Second half blitz sees St George FC crowned 2023 League One Women’s Champions
The curtain has come down on yet another successful Football NSW League One Womens season after the Grand Final between Hills United FC and St George FC.
In which, St George FC were crowned Champions in the decider with a dominant performance.
Let’s get onto the review.
Hills United FC vs St George FC
St George FC were crowned Champions after their 4-0 win over Hills United FC at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday night.
The Saints struck a double blow right after half-time to take control of the contest. Maddison Farmer scored in the 46th minute then Jaslyn Moore in the 51st before substitute Jordan Baker iced the win with her goal in the 70th minute. Mary Moyo then adding a fourth in injury time.
Hills United FC weren’t able to make their dominance in the first half pay off. They had chances through Juri Hiragawara and Isabella Sciberras but their achilles heel in scoring goals came back to haunt them in the decider.
Both St George FC and Hills United FC walked onto Valentine Sports Park looking to finish their season on a high with a Grand Final victory.
The first chance fell to Hills United FC. The ball bobbled around the area before Isabella Sciberras headed straight at St George FC keeper Alexandra Hinson.
St George FC settled into the game and had their first chance. It fell to Kyla Vanderlaan who fired an effort wide of the mark.
It was a cagey first half in the decider. Both teams tried to settle the ball in midfield and try to find their strikers.
Hills United FC were the side who were creating some half chances. Aisling Davidson tried her luck from range but it sailed over the bar.
The closest either team went to a goal was in the 39th minute. Juri Hiragwara cut inside off the flank and blazed an effort just over the crossbar.
Neither team could find the opener and this League One Womens Grand Final went into half-time locked up at 0-0.
Coming out of the break, St George FC felt just fine. Maddison Farmer latched onto a pass, strode through on goal and fired home to make it 1-0 in the 46th minute.
The Saints doubled their delight in the 51st minute. The ball fell to Jaslyn Moore on the edge of the area and she arrowed home for 2-0.
St George FC were in full flow. Substitute Morgan Maxwell found some space on the edge of the box and fired one low right at Hills United FC keeper Sarah Easthope.
They put the game to bed in the 70th minute. It was a superb cross from Caitlin Campbell which found substitute Jordan Baker to make it 3-0.
Hills United FC tried to pull a goal back through Bianca Galayini. She found a pocket of space and shot one right at Hinson.
They kept trying until the final whistle. There was a goalmouth scramble that was cleared then a shot which went over the bar.
It was party time for St George FC. Fans in the stands had the chants flowing for every member of the team while Baker had an effort denied by Easthope.
St George FC added some icing on the cake in stoppage time. Substitute Mary Moyo arrowed home to make it 4-0 in the 92nd minute.
Speaking post-match, an emotional St George FC coach Mark Greenfield reflected on the performance and what the win meant to the club:
“We weren’t very good in the first half and had to get composed. We panicked and needed to settle down and make our passes. We made some changes at the break and it changed the game. The way we play, we know we were going to be in the game. We’ve done that all year and it went to script for us.
“Carlo Tini who has been here for years when we were in dire straits and to see this is amazing. We have players coming through our system and this is what it is about for us. He was bawling at the final whistle which shows you what it means.” said Greenfield.
For Hills United FC coach Alan Tasses, he was devastated to fall at the final hurdle in front of a boisterous crowd.
“It is a hard one to swallow.
“First half we played well but couldn’t find a goal then second half we didn’t come out of the sheds.
A few errors and misplaced passes gave them chances and they took them.
“If you look at the top four, we had the best defence but also the worst attack. It hurt us today.” said Tasses.
Match Stats
Hills United FC 0
St George FC 4 (Farmer ‘46, Moore ‘51, Baker ‘70, Moyo ‘90+2)
Sunday 17 September 2023
Valentine Sports Park
Referee: Chloe Gray
Assistant Referees: Maddy Allum & Siobhan Gregory
Fourth Official: Rebecca Mackie
Hills United FC: 1. Sarah Easthope, 2. Emma Jackson (31. Ashleigh Heuston-Richardson ‘76), 3. Aisling Davidson, 4. Leah Tallon (22. Zoe Wilson ‘76), 5. Shailee Bartle (17. Chantelle Trovato ‘55), 9. Imogen Lane, 10. Bianca Galayini (20. Maddison Jones ‘76), 11. Isabella Sciberras, 14. Ellen Berios (12. Kaylie Shannon ‘55), 15. Cassandra Wheeler, 40. Juri Hiragawara
Unused subs: 16. Bridget Brien
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
St George FC: 1. Alexandra Hinson, 2. Joanna Minas, 3. Kate Dale, 4. Nicole Besz, 11. Kyla Vanderlaan (9. Jordan Baker ‘50), 15. Geneveive Russo (10. Morgan Maxwell ‘45), 16. Emma-Jane Winston, 18. Jaslyn Moore (19. Mary Moyo ‘82), 20. Caitlin Campbell (8. Abbey-Rose Cryer ‘76), 23. Maddison Farmer, 40. Jasmine Limon
Unused subs: 21. Amy Orphanides, 22. Rebecca Cousins
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
