West Canberra Lightning claimed the very first Women’s Capital Football League Grand Final title with a nail-biting 4-1 win over North Canberra Fire in a match that was decided after extra time.
Rebecca Kiting netted twice in the extra ten minutes, both times into an open net as the Fire tried to get back into the match with the fifth-player ploy.
The Fire went ahead in bizarre circumstances in the 9th minute. Jess Giovinazzo sent a ball forward with a long throw and Lightning skipper, Kiting, in attempting to head clear, was unfortunately only able to divert it past her own goalkeeper, leaving Kailey Tonini stranded.
However, the lead only lead only lasted a mere seconds. From the kick-off a lofted pass found Jamie Berkeley in front of goal, and she controlled a magnificent volley into the bottom corner of the net.
Other than that, both goalkeepers, Tonini for Lightning, and Jess Giovinazzo for Fire, were in imperious form dealing with anything that was sent their way and leaving the teams deadlocked at 1-1 at the half-time break.
Chances were at a premium after the interval, the closest either side got was when a Fire shot deflected off Bessie Riethmuller and cannoned back off a combination of bar and post, before being cleared to safety.
Extra-time brought a goal two minutes in as the Lightning struck with Jennifer Bisset finding Erika Pennyfield who slotted into the far corner past Giovinazzo. And, as Fire tried to get back on terms, Kiting dd her bit with a brace of exquisite long-range goals to seal the title for the unbeaten league champions.
Sunday 12 February
Women’s Grand Final
West Canberra Lightning 4 (Berkeley 9’, Pennyfield 42’, Kiting 47’, 53’) North Canberra Fire 1 (Kiting 9’ (og))
West Canberra Lightning: 22. Kailey TONINI, 3. Krista HAGEN, 5. Jamie BERKELEY,6. Amy MCLACHLAN, 8. Rebecca KITING, 9. Erika PENNYFIELD, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 27. Dianne WILSON
North Canberra Fire: 22. Jessica GIOVINAZZO, 2. Elke AITOLU, 8. Michaela THORNTON, 9. Nicole JALOCHA, 10. Nikita PERRY, 11. Maya OSMOND, 13. Stella DE MARCO, 17. Stefi LEJINS, 21. Bessie RIETHMULLER, 23. Natalie DE MARCO, 29. Jada LAMOND
Player of the Match: Kailey TONINI (West Canberra Lightning)
Golden Boot Winner: Jennifer BISSET (West Canberra Lightning), Brittany PALOMBI (West Canberra Lightning) 17 goals
LEADING SCORERS
18 Jennifer BISSET (Lightning)
17 Brittany PALOMBI (Lightning) Bessie RIETHMULLER (Fire)
14 Stella DE MARCO (Fire)
13 Reilly YUEN (Stars)
12 Rebecca KITING (Lightning)
11 Own GOALS
10 Natalie DE MARCO (Fire), Becky RIZZO (Stars)
9 Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (Apex), Amy MCLACHLAN (Lightning)
8 Roxie SWART (Apex)
7 Emily DANIEL (Stars), Maya OSMOND (Fire), Sofia PALYWODA (Swift), Nikita PERRY (Fire)
6 Cara CERUTI (Swift), Krista HAGEN (Lightning), Nicole JALOCHA (Fire), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Stars), Alexandra SERRAS (Apex)
5 Jamie BERKELEY (Lightning), Tayla HAMPSON (Stars), Ginger OLIVER (Swift), Samantha PRICE (Swift), Sabrina TOUFEXIS (Swift), Mikayla VAN DEYK (Stars), Dianne WILSON (Lightning)
4 Justine ARMSTRONG (Power), Talia BACKHOUSE (Swift), Madeleine STEINACKER (Stars)
3 Alissa BARBOUR (Fire), Tia BURRIDGE (Fire), Maia CAMERON (Power), Kaitlyn COLWILL (Swift), Grace DAVEY (Apex), Isabella HINDMARSH (Swift), Renee KITE (Power), Lauren QUACH (Power), Kate WALKER (Stars)
2 Elke AITOLU (Fire), Leah CARNEGIE (Swift), Jada LAMOND (Fire), Cassia MCGLASHAN (Stars), Erika PENNYFIELD (Lightning), Shayma TAWEEL (Apex)
1 Sophia DOUMOS (Swift), Phoebe FRASER (Apex), Emily JENSEN (Apex), Sally KISS (Power), Stefi LEJINS (Fire), Holly MCPHERSON (Power), Karen MILEWSKA (Apex), Clare MOLONY (Apex), Michaela THORNTON (Fire)
