8SOUTHSIDE
LEICHHARDT has made the bruises worth it to win the 2017 FNQ Football Premier Women’s grand final.
After a scoreless first half against Innisfail United, who had the best of the opportunities, the Lions roared to life through Natalie Fichera in the 54th minute.
The bruising nature of the game at Endeavour Park on Saturday became apparent five minutes later when Cutters goalkeeper Farrah Boustead left the field on a stretcher after a collision.
Innisfail United captain Kaila Musumeci scored immediately afterwards, but Fichera’s second and another to Maddy Cater in the final 10 minutes sealed the win.
Leichhardt skipper Stacey Jones said it was a tough game against a fighting Cutters side.
“It was really tough. It was so tough. It was really good though, a great game of football,” she said.
“It was a good battle, I loved it. I think I’ve got bruises all up and down my legs, but that’s good. It’s all worth it now.”
Jones said her Lions were “flustered” in the first half as the Cutters threw down the gauntlet, but had high hopes they could bring it home with the wind.
“At halftime we said we were matching them physically, because they’ve always been a physical team and in the second half we said to come and use the win to our advantage and we all just kind of got pumped.
“I think we just did the one- percenters right, got to the ball first and we started moving for each other off the ball, which we weren’t doing in the first half.”
Leichhardt coach Mareeta Nicolau paid tribute to Fichera and defender Alicia Lazarus, but said it was a team effort to grind out the win.
Innisfail United coach Amber Overton said losing Boustead to suspected broken ribs midway through the second half was “a big loss”, but was proud of the way the rest of the young team rallied to stay in it.
“We’re the youngest team in the competition, we won the minor premiership, we made the grand final. Some of the girls are a bit disappointed, but it’s only one game. We’ve had a pretty good year,” she said.
“We just played the way we’ve played all year, came out and played nice, attacking football, got the ball out wide and I think the goal was scored against the run of play to be honest.
“We reset at halftime and in the second half again we were at them and had our opportunities, we just couldn’t put the ball away.
“Leichhardt, to their credit, they wanted it and they came away with the win, but I couldn’t be prouder of the girls.” LIONS two-goal hero Natalie Fichera says she’s just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
The attacking weapon came back to haunt her former club, with whom she last played in 2013, scoring goals in the 54th and 80th to seal the win for Leichhardt.
Fichera said her first goal settled the nerves after struggling to get into the groove.
“These girls here, right place, right time. That’s what happens when it’s a grand final, anything can happen,” she said.
“The first goal we just lifted our heads and we needed something to lift us and that did it. We needed to get ahead to start stringing some passes together and get into our game
“We were a bit rattled, I think, with all the pressure and nerves of a grand final. That goal got it all out of the way and it was only up from there.”
Fichera said she didn’t think the game was secure even after her second goal, but it was certain after Maddy Cater slotted a third. MARLIN Coast coach Stuart Veall says he’s fine with leaving Cairns without a trophy.
Veall, who claimed he tore his hamstring on Saturday morning and was unable to play despite assurances he would play goalkeeper, is off to pursue coaching opportunities in Europe.
He said Southside played well and deserved the Premier Men’s grand final win, but was equally proud of his own side for reaching the decider after finishing last in 2016.
“I’m happy for the president and I’m happy for the boys, that’s all I want to say,” Veall said. “We did so good this year and absolutely full marks to the players.
“There’s nothing we can take out of it except being here is an absolute privilege and for the whole club, taking them from bottom to top, it’s awesome for everyone involved.
“I’m happy that I’ve left Marlin Coast in a better place and hopefully they’ll get better and stronger from here.”