It was another action-packed day at Coffs Coast Synthetics as the Champions of Champions Girls tournament wrapped up and a big week of football came to an end.
The overcast conditions did not overshadow the occasion as the day was filled with thrilling matches and team spirit.
All age groups faced semi-final and/or grand final matches to crown the champions of each division.
Under-12s Girls:
The under-12s semi-finals kicked off the final day of the tournament with two entertaining battles for a spot in the grand final.
Northern Storm defeated Coffs Coast Tigers 3-0 to remain undefeated and secure a place in the grand final. Valla Parsons netted two goals to take her total for the tournament to seven.
Tumbulgum Rangers continued their momentum into the final day after a dramatic 1(3)-1(1) win over Port Saints Rabbits to progress through to the grand final.
The two sides could not be separated at full-time and were forced to go to a penalty shootout, where Tumbulgum’s goalkeeper pulled of some strong saves to clinch the win for her side.
In the third v fourth play-off between Port Saints Rabbits and Coffs Coast, the Rabbits clinched a 2-1 win. Northern Storm completed the tournament after they were crowned the champions of the under-12s division as they beat Tumbulgum 5-1 in the grand final.
Tumbulgum opened the scoring early in the first half to take the lead but it didn’t take long for the Storm to pull one back and then go up 2-1 as they went into the half-time break. They added three more to their account in the second half to complete a clean sweep of the competition and lift the silverware.
Under-13s Girls:
The under-13s final day of the tournament saw some cracking contests, with a fierce battle to make it into the grand final.
Northern Storm made it six from six wins after a 2-0 victory over Tilligerry United to secure their spot at the top of the table and in the grand final.
Kahibah FC defeated Port United 1-0 after Cally Drain hit the back of the net late in the second half. Kahibah finished third on the table and missed out on the grand final on goal difference.
Alstonville FC did enough to book their ticket for the grand final after they earned a point in a scoreless 0-0 draw against Lismore Thistles.
The champions of the under-13s division came down to the wire after the grand final between Northern Storm and Astonville was forced into a penalty shootout. Neither side could find the back of the net by the full-time whistle despite end-to-end action. The Storm proved their dominance shown all tournament in the shootout and claimed a 0(4)-0(1) victory over Astonville.
Under-14s Girls:
Stockton Sharks continued their undefeated run with a 1-0 win over Coffs City United, while North United and Northern Storm were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Woolgoolga was victorious against Port United with a 2-0 win after Reidon Pearce netted a double.
Coffs City secured their first win of the tournament in their final match against North United after a 2-1 victory.
Northern Storm defeated Port United 2-0 with a double from Lola Thomas. But in heartbreak for the Storm, they missed out on a place in the grand final on goal difference.
Boambee FC’s 3-0 win over Woolgoolga FC was enough to earn them a spot in the grand final after they finished second on goal difference.
The grand final between Stockton and Boambee was a tight battle for the full contest but the Sharks were able to hold on after Kaitlin Smith scored early in the first half.
Under-15/16s Girls:
In the under15/16s girls division, Byron Bay defeated Sawtell FC 2-0 to cement their spot in the grand final with one pool game to go.
Cooks Hill continued their undefeated streak but were unable to secure all three points after another draw against Maitland JFC. Maitland went into the half-time break with a 1-0 advantage after Hannah Seymour hit the back of the net but Cooks Hill struck back through Clodagh Murtagh to lock the final score up at 1-1.
Port United picked up their first win of their campaign after a 2-0 victory over Garden Suburbs.
Maitland was unable to secure a spot in the grand final after they drew 0-0 with Garden Suburb to finish third on the table in their final pool game.
In Sawtell and Port United’s final game of the tournament, they battled it out for a 1-1 draw after Harmony Clark (Port United) and Evie Hill (Sawtell) each hit the back of the net.
Byron Bay put their mark on the competition finishing first on the table as the only under-15s side in the under-15/16s division after a 2-1 win over Bellingen in the final pool game.
The grand final was a tight tussle from the first whistle until the last, with each team determined to be crowned the champions. But it was Byron Bay who got over the line in the end with a 1-0 victory after Isabel De Jong hit the back of the net.
Matilda Armstrong was awarded Female Referee of the Tournament, while Harrison Coleman was awarded Male Referee of the Tournament.
