PANNELLA SCORES TWICE TO GET THE BERGERS BACK ON TOP

The Bergers travelled to White Eagles Stadium in Keysborough to play their Round 11 fixture against Sandringham.  In what can be classified as truly freezing conditions, the Bergers were keen to maintain the momentum of their Season to date and only victory would assure them of that.

Having lost Sarah Groenewald to injury last week and with a number of players currently overseas, the Bergers managed to have just 23 players available for selection.

The Bergers started off the match quietly confident that they could account for the team that manged to inflict their first defeat of the season back in Round 3 when Sandringham managed to beat the Bergers at Olympic Village by 2 goals to 1.Since then the Bergers have only lost to Box Hill and with top spot still to be regained, the girls were keen on avenging thei Round 3 defeat and regain top spot. 

Heidelberg had a number of chances early in the first half but didn’t manage to get them on target.  It wasn’t until the 19th minute that Melanie Camilleri broke the Sandringham defence and slotted the ball past the Sandringham keeper Peta Horman and give the Bergers a 1 goal lead.  Sandringham however were not going to make it an easy night for the Bergers and were unlucky not to equalise on a couple of occasions in the first half whilst their defence remained solid at the other end.

During the break, the Bergers realised that if they were going to make a game of it they would need to stretch the Sandringham defence by playing the width of the pitch.  As a result, a number of chances were being created and it wasn’t long before Heidelberg broke through with Belinda Pannella who in the 52nd minute was on the receiving end of a great through ball and managed to make no mistake in beating the Sandringham keeper to give the Bergers what seemed to be a 2 goal match winning lead . 

Sandringham however seemed to have other ideas and was eager not to let the game get away from them.  They seemed to lift their level of performance and started to pressure the Bergers defence.  They were rewarded for their efforts in the 60th minute when Paige Dodds latched onto a cross from a corner and put it past Katie Neville.  The match was by no means over and Sandringham sensed that they had an opportunity for an upset.  In the 75th minute, Sandringham once again broke clear from the Heidelberg defence and found themselves to be one on one with Katie Neville who managed to connect with the ball but was lucky to receive a yellow and not a red when the Sandringham player came to ground in the tackle.  The resultant penalty kick taken by Michelle Parton levelled the scores for the home side.

Heidelberg were now facing a major challenge in getting their third goal and ultimately the three points for the match.  Both defences held their ground whilst some “aerial ping-pong” saw the ball go back and forth.  It all but seemed that the match will end in a 2-2 draw with just two minutes left to play.  However, Belinda Pannella seemed not so sure that it was going to be that way.  She switched sides from left to right and got out wide enough to receive a cross which she controlled beautifully.  She managed to beat one Sandringham defender as she made her way into the 18 yard box and in what can only be described as a “vintage” Pannella shot, scored the goal of the match and gave the Bergers a 3-2 goal lead and a memorable victory.