Bulls brimming with goal threats
MAREEBA United has added another strike weapon to their arsenal as they quietly build towards a serious FNQ Women’s Premier League title challenge.
The Bulls are second on the ladder with just the one loss on their record, but they have somehow managed to fly under the radar despite boasting the best defence in the seven-team competition.
They will travel to Leichhardt’s White Rock home this evening in a contest which could very well eliminate one side’s chances of finishing the regular season atop the table.
Mareeba coach Marcello Savaglio is expecting his side to face arguably their toughest challenge of the season, as they face an undefeated Leichhardt side coming off a frustrating draw against JCU Strikers.
“They’ll be disappointed in that result so they’ll be wanting to come out and make a statement,” Savaglio said.
The Lions are deadly across the park. From a midfield which features Aleeah Davern and the Fowler sisters, Ciara and Louise, to the experienced
Ria Collie and Stacey Ghietti and rising junior star – and former Bull – Tonia-Marie Rantucci, Leichhardt has plenty of ways to hurt an opposition.
Savaglio has a few handy strikers of his own, and could be set to unleash another strike weapon in Shaquille Chong.
She spent the past few years Woden-Weston in the ACT, where she played in the NPL.
Chong has four goals in her first three games for Mareeba since 2016, and is expected to be a major attacking presence if Savaglio decides to implement a new formation.
She may not make the trip to White Rock this evening, but Mareeba will boast two outstanding strikers in junior representative star Victoria Owokran, who has scored 14 goals so far, and Jeannae Kalinau, who has 11 to her name.
“Jeannae and Victoria have been playing well,” Savaglio said of his star pair.
With Owokran and Kalinau already upfront, Chong’s addition could mean a shift to allow for three players in the attacking line.
Stratford host JCU and Innisfail face Edge Hill United in the other games.