The 2017 Women’s Division 1 Grand Final between Albion Park and Tarrawanna was a replay of the previous two deciders. Like those affairs, it was Albion Park who claimed overall honours, this time with a 3-0 victory. 

Not only is it Albion Park's fourth Grand Final win in a row, it is also their third title of the season after the powerhouse side picked up the State Cup and League Championship earlier in the season.

The sides were tense in the opening stages and it wouldn't be until the 18th minute that a clear cut chance was made. Shakiah Tungai unleashed Brittany Ring from the halfway line and the striker surged into the box but she hooked her shot to the left of the goal. 

The arch rivals continued to toil without much creativity but with five minutes until the interval, Ring played a low cross into Linda Hillard who made a run to the near post but her close range shot just missed the target.

Moments later, Tarrawanna had their best opportunity of the half. Jasmin Pearce cut in from the left and into the box but her shot found the arms of goalkeeper Aleisha Chessell. 

The sides went into halftime locked a nil all, Tarrawanna coach, Sean Maloney would have been the happier of the two coaches after his side had kept the league’s best attack in check for 45 minutes. 

Two minutes into the second half, Tarrawanna came within centimetres of taking the lead. Elise Batten swung in a corner that saw Albion Park captain, Tenaya Davis head it onto her own crossbar before the ball was cleared for another corner. 

The deadlock was broken on the 52nd-minute mark when Albion Park's Michelle Foscarini played a superb crossfield ball for Casey-Leigh Suttle who lobbed the onrushing Melissa Spero from the edge of the box.

Albion Park doubled their lead in the 66nd minute when Brittany Ring worked the ball into space 20 metres from goal before firing into the right of the net. The stunning strike was the markswoman's 27th goal of the season.

Albion Park tightened their grip on the trophy two minutes later when Rylee Mcgartland converted a free kick from 25 metres out. The thumped ball was unable to be kept out by Spero despite getting a hand to it. 

In the remaining 20 minutes, Albion Park opted to play conservative football to defend their lead. Tarrawanna tried to work the ball into threatening areas but the resolute Park defence proved too strong.

Tungai nearly sneaked home a fourth goal with seconds on the clock when she flicked a shot just wide but it wouldn't matter as the full-time whistle blew and Albion Park prevailed 3-0.

After the match, Albion Park coach, Richard Davis heaped praise on his side who have now won all 23 games they have played this season, “The girls have worked hard for it, they deserve what they get and that’s the rewards they get for being persistent.”

Albion Park now turn their attention to the Champions of Champions which they last won in 2013, Davis believes success in that competition will further enhance the region's reputation, “Now we can move onto the next chapter and hopefully it’s bringing a trophy home to the Illawarra and proving the Illawarra is a breeding ground for good women’s soccer players.”

 

Click this link to listen to the post match interviews - https://soundcloud.com/dylanarvela/post-match-interviews-from-albion-parks-grand-final-win-over-tarrawanna 

 

Click this link to see the Twitter moment feed - https://twitter.com/FSC_Official/status/906804979050016770

 

Albion Park - 3 (Suttle 52’, Ring 66’, Mcgartland 68’)

Tarrawanna - 0

 

Sunday the 10th of September, 2017 at Unanderra Oval

 

Albion Park - Faith Atkins, Kaelah Austin, Aleisha Chessell, Tenaya Davis, Claire Duffy, Michelle Foscarini, Kristina Glisic, Jessica Hanly, Linda Hillard, Nicole Mccracken, Rylee Mcgartland, Brittany Ring, Phillipa Robinson, Casey-Leigh Suttle, Shakiah Tungai and Madison Wunsch

 

Tarrawanna - Camille Augustyn, Elise Battin, Leah Carlon, Kyle Chaplin, Helena Dorczak, Vanessa Freitas, Josie-May Iorianni, Kristina Janeska, Irene Kyriacou, Jayne Leywood, Bonnie Macdonnell, Jasmin Pearce and Melissa Spero

 

Referee - Lottie Cabassi-Power

 

Assistant Referees - Emajen Crawley and Maya Francis

 

4th Official - Rebecca Mckenzie

  

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photo courtesy of Kiah Hufton