Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Grand Final Review
Inter Lions prove too strong for Western NSW to capture Championship
Inter Lions are in celebration mode today after scoring a thrilling 3-1 win over the Western NSW Panthers in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Grand Final at Melita Stadium yesterday.
The Lions added the Grand Final Champions tag to their Premiers mantle after a hard fought game with a tenacious Panthers team. The match was a fitting climax to the season with some fine, flowing football with a tough physical edge that left a number of players nursing bumps and bruises at the end of the match.
The early exchanges in the match were shared with both teams creating opportunities. The teams quickly settled into their rhythm, It was clear that The Panthers were not in awe of the highly fancied opponents and the girls from Bathurst took the game right up to The Lions.
Inter were pushing forward through some nice build up which saw Elyce Goss shoot across the face of goal where Dani Calvi almost managed to touch the ball away for a goal. Catherine Cannuli was also heavily involved in the opening plays, creating openings for her Inter team mates with an array of sublime skills. Goss was again to the fore with a fine run where she turned her defender into knots, junking in and out before releasing her shot which sailed over the cross bar.
The Panthers weren?t just sitting back absorbing all of this pressure. They were making inroads of their own with a number of breaks coming down thee right side of the Inter defence. In the 20th minute a high ball into the box by Western NSW saw indecision in the Inter defence. The ball was allowed to bounce and Panthers player Lauren Diduszko pounced on the ball; shooting with power to beat the Inter keeper and open the scoring. This was a great start for Western NSW.
The Panthers grew in confidence after their goal and the two sides traded attacks. The Panthers were making sure that their tackles counted and Inter looked a little flustered. However, The Lions continued to go forward, creating a hat trick of chances, all of which were either blocked or sent wide of the mark.
In the 30th minute Catherine Cannuli raced into the Western NSW box. Cannuli was surrounded by defenders but, as she attempted to tip toe through the line she was felled. The shrill of the whistle was heard as referee Laura Elliott pointed to the spot, awarding Inter Lions the penalty. Dani Calvi stepped up to take the spot kick, calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net to put the game back on an even keel.
Natalie Spirovski had been a pivotal part of the Inter Lions attack up until this point. Her passing and running games were obviously on song for the big day and she mesmerised the Panthers defence with a sizzling run soon after the equalising goal. Spirovski jinked turned, spun; seemingly having the ball on a string as she moved towards goal. Pushed wide by the defence Spirovski centred from the right edge of the box but her pass went in behind her advancing support.
Similarly Catherine Cannuli made a great dash down the left for Inter, racing into the box before passing across goal. The ball beat every set of feet in front of the goal mouth and another chance went begging for The Lions.
Inter had suddenly grabbed the momentum and were giving The Panthers a stern test. The Western NSW girls were not to be denied though and forged forward themselves with Holly Hays and Gillian Rosconi working hard for their side. The Panthers made another long break before winning a corner which was headed into the arms of the Lions keeper Tani Rosekelly.
The whistle blew for the half time break with the two teams locked at 1-1.
Before the second half kick off Inter Lions keeper Tani Rosekelly was yellow carded. Apparently Tani was drawing lines in the dirt, or maybe just painting dust pictures to amuse herself?
The half started at a similar hectic pace to the first with neither side taking a backward step. In the 48th minute The Panthers dashed forward with great combination between Holly Hays and Gillian Rosconi opening up the Inter defence.
As Rosconi advanced on goal and looked likely to pull the trigger she was jockeyed wider of goal by the backtracking Inter defence. Rosconi tried to get the ball back inside but The Panthers turned over possession. The ever present Natalie Spirovski surged onto the ball, racing into the open.
As Spirovski charged towards the Western NSW box Catherine Cannuli loomed on her left. A great pass saw Cannuli on the ball, chipping powerfully past the keeper to put Inter back in front. What a marvellous piece of play between the two Inter Lions stars, capped by Cannuli?s classy finish!
From the kick of the Bathurst girls attempted to reply quickly with Teegan Courtney making a fine run. As she raced into the area Courtney released the ball but her shot/cross was well taken by keeper Rosekelly.
The Lions then went forward with Renee Tomkins and Catherine Cannuli both teeing off unsuccessfully from distance. Spirovski then set about teasing the defence again with a nice run before passing to Cannuli in front of goal. Unfortunately Cannuli was unable to get any power on her shot and the ball went wide of goal.
The Panthers then built a nice attacking raid but the final pass was well read by an alert Jillian Rowlands who turned defence into attack with a strong run which leads to Inter winning a corner. The Panthers were able to defuse the corner but weren?t finding it as easy to relieve the pressure.
Panthers Captain Gillian Rosconi was doing her best to inspire her side. Though Inter defender Rhiannon Fleming had done a good job of marking the Western NSW danger player, Rosconi slipped clear before centring to the trailing Holly Hays. Hays appeared to have the goal at her mercy but her shot sailed over the bar. The Panthers were showing that they still had plenty of bite left in them.
Soon after, Natalie Spirovski was making another attacking run when brought down by a Panthers defender. Obviously Spirovski was hurt and, after some treatment left the field, eventually being replaced by Dominique Caridad.
This was a big blow for The Lions as Spirovki had been the dominant player in the match up until that stage. As the play swept back up field Gillian Rosconi was hit in a solid body check by Renee Tomkins, leading to the Inter midfielder receiving a yellow card. Rosconi was tended to by a trainer for some time before resuming her position.
Elyce Goss threatened as she burst upfield. Once again Goss had the defenders at sixes and sevens before releasing a pass to Cannuli. The ball ended up back with Goss who let loose a stunning shot which hit the cross bar. Moments later Goss? match ended when she came off worst in a three way clash of bodies when contesting a high ball. Goss was replaced by Lisa Mitchell.
Inter had lost two of their star players in a matter of minutes but was this going to be enough to spark a Panthers comeback?
In the 82nd minute Renee Tomkins won a ball near half way. Tomkins pushed forward before sending a great ball through which Catherine Cannuli quickly raced after. The veteran, a harsh term when you?re only 23 years of age, was first to the ball before threading a shot between the advancing keeper and defender. The ball beat the despairing defenders over the line to bring up the third goal for the Inter Lions. Surely that was the final nail in the Western NSW coffin?
The Panthers, to their credit, didn?t give up. Another strong run by Rosconi saw her send a long cross into the box. The Inter keeper looked to be in trouble but The Lions managed to clear the danger. At the other end of the field Cannuli showed of her skills again, juggling the ball and beating the defender before shooting wide of goal. Tyson and Tomkins also had long range attempts at goal but their efforts failed to trouble the keeper.
Referee Elliott then blew her whistle and pointed to the centre to conclude a gripping Grand Final with Inter Lions running out 3-1 winners.
Panthers Coach Paul Waine was proud of his girls? effort. Whilst he conceded that, overall, the better side had won; Waine felt that his team had been right in the game for long periods; maybe even longer than what Inter Lions thought the Panthers would be. Waine felt that the turning point of the game was certainly the second goal where his team went from almost scoring themselves to conceding at the other end of the field two passes later.
The Panthers Coach was pleased with the manner in which his side had stuck to their game plan and frustrated the Inter machine. He singled out Holly Hays and Shannon Waine who he said were excellent in midfield. Waine also paid homage to Captain Gillian Rosconi who he said had battled niggling injuries for most of the season but continued to lead from the front.
?Smoking Joe? Baldacci was a happy man. The pressure has been on the Inter Coach for most of the season as people waited for his star studded side to stumble. To Big Joe?s credit the Inter side maintained a solid standard throughout the season and took all the honours available to them. Baldacci said that he knew his girls would be in for a hard game as The Panthers had been a thorn in their side all season.
?They really brought the game to us today,? said Baldacci of the Western NSW team.
He felt that, once his team settled and got into their normal rhythm they came into their own.
?Cannuli and Spirovski were in a class of their own but our reserves also did a great job when injures hit us late in the game,? said Baldacci.
The Inter Coach was thrilled with this great finish to the season; a season which his team had dominated with some marvellous performances.
Catherine Cannuli of Inter Lions was selected by the assembled press corps as the Player of the Match.
This was a fine finale to the 2009 Arrive Alive Women?s Super League season.
A tough, hard game that displayed the skills of so many talented players from both teams. It was certainly an example of what finals football is all about.
Inter Lions are Premiers, Champions and Club Champions for 2009; a trio of honours they richly deserve. Congratulations to Joe Baldacci, the Inter Lions 1st Grade team and the Inter Lions club. See you in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League in 2010
In the day?s other finals the Central Coast Lightning defeated the Northern Tigers 2-0 in the U12?s, the Western NSW Panthers defeated the Central Coast Lightning 3-0 in the Under 14?s, Southern NSW defeated the Western NSW Panthers 1-0 while Southern NSW claimed the Reserve Grade Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Sydney Tigers
-By Ross Anderson
