Both Macarthur representatives in the 2017 Football NSW Champion of Champions finals were gallant in defeat.
Camden Tigers went down 3-0 to Gladesville Sharks in the under 12 girls final, while Gladesville Ravens defeated Narellan Rangers 2-0 in the under 18 women’s decider.
They were part of 18 finals played at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday to decide this season’s champions of champions.
Gladesville Sharks were deserved winners but the Camden Tigers did not go down without a fight in the girls under 12 final.
Gladesville’s Harriet Johnson opened the scoring midway through the first half with a low drive which skipped past the Camden goalkeeper and inside the far post to bounce into the goal.
Some excellent defence from Camden prevented Gladesville from adding to their lead and the teams headed to the dressing rooms for the half time break with the score at 1-0.
Once Gladesville scored early in the second half to make it 2-0, the Tigers lifted in a bid to make a game of it.
Having been on the back foot for the best part of the match, Camden began to push forward in the closing stages of the second half, but Bianca Noble and Emily Tait were never quite able to stick the final pass after promising play in the build-up.
A late goal made it 3-0 for Gladesville but the Camden Tigers girls walked off the pitch holding their heads high, having given it their all for their team.
In the under 18 women’s final, the Narellan Rangers made the Gladesville Ravens work hard for their 2-0 victory.
Two spectacular goals from Alice Clark either side of halftime proved the difference between two evenly matched teams.
Lara Halmarick proved a constant threat, peppering Jessica Delaney in the Narellan goal with a number of shots from range.
Up the other end, Farkas slipped a shot of her own just wide of the post, missing a chance to get the Rangers on the scoreboard.
Standing tall in the Narellan goal, Jessica Delaney pushed away a shot from Boccini to keep the score at 1-0 but she could do little to stop Clark from doubling her tally with a second strike from range that looped over the goalkeeper and settled in the back of the net.
Jessica Russo and Boccini both had chances to extend the Gladesville lead to three goals in quick succession, but Delaney made a series of saves to keep Narellan in the game.
Charlotte O’Flynn and Chelsea Byrne worked hard as the Rangers looked to drag themselves back into contention, but Gladesville proved too strong on the day.
♦ A reminder to Macarthur football fans that Western Sydney Wanderers will tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 24) host Adelaide United in an FFA Cup semi final at Campbelltown Stadium.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm.
