Doubles from centre-forward Sophie Burns and substitute Juliana Stauffacher helped Gungahlin United claim victory in the Women’s National Premier League Reserves Grand Final against Belconnen United, the Gunners claiming the silverware in a seven-goal thriller.
Gungahlin fired the first shots of the Final, semi-final hat-trick hero Ariadne Stergiou broke away and rounded Blue Devils goalkeeper Tara Howarth but trod on the ball before she could find the back of the net.
Belconnen’s maiden opening followed shortly afterwards, the hard-running of Alina Roberts, which was to be a nuisance for Gungahlin throughout the contest, created an opening for Brooke Emms who rolled her shot wide.
The open-nature of the encounter got the goal it deserved after just nineteen minutes as Gungahlin struck with a fine finish. Found inside the area, Gunners striker Sophie Burns spun away from her marker and rifled a finish into the back of the net. It was a lead that was to last only three minutes.
Roberts, always seeming the most likely for the Blue Devils, levelled matters as she twisted and turned her way past a brace of markers to fire a strike high above Gungahlin custodian Gabrielle O’Brien to restore parity.
Chances were plenty at both ends, but it was Gungahlin who would go into the changing rooms with the lead after striking again a couple of minutes before the break. A free-kick was flighted over to the far post where Burns climbed highest to plant a firm header past Howarth.
Belconnen needed a way back into the match and made a brace of changes ten minutes into the second stanza. It almost immediately paid dividends as Jade Emms found space in behind the Gungahlin rearguard to fire a shot at goal that O’Brien, despite getting a hand to, was unable to keep out.
With eighteen minutes to play, Belconnen midfielder Caitlin Koch was denied by a sensational one-handed stop by O’Brien, the goalkeeper than turned away a low effort from Jade Emms. It was, therefore, something against the run of play that Gungahlin retook the lead.
A header forward from Emily Daniel released substitute Stauffacher in between the twin Blue Devils centre-backs and the pacey forward advanced to clip a sublime finish past the advancing Howarth to score. And Stauffacher was to seal it with her second six minutes later.
Bonnie Young created it, drifting past her marker and finding Elizbeth Pearson whose shot was magnificently repelled by Howarth. Unfortunately for the Belconnen number one, the ball fell directly into the path of Stauffacher who slid it into the empty net for the fourth.
Belconnen weren’t done though, and Liliana Altamore hooked in a goal with four minutes to play to set up a grandstand finale, but Gungahlin held on for the victory.
MATCH STATISTICS
Saturday 21 September
GRAND FINAL
Belconnen United 3 (Roberts 23’, J. Emms 55’, Altamore 86’) Gungahlin United 4 (Burns 20’, 43’, Stauffacher 76, 82’)
Belconnen United: 20. Tara HOWARTH, 19. Ariana RATHOUSKI (15. Elizabeth JAGLA), 24. Jade EMMS, 25. Emily TOZER, 26. Caitlin KOCH, 27. Gemma TOSELAND, 28. Alina ROBERTS, 29. Luella COLEMAN, 30. Isabella SHEA (23. Sage HALING), 32. Brooke EMMS (14. Liliana ALTAMORE), 38. Katie WOODMAN (40. Eden RODDA)
Substitutes not used: 31. Mackenzie CROOK
Gungahlin United: 27. Gabrielle O’BRIEN, 21. Grace HANLEY, 22. Charlotte MCAVOY, 26. Milla POLLEY, 29. Chelsea HATELEY (28. Juliana STAUFFACHER), 30. Ivy STEVENS, 31. Ariadne STERGIOU (35. Bonnie YOUNG), 33. Amy MOORE, 34. Shanaya JESSY, 37. Sophie BURNS (53. Jessica PEARSON), 96. Emily DANIEL
Substitutes not used: 20. Maddison SAWKINS, 55. Eva ELLENBERG
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 27. Gabrielle O’BRIEN, 21. Grace HANLEY, 53. Jessica PEARSON (Gungahlin United)
Red Cards: None
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Adam BUTLER
Assistant Referees: Sarin TIATRAGUL, Emily DOWNS
Fourth Official: Bradley FARMER
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: 37. Sophie BURNS (Gungahlin United)
