Hanwood is closing in on a second minor premiership in as many years in the Leonard Cup after picking up a confidence-building 8-0 win over Wagga United on Sunday afternoon.
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The home side was able to make the best start possible with Anita Cimador able to find the back of the net within the first 10 minutes after being put through by Alana Marando.
The lead was doubled shortly after with Cimador making a break down the wing before cutting the ball back across the box with Nicola Zanotto on hand to put the ball into the net.
Cimador found the back of the net for her second with Marando again able to put her through with a great pass to see Hanwood leading 3-0 at the break.
The Hanwood side ran away with the game in the second half with Cimador completing her hat-trick before Zanotto, and Kandice Bertoldo scored a goal each.
Marando let fire from range to find the back of the net before the big win was secured in the final five minutes with Johane Oberholzer getting on the end of a Jorja Heffer pass before knocking the ball around the keeper and passing the ball into an empty net.
Hanwood coach Anthony Zuccato was pleased to see his side finally able to find their form.
"Finally look like we had it together today," he said.
"The passing was good, we moved into space well and opened the game up, and it was probably the best game we have played all season."
Heading into next weekend, Zuccato knows his side will need to be at the top of their game when they take on Tolland next Sunday and will be hoping the couple of niggles pass in the seven days.
"Johane (Oberholzer) has pulled up with a bit of a hamstring issue, and Felicity (McClure) is feeling a bit tight in the groin, so we will see what happens over the next week," he said.
"We will really need them back for next week. We will want to be full strength because it is a game we need to win."
With the Hanwood side finally starting to string games together after an interrupted middle part of the season with washouts and byes, the Hanwood coach feels the side are now where they need to be.
"They were able to settle in, and the other good thing is that we are starting to get some games together and we are getting a bit of consistency and finding the combinations," he said.
"We put in a bit more effort at training this week since it is getting towards the business end now so it starts to get serious and you need to step up."
The clash with Wagga United could have been another one cancelled, but Zucatto thanked Wagga United for being accommodating with moving the game rather than forfeiting with a number of reserve grade players having to back up for the Wagga side.
Hanwood will take on Tolland at Hanwood Oval at 10.30am on Sunday.
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