Football girls ramp up Maccabiah preparation
 
AJN STAFF 
AUSTRALIA’S Maccabiah Women’s football squad assembled in Melbourne for their third training camp earlier this month, with players from Sydney and Perth joining the Melbourne contingent to train under coaches Martin Cohen and Robi Roth.¬†The camp culminated with a friendly game against local side Cairnlea, who hold top spot in Victoria’s Northern Region State League, but the girls showed their skill in a 5-0 triumph.¬†Young Victorian Bec Bennet almost got the Maccabiah outfit off to a perfect start in the fifth minute, but her strike hit the upright with the keeper well beaten.¬†
Prolific NSW striker Nicky Goldberg was proving to be a handful for the Cairnlea defence, but couldn’t find reward for her piercing attacks early in the contest.¬†Captain Naomi Mossenson showed her leadership qualities playing in the middle of the park, providing a constant link between the defensive and attacking thirds.¬†The competitive hit-out saw the sides go to the sheds locked in a scoreless draw, but the Maccabiah girls came out in the second half with renewed intent.¬†
Mossenson sent a fine through ball to Goldberg, who confidently beat her defender and slotted the ball home for the opening goal on 55 minutes. Cairnlea tried to come back, but their attack was blunted by the strong defensive group of Western Australian Tal Mossenson and Victorians Lauren Goldman and Raquel Lewis.
The Maccabiah side extended its buffer after a period of constant pressure paid dividends, earning a 65th minute penalty.¬†Mossenson’s strike was parried by the Cairnlea keeper, but she was able to score on the rebound.¬†With Bec Sheridan and Jess Nash working strongly and speedy midfielder Lani Kahn creating panic among the Cairnlea defenders, the next goal came when Lauren Broit delivered a quick pass to Goldberg, who again showed her goal-scoring pedigree by slotting home her second and Maccabiah’s third goal.
Tall Di Kensell was active in defence, but it was a courageous dive at the feet of a Cairnlea striker by keeper Amy Seskin that showed Maccabiah’s desperation to keep a clean sheet.¬†Broit then stole the show with a long-range wonder strike, before a Bennet free-kick was only parried by the keeper.¬†None other than Goldberg was on hand to grab a hat-trick and round out a 5-0 win for the side.¬†Section manager Sydney Kahn described the win as confidence boosting.
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