South Canberra Swift secured the Women’s Reserve Grade Grand Final with an exceptional 3-1 win over North Canberra Fire at Daramalan College in a match that saw four high-quality goals.

After an even opening to the encounter, with both teams settling into the Grand Final, it was the more fancied Swift that took the lead in the tenth minute of the match through the league’s Golden Boot Alyssa Di-Campli. The lethal goalscorer took aim from range, her shot deflecting in off Halle Nyamekye.

Abby Hurman went close to levelling with an effort that tested Layla Barbour, before Chelse Hately saw a shot tipped over by the goalkeeper with Phoebe Gordon then flashing a drive across the face of goal.

The leveller, when it came, was a beauty. Hately strode onto a pass midway inside the Swift half and leathered a rasping drive high into the top corner of the goal giving Barbour no chance. But Swift led at half-time as Demi Nikias replied in kind with a goal of exquisite power and placement just before the whistle.

Much of the second-half was played in the same manner, both teams trading blows but Barbour and Laursen in excellent form to repel anything that came their way. Fire needed to resort to fifth player in an effort to exploit any gaps in the Swift defence, making the change with three minutes remaining.

Nyamekye was given the nod as the extra player but was left powerless as Lauren Hall won it in style, sending a stunning long-range strike into the open net to seal the Final for the Swift.

MATCH STATISTICS

North Canberra Fire 1 (Hately 23’) South Canberra Swift 3 (Di-Campli 10’, D. Nikias 25’, Hall 28’)

North Canberra Fire: 1. Ingrid LAURSEN, 3. Phoebe GORDON, 5.Halle NYAMEKE, 6. Sarah BRANN, 7. Isla MURPHY, 32. Chelsea HATELY, 34. Abby HURMAN

South Canberra Swift: 50. Layla BARBOUR, 15. Sabrina TOUFEXIS, 17. Lauren HALL, 20. Alyssa DI-CAMPLI, 33. Breea WATERS, 34. Evdoxia MANTINAOS, 35. Demi NIKIAS, 42. Emma LEONARD

DISCIPLINE

Yellow Cards: 42. Emma LEONARD (South Canberra Swift)