WOMEN’S football continues to grow at the Nambucca Strikers as nine new senior players registered to join the team for 2022.

The long awaited season kicked off for the Strikers with an away fixture against a strong and well organised Urunga Raiders side.

The Strikers started positively, pressing Urunga’s defence and creating some good chances.

Urunga then scored a magnificent 30 metre goal against the run of play to put them ahead after ten minutes.

Tragedy struck two minutes later when influential playmaker Alex Habgood injured her ankle and left the field, unable to return.

Sixteen-year-old Jewelle Nelson took to the field and filled the big boots with a measured performance.

The game was strongly contested for the rest of the first half with Urunga gaining field position and Nambucca absorbing the pressure.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first with Nambucca defending hard and trying to catch the home side on the counter attack.

Needing a goal Nambucca pushed players forward and Urunga capitalised in the eightieth minute, again with a well taken shot from outside the box to seal a 2-0 victory.

For a Nambucca team who lacked fitness and cohesion from no preseason training due to field closures, coach Rhys Jones was impressed how the girls battled hard and played with passion and commitment.

“An encouraging result considering the lack of playing time and preparation the team has had.

“However massive positives came out of the game.

“Nambucca introduced three fresh new players to the senior ranks.

“Fifteen-year-old Holly Bennett played a strong game at left back.

“Jewelle Nelson, who gained experience in a few games last season, took to the field like a veteran and Ashleigh White, who was voted MVP, played the first half out of position where she showed her passion and commitment constantly putting pressure on her opposition.

“Our back four absorbed pressure for the whole game, the midfield battled hard and our forwards worked hard in a difficult forwards game.

“All up an encouraging game for the Nambucca team,” summed up Rhys.

 

By David WIGLEY