Southerners explode out of the gates for convincing win

YOU could not dream of a better start.

Two goals inside the first three minutes set the platform for Southern United’s 52 win over WaiBOP in the national women’s league at Forrester Park yesterday.

One got the impression the visitors’ minds may have been more on the dreary conditions than the game at kickoff.

It was nonetheless a terrific effort from Emily Morison to give

National women’s league

The scores Southern the lead after just 20 seconds.

She received the ball from the kickoff and chipped WaiBOP goalkeeper Amy Harrison from 30m out.

Two minutes later Southern was back at it again, Mikayla Gray doubling the lead from close range with apparent ease.

It was nearly three in six minutes when Morison was delivered a ball on the run just outside the box.

However, she was pulled in the back of the jersey, resulting in a free kick and yellow card.

WaiBOP was able to keep that out and its defence began to settle.

Chances kept coming; Lara Wall was denied by the left post and Morison went very close twice.

However, it was not until the 30th minute that a superb header from Georgia Brown — on the end of a Shontelle Smith free kick — made it 30.

Chelsea Elliott fought back against the run of play to score from a free kick to make it 31.

That set WaiBOP alight, and Southern goal keeper Jordan Woodward was forced to make two exceptional saves in the following minutes.

However, she was unable to make it three — the ball spilling free from her clutches and allowing Ella Golding to pounce and score on an open goal.

It was to be as close as WaiBOP got, though.

Southern forced Harrison into making three top saves, before Lara Wall hit a bullet to make it 42 in the 75th minute.

Brown put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes later, bagging her second goal of the afternoon to cap Southern’s third win of the season.