Five-goal spearhead Mickayla Ward leads the way as Nightcliff continues its fairytale season

Nightcliff snaps a season-long losing drought against St Mary’s by winning the crucial first semi-final

Nightcliff spearhead Mickayla Ward’s five goals kicked her side into the WPL preliminary final. Picture Tymunna Clements AFLNT/Media

A FIVE-GOAL haul by Nightcliff spearhead Mickayla Ward paved the way for her side’s 55-point win over St Mary’s in the WPL first semi-final.

The Tigers kicked the first goal of the match through a Ward snap on the goal line and were never seriously challenged after that in their 11.4 (70) to 2.3 (15) win.

Ward told the Sunday Territorian her side had the momentum to go all the way in what is turning into a historic season for the beachside club..

“Bloody oath we can (go all the way), the belief is there and we’ve come from fifth spot to win two finals already,’’ she added.

“We’re playing for not only the 22 out there on matchday, but those players who have been injured and haven’t been able to get on the ground.’’

The Tigers should have been further ahead at halftime than 33 points, several scoring chances going astray in the first quarter and a half through over anxious finishing.

But when Ward got on the end of some smart finishing from her midfield — including a glorious short pass from Georgia Kennedy for her third — the knockout final turned into a one-horse race.

Nightcliff had plenty of good players, Sophie Hatzismalis in defence, Olivia Hatzismakis in the ruck and Jamie-Lee Puautjimi finding plenty of the ball.

The young St Mary’s side showed flashes of the form that saw them finish third in the home and away season, but Nightcliff’s bigger bodies and ability to share the football proved the difference between the two sides.

Critics of women’s football who claim there are no overhead marks of any quality would have been impressed with Ward’s big fly and mark in the last quarter..

NIGHTCLIFF 2.1 6.3 8.3 11.4 (70)

ST MARY’S 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.3 (15)

GOALS — Night: M Ward 5 K Irvine 3 J Anyon-Smith K Hill-Carter L Gooden. StM: S Stevens L Dunn.

BEST — Night: S Hatzismalis M Ward O Hatzismalis J Anyon-Smith G Kennedy. StM: A Coombes E Shannon I Porter J Anderson B Aniceto.