Martin goals twice to give Lady Devils a win 

Martin’s efforts helped the Blockbuster Lady Devils triumph 2-1 against newly promoted Berwick City at Trekardo Park on Sunday.

Ballarat hit the front early  when a through ball found Martin, who then turned and shot from a tight angle.

The game then began to see-saw between the two sides, with Berwick looking threatening from both wings while the Lady Devils were able to exploit the visitors’ slow defence at times.

Focus at half-time was on getting back to basics, and the Lady Devils started the second half with an increased intensity. This resulted in Martin being able to net her second goal after 10 minutes.

A brief lapse in concentration, immediately after the goal, saw Berwick draw one back.

However, Berwick’s challenge ended there after Julia Antonetti was switched to defence.

While Ballarat’s performance was not up to the usual high standards, the team will take a lot from the game.

Emma Moran offered a strong physical presence up front and was able to effectively link up with the other strikers. Goalkeeper Jasmina Zdelar made a string of strong saves throughout the game, particularly when the Devils were under pressure in the first half. Ella Pipkorn and Amanda Kovacev showed promise when they came on as substitutes.

The Lady Devils’ attention now turns to an away clash this weekend against Monbulk, a team they defeated twice last season but both in tight contests.

Round one hero Martin is unavailable for the game, but Leah Wright should come back in after missing Sunday’s clash due to injury.

Elsewhere, the Lady Devils’ under-18s drew 2-2 with Clifton Hill, with Natalie Barber scoring both, while the development squad lost 4-2 to Berwick City.