Cowra’s Lady Eagles have soared to a close victory against Oberon to make the grand final of the Bathurst District Football Association Ladies Second Grade competition.
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A second half defensive effort by the girls saw them hold off a determined Oberon outfit, with the final score 4-3.
Captain-coach Courtney Gambrill said the girls were nervous to start with but gained confidence and the momentum after Becky Thornberry slotted her first goal.
“The first 15 minutes were scrappy,” Gambrill said.
“Everyone was nervous, we turned the ball over way too much and we couldn’t put anything together.
“After the first goal, we lifted.”
However Oberon proved they were up to the task, equalising quickly after Cowra’s first goal.
However Becky Thornberry proved the difference between the two sides, finding the net twice more in the first half.
“We then scored twice more after that,” Gambrill said.
At half time, with the score 3-1, co-coach Adam Gambrill told the girls to refocus on the basics.
“Our conversation was about not turning over the ball as much,” Gambrill said.
“Make sure the possession was in their half.”
The ladies took the advice of their coaches, with Cowra in possession for 80 per cent of the second half.
“There was no pressure on us,” Gambrill said.
However Oberon quickly took back the momentum, scoring to take it to 3-2.
Gambrill capitalised on Cowra’s possession with a penalty goal to take the score to 4-2 before Oberon fought back, 4-3.
From then, the ladies had to hold out a firing Oberon squad.
“We had to hold them out for the last 20 minutes,” Gambrill said.
“We were purely focused on defending our one goal lead.”
Gambrill said Thornberry stepped up to the task in attack, with mid-centres Erin Nates and Johanna Johanson proving vital in the team’s victory.
“Bec upfront, she can score from anywhere,” she said.
“Holly Gorham out wide really tested the keeper and Hannah Wright was snatching up any lose balls.”
The ladies are now preparing for their grand final meeting with the Mudgee Wolves at Proctor Park in Bathurst this weekend.
“We will have an extra training session and we will also have a grand final day breakfast and a be loading up a bus to take us to the game,” Gambrill said.
"The Wolves beat us last time we met them so it should be a good game.
“It’s a daunting task but I think we are up to it.”
