Woonona Sharks took out the Women’s Illawarra Premier League championship with a 2-0 win over Shellharbour on Sunday afternoon at WIN Stadium.
The match was played at a great intensity with plenty of end-to-end action but with few clear-cut chances.
Woonona went in front through Kailee Moore and took that advantage into halftime. Bethany Nielsen added a second early in the second half to confirm the trophy for the league champions.
The match got off to an even start, with neither team grabbing a consistent hold of the ball.
Shellharbour began to gain possession higher up the field after the 15-minute mark, with a couple of dangerous crosses going into the box, but no one was on the end of them.
The side had a big chance 25 minutes in when Miranda Macmullen latched onto a ball into the left of the box, just missing the left post.
Woonona soaked up this pressure and took the lead six minutes later. Moore raced in behind down left and rolled an accurate finish into the bottom right corner.
It was Moore’s eleventh goal of the season and her second against Shellharbour.
The Sharks took this slender advantage into the break after a hard-fought battle in the first half.
Just six minutes into the second half, Woonona doubled their lead. Bethany Nielsen mazed her way through the right of the box and buried a left-footed shot inside the near post.
Nielsen’s well-taken goal made it 12 for the season and goals in back-to-back games in the finals series against Shellharbour.
Shellharbour had not been without their chances as Elena Miccoli and Brina Gansl were finding space down neither flank, but the final pass was lacking.
They started pushing more numbers forward as they searched for a way back into the game through some direct passes.
The Sharks held firm to secure a double-winning season with a 2-0 win over Shellharbour.
The win was made more special for Woonona after last year’s defeat to University in the big dance.
Woonona finish their season with only one defeat throughout 2024.
