Cutters title on the double

Innisfail United have won the 2017 FNQ Football Premier Women’s premiership after winning two games within 24 hours to celebrate the triumph. The Cutters posted a 3-0 win over JCU on Saturday which followed a 1-0 win over Edge Hill the previous night. But it was a win at home two weeks ago that convinced coach Amber Overton her side deserved the prize. “It wasn’t our prettiest performance, but that game was the turning point,” she said.

FOOTBALL GUTS and determination in one of the most competitive title races in years have delivered Innisfail United the 2017 FNQ Football Premier Women’s premiership.

The Cutters won two games within 24 hours to celebrate the triumph on Saturday after a 3-0 win over JCU Strikers in Innisfail following a 1-0 win over Edge Hill in a catch-up game in Cairns the previous night.

But it was a win at Callendar Park two weeks ago that convinced coach Amber Overton her side deserved to lift the ultimate prize in football.

“I think the result against Southside at home a few weeks ago was the biggest one,” she said.

“It wasn’t our prettiest performance, but that game was the turning point as far as I’m concerned.

“The girls played a really good first half but they came at us in the second and the girls were able to hold on and that showed the girls were deserving of the title.”

Overton said it was a surprise win considering the changes the squad made in personnel and playing style for this season and their competition.

“The top four is so close, you just didn’t know which way the results would go, so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy for us,” she said.

An exhausted Cutters team were more relieved than anything at sealing the deal on Saturday, but still managed a quiet celebration in the sheds after the game.

“It’s really good. The girls were rapt, very happy and very excited,” Overton said.

She said she hoped the club could celebrate with fellow senior teams following the Round 21 match against Stratford this weekend.

Southside and Edge Hill play off on Saturday for the right to host the elimination final.

Innisfail United will face nemesis Leichhardt, who have beaten them twice this season, in the grand final qualifier.