Busselton Magpies women overcome Panthers in wet weather to keep pressure on top of table

Busselton Magpies have kept within touching distance of the top of the SWFL women’s table after they prevailed over hosts Carey Park 2.7 (19) to 1.1 (7) at Kelly Park on Sunday. Wet weather made the game a messy affair with both teams contending with a slippery ball and a soggy turf beneath them. Busselton were able to move ahead early with the opening goal and a further four behinds to take a double-digits lead into the first break. The second quarter was even tighter with just the Panthers putting through one behind to put scores at 1.4 (10) to 0.1 (1) at half time. As the third quarter progressed Bussleton were able to stretch their lead to 16 points with a goal and a behind. With six minutes of the quarter to go, Carey Park finally registered their first and only goal of the game, coming off the boot of Ruby Goddard. While there were only 10 points in the game, neither team could kick a goal in the fourth quarter. Busselton managed to put through two more behinds late in the final term to take home the win. Sunday’s fixture was a lot closer than when the sides matched up in round one. In that game, Busselton torched Carey Park 16.10 (106) to 0.0 (0) thanks to five-goal quarters in the second and fourth terms. The result leaves Busselton in second on the ladder on 40 points, still eight points behind the Harvey Bulls. They will, however, have some breathing room to both Bunbury and South Bunbury who are four points behind the Magpies. Carey Park will now have to focus on their two remaining fixtures to avoid the wooden spoon with finals a mathematical impossibility.