2024 Champion of Champions Day Four: Sunshine returns as girls’ tournament kicks off with a bang
The Champion of Champions Girls’ tournament kicked off on Friday, with some of the best community youth football teams from across NNSWF’s seven member zones going head-to-head at Coffs Coast Synthetics.
The tournament was split into four divisions with under-12s, under-13s, under-14s and under-15/16s competitions.
There was some entertaining football contested across the first day of the girls’ tournament as the sun came back out to welcome the teams to Coffs Harbour.
Under-12s Girls:
Coffs Coast Tigers and Northern Storm kicked off the under-12s division on Friday morning. Northern Storm secured a 4-0 win with goals from Saffi Wendt, Emily Hunter and Brooklyn Kennedy.
Tumbulgum Rangers went down to Port Saints Rabbits 2-0 in each club’s first match of the competition. Goals from Lacey Scott and Summer Booth sealed the win for the Rabbits.
Under-13s Girls:
Northern Storm started their campaign with a 3-0 win when they took on Bellingen FC in the opening match of the under-13s competition. An early goal from Ruby Smith helped the Storm swing the momentum in their favour before Reef Winkler and Eva Corsalini added to the tally to seal the win.
Alstonville FC kicked off their tournament with a gritty 1-0 win over Port United with a goal from Elani Rayward enough to snatch the win. There was nothing to separate Kahibah FC and Lismore Thistles in their first match as they settled with a 0-0 draw.
Tilligerry United went down 1-0 in their first match against Kahibah, while Northern Storm continued their winning momentum with a 1-0 win against Astonville.
Bellingen bounced back from their loss to defeat Port United 3-1 with two goals from Ayla Devine and one from Ruby Dowling.
The under-13s wrapped up day one of the competition with the last time slot of the day as Bellingen FC secured their second win with a 3-1 win over Astonville.
Northern Storm finished the day undefeated after a 2-1 win over Port United while Lismore clinched their first win of the tournament after a 1-0 victory over Tilligerry.
Under-14s Girls:
The under-14s competition got underway with three hotly contested matches in the morning.
Stockton Sharks defeated Port United 3-1 after Xanthe Shields secured the first hat-trick of the girls’ tournament, while Woolgoolga United beat Coffs City United 5-1. Nothing could separate Boambee FC and Northern Storm in their first match as they played out a scoreless draw.
There was nothing that could separate the teams after lunch after three draw results.
North United began their tournament with a 0-0 draw with Stockton, while Woolgoolga and Northern Storm were also forced to share the points after a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
Port United dominated their first half against Boambee as they went into the break with a 2-0 lead with a double from Maya Pryce-Boylan. But Boambee bounced back in the second half and locked the final score at 2-2 after Olivia Purnell put two in the back of the net.
The under-14s finished day one with more fierce battles as Coffs City earned their first point of the tournament against Boambee with a 1-1 draw.
Northern Storm will continue to search for their first win as they head into day two after they secured another draw against Stockton with neither side able to find the back of the net with a 0-0 draw.
Norths United clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Woolgoolga. The score was locked up at 1-1 at half-time after Jemma Crossley opened the scoring for Norths and Josie Mamone equalised with a penalty kick. Indy Markham edged Norths in front once again in the second half but Maggie Winn responded for Woolgoolga four minutes later. In the final minutes of the match, an own goal secured the win for Norths to secure their first win.
Under-15/16s Girls:
The under-15/16s girls competition got underway after lunch as three tight battles took place.
Cooks Hill United edged out Byron Bay FC with a 1-0 win after Grace Pigram hit the back of the net in the 17th minute. Maitland JFC was victorious over Sawtell FC with a 1-0 win, while Rosie Hawkins scored the late winner for Bellingen FC to defeat Port United 1-0.
Maitland bounced back with a thrilling 1-0 win over Bellingen after a late goal from Addison McQueen. Garden Suburb FC was defeated in their first match of the tournament 2-0 by Byron Bay.
Port United and Cooks Hill were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw after a intense battle. Evie Gibson from Port United opened the scoring in the eighth minute to give her side the lead into the half-time break. But Cooks Hill was able to respond early in the second half after Cianna Courtney hit the back of the net. Neither team could find the winner and the score remained locked up at 1-1 at the final whistle.