Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Final Review
The two country cousins always produce close tussles and this finals match was no exception. With Southern?s goal scoring wizard Katie French back in side for this big match the girls from Nowra were set to put the acid test to the Bathurst side. With Minor Premiers and Club Champions Inter Lions waiting in the wings both The Panthers and Southern NSW were keen to take the final step to the title decider.
There was certainly plenty of enthusiasm put into the opening stages as the two sides tried to gain the ascendancy. Half chances came to both teams but neither we?re able to grasp their opportunities. However, in the 30th minute of the game that girl Katie French was on hand to put her magical scoring boot to work and snatch the lead for Southern NSW FC. This was starting to read like a possible fairy tale finish for the Southern NSW side as they maintained their 1-0 lead into the half time break.
Five minutes into the second half tragedy struck for the Southern NSW side when they conceded a penalty which was duly converted by Western NSW Panthers Jodie Braun. The door had been opened for The Panthers and they now did their best to take full advantage.
This had now come down to a real dogfight as the two adversaries went in search of the winning goal. Play ebbed and flowed as the two coaches perused the chess board for the right moves. Southern NSW had got through to this game with a last gasp goal at Ison Park last week. Could they repeat the does here? Western NSW Panthers are the masters of toughing out the tight games. Would they prevail again? It was going to come down to one inspired moment where one player would determine the result of this match.
As time ticked away this was beginning to look more like a game that was heading into extra time. But then, cometh the moment, cometh the woman! In the 85th minute Western NSW Panthers Captain, Gillian Rosconi, swooped to snare what turned out to be the winning goal for The Panthers and put them through to the Grand Final.
One must have some sympathy for the game Southern NSW FC side that, once again, have fallen in the Preliminary Final. Coach Shane Duffy has done a great job wit his die this season though and Southern are to be congratulated on their efforts in 2009.
The Panthers now move on to another Grand Final appearance. Coach Paul Waine will be hoping for better luck than last season when his team went down narrowly to the Illawarra Stingrays. Western NSW move into the Grand Final with the knowledge that they?re the only side to defeat the formidable Inter Lions this season. Can The Panthers do it again or will The Lions take a clean sweep of honours in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League 2009 season?
Next week?s Grand Final is sure to be one hell of a game!
-By Ross Anderson
