Saturday 20th February, 2010
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Honiara Women’s Football League resumed on Saturday (20th February) with an exciting game between KGVI Snails and KOSSA. KGVI Snails came out on top after the final whistle but the entire match itself was full of action and gave fans an interesting afternoon at the SIFF Academy Football Field.

The match started to a lively rhythm with both teams trying hard to get the early lead. KOSSA were in control in the first 5 minutes but this domination was wrestled away by KGVI Snails as the first half progressed.
KOSSA suffered a huge blow halfway through the first half when their stopper was red carded after receiving 2 cautions for deliberately handling the ball on 2 separate incidents. This severely affected their defence lines which had been working well up to this stage of the match.

KGVI Snails where fast and tried to find an opening on the right but it was until late in the first half that they were able to advance effectively into the KOSSA 18 yard box. Corina Hasi almost found the back of the net with her long range effort but it went just wide of the far post. Two more attempts from KGVI Snails were promising but Jima Maenu was up to the task at the KOSSA gates.

The teams remained deadlocked when half-time arrived but it was KGVI Snails who held more possession and had more chances.

In the second half KGVI Snails applied more pressure on KOSSA and should have scored on a number of occasions save for the opponent’s goalkeeper who was, despite a later slip up, at the top of her game.
KGVI Snails’ pressure eventually paid off when a short corner provided Joana Alick with an opportunity for a shot and her effort from well outside the 18 yard box went right past the goalkeeper.

Alive with the euphoria of their goal the KGVI Snails forward pack went searching for more goals. Mirriam Oneasi made several good runs into the 18 yard box but she was met with stiff resistance from the KOSSA defenders. Additional substitutes were brought into boost their effort but the KOSSA back line was not going to let another goal in.

The final score was 1 – 0 to KGVI Snails and KOSSA will have to try again for a victory in their next match.
Speaking after the match KGVI Snails coach, Chris Asipara, said that although his side won they struggled a bit and have not built up the cohesiveness that he was looking for.
‘We scored from a set piece which I am happy with but we were looking for more goals and this did not happen for us today,’ Asipara said.

The next Honiara Women’s Football League match will be on Wednesday when the Hurricanes take on Junior Flamingo. The match will be held at the SIFF Academy Football Field.

A KGVI Snails passes a KOSSA defender

Everlyn Apa recieves a high pass