Preliminary Final
Maitland FC 1-0 Newcastle Olympic
Maitland FC coach Joe Wright says the experience his side gained from their qualifying final helped secure their 1-0 victory over Newcastle Olympic at Cooks Square Park and a spot in the NPL Women’s NNSW grand final.
With everything left to play for, both sides came out determined to get an early lead.
Olympics' Kiera Bainsfair had the first shot of the afternoon when she launched the ball towards the goal in the 12th minute but narrowly went over the crossbar.
Maitland’s Georgia Amess attempted to get the first for her side in the 23rd minute as she charged down the right of the park and sliced the ball past goalkeeper Janali Haynes who had come to the top of the box. But the ball trickled past the empty goal and over the byline.
Both teams were stuck in the middle of the park for large parts of the first half with dominant defence by both sides on show.
Despite gaining momentum towards the end of the first half, Olympic were unable to take advantage of their possession and the sides went into half-time all locked up 0-0.
Maitland entered the second stanza with newfound energy determined to dominate with attempts from Sophie Nenadovic and Marry Ntsweng immediately.
Olympic’s Sophie McDonald weaved her way past Maitland defence in the 53rd minute as she sent a through ball on the run of Bainsfair but goalkeeper Annabella Thornton denied them.
Ntsweng rounded Olympic defence on the byline and unleashed a shot on target but Haynes dove and awarded a corner in the 58th minute.
The Magpies responded with a short corner to Josie Morley who sent the ball back to Nenadovic.
Nenadovic launched the ball into the box finding Tahlia Gossner whose attempt hit the crossbar.
Bainsfair continued her commanding performance as she made her way around the Maitland defence from the sideline to the top of the box, but her attempt went out just past the goal post.
Moments before the end of regular time Ntsweng unleashed a powerful shot towards the goal but the story of their night continued when they hit the crossbar and sent the side to extra time for the second week in a row.
Maitland continued to maintain possession in extra time but were continuously denied by a strong Olympic backline and the crossbar.
The moment the Magpies had been waiting for finally came in the 108th minute through Sophie Stapleford and Ntsweng.
Stapleford beat two Olympic defenders and sent the ball towards the goal; Jess Evans deflected the ball to deny Stapleford but sent it to Ntsweng.
Ntsweng got onto the scraps and tapped the ball under Haynes and into the bottom right corner.
Olympic pushed in the final moments of the match but Maitland held onto their lead and secured a spot in the grand final for the first time.
“I'm really excited for the girls. I think it's a good reward for the work that they've put in throughout the preseason since November.,” Wright said.
“We've been working super hard to try and get to our first grand final as a club for the women's. So, I’m super happy for the girls.
“I think it was the experience of playing last week and knowing that we can get through 120 minutes and still create chances and defend the way that we wanted to defend as well. I think that gave the girls confidence that we could get the job done in the end.
“The heart rate was high for a few periods of the game there, but we got there in the end. That's the pleasing thing.
“It was just pure joy, I would say. Pure joy for the girls, we got so close so many times tonight. To get that goal to seal it, it was very special.”
While Olympic coach Craig Atkins was disappointed his side could not secure their fifth grand final he believed his side returned to their best in their last five matches.
“I can't fault the girls. I think their form over the last five weeks of this competition has showed. It's been one of those seasons, very up and down for us. But the last five weeks, I thought they were back to their best,” Atkins said.
“Maitland are a great side, with lots of depth so for us to push them that far is good.
“Yeah, Maitland had a lot of chances, but that fight, that grit that the girls showed tonight, second to none.
“It’s obviously disappointing not to get to the big dance, but they've come a long way. It's mixed emotions at the moment but full credit to the girls, they've done a great job to get where they have.”
Maitland will face Charlestown Azzurri in the grand final at Darling Street Oval on Saturday. Kick off is at 2pm.
In reserve grade the grand final will take place between Newcastle Olympic and Maitland at 11am.
