Written by Thomas Esamie with help from various sources including RSSSF (esp James Allnutt), Back of the Net, numerous Newspapers and State Football Associations.
| Grand Final (played October 9) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Sapphires Blue
Lisa Hartley, Jodie Bain, Anissa Tann, Danielle Brogan, Thea Slatyer, Kylie Ledbrook, Heather Garriock, Briony Holcombe, Renee Cartwright, Sarah Walsh, Servet Uzunlar Goals : Uzunlar 16 Coach : Chris Bradley |
1(aet) 4pk | - | 1(aet) 5pk | Queensland Sting
Claire Nichols, Kate McShea, Pam Grant, Traci Bartlett, Krystina Walker (Alannah Reed 59), Kim Carroll, Claire Polkinghorne, Alicia Ferguson, Lana Harch, Sasha McDonnell (Jess Mitchell 68), Belinda Dawney Goal : McDonnell 10 Coach : Mike Mulvey |
| Referee: Tammy Ogston | ||||
|
At the end of a very competitive and even game at the Sydney
Football Stadium and in front of a boisterous crowd, which grew to
five figures by the time it was over, five players from each team
were all on target when the Final of the Women's Football
Championships for 2005 went to the inevitable kicks from the
penalty spot.
Sadly, for the Blue NSW team, their first penalty taker, Heather Garriock, had her effort saved by the Sting's keeper, Claire Nichols, who guessed right in diving to her right to push the ball away. All the other takers kept their nerve, including the last, Queensland's Pam Grant and despite some acrobatic work from the Sapphires' shot- stopper, Lisa Hartley, who made many important saves during the game proper, none of the Sting's penalties were to prove within her reach. It had been a close tussle for 90 minutes with the NSW keeper kept the busier of the two, though there were many chances at both ends and far more goals could easily have been scored with better finishing. It was a bright beginning in the match for the team from the Sunshine State, with Hartley needing to come off her line smartly to deny Dawney, in the seventh minute, when the speedy striker burst through onto a pass from Alicia Ferguson. When Sting won a free kick, out wide on the right, in the 11th minute, it was lofted to the far post by Kate McShea; when no NSW defender wanted to attack the ball, the tall Sasha McDonnell needed no invitation to head it down and into the net to give her side the early lead. Heather Garriock almost levelled for the locals a minute later, lifting her shot over the bar, after a free kick from the right by Sarah Walsh. But in the 16th minute, and with the NSW team pressing hard for some time, the goal the Blue Sapphires needed did arrive, courtesy of the ever-lively Servet Uzunlar who was played in from deep and was then able to draw the keeper. As Claire Nichols rushed out, she left enough room for Uzunlar to clip the ball over her shoulder and into the unguarded net for the equaliser. Seven minutes later the NSW women almost took the lead, Walsh put through on the right but lifting her effort over the bar, as the keeper began to scramble back to cover her goal. Walsh had another chance, in the 43rd and the first period came to a close, with both keepers kept very busy. Queensland began the second half as they had the first, with Hartley, once again, needing to come out fast to deny Dawney. Dawney chased a ball through well, again, in the 74th only to lift her shot well over the bar. A looping header from Kylie Ledbrook sailed over the bar for the Blue Sapphires in the 86th and to keep things even Hartley saved superbly from Lana Harch in the dying seconds before the game went to penalties. It had been Ledbrook who had put away the last of the Blue team's penalties but as mentioned earlier it was then the cool head of Pam Grant that earned the Sting the title for 2005, despite a brave attempt by Hartley to reach the shot. It had been an enjoyable game to bring to an end an action packed week of football for the young women, the NSW team unbeaten in the tournament other than on penalties. Queensland probably had the edge on the day and deserved to carry off the handsome trophy. Queensland had gone into the championship decider as under-dogs since the Blue Sapphires had defeated them 3-1 on the opening day of the championships in Canberra a week earlier. But as Queensland were the defending national champions, the match was never going to be a cake-walk for NSW. Added to the fact that each team boasted no fewer than four Qantas Matildas, a quality match had been on the cards, and the healthy crowd that showed up was not disappointed. | ||||
| Playoff for Third place, October 9 | ||||
| NSW Sapphires White
Goals : Jodi Todd 1, Leena Khamis 85 Coach : Peter Page |
2 | - | 0 | Northern NSW Pride
Coach : Anthony Richards |
| Playoff for Fifth place, October 9 | ||||
| Western Waves
Coach : Alistair Edwards |
0 | - | 1 | Adelaide Sensation
Goal : Vicki Balomenos 84 Coach : Kevin McCormack |
| Playoff for Seventh place, October 9 | ||||
| Canbera Eclipse
Goals : Collette MacCullum 29, 92, Ellie Brush 73, 97 Coach : Robbie Hooker |
4(aet) | - | 2(aet) | Victoria Vision
Goals : Annabelle Gibney 49, Meghan Archer 79 Coach : Harry Chalkitis |
| Semi final: Group B 1 v Group A 2, October 7 | ||||
| NSW Sapphires White
Goal : Alicia Cavanagh 25 Coach : Peter Page |
1 | - | 3 | Queensland Sting
Goals : Jessica Mitchell 9, Sasha McDonnell 40, Kim Carroll 42 Mike Mulvey |
| Semi final: Group A 1 v Group B 2, October 7 | ||||
| NSW Sapphires Blue
Goals : Anissa Tann 56, Sarah Walsh 64, 84 Coach : Chris Bradley |
3 | - | 1 | Northern NSW Pride
Goals : Jenna Tristam 82 Coach : Anthony Richards |
| Group B 3 v Group A 4, October 7 | ||||
| Victoria Vision
Goal : Melanie Camilleri 6 Coach : Harry Chalkitis |
1 | - | 2 | Adelaide Sensation
Goals : Kate Hensman 63, Caitlin Harris 74 Coach : Kevin McCormack |
| Group A 3 v Group B 4, October 7 | ||||
| Canberra Eclipse
Goals : own goal 20 Coach : Robbie Hooker |
1 | - | 3 | Western Waves
Goals : April Mann 15, Carys Hawkins 38, Olivia Kennedy 44 Coach : Alistair Edwards |