Doggies Run Rampant Over Mitchie
Capalaba FC have returned to winning ways in the National Premier Leagues Women’s with a comfortable 7-2 win over Mitchelton FC on Sunday.
Stephanie Latham led the returns for the Bulldogs at Teralba Park Synthetic with her second hat-trick of the campaign, while Natalie Tathem, Amy Chapman, Kaitlyn Torpey and Alexandra Schaefer also joined the scoring spree.
The result was a statement of intent from Skie Hanifin’s side following a frustrating last start defeat, and also put paid to an unwanted three-match winless run away run.
The Bulldogs now sit sixth in the NPLW standings – a position they will hold into their next game despite having a bye in the next round.
The Bulldogs showed their intent early with Tathem’s opener coming in just the eighth minute of the contest when she pounced on a loose ball in the box.
The hosts remained on the back foot and the margin was doubled midway through the half when Latham netted her first with a stylish volleyed finish from Tathem’s pin-point floated delivery.
Mitchelton began to fashion the occasional half chance, but the Bulldogs continued to knock at the door as Chapman and Latham proved a handful for their opposing numbers.
However, the hosts were given a lifeline on the half-hour when defender Natasha Wheeler’s errant pass at the back was picked off by Rebekah Horsey, who duly converted the gifted opportunity.
The Bulldogs continued to fashion the bulk of the chances, however, and restored the two goal margin before half-time when a well-positioned Chapman latched on to a deflection at close range – her first goal since the COVID restart.
But Mitchelton’s hopes of a comeback were dashed completely straight from the restart as Latham added her second with a composed finish on the back of a defence-splitting pass from Chapman in the 46th minute.
Torpey added her name to the scoresheet soon after when her back post run was picked-out by Whitney Knight in a move sparked by Wheeler’s early ball from defence.
There was small consolation for the hosts when Georgia Muir pulled a goal back prior to the hour against the run of play.
However, the Bulldogs were relentless as Latham sealed her hat-trick in the 71 minute with another typically classy goal – controlling smartly from captain Billie Murphy’s long delivery into the box before tucking away the finish.
There was brief frustration as substitute Eloise Wadsworth tucked the ball across the line only to be denied her second goal of the campaign by an offside flag.
But there were no such dramas for fellow substitute Schaefer as she iced the win with ten minutes remaining by turning the ball in at the back post from Teaghan Thompson’s floated free-kick.
The result was only soured by forced second half exits for Knight and Torpey with injury – the duo both substituted out of caution by a pragmatic Hanifin with the points already secure.
Speaking post-match, Knight said the team had a point to prove after dropping points to Souths the previous week.
“The performance last week wasn’t something we were happy with. We knew we had to step up and deliver.
She added: “We will work on the goals we have conceded and not being complacent even if we are a few goals up. It’s we need to be aware of going forward.”
The result means the Bulldogs have now scored an astounding 16 goals in three matches since the COVID restart – double their return in front of goal from before the league’s imposed shutdown.
They will now cool their jets with a bye next weekend before returning to action the following Sunday at home to third-placed Eastern Suburbs FC.
Match Details:
National Premier Leagues Women’s Queensland
Sunday, 9 August @ Teralba Park Synthetic
Mitchelton FC – 2 (Rebekah Horsey 30; Georgia Muir 57)
Capalaba FC – 7 (Natalie Tathem 8; Stephanie Latham 20, 46, 62; Amy Chapman 39, Kaitlyn Torpey 53; Alexandra Schaefer 80)