TITLE-CHALLENGERS Mavericks have ended the National Sports Council’s (NSC) three-year unbeaten run in women’s football.
In one of the most entertaining women’s matches for some time, Mavericks defeated the defending champs 3-1, in the second game of a triple-header at the Friendship playing field on Sunday.
Empire’s woes continued as they narrowly lost 3-2 to fellow strugglers Technique, and Genesis rallied from two goals down to defeat Eden Stars Unity I 6-2 in the feature match.
Technique defeated Empire for the second time this season courtesy a hat-trick from Nakeisha Boyce who struck in the 15th, 30th and 40th minutes.
Nickeisha Nurse managed to get one back for Empire in the 44th minute and they were gifted an own goal in the 45th minute.
Mavericks’ upset win over the more experienced reigning queens saw them close the gap on leaders NSC to one point.
It was the perfect response after their defeat in the previous week. They were well organised, combative and unified in their efforts.
Jalisa Callender handed NSC the lead in the tenth minute but Felicia Jarvis replied seven minutes later with the first of her two goals.
The 1-1 score line at the end of the first half was testament to the competitive nature of the game.
NSC enjoyed a lot of possession throughout the game, with Giselle Fields and Tianna Hackett controlling the tempo of the game as they were offered loads of room.
However, Callender and Kimberley Ellis were kept fairly quiet by a Mavericks backline well-orchestrated by experienced captain Latifa Forde and Jeneva Millar, along with outstanding Under-15 national defender Aaliyah Boyce.
Offensively, Mavericks were quiet and relied on counter-attacks, mainly via Jarvis and Julia Taylor on the right side and occasionally through Tiffany White, who was given a free role.
White’s mobility paid dividends in the 56th minute. She swept past by the NSC wing back and swung a teasing cross across the area which Jarvis’ right boot steered into the left corner, giving custodian Kamilah Burke no chance.
NSC continued to dominate possession but Mavericks stood firm.
The final nail in the NSC coffin came from one of their own in the 82nd minute. White sent in a corner kick and defender Shanice Hinds, under heavy pressure from a Mavericks attacker, turned the ball into her own net.
Experience proved to be pivotal in the feature match, as Genesis staved off a strong challenge from the youthful Eden Stars.
Eden Stars opened the scoring in the third minute, when a 25-yard free kick from Nashandi Clarke deceived the goalkeeper.
Eden Stars doubled the lead in the tenth minute when a shot by Clarke ricocheted off a defender and into the back of the net.
However, four goals in 15 minutes turned the game Genesis’ way.
Double strikes from Kerry Trotman in the 17th and 20th minutes and Christaline Chandler in the 26th and 32nd minutes took Genesis into the break with a 4-2 lead.
Chazelle Cumberbatch completed the scoring for Genesis with another double strike, in the 72nd and 90 minutes.
