Enziano earns last-gasp draw
Date published: 13 October 2010
OLDHAM NETBALL . . . Laura Malcolm (back, left), Alexa Collier, Maria McAndrew, Debbie Hallas, Rachel Henry, Rachel Taylor. Katherine Turner (front, left), Kerry Almond, Emma Dovey, Krista Enziano.
NETBALL: AN ENTHRALLING clash saw Oldham draw 45-45 at home to top-of-the-table New Cambell in the National Premier League.
The game opened up with Oldham going 6-2 down, goal shooter Krista Enziano missing three in a row.
But after some athletic tips and turnovers from wing defence Laura Malcolm, coach Mike Greenwood saw his team up the pace to head into the first break 12-11 to the good.
Oldham started the second period strongly as shooter Enziano became unstoppable, goal attack Alexa Collier backing up with excellent shot stats of 83-per-cent.
Centre court was combining well, with feeders Maria McAndrew and Rachel Henry finding their shooters with ease, while goalkeeper and captain Kerry Almond led the team from the back with an impressive five turnovers in the quarter.
In command at 29-20 up, Oldham had to face a New Cambell fightback. Using the height of Monique Wood at goal shooter, the visitors from Essex edged the third quarter 13-11 to pull the gap back to just seven.
All Oldham needed to do was hold out and consolidate, but the young side — who all took part in Super League trials the day before — grew tired and couldn’t sustain the effort levels required.
Cambell took advantage and it appeared they might win the game by a single goal with 30 seconds to go after a dubious manoeuvre by Wood.
At a back-line throw in, she played the ball off the post, but her feet were not grounded on court before she picked up the ball.
Umpire Debbie King ruled the goal should be allowed and Cambell were in the lead for the first time since the first quarter.
It all came down to Oldham’s last centre. The ball was fed through to shooter Enziano and the defence got too close, giving the home team a free pass or shot.
Enziano put the chance away, the ball went back to centre and the final hooter went.
