A stunning third quarter performance helped Visahka Vidyalaya beat Ladies College 10 goals to 5 to retain the M. N. Edisooriya challenge trophy for the 5th consecutive year at the Police Pool Complex.
It was the girls from flower road that started the evening with a bang as Sashi Weerawarna received a wonderful pass from her last year skipper Nidheesha Ellawalla to slot in just in front of the goal. Minutes later the Ladies College team managed to double their lead when Shenara David managed to score from the 5m after drawing a foul.
Vice-Captain for Visakha Vidayalaya, Nadishka Senanayake didn’t let the lead grow as she opened her account for the day with a lovely long shot that managed to beat Ladies Goal Keeper Shuhashana Wijerathne. After being awarded an exclusion, Captain Shaleena Peiris found Nuwanthi Manapperuma on the far side as she shot home through a tight angle to make it 2 goals a pieces for both sides. It was again Shenara David who put ladies in front with a long shot that beat Samakhya Gajanayake quite convincingly. Ladies lead 3-2 at the end of the 1st quarter.
After some quick passing by the Visakhians Shaleena Peiris was found by Nadishka Senarathne to easily slot in past the ladies College goal keeper to level the game up at 3 goals a-piece. The Visakhians finally took the lead when last year’s skipper Tusari Ekanayake received a cross pass out wide where she was completely open and managed to slot in past Suhashana Wijerathne to take the score to 4 goals to 3 in favor of Visakha.
Lara Modder’s backhand after a timeout equaled the scores once again making it 4 goals each for both teams. Anoushka Tissera’s beautiful lob shot from the wing gave the Ladies the lead once again and took both teams in to half time with ladies leading 5-4.
Two superb counter attacks by the captain Shaleena Peiris led to 2 unanswered goals for Visakha as they lead just after half time with 6 goals to 5. This was the turning point of the game which left the ladies shell shocked. Shaleena scored her third goal for the quarter when she was found just in front of the 2m line by Tusari Ekanayake and she made no mistake to take the score to 7-5.
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Nadishka Senanayake got her hat-trick when she shot towards goal with a long range effort that found the back of the net and took the score line to 8-5 in favor of Visakha. Senanyake got one more goal just before the break when she shot from long range again without taking the foul and goal keeper Ashmeetha Cooray made a mess of it. That took the score to 9-5 in favor of Visakha.
The girls from flower road had to come up with something to answer the onslaught by Visakha Vidyalaya team in the 4th quarter as they were trying everything but still failed to get on the score sheet. The final nail in the Ladies College coffin was hammered-in by the one of the stars of the day Nadishka Senanayake as she received a wonderful pass from playmaker Tusari. That rounded up a solid performance by Visakha Vidyalaya and helped them retain the T.B.Edirisooriya Challenge Trophy for the 5th consecutive year.
ThePapare.com Player of the match-Shaleena Peiris – Visakha Vidyalaya
The under 15 match concluded with both teams scoring 6 goals a- piece. A fine fighting comeback by Visakha spoilt the Ladies party as they looked to win the encounter.
