IN what has been a period of adversity for St Lawrence Women, they staged an admirable comeback against rivals Jersey Wanderers to book a place in tomorrow’s Zenith Cup final with Rozel Rovers.
Head coach Ivan Freitas confessed that the match against Rovers a few days prior ‘probably came too soon,’ as his outfit played their first home match since the passing of club captain Sylvia Spinola.
Rovers would win the tie comfortably 5-2, leaving Freitas’ side requiring victory against Wanderers to secure a revenge match in the final, which they duly did.
The coach said: ‘It has been a really difficult period for everyone at the club.
‘I don’t think our head was in the game against Rozel and perhaps the home match came too soon.
‘Even personally on the sideline, I was forgetting things and wasn’t really as focused as I needed to be against a team as strong as them.’
However, the side managed to dig very deep against a strong Wanderers side, who took the lead through 16-year-old Hannah Lynam.
‘We were certainly on the back foot,’ said Freitas.
‘The equaliser changed everything for us and settled us down I feel.
‘We started to play our game, which gave us more opportunities going forward.’
Number 10 Lara Couvert provided the spark for the hosts, prodding home Jodie Botterill’s corner on the volley at the back post.
It was Couvert again who was central to the winner, weaving inside defenders on the left, before being brought down for a penalty.
Fiona Mackinnon-Fox was tasked with the spot-kick and fired low to the left corner for what turned out to be the winner.
‘Lara is a fantastic player for us,’ said Freitas.
‘She is one of them special players you can always rely on and always gives 100% for the team.’
Wanderers had chances of their own to equalise, as veteran Sam Silva rattled the crossbar from a freekick.
Couvert and Co sat in and weathered the storm, however, for an emotional victory at Three Oaks.
She said: ‘It’s definitely been hard to focus on football recently, but I am very proud of how we played today.
‘Our first goal came against the run of play and from there we kicked on and grew into the game.
‘Emotions were running really high, but it feels great to be into the final and we are all hoping we can do the job.’
St Lawrence face Rozel Rovers tomorrow at Springfield in the final of the Zenith Cup [ko 7.45pm].
