The Micro Fastener’s Eltham Redbacks FC State League 3 North West women have been promoted to State League 2 North West after a successful 2011 campaign.
Coach Peter Keegan had the team off to a flying start with a 0-3 win against Brunswick City with club stalwarts Alex Giuliani and captain Kate ‘Jonesy’ Hodgson scoring in their first game along with Keegan’s new midfield recruit, Moya Ellem.
Hodgson led the team to a further five consecutive wins before the winning streak became unstuck against the unbeaten, and eventually league champions, Boroondara Eagles in a frustrating 1-3 loss at home.
Goalkeeper Alex Kite had only conceded a total of three goals in the first seven rounds and with the first half of the 18 round season closing fast the Redbacks felt well and truly amongst the contenders for promotion.
Eltham sustained a further 1-0 loss against Diamond Valley at Partington Flats followed by a 0-1 loss to Melbourne Knights at home, and things suddenly weren’t looking as bright.
Keegan and the ladies refocused and pushed forward into the season winning their next six matches to put them in equal second place on the table with Melbourne Knights – ahead only by goal difference.
However, the job was nowhere near complete. The only three teams the Redbacks had lost to were to make up the clashes for the final three rounds of the season. Worst case, the Redbacks required two clear wins to guarantee promotion and with centre back Nakita ‘Nakkaz’ Anderson out with a severe quad injury Keegan had to reshuffle the deck to shore up the best defence in the league to date.
Boroondara had Eltham’s measure in the first battle, with a 2-4 victory. All four of the Eagle’s goals were scored in the first half, though, with Eltham closing out with a 2-0 result in the second half – so confidence was not lost.
The annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser match versus Diamond Creek, supported by Steve Herbert MP, saw a large crowd at Eltham North Reserve to cheer on the women. It wasn’t until the 80th minute that Hodgson scored the only goal for the match, dribbling two defenders and slotting the ball into the top right corner to beat an able Diamond Valley keeper.
A draw would be enough to earn promotion, against the Melbourne Knights at the well-known Knights Stadium in Sunshine North.
The game started well for Eltham, with the Knights on the back foot. Striker Sheridan ‘Sharon’ Lockhart missed three clear scoring opportunities, and it looked like it might be ‘one of those days’ until Shana Famularo connected with a powerful volley into the top of the net to put the ‘backs in front. Brazzale followed shortly thereafter with a clearing kick from inside her own half which was misjudged by the keeper, bouncing over her head and into the goal to take Eltham to the change rooms at half-time with a 0-2 lead.
Half-way into the second half Stephanie Abu Awad sealed the game beyond doubt with an authoritative shot from outside the 18 yard box.
The Eltham Redbacks finished in clear second place in the league behind Boroondara Eagles and now look forward to competing in State League 2 North West in 2012.
Note that the finals for State League 3 NW women start this Sunday with Eltham vs. Melbourne Knights at 1pm @ Eltham North Reserve.
James (from Red Rockets) takes on the Eltham Power
