February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
font color=green>Parlour Moms 3, Fiona’s 2
The Parlour Moms annexed the Bronx Irish Soccer League women’s league title last weekend, defeating Fiona’s 3-2 on penalties. The strong wind favored Fiona’s in the opening half but it was the Parlour Moms who came closest to scoring after a goal-mouth scramble. However Fiona’s vigilant defense booted the ball clear. The Parlour Moms played a neat passing game but their strike force of Karen Rice and Regina Neijman found the last quarter of the pitch off limits, where Jamie Machado and Katie McDermott were in stingy humor.
Fiona’s piled on the pressure after the break but lacked cohesion and power in their forward unit. The best efforts of Aaron Tracy were repelled by Jane Kenny and Mara Kaplan. Their best chance of a score came from two identical frees from Rosie O’Reilly. In both cases, a lofted ball from the right sailed across the penalty area, begging for the barest touch of a foot or head. This lackluster game dragged into extra time, where the Parlour Moms were gifted an opportunity to take the lead when a dubious handball call on Breda Culligan led to a penalty. The pressure kick was hit wide of Ger Mahon’s goal.
A penalty shootout beckoned and was a battle of power versus placement, with Fiona’s electing to drill the ball, while the Parlour Moms goalie, Jan Holland, came into her own, pulling off two superb saves to clinch the title.
Starting Gate 2, Southbend 1
The Shield final was a preview of next week’s Cup final, with the Starting Gate Harps defeating the Southbend, 2-1. The latter, with 10 women, took a surprise first-half lead by a great goal from Una Rice. The hard-working Harps finally came through in the second half when the league’s top finisher, Ann Carr, scored two goals.
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