It may have only been a pre-season friendly but Baldivis Districts South Metro Division One ladies took on State League opponents Mandurah City in what was tipped to be a difficult encounter for the Baldivis team. Two seasons ago the ladies were humbled by this team 6-1 so any improvement on this result would be a bonus. The game started slowly but Mandurah proved after 15 minutes why they currently sit two Divisions above the Baldivis girls, finishing off a well worked move to go 1-0 up. This however only seemed to inspire the District ladies to show the fight and grit that can only be learnt through playing with and against other girls from an early age. It wasn’t long before Lauren Izatt got her head on the end of a Nicola Jones cross to draw level at 1-1. From that moment Mandurah City struggled as the District ladies stepped up a gear. The new defensive structure brilliantly executed by Magenta Wilders, Kym Wilson, Bailey Thompson, Angela Rooney and Teagan McDonald proved too difficult for the hosts as time and time again defence was turned into attack. Baldivis attacking plays, lead by forward by Nicola Jones, Maddy Jones, Maddie Down, Bree Thompson and Maja Lea were too difficult for Mandurah to defend and eventually it was Teleah Elwood, with just 15 minutes to spare who put Baldivis Districts 2-1 up. The score could have been more when Megan Love, a player now enjoying her fifth season at Baldivis Districts, found space and fired from just outside the area only for it to be saved by the Mandurah keeper.T he final result – Baldivis Districts 2 Mandurah City 1. Special mention to Phoebe Carey for making the step up from Division Three in the absence of our usual goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Chloe Marshall.