Maitland FC claimed the Northern NSW Women’s State Cup for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall after defeating Broadmeadow Magic 5-0 in the final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The Magpies dominated from the opening whistle and needed just eight minutes to break the deadlock.
An intercept from Ceanna Frost saw her drive into the penalty area and reach the byline before cutting the ball back for Natalia O’Driscoll, who calmly finished into the far corner.
Maitland looked set to double their lead moments later, but goalkeeper Malli Blanch denied Renee Pountney's header.
Pountney continued her search for a goal in the 15th minute with a long-range effort that crashed against the crossbar. Frost charged onto the rebound, but a diving save from Blanch and a goal-line clearance by Megan Janikowski kept the deficit at one.
Pountney finally found the breakthrough she had been searching for in the 19th minute after pouncing on a mistimed Magic pass. She drove into the penalty area unmarked before placing her finish into the bottom left corner.
Maitland extended their lead just two minutes later when Tahlia Gossner rose highest from a corner to head home.
Frost made it 4-0 in the 24th minute, meeting a cross from Sophie Stapleford and firing into the top left corner.
The Magpies picked up where they left off after the break, adding a fifth goal just three minutes into the second half. A perfectly weighted pass from Elodie Dagg found O’Driscoll, who finished into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Both sides continued to battle for the remainder of the match, but a determined defensive effort from Broadmeadow ensured Maitland added no further goals as the score remained 5-0 at the final whistle.
Maitland coach Ben Horgan was thrilled with his side's effort throughout the tournament.
“I’m so proud, they’ve put in a lot of work this season. They set themselves some goals at the start of the year and we’ve ticked off two of those goals,” Horgan said.
“It’s just exciting to see not just the first grade crew but this weekend we had to rely on the whole squad. So we put it to the whole group and said, ‘everyone has to step up and play their part’.
“That’s what helped us get through the weekend and finish so strong.”
Maitland's Sophie Nenadovic was named Player of the Match.
In the Community Plate final, University of Newcastle FC secured the club's first Community Plate after defeating Cooks Hill United 1(4)-1(2) on penalties.
University of Newcastle opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Serena Carter delivered a strong ball across the face of goal, which Claudia Perry met and finished into the back of the net.
They continued to search for a second throughout the first half, dominating possession for much of the opening 25 minutes before taking a 1-0 lead into the break.
Cooks Hill came out firing in the second half and enjoyed more possession, causing plenty of problems for the University of Newcastle defence.
The pressure paid off in the 44th minute when Annika Hansen curled a long-range free kick into the top right corner.
The sides could not be separated for the remainder of the match, sending the contest to a penalty shootout.
Phoebe Collyer converted University of Newcastle's opening penalty before Cooks Hill's Ruby Paddon-Row sent her attempt wide.
Freya Clifton and Gabrielle Brodie were both denied by the goalkeepers before Carter converted University of Newcastle's third penalty. Hansen then scored her second goal of the afternoon with Cooks Hill's third attempt.
Lana Kearney converted University of Newcastle's fourth penalty before Cooks Hill’s Leah Giuffre was denied. Tamara Honnery then stepped up knowing a goal would seal the title and confidently converted to secure the Community Plate for University of Newcastle.
University of Newcastle coach Adam O'Connell was ecstatic with his side's performance.
“I’m super proud. The whole squad had an absolutely fantastic weekend,” O’Connell said.
“Playing the [NNSWF] Indigenous team and [Cardiff Motor Group] NPL Women’s sides, we absolutely put it to them.
“To come out with a win today, I just couldn’t be prouder of the girls. They embodied the spirit of the tournament, and they got the reward they deserved.”
University of Newcastle FC’s Mia Wallace was named Player of the Match.
The Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women’s NNSW competition resumes this weekend with the seven teams heading into round 17.
