The Cowra Lady Eagles have come agonisingly close to a premiership after going down to the Mudgee Wolves at Sunday’s Bathurst Football Association Ladies’ Second Grade grand final.
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Despite the result, Lady Eagles captain-coach Courtney Gambrill said she couldn’t be prouder of the girls.
“We created so many chances, they were just able to find the back of the goal. I felt like we played really well,” she said.
A nervous start saw Mudgee capitalise on possession, scoring two quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.
“Our first 10 minutes start off like our last game, we were nervous and it was a slow start,” Gambrill said.
“Later in the first half, we had all the possession and all the momentum, which was our game plan, to keep them down their half.”
Cowra was able to hit back, with the score at half time 2-1 Mudgee.
Gambrill said the girls came out sluggish in the second half with Mudgee once again finding the back of the goal.
“We started off slow, it was so hot and both teams were buggered,” Gambrill said.
“They then scored a penalty so it made it 3-1, then we came back 3-2.
“We spent the last 20 minutes of the game chasing that goal.”
Despite multiple chances, time ran out for Cowra.
“All the girls stepped up, I feel we were the better team but we just couldn’t get it done,” Gambrill said.
Gambrill said Georgia Waters and Haylie Wright in the back line shut down Mudgee’s strikers.
“They were our two saviors of the day,” Gambrill said.
Gambrill also praised Johanna Johansson for her efforts in the midfield.
“She scored a goal from 30 metres out and she really got the momentum going,” Gambrill said.
Gambrill said making the grand final put the girls in good stead ahead of next year’s season.
“We went from not having a women’s team for four years to winning the minor premiership and making the grand final,” Gambrill said.
“Thank you to our sponsors and all our supporters, the community really got behind us.”