Harrington United FC Hornets had not one but two sides taking part in the annual NSW Champion of Champions tournament yesterday.
It was the 52nd time grassroots football’s most prestigious tournament was held, with 19 grand finals on the card.
The Hornets, the only Macarthur representatives, were playing in two “W’’ clashes, the Under 14 girls and the Under 18 women at Valentine Sports Park.
The Under 14 Hornets side finished on the wrong side of the ledger, going down 2-1 to Lindfield FC, but only after fighting for 90 minutes. The match was heading for extra time when Harrington conceded a second goal just six minutes from fulltime.
Harrington, after going 1-0 down just five minutes into the game, recovered well and won a penalty through good play by Charlie Fulko eight minutes later.
Rachel Butler stepped up to take the penalty and converted clinically to even the scores.
The Harrington United Under 18s made amends for that loss by defeating Engadine Eagles 5-0 to become NSW champion of champions in that age group.
The Hornets dominated from start to finish and led 2-0 at the break before adding three more goals in the last 15 minutes.
It was a tight first half but United broke the deadlock five minutes from the break as Kayley Skeers’ effort took a deflection on its way into the back of the net.
Seconds before the break, United doubled their advantage when Kailee Wales took advantage of a goalkeeping error to poke the ball home.
With 15 to go in the second half, United settled the title when Chantelle Barnard showed incredible speed to beat the Eagles defence before finishing well to make it 3-0.
It was four with five minutes remaining as Brooklyn Sciberras finished well from just inside the box with a neat finish.
Jasmine Belbin then rounded off the scoring in the final moments of the game with a well taken goal, her strike coming off the upright and over the line.
Harrington United FC: 1. Robbins, 2. M. Wright, 3. Abouslaibi, 4. Angilley, 6. Efendic, 7. Zammit, 9. Worthington, 10. Belbin, 11. Cox, 15. C. Wright, 16. Wales, 17. Barnard, 18. Sciberras, 19. Kelly, 22. Sprycha, 29. Skeers.
