After FC Nelson ladies scored a historic win in the first round of the ASB Knockout Cup on Sunday they sat silent in the changing room.
But it didn’t take long to get the celebrations under way. “There was a rigger of beer in the changing rooms so I said ‘who wants a drink?’ and everyone started yelling and joking,” says the team’s goal keeper and manager Sasha Kerslake.”It was great.”
Earlier, a Claire Erasmus goal in the second half was enough for the home side to win 1-0 in front of more than 100 spectators at Trafalgar Park. It was the first time a women’s team from Nelson had entered the competition, which is the equivalent to the Chatham Cup. Sasha says playing in front of a noisy crowd and on a “perfect” Trafalgar Park, had the girls rather nervous. “I think it was nerves, we didn’t know the opposition and how they’d play and there were a lot of people cheering for us. I got goosebumps a few times because of the noise from the crowd.”
FC Nelson played their way into the game and had the better of the second half. Claire was superb for the hosts, making several dangerous runs down the left flank and deserved the winning goal. Nelson should have had a second just ten minutes later but a contentious off side call against striker Briar Luff after the ball was in the back of the net denied a comfortable cushion heading into the final quarter.
Sasha says celebrations were “amazing”. We all were so happy and we got dressed up and went up stairs to the pavilion for the after match. It was a great day for us as a team.”
FC Nelson will play its next game of the cup on Monday, Queens Birthday with the opposition and location to be announced today.
