Arrive alive Women?s Premier League Grand Final

MERC, SPORT, SOCCER
Pic taken 22nd August 2010 of the Stingrays after winning the NSW Womens Premier League grand final against Inter Lions on at Balls Paddock.
Pic Robert Peet, Story Joel Ritchie SPECIAL 00099190


Illawarra Stingrays v Inter Lions
The climax of the 2010 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League season took place at Balls Paddock Woonona with the defending champions, Illawarra Stingrays, taking on the Inter Lions.
Inter Lions began the game obviously keen to soothe the nerves by retaining possession. This they were quite successful in doing though they brought no pressure on the Stingrays defence in the opening stages.
The Stingrays gradually worked into their usual attacking rhythm with the champions using the width of the park in their forays forward. An early ball into the Inter area saw keeper Amanda Horafios punch the ball clear a centimetre from the forehead of advancing Stingrays striker Ash Connor.
The Lions were struggling to get forward with Illawarra building pressure through a huge territorial advantage.  
Inter were attempting to impose themselves physically in middle field in an attempt to gain a foothold. The free kick count certainly wasting going their way in the first fifteen minutes but they were working hard to turn the Stingrays tide. Brooke Starrett was prominent early for Inter but Lions Captain Catherine Cannuli was heavily marked. Cannuli did fashion Inter?s first chance though with a bullocking run which ended with a blazing shot high over goal.
As we reached the halfway mark in the first stanza the game was evening out.
Illawarra looked dangerous from dead ball situations with Inter struggling with the high balls in from corners. However, Inter keeper Horafios was intent on punching the ball clear with some success.
An Inter defensive error in the 30th minute saw the ball presented to Michelle Carney in front of goal. With the Stingrays looking certain to score Inter keeper Horafios pulled off a magnificent save to deny the Illawarra Captain.
Cannuli was working hard at the opposite end to try and create opportunities for the Lions. She turned inside, serving a neat pass to Natasha LoGuidice whose shot flew wide of The Stingray goal. Inter were building but Illawarra were dangerous on the break. A strong run down the right flank by Sam Spackman led to her pinpoint cross being headed over the bar by Courtney Danyi. Soon after Michelle Carney burst into the box again but another brilliant piece of keeping by Amanda Horafios in the Inter goal saved the day for the challengers.
Illawarra were looking the team more likely to score at this stage but Inter?s defence were pulling out all stops to hold them at bay. The corner count in favour of Illawarra was mounting but the Stingrays were unable to take advantage. Illawarra?s marking tactics had forced Inter Captain Catherine Cannuli to drop back off her target position in an effort to get some quality possession.
A sweet touch of passes from Illawarra saw Trudy Camilleri break towards goal but she was felled on the edge of the box by Inter defender Jess Seaman who received a yellow card. Carney?s free kick hit the Inter wall before the rebound was smashed wide by Camilleri.
The half time whistle blew with the scores locked at 0-0.
The early moments of the second half saw Illawarra going forward, firstly winning a free kick and then a corner. Neither opportunity amounted to a scoring chance but the flow did put some pressure on Inter Lions at the start of the half.
Illawarra had replaced Courtney Danyi with Talitha Kramer at half time. Kramer was prominent in the Illawarra attack after the break.  Inter Lions withstood the onslaught though to make a move forward of their own. A free kick to Inter after a foul by Stingrays Talitha Kramer saw Cannuli try an overhead shot with her back to goal but Inter keeper Trudy Burke held the ball safely.
The Stingrays had the next chance with Ash Connor laying the ball back to Jess Cooper from inside the box but Cooper?s effort flew wide. Illawarra were in control, continually probing the Inter defence which was now battling to close Illawarra?s ball players down.
Illawarra?s transition was quick with Sam Spackman and Ash Connor combining well to breach the Inter defence. Jess Cooper then broke through the middle of the ruck to blast at goal only to send her delivery wide of the post.  Kristen Lee then raced down the left flank for Illawarra before sending a long spiralling ball into the goalmouth. Amanda Horafios was there again however to snatch the ball and defuse another dangerous situation.
Inter were not able to exert much pressure as they struggled for any meaningful possession.  Their attack lacked sting as the Illawarra defenders stifled their progress.
Illawarra moved out of defence with Talitha Kramer making a strong burst down the left flank, drawing a free kick. Jess Copper?s spot kick was headed clear by Renee Tomkins near the Inter goal line.
Inter were benefitting from Illawarra?s inability to hit the target. They were hanging in, but just barely. One of the Lions few attempts on goal fell to Caitlin Jarvie who shot wide of target.  Natasha LoGuidice then worked a neat move with Dani Calvi before the recent substitution for Caitlin Jarvie shot away from goal.
At the opposite end Illawarra played some fine one touch football to release Ash Connor into space. With the goal at her mercy Connor pulled the trigger only to see Inter keeper Amanda Horafios save magnificently.
At the 76th minute mark Michelle Carney shuffled into the box before going down at the feet of defender Jo Saliba. Carney managed to hold possession, getting to her feet to knock a pass to Ash Connor. The rangy Illawarra striker turned her defender before slamming her shot at goal. This was one that even Horafios couldn?t stop and suddenly Illawarra were in the lead 1-0.
Jo Saliba was then replaced by Nadia Hamson.
Illawarra now laid siege to the Inter goal but they still needed to be wary.  In the blink of an eye Cannuli was in the open for Inter but her touch was slightly heavy with the ball beating her over the goal line.
A harmless Illawarra raid in the 83rd minute saw a poor clearance fall to the feet of Michelle Carney twenty metres from goal. Carney raced into the box, drew the keeper and slotted away the ball for what appeared the clincher. It was now 2-0 to Illawarra.
Inter now swung into action with successive shots at goal. The Lions were now desperate as they sought to make an unlikely comeback.
Illawarra then subbed Ash Connor with Hailey Kerrigan.
There seemed no escape for Inter, as Illawarra rushed forward in numbers. Desperation defending by Inter Lions was the only thing standing between Illawarra and a third goal. Sam Spackman was the final substitution, replaced by Taylor Watt virtually as the final whistle blew.
Illawarra Stingrays were the champions once more via a thrilling 2-0 victory.
Illawarra Captain Michelle Carney was awarded the Joey Peters Medal for Player of the Match in the Grand Final for the second successive year. The Illawarra Captain produced another inspiring performance; setting up the first goal before scoring the second.
Carney praised her side?s win as a ?real team effort?. ?I thought we dominated the game? said Carney, ?but we failed to take our chances in the first half?. The Illawarra Captain felt that her side had been ?shaky? early on in the game but once they settled, were the better side. ?This was an amazing win? said Carney.
Inter Lions Captain Catherine Cannuli was circumspect. She felt that her team had been outplayed in the front third and may have actually shown Illawarra a little too much respect. Cannuli praised her team?s effort, however, in winning their way through to the Grand Final in their first year in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
Inter Lions tried hard but were really no match for the might of The Stingrays. The most meaningful chances of the match fell Illawarra?s way and, but for the brilliance of Inter goalkeeper Amanda Horafios, the result may have been settled much earlier. The Stingrays are worthy champions but Inter were not disgraced.
ILAWARRA STINGRAYS 2 (A.Connor 76m, M.Carney 83m)
INTER LIONS                    0
Highlights of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Grand Final will be shown in the Football Stars of tomorrow programme on Wednesday 25th August on Channel 1HD.
In the days other Grand Final matches the results were as follows;
Under 12 Girls Sutherland Sharks 3 (Koulizakis, Kontakos, Bacon) Inter Lions 0
Under 14 Girls Macarthur Rams 1 (Murtagh) Inter Lions 0
Under 16 Girls NWS Koalas 1 (Matheson) Western NSW Panthers 0
Reserve Grade Women Manly United FC 5 (Leggett, Kent, Wharepouri, Crawford, Giuffre) Marconi Stallions 3 (Ingle 2, Miloseska)
So the curtain falls on a wonderful season of football in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. Illawarra Stingrays have defended their dual titles but one gets the impression that the likes of Inter Lions and Manly, in particular, will be keen challengers again in 2011. The Stingrays have built a great dynasty for women?s football in the Illawarra; one that they won?t surrender easily.
I can?t wait for next season. I?ll see you at the ground in 2011.
-By Ross Anderson