Dunbar Rovers took out the All Age Women Champion of Champions Grand Final with a 2-1 win over Albion Park and thus ending their 59-match winning run.

 

Dunbar Rovers 2 (Morris 7’, Read 42’) Albion Park 1 (Crowe 62’)

 

The rundown -

 

Dunbar pinned the reigning champions back from the opening whistle and they capitalised on their dominance seven minutes in. Francesca Fernandes played Danielle Morris into space and she managed to find the back of the net from 20 metres out.

 

Albion Park had a couple of shots from distance in the middle period of the half through Rylee Mcgartland and Casey-Leigh Suttle but both were safely held by Maja Tellstrom.

 

Park pushed to equalise before halftime but in the 42nd minute they were hit on the counter but a fantastic solo goal from Darcey Read to see the Rovers lead 2-0 at the break.

 

There was a noticeable shift in initiative from the start of the second half and Kristina Glisic had two decent chances inside the first three minutes. The first came off a Michelle Foscarini cut back but Tellstrom managed to save the shot with her trailing leg and the second saw Glisic clatter into the goalkeeper who was awarded a free kick.

 

Rovers nearly put the match to bed in the 61st minute when Mindy Freiband pounced on a poor clearance only for her shot to hook to the left. Within a minute, Park were back in the match when Tellstrom pushed Suttle's shot into the path of Renee Crowe who managed to force the ball into the net.

 

Park had all the momentum in the final 15 minutes, however, clear-cut chances were proving impossible to come by with long-range efforts from Mcgartland, Ring and Crowe the closest they would come to a leveller.

 

Goals -

 

7’ Morris (1-0) - Francesca Fernandes unleashed Danielle Morris down the right side of the field and the winger was able to blast the ball from 20 metres out across Aleisha Chessell and inside the left post.

 

42’ Read (2-0) - Darcey Read jinked in and out of three Albion Park defenders on the left side of the field before striking the ball into the top left corner from just outside the box.

 

62’ Crowe (2-1) -  Casey-Leigh Suttle's effort from just inside the area was spilt by Maja Tellstrom and into the path of Renee Crowe who managed to scramble the ball into the net.

 

Post-match interviews -

 

David Buck

 

“We knew it was going to be a tough one from the start, Albion Park have probably been the best side in the last two years in New South Wales - maybe even three or four years.

 

“It was a privilege to play against such a good team, my girls stood up today, superb first half and under the cosh in the second half. I think we have played against them six or seven times and we’ve never beat them, we have always lost by one or two goals - this time we managed to get over the line.

 

“My bench is very strong at the moment and I think we were able to maintain our intensity. I think we may have come out a bit quicker than Albion, we may have shocked them but they were a different beast in the second half. There wasn’t too much change [compared to previous meetings with Albion Park] we are just a bit more of a unit at the moment,” Buck said.

 

Richard Davis

 

“I think our first 15-20 minutes was a bit unfortunate, we just didn’t seem to get into the groove of the game and we let them dictate and if you let a team like that dictate they going to put goals against you.

 

“I think we were the better team in the second half, especially the last 20 minutes, they just defended and we had all the chances but unfortunately we couldn’t put together that last pass but that’s the way it goes. Dunbar is a good team so credit to them.

 

"It would have been great to win this game but that's the way it goes - all good things come to an end. I'm so proud of my girls, we’ll move forward and bounce back next year," Davis said.

 

Dunbar Rovers - Maja TELLSTROM, Sarah FERRIS, Charlotte BISLAND, Aleshea BIRD, Kerrie RYAN, Francesca FERNANDES, Malin LILLESKARE, Katrine JACQUES, Darcey READ, Danielle MORRIS, Hayley MARSHALL, Mindy FREIBAND, Erin LAFFIN, Zoe BARTLEY, Anita COLAK, Stephanie ALLERDICE

 

Coach - David BUCK

 

Yellow Cards -

 

Albion Park - Aleisha CHESSELL, Phillipa ROBINSON, Claire DUFFY, Nicole MCCRACKEN, Renee CROWE, Michelle FOSCARINI, Casey-Leigh SUTTLE, Tenaya DAVIS, Linda HILLARD, Brittany RING, Jessica HANLY, Kristina GLISIC, Rylee MCGARTLAND, Maddison ANGEL, Liandra Gaylamangu

 

Coach - Richard DAVIS

 

Yellow Card -

 

Referee - Maggie PRICE

 

Assistant Referees - Madelaine ALLUM, Nicola MAMARELIS

 

Sunday, 21 October 2018

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Dunbar Rovers vs Albion Park SC

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela