A ruthless Belconnen United overcame a strong Canberra Croatia side in a 3-0 NPL Women’s Reserves Grand Final victory at McKellar Park.
Off the back of a tight shootout win for Belconnen two weeks prior, Croatia would have no doubt been keen to hit back with a win against the 2026 League Champions.
It was Darren Rodda’s Blue Devils that took the lead on 10 minutes however, as a Scarlett Wells corner was pushed by goalkeeper Megan Snell into Tahli Milin at the near post to make it 1-0 after 10 minutes.
If the first goal was fortunate, the second was anything but, as Belconnen made it two just five minutes later.
Liliana Altamore picked up the ball on the edge of the box and crossed to find Wells, who controlled superbly before firing the ball into the top corner to double her side’s advantage.
Having scored the 2025 Grand Final winner, Wells was already having another game to remember, and 10 minutes into the second half, the forward added a second and her team’s third, having intercepted an attempted Snell pass, before leaving her marker for dead, and scoring into the bottom corner.
Croatia began creating more and more chances as the game ticked towards full-time, however Danny Hately’s team were unable to find a reply to a clinical Belconnen United, who secured a second consecutive Grand Final.
STATISTICS
GRAND FINAL
Sunday 13 September
Belconnen United 3 (Milin OG 10’, Wells 15’ 54’) Canberra Croatia 0
THE LINE-UPS
Belconnen United: 5. Ariana RATHOUSKI (15. Emily HAY 73’), 6. Danijela ESKINJA, 9. Molly WELLS, 12. Scarlett WELLS, 13. Gemma TOSELAND, 14. Sarah BRANN, 20. Claire JOSEPH, 22. Siena D’AMBROSIO (27. Issey MORRIS 73’), 24. Sage HALING, 29. Liliana ALTAMORE (10. Hattie CRAM 60’), 30. Eden RODDA (25. Emily TOZER 78’)
Substitute not used: 3. Marija RATHOUSKI
Canberra Croatia: 1. Megan SNELL, 21. Ava WILLIAMS (24. Tayah SANDERS 45’), 28. Emily HAZILIAS, 30. Josephine MCKENZIE (49. Pia MCGHIE 58’), 50. Arijana MAJETIC, 51. Ellie WOOD (23. Juliana BOGDANOSKI 70’), 52. Megan CASTLE, 58. Phoebe GORDON, 59. Tiana BOOTS, 63. Ayla ROBERTSON (25. Stephanie COATES 65’), 67. Tahli MILIN (34. Rachel HOFMEIER 70’)
Substitute not used: None
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Kate DOWNS
Assistant Referees: Thomas MCGLADE, Xavier TAYLOR
Fourth Official: Darren GLEDHILL
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 6. Danijela ESKINJA (Belconnen United), 30. Eden RODDA (Belconnen United), 26. Stephanie COATES (Canberra Croatia)
Red Card: None
