SHE is one of the brightest junior female soccer prospects in Australia and on Sunday when lining up for the Western NSW Mariners FC, Anna Hunt showed why.
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With three minutes left in Sunday's National Premier Leagues 2 contest between her Mariners and Southern Branch and the scores locked at 1-all, it was Hunt who scored the winner.
It made it three wins in a row for the Mariners.
The Junior Matildas representative, who is set to play in the Asian Football Confederation under 16s Women's Championship this September, has now scored three times for the Mariners' first grade side.
It comes as Hunt steps up from the under 15s Mariners outfit she scored 22 goals for last season.
But Hunt is not the only young talent who has made her presence felt in the Mariners' senior ranks so far in 2019.
There are a number of emerging players who have thus far gelled well with the more experienced Mariners.
It has helped them into fourth on the ladder after six rounds and importantly, coach Josh Ward is impressed with the brand of football they have been producing.
"We do have a young squad, but the senior women in the side are guiding the way. The younger girls have plenty of enthusiasm and are always willing to improve their games," Ward said.
"The group is really tight-knit and always supportive of one another. The area of the game that has really impressed me is the women's structure, adaptability to our opposition and resilience when the game is in the balance."
The younger girls have plenty of enthusiasm and are always willing to improve their games.
- Josh Ward - Mariners Coach
While Ward felt his Mariners "should have been 4-0 up at half-time" in Sunday's match against Southern Branch at Nowra, the rivals went the the break locked at nil-all.
Brydie Comiskey finally found the mark for Mariners, but a lapse in concentration saw Southern draw level.
It took Hunt's 87th minute effort to get her side over the line.
Though Ward said it is a "one game at a time" approach, he has set his playing group a goal for 2019.
"We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves and know that there is still a long way to go in the season," he said.
"Us not having a reserve grade side has allowed us to recruit a few new players and add depth to our first grade team,
"Our season goal is to play finals football and be competitive in every game."
The Mariners' next assignment is on Monday when they travel to play currently seventh-placed Nepean.
