Mustangs Win First Ever Elaine Watson Cup
Mitchelton 3 (O’Grady 18’, Lutkins 20’, 67’) Annerley 1 (Sweeney 78’)
HT 2-0
Played at Walton Bridge Reserve
They waited 98 years for the first trophy and seven days later the second arrived when Mitchelton continued their excellent Mt Franklin Women’s Premier League season with a 3-1 defeat of Annerley in the Elaine Watson Cup Final on a gorgeous afternoon for football at Walton Bridge Reserve on Saturday. Reagan O’Grady was first onto the scoresheet in an incident packed game when she made an enthusiastic and well-timed run in the penalty area and confidently stroked home a low cross in from the right. The second goal arrived from a rare set-piece attack and came as a the result of an excellent corner which Kate Lutkins rose to head home.
Mitchelton's Kate Lutkins fires in the sealer for her side. After the break, the Mustangs put the game beyond doubt when Lutkins found space going forward and shot straight at Gemma Layfield in goal for the Stars who was unlucky to see the ball squeeze past her into the net. With twelve minutes to go, substitute Rebecca Sweeney took on the defence at pace and slotted home for Annerley providing a faint glimmer of hope which ultimately ended as nothing more than a consolation. As is often the case for the underdog in a Cup Final, Annerley came out of the gates on fire and produced their best football of the afternoon in the first twenty minutes, culminating in a goal which was erroneously disallowed. Chiara Marconato did well to create space on the right hand side and fired home a cracking shot which left the keeper stranded but unbelievably hit the triangular net support behind the post and came back into play off the crossbar. It could have been a turning point, and credit must go to the Annerley players for keeping their complaints to a minimum, which looked even more important when they were awarded a penalty which could have brought them back on level terms, only for Mitchelton keeper Emma Taylor to produce a memorable double save. Only the most one-eyed blues supporter would say they were hard done by because Mitchelton were deserved winners and have every chance of taking out a remarkable treble which could define the club for many years to come. In between all of that, it was a tight struggle which speaks volumes for the defensive structure and tactical organisation utilised by both coaches. Special mention should go to both goalkeepers who made their opposition work hard for opportunities with some excellent saves and general dominance at set-pieces.
Finals often have the knack of being cagey affairs but this was nothing of the sort providing plenty of entertainment from two clubs that obviously have the women’s half of their respective clubs heading in the right direction. It would be amiss not to acknowledge the hosts for the afternoon, The Gap, who turned a game into an event with their professional hospitality and management. FB Media Player Of The Match:CB Emilie Rebelo - Mitchelton
Only a defender could have won this award, such was the great performance by both sets of centre backs. No-one got in and behind her all afternoon and the Mustangs tactical dominance was in no small part due to her partnership with Lyndsey Campbell. Team line-ups
Mitchelton: Taylor (gk), Carden, Rebelo, Campbell, Stay, Brodie, MacDonald, Schirmer, See, Lutkins, O’Grady. Subs: Bell-Clews, Clark, Gianarakis, Harrison, McLaughlin.
Annerley: Layfield (gk), O’Connor, Deegan, Kirkcaldie, Rejtano, Simms, Carroll, Coyne, Marconato, Smith, Meiklejohn. Subs: Onitsuka, Pirlo, Sweeney.
Referee: Oleg Labuz
