Defending Champions West Canberra Lightning made it back-to-back titles as they held off a fast-finishing South Canberra Swift to claim a narrow 2-1 success in an epic Women’s Grand Final at Daramalan College.
The defending Champions got off to the perfect start by striking twice inside the opening three minutes of the match. It took just forty seconds for Lightning to grab the lead, A smart move ended with a slight bit of luck as a pass from Jennifer Bisset cannoned off the shins of Dianne Wilson and was slid home by Jamie Berkeley.
Just two minutes later Lightning had doubled their lead with a simple goal, but one of beauty. Brittany Palombi used her power to break down the left and cross low for Bisset to come charging in and turn the ball home from close range.
Swift needed a response and got one within seconds of the restart. Sofia Palywoda who was in outstanding all game was the catalyst, her pass finding Samantha Price in front of goal, the experienced Price converting well under pressure.
After that, a Palywoda cross deflected off Wilson onto the outside of the post and Ellie Summers brilliantly denied Palombi, fingertipping a drive onto the crossbar as the half concluded with the Lightning holding a narrow advantage.
The second stanza lacked for goals but not for excitement throughout twenty exhausting minutes. Both goalkeepers were forced into making superb stops as Emily Pearce, replacing Summers at the break, denied Madeliene Perceval before Nat Lacey dived low to keep out a Reilly Yuen piledriver.
Palombi hit the base of the post for Lightning and Isabella Barac fired over after Pearce had repelled a Bisset shot, but it was at the other end that the MVP was to be found. Lightning stopper Lacey saved a full-blooded effort from Yuen with her head and followed up by making match-defining stops from Yuen again, and Isabella Hindmarsh as Lightning held on.
West Canberra Lightning was awarded the Women’s Reserves Grand Final title when their opposition, North Canberra Fire, forfeited on matchday.
RESULTS
GRAND FINALS
Women: West Canberra Lightning 2 (Berkeley 1’, Bisset 3’) South Canberra Swift 1 (Price 3’)
Reserves: West Canberra Lightning 5 North Canberra Fire 0 – North Canberra Fire forfeited
