Wounded Tigers show spirit|15 May 12 @ 10:48am

THE wounded Northern Tigers women’s first grade team are not going to let injuries to key players ruin their state super league season.

With senior players Gabriella Dal Pozzo and Demelza Howard still side-lined with injury, a depleted Tigers outfit went down to St George 2-0 at Mills Park, Asquith, on Sunday.

Striker and captain Dal Pozzo could miss another two weeks with a dislocated shoulder and midfielder Howard is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

Tigers coach Eric Daly has reshuffled his line-up and is confident the new combinations will click soon.

``Our first half against St George was the worst half we have played all season,’’ he said.

``But we showed in the second half that we can play good football without Gaby and Demelza.’‘

The Tigers trailed 1-0 at the break but the scoreline could have been worse if it was not for stand-in goal-keeper Thea Margalit, 17, who pulled off several impressive saves.

Replacing regular keeper Jess Golledge, who will return this weekend, the rookie keeper acquitted herself well in her first-grade debut.

``Thea was the main reason we were only one down at half-time and by my reckoning, she made three great saves in the first half,’’ Daly said.

``She was fantastic in her first-grade debut.’‘

After playing the opening half in the 4-4-3 formation, the Tigers switched to the more attacking 4-4-3 in the second half to create more scoring opportunities.

The Tigers dominated possession in the second half but were unable to convert that pressure into any goals.

Tigers centre Ellana Balicki narrowly missed a chance to score an equaliser deep in the second half when her shot missed by the barest of margins.

Sunday’s match against Sydney Olympic is at Blick Oval, Canterbury, at 3pm.

ST GEORGE 2 def NORTHERN TIGERS 0.