Lopsided scoreline but no lack of heart
GRINNERS: Edge Hill captains Siobhan Macken and Rose Calvert. EDGE Hill confirmed its status as the region’s premier women’s team after a commanding win against Mareeba in Saturday’s grand final.
A five-goal drubbing is never what neutral fans hope to see, but Edge Hill’s freeflowing style of football against a determined opposition made it a great spectacle.
It took less than 10 minutes for the Tigers to put their stamp on the game, with striker Josephine Whately finding the back of the net early.
Once that happened, fans at Endeavour Park knew what was to come.
By the half-hour mark it was 3-0 and, from there, Mareeba was never in the contest.
For many, it was a just result as the Tigers had been the most outstanding team all season, having belted each and every opponent at least once throughout the year.
From start to finish, Edge Hill was fantastic all season.
The Tigers’ only loss – a 2-1 result against Mareeba on September 8 – was when key players were missing.
Not that you would have heard coach Angello Caravella make excuses that day.
He knows he has the most talented team on the park, but he also knows that hard work gets results.
“I’m proud as punch,” Caravella said after the match.
“It was the culmination of our season.
“We went out for an aggressive start knowing that an early goal can change the game. It was great that it paid off and it was a good reward for a really strong season.”
Caravella said his midfield was outstanding.
“Part of our plan was to create combinations in the middle,” he said.
“We know our midfield is very strong but it’s important to capitalise on that strength.”
Star player Teagan Walker was named MVP after an outstanding match, but the coach also paid tribute to centre back Sarah Beck.
“She did a great job stopping their strongest attacking player and that role can go a little bit unrewarded,” he said.
“But I thought all the girls were terrific today. Conditions weren’t easy as it was pretty hot out there for the start of the match.”
Mareeba coach Bryan Schincariol paid tribute to his rivals.
“They are a great football team and deserved their success,” he said.
“It was a bit disappointing that we went down in that way, but it was a great achievement by the girls to go to a grand final from where we came from at the start of the season. I don’t think anyone expected to see us in a grand final.”
Schincariol said he was proud of the way his players fought until the end.
“We came in at half-time three goals down and I said to them to go out and enjoy it. I think being in a grand final got to them early in the game.
“Once they settled they were a lot better but Edge Hill were too good on the day.”