NAMBUCCA Strikers wanted it all – but Boambee wanted to share the spoils, as the story of the North Coast Football women’s 2nd division story was told today at Coffs Harbour.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Strikers had already sewn up the minor premiership, and went chasing the double in the grand final at the International Stadium.
Two champion teams, and when they last met – earlier in the finals, extra time was demanded to separate the juggernaughts.
Another war of attrition beckoned, as both sides probed, countered, scrambled and did everything but find the net in a scoreless first half.
After the break, and buoyed by an army of Nambucca fans who made the trip north, including a man with a PA, the Strikers pressed.
Pressed, pressured and powered.
Scoring machine Anna Champion set sail a couple of times. The first assault was denied only by a shot which passed just wide of the post, the second charge ended in a solid contact with the steadfast Boambee keeper who had a magic game.
But the contact was deemed too harsh, and Champion took the shot from the spot and nailed it, as did the Boambee keeper.
The Eagles had absorbed all the pressure and that’s where the match turned.
On a rare foray down the other end, Boambee goaled from a shot that took a nasty deflection to beat Strikers keeper Carly Smith who had a wow of a game to add to her rep as the best saver in this league.
One-nil – and that’s how it finished.
Great seasons for both teams, and Strikers coach Clay Urquhart was gracious in acknowledging the strength of the Boambee club in having so many teams present on grand final day.