Braybrook Cup goes to United

CUP WINNERS: Gisborne United women won the Braybrook Cup on Saturday. They are, standing (from left): Kat Taylor, Kayley Knight, Jamie Gedye, Taryn Walford, Riria Stuart, Kirstie Lovell, Hana Edwardson, Karen McDonald and Tyler Andrews. Kneeling: Chelsea Simpson, Paare Ahuriri-Leach, Amber Church, Rebecca Peach, Sarah Graham, Rubi Perano and Molly Adams. Front: Mel Knight. Picture supplied

FOOTBALL

GISBORNE United won the Braybrook Cup women’s knockout competition in a penalty shootout after regulation time ended goalless at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.

United beat Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina 4-3 in the shootout.

Riverina goalkeeper Morgan Lloyd saved United’s first penalty, by Kayley Knight, but the other four United penalty-takers all scored.

United keeper Mel Knight saved the Riverina spot-kicks taken by Lily-Mae Auckram and Renae Lolohea.

The match had end-to-end action throughout.

Heavy Equipment Services United strikers Jamie Gedye and Chelsea Simpson were full of running but couldn’t score.

The system was simple, hit long balls for the speedsters to chase.

United captain Karen McDonald supplied some magnificent passes, and leftback Rubi Perano delivered some tremendous long throws and dead-ball kicks.

The tireless running of midfielders Riria Stuart and Kayley Knight also contributed much to the United attack.

For Riverina, magnificent goalkeeping by Lloyd and superb play by centreback Kelsey Rickard were major factors in their team’s clean slate in regulation time.

Riverina captain and coach Lizzie Hall worked hard, had some good runs and sent some great passes through the middle.

The nearest anyone came to scoring in normal time was when Gedye finally beat Lloyd but the ball came back off the junction of the right post and crossbar.

Five minutes later, Simpson collected a through-ball from Gedye, rounded the keeper and shot wide of the left post.

Referee Al Knight controlled the match well and let play flow as necessary.

Players of the match were Riverina keeper Lloyd and United midfielder Stuart.

United women’s coach Molly Adams said she was thrilled with the win and proud that the team had done the league-cup double.

She was happy they had continued to pile on the pressure right to the end.