CAPALABA FC have put weeks of weather delays behind them to make a winning start to their National Premier Leagues women's season.
Despite not playing a competitive game for a month, the Bulldogs shook off the cobwebs to secure a scrappy 1-0 result over The Gap FC on Wednesday night at Wakerley Park.
Former Matildas World Cup and Olympics representative Amy Chapman netted the match-winner for the Bulldogs late in the first half with an assured finish on a tight angle.
However, it was at the back that the Bulldogs showed the greatest resolve with goalkeeper Joanne Hurford making several confident saves in a player of the match performance.
The result extends an unbeaten start to 2021 for the Bulldogs women after winning their only prior competitive match in the Kappa Women's Super Cup opener in early March.
The clash against The Gap was postponed three times due to the wet weather in recent weeks, while the greater Brisbane COVID lockdown prior to Easter also impacted training and preparations.
Captain and former Brisbane Roar player Billie Murphy said post match the team showed plenty of character to overcome the recent challenges and take their first league win of the season.
"It's been frustrating not being able to get our season started but we're happy with the three points," she said.
"It took a while for us to find our rhythm but that's expected from our first game and it just felt so good to get on the pitch.
"We had a lot of our under 23s players step up and they did really well."
The result moves the Bulldogs to ninth on the seventeen team competition table, with games in hand on all but one of their rivals.
Their next test comes this Sunday evening at Max Haynes Field when they host winless competition newcomers Virginia United.
The Bulldogs men's side are also at home this weekend when they welcome Mackay's Magpies Crusaders United on Saturday.
Defender Daniel Simic said the team were eager to bounce back from their last start away defeat to Gold Coast Knights prior to Easter.
"We need to gain momentum for these next few weeks as we're at a crucial part of the season," he said.
"The lads have been buzzing around training, even though the rain has put a damper on things, but we will be raring to go come Saturday."
The Bulldogs will be without leading goal scorer Tarig Hammad, who is suspended for the clash following his second-half red card against the Knights.
The match marks the very first time the Bulldogs have played Magpies Crusaders, after the regional club sat out last season due to COVID-19's impacts on domestic travel.
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