A hat-trick to Michelle Heyman has seen Central Coast record an emphatic 6-0 victory over Adelaide United in the Westfield W-League match at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday
The game was staged in sweltering conditions with the players taking regular drinks breaks while referee Lee Corey had to sit out the second half with heat exhaustion. But South Australia’s early blast of summer didn’t stop the Mariners delivering a 90-minute demolition job against the home side.
Central Coast scored three goals in each half and was running until the final whistle. Adelaide toiled hard in the first half but its younger players struggled to maintain intensity as the match progressed.
To United’s credit it did find a second wind as the game neared full-time with a couple of corners and shots on target giving it something to work with next week.
The Mariners’ three points ensures the battle for top spot with Brisbane Roar is well and truly alive.
Central Coast hit the lead in the 22nd minute when a Kelly Golebiowski cross cleared goalkeeper Sian McLaren and was pushed across the line at close range by Heyman.
Heyman had a chance to double the advantage four minutes later when a midfield pass pierced the Reds’ defence and left her one-on-one with the keeper. But she mistimed her release and McLaren was up to the challenge, trapping the ball off the boot, just inside the box.
The home side tried to weather the Mariners’ storm but the visitors scored from a corner in the 40th minute. McLaren got to the contest but the ball spilled free when she clashed with Rachael Doyle near the penalty box. Heyman then swooped on the loose ball to score for a second time.
Central Coast then made it 3-0 with a goal heading into the break. McLaren was drawn to a ball on the fringes of the box and was then caught out of position when the Mariners squared the ball – Ashleigh Connor easily adding her name to the scoreboard with an open goal to aim at.
It didn’t take long for Central Coast to inflict more pain on United in the second half – Kendall Fletcher’s 30-metre free kick was a beauty, curling the ball into the left hand corner of the net.
Heyman showed composure to record her third goal a few minutes later, entering the box and shooting the ball to the left of McLaren.
Even Central Coast’s substitute players had an impact with Jenna Kingsley crossing a ball to Lydia Vandenbergh who had no trouble bringing up No.6 from close range.
Adelaide United 0
Central Coast 6 (Heyman 22, 40, 59, Connor 45, Fletcher 51, Vandenberg 73)
@ Hindmarsh Stadium
