Woonona FC needed extra time to beat Shellharbour JFC 1-0 in the first ever Women’s Grand Final at WIN Stadium.
Shellharbour perhaps started the better of the two sides in what was a nervy opening in front of a healthy crowd.
The first real opportunity fell to Madelaine Costanzo who latched onto a cross from Katelyn Leadbeatter. Her header straight to Ivana Peric who covered enough ground to across across to her far post.
On 16 minutes, Jessica Bell just couldn’t quite get on the end of Costanzo cross to the far post. The ball just a tad too high as Shellharbour stated to dominate the early stages.
Midway through the first half, a hopeful ball over the top from Leadbeatter saw Costanzo reach it ahead of Peric however her toe-poke just saw the ball hit the side netting.
Woonona’s Tess Stephens nearly created something out of nothing as she shrugged off a challenge and whipped in a shot that forced Christina Werakso into a fine save.
Leadbeatter was looking dangerous, and she drilled a cross on 36 minutes to Maggie Page who just couldn’t control the ball in front of goal as the ball rolled safely to Peric.
Minutes later, Woonona nearly caught Shellharbour out in a swift counter. Jess Beale driving forward in a two on one opportunity however she squared to Sophie Heath who failed to get good enough connection as the ball sailed wide.
The game starting to open in the dying stages of the first half. Leadbeatter seeing her header off a corner headed off the line by Fiona Leafe just before half time.
Just a couple of minutes after the restart, Annelotte Birdsall laid it off to Beale who from just inside the box fired straight at Werakso.
Almost immediately, Shellharbour produced an opportunity when Leadbeatter linked with Costanzo who tried to chip Peric without success.
Midway through the second half, Kasey Clements’ persistence almost paid off as she battled for a loose ball eventually getting a shot away that saw Werakso smother at the near post.
Clements again going close as her header from a free kick just went over not long after.
Leadbeatter whipped in a dangerous cross in injury time but Peric get a hand to it ahead of two waiting players.
Pheobe Green found a bit of space in behind the Shellharbour defence courtesy of some miscommunication. She managed to get a shot away that saw Werakso smother impressively to deny what surely would have been a winner.
The match ending scoreless after the regulation 90 minutes.
The deadlock was broken on 98 minutes when Paige Hurst drove the ball across the face of goal from the left. Werakso got a hand to the ball but deflected it into the path of Sinead Bailey who bundled it over the line to give Woonona the lead.
Just before the end of the first period of extra time, Jordan Wheatley got on the end of a corner however her volley went over the bar.
The second produced a good opportunity for Woonona when Bailey won a crucial tackle in midfield setting Emily Muzevic free and on goal however her touch was a little strong as Werakso smothered.
Try as they might, Shellharbour had no more answers, and it was Woonona who avenged last year’s Grand Final defeat with a hard fought win.
It was a great showpiece event for female football attended by over 1500 patrons.
Player of the match – Katelyn Leadbeatter
Report by Bobby Mazevski
Photos courtesy of Gragrapix.
