Sunday, 22 October, the ladies made a short 30 minute trip to Football NSW’s headquarters at Valentine Sports Park (VSP) to take centre stage on Field 1 to play against Wakehurst Football Club. Wakehurst are a part of the Manly Warringah Football Association. Last year Wakehurst lost the Grand Final 1-0.

The ladies would like to thank all the wonderful supporters who supported and cheered the team and Club during the Champion of Champions tournament and during the season.

The game started late around 2:15 PM with the weather cool and overcast @15C due to the showers over the weekend. The grass field was to FIFA specifications and it was an outstanding sight to watch the teams take to the field to the cheers from the crowd.

It would be a tough game for Mount Colah who were carrying injuries after their tough game against Russell Vale and with several of their players unwell. To further compound Mount Colah’s woes Wakehurst would be totally fired up to win after their Champion of Champions Grand Final loss last year and would be keen for a win this year.

The first half was a whirlwind of action with both sides pivoting from defence to attack in this high impact grand final. One moment Mount Colah would be pressing an attack to be confronted with some superb saves by the Wakehurst keeper. To see a few moments later Wakehurst turn the tables such as when Wakehurst broke the Mount Colah defence and sends a cross into the box and only a last ditch effort by Mount Colah’s defender Emma Hyland stopped a certain goal. The battle raged all over the pitch, forward versus defender, midfield versus midfield. It was turning into a battle of attrition as both teams struggled to score. Both keepers were in form and stars for their teams. Mount Colah’s keeper Theresa Welschinger after a quick Wakehurst counterattack made a great save, but Wakehurst still got a corner. Welschinger had no time to rest when Wakehurst took the corner and used their height advantage in the Mount Colah box to win the ball with a header that hits the crossbar just out of reach Welschinger’s grasp. Mount Colah immediately counterattacks and played out from the back controlling possession with Michelle Waite playing to Clare Rienits, who with a great first touch plays through to Amy Hofmann. Hofmann dashes down the bye line and crosses into the box looking for Nat Parker and Tiffany Vibert to see the ball handled by Wakehurst. Wakehurst uses another of its nine lives as Sally Loccisano penalty shot goes wide and the half ends Mount Colah 0 Wakehurst 0.

At half time Coach Vin Turner rallies his team to keep creating chances, wear Wakehurst down, to show the attacking brilliance the team has shown throughout the season and tournament.

Both teams come out firing in the second half with both teams making chances but unable to convert. Even when Wakehurst breaks clear of the Mount Colah defence and is one on one against the keeper they couldn’t score. Welschinger displays her metal and shows why only 5 goals got past her the whole season as she forces Wakehurst to shoot wide. From the goal kick Wakehurst tries again only to be further frustrated as the cross in to the striker who under pressure from the Mount Colah defence sends her header to hit the crossbar. Wakehurst’s nine lives ran out around the 75 minute mark as Mount Colah after the nail biting near misses powers into overdrive to show their champions credentials as they put together play after play to break the Wakehurst defence. Nat Parker like the many games during the season makes her presence felt and sends a powerful shot towards the bottom left hand corner of the Wakehurst goal to see the keeper make a great save on the initial shot but couldn’t control the ball and Vibert following through pounces on the loose ball and smashes it into the back of the net. Wakehurst immediately attacks from the restart but is met with a determined Mount Colah defence. Mount Colah builds an attack from their third with Kate Bright leading the Mount Colah Colts’ charge through the Wakehurst Tiger’s players to pass to Hofmann to touch the ball around her mark and sends the ball to Parker who beats her defender to have another bear down on her to slip a precision pass to Vibert who seals the match for Mount Colah.

The game ends Mount Colah 2 Wakehurst 0.

Coach Turner was ecstatic about the ladies’ performance. A day, in front of so many Mount Colah supporters, the ladies broke a 24 year Champions of Champions Grand Final win drought for Mount Colah, and became the first Champion of Champions women Grand Final win for Northern Suburbs Football Association. A fitting end to a great season for Mount Colah and to help commemorate the Club’s 60 year anniversary.
Goal tally: Tiffany Vibert 2