A PENALTY kick in the dying seconds of the match saw Gambier Centrals take out the 2018 South East Women’s Football Association senior premiership cup over United.
The game commenced at 2.30pm with players making their way on to pitch one at Blue Sports Park after a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Sophie Charlton.
The rematch of last year’s grand final provided the opportunity for the association’s two strongest teams to go head-to-head again on the big stage.
IN 2017 United claimed the season honours and in this year’s Pink Ribbon Cup it was again Untied which took home the silverware.
However, there was no doubt Centrals had the edge and was the favourite for the flag, going into over the decider with an undefeated record for the premiership season.
The Lions had prevailed in both minor round meetings by a slim margin, while a 3-0 win in the qualifying final filled them with more confidence.
The game commenced with Centrals winning the toss, kicking towards the Dohle Road end with the breeze.
The Lions went on the attack, but it was United’s Ella Firth who created the early plays for her team.
She pushed into attack and caused problems for the young Centrals’ backline led by Alexis Lunnay and Ellie Seaton.
Despite this pressure from United, the first clear chance fell to Centrals’ Tracey Long who broke through the heart of the United defence and hit it straight at the goalkeeper.
Less than a minute later Long broke free again, this time hitting the post, then immediately after hit the other post, followed by a fourth shot which was deflected by the keeper.
With Centrals on the attack, young striker Kiah Connolly was brought on, but the Lions could not find a way through.
Firth and Lauren Frost combined well for United and the best chance of the first half soon fell to Jasmine White, who found herself unmarked in the Centrals box.
However, her strike was kept out by Kali Langley in the Centrals’ goal.
With the score remaining nil-all and chances few and far between, both teams went into the half-time break confident the title remained within their grasp.
Kicking into a stronger breeze in the second half, Centrals struggled to find its rhythm and it was once again the United midfield of Firth and Frost which created the better chances.
Centrals young-gun Emma O’Callaghan was called on to mark Firth and as the game moved into its final stages the Lions’ midfield of Tess Andrews and the hard-working Kendell Saffin started to find the likes of Wanita Robinson and Keisha Seilor, who was playing her final game.
Centrals pushed more players forward in a desperate attempt to stop the game going into extra time and with five up front for the last five minutes, the side found a lifeline in the dying seconds of the game.
A United player handled the the ball in the penalty area.
With all eyes on the referee and after consultation with the assistant referee, a penalty was awarded and Andrews stepped up to take the final kick of the game.
She calmly slotted the kick to the right-hand side of the keeper which saw Centrals with its first ever senior women’s title and its second premiership for the day, after the Under 15’s also prevailed.
Kendell Saffin from Centrals was awarded the inaugural Jenna McCormick medal for best-on-ground by the referees.
