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TRADIES Premier League Reserves Grand Final

Woden Valley 2 (Izzy Velzen 60’, Taylor Smith 67’) Belconnen United 1 (Clare Munro 33’)

Half-time: 0-1

(Hawker Football Stadium, kick off 12.30)

THE TEAMS

Woden Valley and Belconnen United qualified for the Tradies Women’s Premier League Reserves Grand Final by posting convincing victories in their respective semi-finals last weekend. At Deakin Stadium Woden Valley proved too strong for their hosts, Canberra FC, running away with a 5-1 victory whilst down at Kambah 2 the Blue Devils turned on the style to claim a comfortable 6-0 win over the valiant Belwest Foxes.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Taylor Smith’s goal that gave Woden Valley the lead for the first time. The exciting Smith had slowly been coming into the match after a quiet first half and had already gone close with a measure lob before setting up the equaliser with a fine, mazy run. This goal though was all about timing and composure. Her run to get on the end of Maddy Beard’s pass was exceptional, matched only by the finish which, with the minimum of effort, brought the maximum reward.

MATCH REPORT

Woden Valley came from 0-1 down to inflict a 2-1 defeat on Belconnen United in the Grand Final of the Tradies Premier League under-18 competition. The opening exchanges of the encounter were typical of a Grand Final match with both teams taking time to adjust to the fast-paced synthetic pitch. As such there was little chance of either side putting on a goal-fest for the fans gathered in the shade of the grandstand. It wasn’t though for a lack of effort with Belconnen United firing the first warning shot across Woden Valley bows when Sabrina Spinapolice chanced her arm from distance and Kate Grarock in the Woden goal was grateful to se the firmly struck shot whistle just wide of her right-hand upright. The Valley side re-grouped from this early scare and a terrific cross into the penalty area just eluded the onrushing Sophie Velzen who, if she had managed to get any sort of touch at all, would have put her side in the lead. As it was, it was the Blue Devils who broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark. A slick passing move freed Clare Munro and the dead-shot attacker made no mistake in sweeping her shot past Grarock from close range and into the net to the delight of the increasing contingent of Belconnen supporters in the crowd. As the sun blasted down on a beautiful day the weather appeared to take its toll on the players as a slower paced game developed with the Blue Devils taking a slight lead into the cooler atmosphere of the dressing rooms at the break. Woden emerged from the sheds eager to draw level and a lob from Taylor Smith landed on the roof of the bet with Giovinazzo rapidly back-tracking whilst Sophie Velzen continued to influence the game with a strong-running display. Smith was at the forefront when Woden did draw level on the hour. Dancing past a couple of Blue Devils defenders Smith squared the ball on a plate for Izzy Velzen who had the simplest of tasks to side-foot into the net from close range to bring the match all-square. And the effervescent Smith turned the match on its head only seven minutes later. Latching onto a precise through ball from captain Maddy Beard, Smith showed her coolness under pressure clip her shot past the advancing Giovinazzo and give her side a precious 2-1 lead. This second goal in quick succession knocked the stuffing out of Belconnen who, despite their best efforts, were unable to peg back their opponents. They did find the net four minutes from the final whistle when Julie Ibarra slotted home, but the assistant referee correctly called offside and their last chance had gone.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Maddy Beard (Woden Valley): On an exhausting day in the heat Woden Valley’s captain didn’t miss a beat battling hard in midfield. She dragged her team off the floor at 0-1 down with some hard-hitting tackles and created the match winning goal with a delightfully weighted pass to Taylor Smith in an all-round performance that led by example from the front.

STATISTICS

Woden Valley: 1. Kate Grarock (gk), 3. Lindsay Hoek, 4. Izzy Velzen (5. Bronte Carlin), 7. Hayley Hinde, 8. Sophie Velzen (6. Kadee Hollis), 9. Maddy Beard, 11. Taylor Smith (2 Morgan McGown), 12. Nida Molison, 13. Rachel Fearn (10. Brittany Palombi), 14. Amanda Fletcher, 17. Julia De Angelis

Substitutes not used: 15. Jaline Hoek, 16. Natalie De Marco

Belconnen United: 1. Jess Giovinazzo (gk), 2. Jordan Buchanan, 3. Jess McEwan, 4. Talia Collins, 5. Kelly Grocock (15. Sian Minary-Bland), 6. Jess Goyne, 7. Brittany Smale, 8. Sabrina Spinapolice (13. Maja Blasch), 9. Elle Weston (12. Julie Ibarra), 10. Alison Lound (14. Milli Black), 11. Clare Munro

Substitutes not used: 16. Tash Di Bitonto (gk)

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: None

Match Officials: Craig Pope (referee), Pat Holloway, Aaron Pope, Virginia Henderson (4th Official)