SOPHIE Jones starred as Mid North Coast consolidated its top four position in the Women’s Premier League with a 4-3 win over South Wallsend on Sunday.
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The seven-goal thriller in Port Macquarie ebbed and flowed, but it was Jones’ late second-half strike which separated the two teams.
South Wallsend opened the scoring, before Mid North Coast equalised only for the visitors to put their noses in front.
Mid North Coast equalised at 2-all within the shadows of the half-time break.
Jones finished the match with a brace while Bianca Mason and Courtney Anderson also found the back of the net.
Mid North Coast are now five points clear of South Wallsend who slipped to fifth following the defeat.
Coach Mick Day felt the scoreline flattered their opponents after the hosts dominated possession.
“We probably shouldn’t have allowed it to get as close as it got,” he said.
“South Wallsend are the type of team who are very good and if you blink they get you.
“We blinked three times and they scored three goals.”
We probably shouldn’t have allowed it to get as close as it got.
- Mid North Coast coach Mick Day
He said the most pleasing aspect of the win was not conceding a late equaliser as they had already done this season.
“We’ve had games this year where we’ve led 2-1 or 1-0 and conceded late so while we’ve gotten the draw it’s felt like a loss,” he said.
“The girls played for the full 90 minutes.”
It is in stark contrast to last year when they were anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
“They’ve had a few years of pain, but now they’re getting the rewards,” Day said.
Mid North Coast face another challenge on Sunday when they host joint ladder-leaders Warners Bay in Taree in a rescheduled match from the June long weekend.
