Belconnen United were crowned as the inaugural Youth Girls Charity Shield winners with a convincing 4-0 victory over West Canberra Wanderers at Deakin Stadium on a sunny Sunday morning in Canberra.
The Blue Devils struck first, shortly after midfielder Danielja Eskinja hit the crossbar, with a superbly taken goal by Isla Murphy, her shot flashing past Wanderers custodian Iva Spelic top open the scoring.
Wanderers recovered well, but it was the team in Sky Blue who were dominating territory and possession, and it was little surprise when they doubled their lead some five minutes before the interval of the forty-minute halves.
The industrious Scarlett Wells took a pass into her stride and, settling in front of goal, drove a firm effort beyond the reach of Spelic who had no chance with what was a crisply taken strike.
Belconnen effectively took the match away from the Wanderers with a brace of goals within minutes of each other at the commencement of the second-half. Eden Rodda was in the right place at the right time to add the third, before Samantha Shea guided home a header from close range.
Wanderers showed patches of attacking momentum but were unable to break down a resolute defence and Belconnen were able to see the match out in relative comfort to claim the Shield.
MATCH DETAILS
Belconnen United (2) 4 (Murphy 17’, Wells 35’, Rodda 42’, Shea 48’) West Canberra Wanderers (0) 0
TEAMS
Belconnen United: 1. Leila BILLINGTON, 2. Natalia CERNE, 4. Etienne DAVIES, 7. Marley COLUSSI, 9. Samantha SHEA, 10. Eden RODDA, 11. Scarlett WELLS, 12. Elfin MOKANY, 13. Danielja ESKINJA, 14. Sarah BRANN, 16. Sage HALING
Substitutes (Interchange): 3. Isla MURPHY, 5. Sylvie RUSSELL, 6. Abbey DODGE, 8. Liliana ALTIMORE, 15. Holly CONLON, Miley HARTIG
West Canberra Wanderers: 2. Freya MOSS, 3. Anne HASSALL, 4. Georgia REILLY, 8. Isla HUDDY, 11. Belle REINSTADLER, 12. Lily ELLIS, 17. Mariella MOURA, 32. Suzannah BROUGH, 33. Isabella HARTLEY, 40. Sophie PORTER, 99. Iva SPELIC
Substitutes (Interchange): 10. Arianna KASHAN, 13. Audrey WARD, 14. Laura TARRANT, 18. Siena TOWNDROW, 29. Amy MATHERS, 41. Olive HUDDY
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
OFFCIALS
Referee: Darren GLEDHILL, Assistant Referees: Sean FARRELLY, Nick BLAIR, Fourth Official: Andrew FORSTER