Grand Final
Charlestown Azzurri 1-0 Maitland FC
Charlestown Azzurri coach Heath Whyte says it would have been an anti-climax if his side had walked away from the grand final empty-handed, after they defeated Maitland FC 1-0 at Darling Street Oval.
Both sides came out of the blocks hungry as they fought for every first and second ball.
Azzurri had the first shot of the day when Chelsea Lucas ran onto a misplaced pass by Maitland’s Charlotte O’Connor.
Lucas launched the ball from the top of the box but hit the crossbar.
Dominant defence by both sides continued for their seventh clash of the season, keeping both sides at bay.
Maitland pushed to open the scoring for the first time in three matches when Sophie Nenadovic sailed the ball over a sea of players from a corner.
But her shot proved to be too strong and went out over the byline.
The two sides could not be separated and were sent into the sheds locked up 0-0 for their third clash in a row.
Maitland’s tradition of being a strong second half team continued as they entered the second stanza with newfound energy.
They pushed for a goal as Keely Gawthrop sent the ball from halfway onto the run of Georgia Amess.
Amess sliced the ball to Marry Ntsweng in front of the goal but one too many touches saw the ball eventually go out over the byline in the 47th minute.
Moments later Nenadovic launched the ball off a free kick from the left of the box into the goalmouth where goalkeeper Danielle Bartels fumbled the ball into a scramble of players.
The ball made its way back to Nenadovic outside the box but was sent over the crossbar.
The second half saw Azzurri’s Melina Ayres injected into the match for the first time in over three matches after suffering from a calf injury.
The time off for Ayres did not stop her striking ability when she finally opened the scoring in the 70th minute.
Chloe Cattley stood up to take a free kick but passed to Ayres who unleashed a spectacular strike over the sea of players and into the top right corner.
Azzurri looked to double their lead moments later when they were awarded another free kick, but the Magpies learnt their lesson and blocked Ayres from scoring her second.
The Magpies were not backing down as Josie Morley charged down the pitch and into the box side-by-side with Azzurri’s Jorja Brown.
But a brilliant slide tackle denied Morely the opportunity to unleash a shot in the 71st minute.
Ayres searched for a second in the 77th minute and 84th minute but was denied both times with outstanding saves by goalkeeper Annabella Thornton.
The intensity continued as the side’s entered stoppage time, with Maitland desperate to score an equaliser and go to extra-time for the third week in a row.
But Azzurri were able to hold onto their one goal lead and were crowned back-to-back champions at the full-time whistle.
Ayres was awarded the Joey Peters Medal for the player of the match.
“I’m feeling somewhat more relaxed than I was in the last 20 minutes. I think my resting heart rate was 145, which for an old boat like me, it's probably not all that good,” Whyte said.
“It was an exciting match, all of our matches with Maitland this year have been so tight. But for me, having four trophies banked for the year; to be honest, it would have been a bit of an anti-climax to walk away empty today.
“I'm exceedingly relieved and happy for the girls.”
Whyte says the timing of Ayres injection to the match had to be strategically played as she returned from injury.
“We had a strategy with Melina. She's got big plans ahead of her, and she's coming back from injuries, so we had to be smart about that,” Ayres said.
“We also had to acknowledge that Maitland took us to 127 minutes and penalties, so she's not going to last that long.
“It was either do we start her and try and get up early, or do we let the game try and slow down a little bit and then bring her in? But the game didn't slow down. It was a fast-paced match.
“It was a great grand final from both squads.”
Azzurri continued the strong defence they had all season and Whyte credits that to defensive duo Kalista Hunter and Alyssa Togo-Paragalli.
“It's been a good formation of bringing in Kal [Kalista Hunter] and Alyssa [Togo-Paragalli] together,” Whyte said.
“Those two have just come from strength to strength. They've been amazing in the back line for us.”
Maitland FC coach Joe Wright was disappointed for his side but could not fault their effort in the club’s first NPLW NNSW grand final.
“I'm proud of the girls. Their first ever final as a club is an achievement in itself,” Wright said.
“I thought there were some patches where we could have maybe caught one back, and it was a great goal, to be fair, to beat us.
“I’m disappointed with the result, but proud of the season that it's been.
“I can't fault the effort of the girls, the determination to keep turning up after two back-to-back extra-time games. I’ve got that much respect for all the players.”
In reserve grade, Newcastle Olympic defeated Maitland FC 4-2.
