The 18 Women’s PUMA Champion of Champions final resulted in Albion Park lifting the trophy against Albury City 3-1 in a match worthy of any final.

Albion Park applied all the early pressure and but for resolute defending, Emily Williams proving a rock in defence, should have found themselves in front against a determined Albury City outfit.

With the ball pinging around the box it eventually fell to Rylee McGartland whose left foot shot curled wide of the upright quickly followed up by Park team-mate Madison-Rose Girardot forcing City ‘keeper Jessica Hawkins into a full length stop.

The Albury goal was leading a charmed life when that was followed up by Kristen Gorgieski hitting the bar as the Blues struggled to get out of their own half. Indeed, not until the 14’ minute did they register an attempt on target however Ariel Yap was unable to get any power into the shot leaving Jaymee Elbourne with little trouble.

Yap was at it again when picking up the ball on halfway before running toward goal but with little support the shot was taken from distance.

It was a warning heeded by Albion Park when going ahead from a corner with skipper McGartland finishing off.

Albury drew level three minutes later when a fumble from Elbourne allowed a Mackensy Mathews chip to slip through her hands and bobble over the line. Game on once more.

Shanae Webster put Park ahead for the second time after being set up with some slick passing around the box and only time would tell if earlier profligacy would come back to haunt them after the break.

It didn’t and when Kristen Gorgieski added the third with a powerfully struck right footer in the 57’ minute it appeared the winner had been decided if not the final result.

The strike didn’t break the resolve of City yet it would be a hard fight back if they were to get anything from the final and the icing for Park almost proved their undoing when McGartland, a constant thorn in Albury’s side, left three defenders in her wake before clipping the outside of the post.

Cassie Angeloska almost added the fourth late on but it wasn’t to be and on the day Albion Park showed they were just that little bit quicker, stronger and clinical against a worthy opponent in Albury City.

Match Stats

Albion Park JFC 3 (R.McGartland 27’, S.Webster 41’, K.Gorgieski 57’)

Albury City FC 1 (M.Mathews 40’)

Albion Park JFC: Jaymee ELBOURNE, Lara McGEE, Bree BALFOUR, Emma LANCASTER, Renee CROWE, Ashley CAVANAGH, Avalon ROBB, Stacey WEBSTER, Cassie ANGELOSKA, Kristen GORGIESKI, Madison-Rose GIRARDOT, Rylee McGARTLAND, Shanae WEBSTER, Lily CHRISTIE

Albury City FC: Jessica HAWKINS, Matilda HUNT, Emily WILLIAMS, Ariel YAP, Georgina COMINOS, Bree SREDOJEVIC, Kayla GORKA, Mariah TISCHLER, Emma KLINGSPORN, Megan COLLINS, Natalie RANDALL, Gracie WILSON-COOPER, Mackensy MATHEWS, Brianna KUSIC, Christina STEFANOU, Montanna MATHEWS, Taylah MILGATE

Story by Micky BrockPhoto Courtesy of Noel Wynn.