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THE competitiveness of this season’s GulfWeekly-sponsored Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain Ladies League was well illustrated by Thursday’s thrilling 2-2 draw between last season’s champions Junior Gunners and TFA Joga, one of the stalwarts of the ever-improving competition.
The fixture was played in a terrific spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, with both teams playing hard to win, but showing great respect for each other.
After a tight first 15 minutes, the Junior Gunners took the lead through a well taken Kia Hanahoe strike, continuing her hot scoring form from last season.
The youngsters then doubled their lead through player/coach Deena Rahman.
Joga fought back by resorting to the club’s normal ‘never say die’ attitude, which has made them such a difficult side to beat in recent years.
Sara Aali scored the goal of the game with an unstoppable free kick into the top corner and within a minute Joga were level when the ball was bundled into the net, despite the Gunners goalkeeper Lauren Moir making a fine initial save.
In the final 10 minutes both teams continued to press for a winner and had their chances, but neither team could grab a decisive goal and they had to be content with sharing a point.
Season 5 had earlier kicked off with opening day wins for Eastern Flames, Venus and Arsenal Reds.
A record nine teams are participating this season, reflecting the growth of ladies football in Bahrain.
Last season’s Cup winners from Saudi, Eastern Flames, kicked off their league campaign with a comfortable 8 – 3 win over the U16 Bahrain National team. While the youngsters battled hard and scored through Ayaa Beseisu, Catherine Martin and Nicole Moir, the Flames ran out convincing winners with efforts from hat-trick heroine Leah Montenegro, a brace by Wumme Andrew, and goals from Erin Dawson, Amy Goodwright and Ainsley Gibson On their return to the contest, Desert Divas found the going tough against Arsenal Reds, going down 7-1. The Divas goal came from Ashley Packer, while the Reds scored through four-goal hotshot Reema Al Qassab, with an own goal being added to by strikes from Lucy Hogg and Alaa Alawi.
In Monday’s closest encounter, Venus played their way into a two-goal lead through Tala Bashmi and Esra Nurruddin and managed to resist a spirited fight-back to win the game, the single Reds reply coming from Millie Gallagher.
