Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League Grand Final Review
The match saw the two dominant sides of 2008 do battle; Western NSW being the Minor Premiers, Illawarra Stingrays the Club Champions. Their matches during the season had been hard fought. The Panthers seemed to be the only side in the league that could stem the flow of Illawarra?s dominant attack. The question was could they do it again under the pressure cooker atmosphere of a Grand Final? It was pretty obvious that The Stingrays were frustrated by The Panthers style of play but the girls from The Gong were keen to show they were the better side. Where better to prove that than in the biggest match of the year.
It?s easy for a coach to describe a Grand Final as ?just another game?. Anyone can tell a player just to approach a Grand Final as a normal match. If only it was that easy. Some wonderful players in many sports have never been fortunate enough to play in a Grand Final. The nerves have to be fluttering in the build up. They reach a crescendo prior to kick off. Then it?s a matter of which team can find their rhythm first.
The match report for games between these two sides is always fairly similar. Illawarra come out all guns blazing, The Panthers work hard to close them down and then try to hit The Stingrays on the break. As this match progressed it became something of an arm wrestle with neither side able to turn the pressure into something tangible on the scoreboard. The usual suspects were playing dominant roles with Christie Akid, Cassie Halloway and Michelle Carney trying to work some magic for Illawarra. Sammie Wood, Ashleigh Sykes and Gillian Rosconi answered in kind for The Panthers but the two teams went to half time level; the scoreboard attendant having been an interested but otherwise stationary spectator.
Both teams approached the second half with renewed vigour. Illawarra pressed forward in an attempt to break the game open. However, the Western NSW defence was proving equal to the task. The crowd were already wondering if the dreaded penalty shoot out would be the only way to separate these two sides. However, in the 68th minute, Illawarra?s forgotten super boot Michelle Heyman stepped up to put her mark on the Grand Final. Heyman slotted away a well taken opportunity to put The Stingrays in front.
The Panthers tried to lift. It was all or nothing now with the season on the line for the girls from Bathurst. However, despite some chances to test the Illawarra resolve, The Panthers couldn?t find the back of the net. The missed opportunities proved costly when, in the 80th minute, Cassie Halloway seemingly put the Grand Final out of reach when she scored Illawarra?s second goal. From here The Stingrays made sure of their victory with scenes of jubilation greeting the sound of the final whistle.
A fitting encounter to bring down the curtain on the 2008 season. Either of these sides would have been fitting champions. They?ve both played some wonderful football during the season and put a distance between themselves and the other eight WSL clubs. The Stingrays will be back in the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League in 2009 whilst The Panthers will rue the fact that they came so close to sweeping the pool of titles this season. They shouldn?t be too disappointed though. They?ve done Bathurst proud in 2008.
Personally I?d like to thank everyone involved in the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League for their support during the 2008 season. Don?t tell anyone at Football NSW but, being a passionate supporter of women?s football, I?d have probably taken on this job for nothing! It?s been great to see the level of talent on show. It?s been terrific to see the level of enthusiasm from so many people at so many clubs. Girls?/Women?s football deserves respect. The players work hard, play hard and enjoy their football. They provide a fine spectacle for their supporters and those intelligent football fans who come to watch the best female players in action. Those amongst the football fraternity who deride female football using faded stereotypes aren?t true football lovers. The game belongs to everyone. The football family is not limited to one gender. The upcoming W League will, hopefully, showcase the talent in women?s football to a greater audience.
I?m already looking forward to the 2009 season. See you in the stands!
-By Ross Anderson
