Bulls FC Academy celebrated back to back National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premierships on Sunday after defeating Western City Rangers 3-0 to officially cap off a remarkable regular season.
Bulls FC finished the regular season four points of the team in second place, UNSW.
Sarah Hunter’s early goal, followed by two strikes in the final 15 minutes from Jynaya Dos Santos and Tamires Souza, were enough to secure all three points for the newly crowned Premiers.
It took just two minutes for the Bulls to hit the front.
A training-ground corner routine caught the Rangers off guard, with Dos Santos allowing the ball to run through her legs before Hunter ran onto it and struck towards goal.
Her effort took a deflection on its way through, wrong-footing Renee Krstanovska and finding the back of the net.
Dos Santos was involved again in the next opportunity for the visitors, finding space inside the area before firing into the side netting.
Olivia Vanderlaan then had an opportunity of her own shortly afterwards, but her effort sailed over the crossbar.
The Bulls continued to pepper the Rangers goal, but brave goalkeeping from Krstanovska denied Petria Phillips.
The Rangers goalkeeper continued to be kept busy in the second half, and with just over 20 minutes remaining, she again had to save her side, this time denying Phillips following an effort from the left.
Dos Santos finally got her goal with 15 minutes remaining to double the Bulls’ advantage.
Liz Grey played a lovely ball over the top of the Rangers defence for Gracie Bishop, who cut the ball back into the path of Dos Santos.
The attacker made no mistake this time, firing beyond Krstanovska to make it 2-0.
The Bulls rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Guichon delivered an inswinging cross from the left and found Souza, who reached the ball before Krstanovska and finished to make it 3-0.
The focus now turns towards making it back-to-back Grand Final victories, with the Bulls set to take on Western Sydney Wanderers in their Semi-Final next week.
Illawarra Stingrays 0-1 Macarthur Rams at The Pond
The second-last Illawarra Stingrays welcomed Macarthur Rams to The Pond for a battle to end their respective seasons on a high.
An even contest played out in the first half, although it was the Rams who dominated the chances created.
The visitors took the lead in the 44th minute after their high press caused the Stingrays defence to cough up possession inside the box, allowing Gabrielle Sarkis to bury the ball into the bottom-left corner and ultimately secure the Rams the win.
The three points pushed the Rams to seventh spot on the ladder, just one win away from a top six spot.
