SAFCW Match Report

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 7 - City Mazda Stadium - 17/03/18

Goals: Buchanan 2, Rowe, Davison
Best: Williams, Gore, Munyard, Harvey, Haussen, Buchanan
Injuries: Bennett (ankle), Munyard (ribs), Rowe (ankle)

South Adelaide have withstood a resilient West Adelaide challenge to maintain ladder-leading status of the SANFL Statewide Super Women's League.

The Panthers tightened the screws in the second half to keep the Bloods scoreless and overcome a nine-point deficit at halftime to run out 4.8 (32) to 3.3 (21) winners at City Mazda Stadium on Saturday night.

The win puts South Adelaide a game clear of second and third-placed North Adelaide and Norwood and two games clear of the fourth-placed Bloods. With the top three teams qualifying for finals, the Panthers now have one foot in the door for post season action.

Co-captain Lauren Buchanan proved to be the game changer after being pushed forward in the second half.

Normally found rebounding the ball out of South's backline, Buchanan looked at home in the forward line as she converted one of the goals of the season to win back the lead for her side.

Jammed up on the boundary line in front of the old scoreboard, the former Bay Sheffield winner threw the ball onto her boot and through the goals from a very tight angle to give the Panthers a one-point lead heading into the final change.

The goal was the final touches on a South Adelaide fightback, ending a string of four Panthers behinds as West Adelaide were held scoreless in the third after kicking into the lead with three unanswered goals.

Buchanan added her second in the final term after some fantastic forward pressure from Lucy Northcott, snapping truly from 25m out.

Once Elisabeth Davison goalled on the run midway through the fourth, South were all but home.

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Caitlin Williams played her best game of the season to date, dominating in the air across half back and also finding plenty of footy in spells up forward in her 18 touches.

Young guns Nikki Gore (21 possessions) and Hannah Munyard (19) continued to gather their fair share of the ball, combining for 40 disposals. The latter however will need to prove her fitness ahead of this Sunday's clash with Sturt after taking a heavy knock to the ribs in the second half.

Also in the casualty ward, speedster Madison Bennett and forward Jorja Rowe will have scans during the week on a pair of tweaked ankles.

Captains Kristi Harvey and Buchanan were also instrumental in the win, with Harvey proving too strong leading up the ground for any of her opponents throughout the match and Buchanan's goals sparking the comeback South would not relinquish.

Meanwhile, Elyse Haussen also played well winning her 18 possessions at the coalface.