Macarthur Rams lifted the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition premiership trophy on Sunday night after a 2-1 victory over rivals APIA Leichhardt at a packed Lambert Park.
Goals by Kelli Brown in the 20th and 77th minute were enough for the Macarthur girls to win the match.
The home side scored a consolation goal in the dying second of the match, but it was too little, too late.
However, the first big chance of the game fell the way of the home side as Gisella Pipino delivered an excellent ball to the far post, but Charlotte Lancaster was unable to control her right footed effort that sailed over the bar.
On 20 minutes, the Rams had the lead with their first real chance of the game.
Beth Gordon picked the ball up in an attacking position, before slipping through Brown who took the ball into the box and buried it beyond Sally James.
Rams went close again soon after, Miku Sunaga with acres of space in the six-yard box, but unable to direct her header on target as the ball sailed well over the bar.
The visitors continued the pressure, Brown through in on goal again, this time James making an excellent save low to her right.
Five minutes into the second period, the Rams almost doubled the advantage.
A back pass saw the referee award the Rams an indirect free kick, Brown letting fly, only for the APIA defence to react well to block.
But they could not stop Rams magician Mel Caceres, who played through Brown and for the second time in the game beat the APIA goalie to make it 2-0 with less than 15 minutes left.
Once the final whistle sounded, there was a large cheer from the Rams faithful as the visitors were presented with the premiership trophy and premiers’ medals.
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The Bulls FC Academy may have been out of finals contention, but they ended their season with a bang, defeating Manly United 4-1 in Round 26.
Both sides wanted to finish their season on a high after enduring middling campaigns. The Bulls could not reach the same heights as their previous season, whilst Manly will be reflecting on how their season panned out having been sat in first place for a period in the early weeks.
But at least the Bulls will now head into the off season with a confidence boosting win to finish the 2024 season.
