISBANE ROAR

Jeff Hopkins said that the 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle last week had given them the boost they needed, yesterday and hopefully for next week too.
"The last game against Newcastle was excellent but before that we weren't firing on all cylinders," Hopkins said.
"But we got it right against Newcastle and this win will be a good confidence boost."
But just on the final, Brisbane will now be without striker Sasha McDonnell for the final because of her red-card, which puts both teams in very interesting positions. Because Sydney FC are down a defender, Alesha Clifford will be suspended from her red-card, and Brisbane down a striker. Courtney Beutel has been training again and played the last 15minutes, but is she fit enough to start? Jenna Tristram surely won't play after suffering yet another knee injury last weekend. And will Sydney go with Kylie Ledbrook in defence and add another midfielder, or bring in a defender to start? Some very interesting selections ahead.
*notes on quotes, yes, amazing insight there but unfortunately it's all that Sportal offered and there wasn't a media person on Brisbane's end to email me any quotes. Hopefully I will be able to get some better insight's for you all this week!

THE LOSERS - CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Coach Stephen Roche. "A little bit gutted, when the send-off happened, well, but then we just didn't have enough gas left in the tank.

"We defended very well in the first half and I think that's something we learned from the first game, just how mobile they are, but first half I thought we nuliified pretty much anything they had. So pretty happy with the way that we defended and then the way we came out second-half was still good, then the send-off, putting all that pressure on but we just couldn't come up with it.

"There was nothing left in the tank there with anyone, at the end of the day they are a qulity team but we have well and truly matched it."

Does it bode well for next year? "Next year we will keep as many of them as we can, keep them with us and it's another year, for a pretty young team we'll come back next year and give it a bit more of a go, go one better.

"We aimed to get to finals, so to get second and nearly pinch the premiership there wasn't much in that either, we're over the moon with that."
Westfield W-League player of the year Michelle Heyman. "It is disappointing to lose, though it has been a great season by all the girls - we have had a great season, and we'll be back to go a step better next season.
"It was tough, perhaps the marking was not as tight as last weekend against Sydney FC, though they were really well organised today and made it tough for us," Heyman said.
MATCH DETAILS

BRISBANE ROAR 1 (Karla REUTER 63’) bt CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 0 at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford.
Referee: Kirralee Gardener
Assistant referee: Catherine Nash and Liz Shorter
Fourth official: Pete McCallum
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER (C), 3. Lyndsay GLOHE (13. Trudy CAMILLERI 73’), 4. Rachael DOYLE, 9. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kendall FLETCHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Samantha SPACKMAN, 14. Ashleigh CONNOR, 16. Jenna KINGSLEY (8. Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI 45’), 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH
Substitutes not used: 7. Teresa POLIAS, 15. Elizabeth O'REILLY, 20. Rachel COOPER (gk)
Yellow cards: Michelle HEYMAN 75’
Red cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar line-up: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk) 2. Kate MCSHEA, 3. Karla REUTER, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 6. Joanne BURGESS (18. Courtney BEUTEL 75’), 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 11. Aivi LUIK, 13. Tameka BUTT (10.Lana HARCH 89’), 14.Sasha MCDONNELL, 16. Lauren COLTHORPE, 19. Ellen BEAUMONT (7. Pam BIGNOLD 68’)
Substitutes not used: 20. Kate STEWART (gk), 12. Steph LATHAM
Yellow cards: Lauren COLTHORPE 32’, Sasha MCDONNELL 33’/69’, Karla REUTER 48’
Red cards: Sasha MCDONNELL 69’