Late Winners Seals Grand Final For UQ
UQFC 2 (Mitchell 59', Philpot 90') North Pine 1 (Di Francesco 86') HT 0-0 Played at: Wolter Park
A 90th minute Melina Philpot goal snatched victory for UQFC over Champions North Pine at Wolter Park, just when the game looked destined for a further thirty minutes. UQ top goal scorer Cairisjan Mitchell put the Students in front on the hour mark when North Pine keeper Sasha Vijars was unable to clear a cross into the box and with three UQ players in the six yard box, it was Mitchelll who got the final touch to poke the ball home. With time running out, Natalie Di Francesco powered her shot into the back of the net when stand-in UQ keeper Rosalie Petersen could only parry away a corner as the Gorillas looked set to take the game into extra time. With the scoreboard clock at Wolter Park showing full time, the Students pounced when Jessica Condon broke down the left and slid the ball into the box. In a foot race, Philpot managed to get a toe to the ball before Vijars could get to it with the North Pine defence looking on helplessly as the ball bobbled in at the far post. A subdued first half came to life early in the second term when Mikarlah Born forced the first real save of the game from Petersen. North Pine had a couple of opportunities midway through the half to level when firstly they were unable to force the ball home from a goal mouth scramble before a Morgan Schoener cross caused problems at the far post and nearly saw UQ turn the ball into their own goal only for Petersen to gather the ball on the line despite strong protests from the Gorillas that the ball had gone in. Condon had a good opportunity to seal the game before North Pine levelled when she was put into space down the left, made her way to the edge of the box before firing straight at Vijars. With only seconds remaining, Philpot’s goal was the nail in the coffin for North Pine as they backed-up their semi-final win over the champions to take out the silverware.
Coaches Remarks:
Bill Williams - UQFC: "That was a pretty exciting game wasn't it. I had a feeling they had one in them, I thought we were going to extra time. It was a good quality grand final as you'd expect between the top two teams and on a quality field which made for a better game. Well done to North Pine, they took out the premiership and we've managed to take the Grand FInal.” Jamie Sanckson - North Pine: "All finals are the same aren't they, can go either way. It wasn't our day in the end but well done to UQ."
Team Line-ups
UQFC: Petersen (gk), Blake, Condon, Crossman, Hilton, Iannantuono, McShane, Mulligan, Sullivan, Szczotko..
Subs: Ryan (rgk), Crossman, Leggatt, Lepontois, Philpot.
North Pine: Vijars (gk), Ball. Broad, Carloff, Di Francesco, Eccles, Michel, New, Savill, Schoener, Schoots.
Subs: Parker, Born, Stelzer. REFEREE: Kianna Aquilina-Henderson
