Newcastle Olympic claimed the Women’s State Cup for the first time in the club’s history after they defeated Charlestown Azzurri 0(4)-0(3) on penalties in the final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The Olympic side which was filled with mostly reserve and under-17s players was out with a point to prove in the annual tournament.
Azzurri dominated for the majority of the 40 minutes of play but the young and hungry Olympic side did just enough to keep them at bay and take the match to penalties.
The Blues came firing out of the gates to create some early chances but Olympic also had some opportunities, with the two goalkeepers tested.
The score was locked up at 0-0 at the half-time break before the contest continued to heat up in the second half. It was a physical battle between both sides on display with so much on the line.
Defender Kirstyn Pearce had one of the best chances of the game as she took a free kick from outside the penalty area. Her strike curled over the sea of players and dipped at the right time but hit the crossbar and into the hands of goalkeeper Isabella Whitton.
Azzurri continued to push for a winner and Whitton was forced to make some spectacular saves to keep her side in the contest.
The score remained 0-0 as the final whistle blew which sent the game into a penalty shootout.
In Azzurri’s first penalty, Pearce’s attempt skied over the crossbar before Olympic’s Annika Damico slotted her penalty kick cleanly into the back of the net.
Charlestown then missed again but Marion Dunbabin’s attempt was saved by substitue goalkeeper Malli Blanch to keep them in contention. Ella Joyce then netted her shot for the Blues to take the shootout to 2-1 in Olympic’s favour.
Alannah Russell and Danielle Nicol from Olympic successfully netted their attempts, as did Charlestown’s Chloe Martin and Jayna Fraser.
Whitton needed to score to win the game for Olympic, which she did with a confident strike.
Olympic’s Women’s Technical Director Ben Boyd was proud of his side’s efforts to get the win.
“It was a great weekend, we brought up a lot of the younger girls to have a crack,” Boyd said.
“It was good to give the young ones an opportunity and they lifted and played really well. I am really happy.
“I was so proud of how well we fought. We knew they [Azzur] are a big, physical team and we are a younger side and not as big as them, so I thought in those moments when we had to compete, we did. We did really well.”
Boyd said that it meant a lot to his side and the club to win their first Women’s State Cup.
“We haven’t won it before which is something special,” Boyd said.
“Winning any sort of trophy is a great result and you only have to see the reaction from the girls to see how much it means to them.”
The Women’s State Cup final defeat was Azzurri’s second in two years, with coach Heath Whyte disappointed that they didn’t take their chances.
“I thought we were the better team. We held the ball a lot better and had our opportunities,” Whyte said.
“We had some good shots on target with some equally good saves from Olympic that kept them in the game. Then when it comes down to penalties, well it’s anyone's game.
“It was a disappointing way to finish the weekend but well done to Olympic. They had better composure in front of the sticks.”
In the Community Plate final, Cooks Hill United FC secured back-to-back Community Plates after they defeated Kempsey Saints FC 1-0.
Cooks Hill dominated for most of the match, as they were relentless in attack which put Kempsey’s defence under enormous pressure. But the Saints held Cooks Hill out as they went into half-time locked at 0-0.
Cooks Hill's efforts in attack finally paid off in the 32nd minute when Gabrielle Brodie hit the back of the net to put her side ahead.
Cooks Hill coach Belle Hewitt was thrilled for her side to win for the second year in a row.
“It is amazing to get the win two years in a row,” Hewitt said.
“I won it as a player last year, so to come back and win it again with the girls as a coach means so much.
“We played some really good football over the weekend. We have a really big squad with a lot of strong players. They were all hungry and wanted it so much.”
The NPL Women’s NNSW competition resumes this weekend with the eight teams heading into round 18.
