St Mary’s (Kloof) and DGC close off a successful week with big victories
St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) and Durban Girls’ College played a combined five games this week and won all of them in style. On Saturday, St Mary’s registered their third win of the week, overrunning St Anne’s 6-0, while DGC produced an identical scoreline against Ashton.
Carla Ann Mackay’s charges experienced what she terms “an a-ha moment” on Thursday in their match against Maris Stella, where things fell into place and the team clicked. From then on, they were unstoppable as Cassandra Forbes and company cantered to a 6-0 victory over Maris Stella.
They followed that up with a 2-0 win over a very good Bethlehem Voortrekker team on Friday. Instead of relaxing and letting the two wins go to their heads, Mackay’s charges came out even hungrier when they faced St Anne’s. The St Mary’s attacking players showed confidence in front of goal and maturity in tight situations.
“I am particularly proud of our spectacular out-letting formation. Our backs really did well to show composure, maturity, patience, and creativity in outlet, which gave the team so much freedom in attack,” Mackay explained.
Elizabeth Anderson, who scored four against Maris Stella, further bolstered her season’s tally with a double against Ashton. Anna Birt, Jamie da Silva, Lunathi Mdletshe, and Ella Bowyer scored a goal each.
Over and above their performances this week, Mackay said she is also proud of the culture that is developing in her St Mary’s team. “They are really starting to play for each other every minute of every game. They work for each other at such a high intensity that the opposition doesn’t really have a break because the next Saints’ girl is always covering, or assisting, or working for their teammate,” Mackay shared.
Meanwhile, Chardinay Penniston‘s DGC are on an excellent unbeaten run. They suffered their last defeat nine matches ago, to St Mary’s Waverley at the St Mary’s Festival, which they went on to win, in a competition that featured 32 of the best teams from around South Africa. Since then, DGC has been indomitable. Not even playing two matches in three days slowed them down.
On Thursday, they went up against St Anne’s, and Tara Pakendorf, had an outstanding outing. She was the cog in DGC’s attacking play, executing incisive passes when her team drove forward. She also made hard tackles and much-needed interceptions that denied St Anne’s traction in the contest.
Ruby Kraus, who is in outstanding form, struck a hat-trick, while Asanele Zuma found the back of the net twice, and Emily Macquet also scored.
“I was very proud of the team, considering we had few substitutions,” Penniston said. “There was lots of communication and encouragement, which really helped us play and connect nicely as a team. We put them under pressure and took our opportunities and played for one another. It’s always an exciting game vs St Anne’s.”
Having beaten Ashton 6-0 earlier in the week, Saturday’s result brought DGC’s return to 12 unanswered goals in back-to-back matches.
Against Ashton, they delivered an exhibition of teamwork and sharp decision-making in front of goal. Kraus added two more goals to her season’s total, Cara Baker also netted a brace, while Chelsey Woolf and Emily Macquet scored a goal each.
Our Lady of Fatima continued their good run by registering a second win of the week, beating their neighbours, Danville, 2-0 on Friday. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, they had swept aside the challenge of Ashton, cruising to a 7-1 victory.
Results
DGC 6-0 St Anne’s, St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) 6-0 Ashton, Our Lady of Fatima 2-0 Danville
