By Tara Murray
Williamstown didn’t make the most of its opportunities in its Victorian Football League women’s match with Port Melbourne and was made to pay on Sunday.
The Seagulls were looking to get their third win on the board against an experienced Port Melbourne side.
There was not much between the two sides on the scoreboard in the first half, before the Borough kicked the only goal of the third quarter to lead by eight points at the final break.
The Seagulls left their run too late in the final quarter as the Borough came away with a 5.7 (37)-4.3 (27) win.
Seagulls coach Liam Cavanagh said it was a disappointing result.
“We had our chances,” he said. “We probably left our run too late.
“In the second quarter we looked really good and only kicked one goal, we needed to make it four or five.
“Port had some changes and looked better and super confident.”
Cavanagh said Port Melbourne was really strongly defensively, which included taking 21 intercept marks as his players were kicking straight to the opposition.
Jemima Wrigley had 17 possessions for the Seagulls, while Emily Eaves had 16. It was all single goalkickers.
The Seagulls now sit 2-2.
Cavanagh said there had been a lot of positive signs early on.
“We still have so many players to come back in,” he said. “We wanted to stay ahead of the ledger early on.
“The girls who have come in are playing well. We should get Eliza Stratford back in the next couple of weeks, Ash Thorneycroft this week and Chloe Bain in a couple of weeks.”
The return of Thorneycroft is a bonus for the Seagulls, having announced her retirement at this level after last season.
A development coach this year, Thorneycroft did all the pre-season and changed her mind about playing.
“We won’t let her retire,” Cavanagh said. “We decided to let her step into the season a third of the way through.
“Hopefully she’s ready to go, She’s been dominating for Hillside.”
With players out, the Seagulls have played six or seven debutants this season as they continue to find the right mix.
On Sunday, they had two more in Carmyn Bux and Melina Ciaveralla.
Cavanagh said they had been wanting to get Bux into the side for a number of weeks, while Ciaverella is a hardworking player who gave them a bit of a lift.
The Seagulls this week face the Sandringham Zebras on Sunday. The Zebras are the only undefeated side.
Cavanagh said he thought it would be a ripping game.
