Flames fired a warning shot just a few weeks out from the finals with a 3-1 win over Services in their top of the table clash on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
"It was probably the best team game we've put together for some time so very pleased with that outcome," Flames coach Barrie Pritchard said as they handed the competition leaders just their second loss of the season.
"It was a very good result for us."
"Our back four defenders Bek O'Neill, Mel Allen, Helena Williamson and Brydie Welham they were really strong and made a lot of interceptions, made some good tackles so that set us up quite nicely to attack through the midfield."
Julie Rodda got a deflection on a corner shot to give Flames a 1-nil lead at half-time.
Callie Michell unleashed a powerful corner strike to double their advantage two minutes into the second half. Rodda then made it 3-nil with 15 minutes remaining when she finished off an impressive team goal.
"Callie made an intercept in the midfield and offloaded to Jess Fleury, who offloaded forward again to Julie," Pritchard explained.
READ ALSO:
Rodda then beat Services keeper Michelle Collins, slapping the ball around her as she was falling down.
Pritchard highlighted the performance of his midfield.
"Ash Allen had a special game in the midfield. Her and Kate Ferguson and young Callie Michell were really good," he said.
"I'm very happy with the way that Callie has adapted to the midfield.
"She's been more of a defender but she's throwing some really nice passes in the last couple of weeks."
In the other game Waratahs scored a hard-earned 2-1 win over Tudor Wests.
"It could have gone either way right to the final whistle," Waratahs coach Matt Wilson said.
"But the girls hung in. It was a good gritty win right across the park."
It "wasn't pretty" but he wasn't worried about that. The result was the important thing.
"With the conditions I was just happy to get away with the win. I wasn't too concerned how it looked," he said.
"When you play in those conditions, game plans and things like that go out the window pretty quickly."
It was a crucial win, pushing them more than a win clear in third of Tudors.