SERVICES scrambled their way to a one-goal win over defending champions Olympians on Sunday to make it a two-from-two start to the season.
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The 7-6 win was made all the more satisfying by the fact they were missing coach and midfield general Kimmy McLean.
She was winging her way to Singapore and Malaysia with the Australian Country side.
The one-goal margin reflected what was a tight game.
It was pretty much “back and forth” all game, Services captain Michelle Aslin said.
Olympians were depleted. On top of missing a few regulars they only had nine to start, and only got to a full compliment just before half-time.
They still almost managed to snag a draw with a late penalty corner.
But Services diffused it.
Aslin led the way for them up front slotting four and was really pleased with their game, especially their scrambling defence.
Tracey Donnelly was the perfect example in the final minutes, coming out to snuff out Alice Arnott’s shot after she’d found herself in a bit of space.
Up the other end they importantly “put the ball in the net”.
“When we did get the ball we were able to create opportunities and score from them,” Aslin said.
That hasn’t always been the way, and the attack showed a lot of promising signs.
“Our passing up front was really good,” Aslin said.
They have quite a few new young players and it was encouraging to see how the attack came together.
She said everyone put in.
“It was just so hot. Everyone kept trying and trying,” she said.
Olympians coach Andrew Farmilo wasn’t too fazed by the loss.
“I was pretty happy,” he said.
They were hamstrung for most of the game.
Even when they did get 11 they couldn’t function at full capacity with Karina Newby pulling her quad within the first five minutes having to hobble around for the rest of the game.
“Our backline was pretty different to what it has been in the past,” Farmilo said.
“Meg (Lamph) was the only regular that played in that line.”
The effort was the most pleasing thing.
“The effort was fantastic,” he said.
“They really worked hard off the ball.”
Turnovers hurt them, conceding a lot of goals from lost possession at the back.
Arnott topped the goals for them with three.
SERVICES 7 (Michelle Aslin 4, Kate Perrett, Gabbi Dambros, Jessie McIntosh gls) d OLYMPIANS 6 (Alice Arnott 3, Dana Constable, Kim Resch, Alex White gls).