BLACKWOOD United Ladies put on a fine show at the season opener against Hay Park on Sunday down at Balingup Oval.
Blackwood Ladies have advanced to the reserves league this season and are looking up for the challenge after Sunday's game.
Last season's reserve league runners up Hay Park started strong but were soon put back into place by the strong new look Blackwood side.
Blackwood held off their opponents well into the first half until Hay Parks star forward Golden Boot Angela Atherton found her way through the tight defence and slotted one past the keeper low into the corner of the net.
Blackwood's defence worked well together with the addition of cool, calm youngster Danielle Mauger who had a great game alongside Molly Hawkins, Vikki Thompson and Casey McGurk.
Blackwood's new stand in keeper Nicole Munro also pulled off some superb saves and kept Hay Parks score well down for her team.
Blackwood midfielders Sarah Dalton and Olivia Stedman controlled the play really well, passed well and gave the forwards plenty of opportunity at the goals.
A lovely cross by hard-working Sophie Thomson gave youngster Jamie Hocking a chance at goal which she slotted in with confidence to equal the scores 1-1.
Blackwood then took it up a notch with some more classy work from forwards Margaret Dellasale and Shahni Lovett but they couldn't get another one in.
Hay Park had another run at goals and managed to get a shot over the very tall keeper's head who finger tipped it into the back of the net making it a 2-1 ball game at half time.
The second half was not as pretty as the first.
Blackwood kept most of the play at their end but could not get a decent shot at the goals. It was very hot and the girls were finding it hard.
Vikki Thompson nearly scored with a great header off a lovely corner ball delivered perfectly by Molly Hawkins.
Hay Park also had some good runs at goal but were soon shut down until their Golden Boot once again got away from the defence and put away another well placed goal out of the keepers reach to take away the win with a 3-1 end score.
It was a great game and exciting to see all the old and new Blackwood talent out on the pitch again.
It was a positive team effort with everyone contributing 100 per cent. All the girls are looking forward to a great season with new coach James Morris at the helm.
In men's soccer, Blackwood started the season with a home win, defeating Dynamo 2-0.
The home team had lost a number of players from last season and found the first half tough going against a fired up Dynamo who pushed hard for the opening goal. They then lost central defender Danny Abbiss after a clash of heads which required a hospital visit and five stitches to a cut above the eye. The score was 0/0 at the break.
The second half saw a more determined Blackwood start to take control of the game. A fine run on the right by Danny Fenton saw him brought down and awarded a penalty which Wayne Hawkins powered past the keeper.
The game continued in this vein, with Blackwood pressing for the second which came after a goal mouth scramble, during which the away defense failed to clear and Dave Field was on hand to stab it home.
Young defender Mitchell Kemp put in a great display at right back as did Jolyon Elliott in the center of defense.
Scorers Wayne Hawkins 1, Dave Field 1.
Training is at Balingup oval on Wednesday nights at 6pm.
