The Redbacks, who are ranked last on the ladder and have had an uneven season thus far, dominated much of the game in terms of possession while Palerang were unable to capitalise on the few opportunities they had. 

Redbacks coach Jacinta Murphy said that the team had been held back by injuries for a large portion of the season, and was glad that the team was starting to play its best football when it mattered most. 

“We started off pretty rocky at the start of the season,” Murphy said. 

“Not having enough players, but it seems to have come together now, which is good. 

“They’re playing the best I’ve seen them play since the start of the season.” 

Murphy also pointed out that some team members had their seasons ended by injury, increasing the instability for the Redbacks early in the year. 

Which makes their win over table-toppers Palerang even more impressive, particularly considering that this was only Palerang’s second loss for the season. 

The match started with a tussle for control. Both teams were finding their feet early on, before Yass took advantage of a lapse in defense to find the net. 

From there, it was one-sided. The ball was in Palerang’s half more often than not. 

Yass scored consistently, and Palerang’s woes were summed up in the second half when the ball burst through the keeper’s gloves and trickled into the goal. 

However, there was a brief moment of redemption when Palerang managed to break through the Redbacks’ defense and run the ball down field, where the shot on goal escaped the reach of the diving keeper. 

Despite the dominance on the scoreboard, Murphy claimed that the team’s performance was only “even”. 

“We come up against a good team, and I know they played well,” she said. 

“There’s a couple of things we’ll go back to the drawing board with training, but it’s all we can do. We’re doing our best.” 

But Murphy was positive about final few matches of the season coming up. 

“[They’re] finally working as a team and putting everything we put into play at training on the field, so I think we’ll go alright.” 

“Hoping to get to finals, anyway … we’re not far off now.”

The Redbacks will enjoy a bye next week, to rest ahead of a tough clash against the Monaro Panthers on the sixth of August. 

Matches against the Weston Molonglo Warriors and the Belwest Foxes will round out the season.