After a remarkable second half of the season, the Bulls FC Academy have been crowned 2025 National Premier Leagues NSW women’s premiers.
The title came down to a final round shootout on Sunday night, but the Bulls were up for it, defeating home side APIA Leichhardt 2-1 in a thrilling finish to the season.
Bulls scored first in the 37th minute, courtesy of speedster Petria Phillips.
The home side levelled the score with 15 minutes remaining in the match.
Just eight minutes later Phillips scored a second goal and her tenth for the season to ensure that it would be the Bulls celebrating at fulltime.
It was a cagey start for both teams in this one, with the sense that it was a grand final with the tension and what was on the line, as well as a very healthy crowd packed into the ground.
The home side had the first chance of the game on 15 minutes, Charlotte Lancaster crossing in and finding Ash Crofts, the APIA captain unable to get the ball beyond Mio Nemoto.
The Bulls then went the other way immediately through Isabella Coco Di Sipio, the winger doing extremely well down the left before cutting the ball back from the by line, APIA somehow surviving with the ball ending up in Sophie Magus’ hands.
While this was a team effort, special mention goes to Bulls captain Liz Grey, who led from the front, putting her body on the line for the whole 90 minutes.
At the other end of the table, Macarthur Rams have finished the season on a high, defeating Sydney Olympic 3-0 in the final round of the competition.
The Rams, premiers the previous two seasons, looked like wooden spoon candidates for much of the season.
But in recent weeks the young side has started to build in confidence, winning matches and getting away from the dreaded bottom of the table.
There has been a lot of improvement from the girls, which augurs well for next season.