In football as in comedy, timing is everything. And what better time could there be to produce your best game of the season than in a cup final.
That’s exactly what Heidelberg United women’s team did in stunning fashion to defeat league leader Bulleen Lions by a 4-nil scoreline in the Team App Cup final at ABD stadium last Saturday afternoon.
The four-goal victory over a team that has been its nemesis all season gave Heidelberg its first-ever State Cup trophy and earned the team plaudits from all comers, not least their admiring coach Bill Mihaloudis, who said after the win: “The girls are just amazing. The way they handled and conducted themselves against Bulleen was just amazing.”
Led up front by the pacey Leigh Gray, and playing with a breeze at their backs in the first half, the Bergers deployed a direct approach, seeking to exploit the space behind a Bulleen defence which defended high up the park. The approach paid dividends in the 38th minute, when Gray collected a Joey Cartwright pass, skipped past a defender before rounding Bulleen keeper Mia Mossman to slot home into an empty net for the only goal of the first half.
In the second half against the breeze, the Bergers worked hard with and without the ball, looking to win more possession and control the game. Again it was Leigh Gray who provided the breakthrough when she outpaced her opponent to get a Julia Nicolaci long ball into the box and lobbed the ball over keeper Mossman for her second in the 71st minute. Late goals from full back Bonnie Barnes, who headed home a Nicolaci set piece, and another to Gray after good approach play from Black and Panella, sealed the victory.
Despite being underdogs going into the match, coach Mihaloudis had a lot of belief in the team.
“This group of girls, they play really well when they’ve got their backs to the wall and to their credit they can really dig deep and they did.”
Losing key players Melissa Barbieri and Michelle Verzi in the build-up to the final might have upset lesser teams, but the Bergers responded with a solid defensive display all afternoon.
“I knew if we played the way I know we can play, no team can beat us. And they just showed that again on Saturday,” said Mihaloudis.
While the whole team deserves accolades, the coach was asked to comment on Leigh Gray’s player of the match performance in the final against Bulleen.
“Leigh’s been pivotal for us all season. She’s been outstanding. I think she’s on her fifth hat-trick of the season. Without her putting the goals away it puts us in a different place altogether, so she’s an integral part of the team.
“But it’s not only Leigh Gray. It’s Rita Mankowska centre back, Bonnie Barnes full back and Elly Torre, Lisa Fonua and Julia Nicolaci dominating the midfield with Hannah Ryan. Young players that have come through, Joey Cartwright, who is only 16, I don’t think she’s missed a game all season. So these type of girls bring in a complete new element,” he said.
“Then you’ve got the level head of Belinda Panella. She was involved in the premiership nine years ago. Same thing with Rita Mankowska. To have these girls surrounded by young girls, young girls feeding off these girls, it’s priceless. What they bring is a team balance.
“The number of young girls we’ve blooded this year to play senior football has been fantastic. It puts the club in a great position moving forward into the future. It’s an exciting time at Heidelberg. And to win a trophy along the way, it makes it even sweeter.”