Willowburn fight back to secure TFL Premier Women’s title

TFL FINAL: Willowburn and Highfields squared off in an epic grand final. Who won the premiership?

FOOTBALL: Willowburn and Highfields added a new and exciting chapter to their growing rivalry at the weekend.

With the TFL Premier Women’s division title on the line the two sides battled gamely for the full 90 minutes.

Willowburn added the premiership to their trophy cabinet with a 3-1 win but had to fight back from goal down.

Highfields started stronger in the grand final, pushing the ball forward at every opportunity, and were rewarded in the 18th minute.

Willowburn keeper Amanda Kelly’s failure to collect a routine shot at her feet proved costly with Highfields’ Nina Grant tapping the ball home from close range.

Highfields had opportunities to extend their lead after the opener, but Willowburn drew level shortly after the half-hour mark.

Keeper Bridget Peden fumbled a difficult cross and after some frantic defence Hayley Gray eventually found the back of the net.

Willowburn midfielder Shandell Robertson then provided the turning point of the match shortly before halftime.

Robertson took advantage of the time and space afforded to her by the Highfields defence to unleash a shot from distance to put her side in front.

The shot narrowly beat an outstretched Peden to hand Willowburn a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Willowburn celebrate their TFL Premier Women’s grand final win. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Both team started strongly,” Willowburn captain Kiama Gray said.

“But after a while a bit of gap opened up in the middle and they (Highfields) punished us on that to open the scoring.

“Credit to our girls though, we really hung in there and kept pushing.

“We got two goals back just before halftime which was really good – we took some confidence into halftime because of that.”

Willowburn started strongly in the second half and after withstanding a number of Highfields attacking raids were next on the scoreboard again.

Shannon Tyrell’s floated shot from a tight angle beat the Highfields keeper as the minutes counted down in the decider.

“We hung in there really well in the second half, we knew we had to play out the 90 minutes which is a lesson we learned last year,” Gray said.

“Highfields played really well.

“A lot of our girls have played finals at various levels and we had to draw on that.

“It’s a great feeling, absolutely awesome to win it.”

Willowburn player Jacinda Reed (left) and Hayley Warner of Highfields in Toowoomba Football League Premier Women grand final at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Sunday, November 15, 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Originally published as Willowburn fight back to secure TFL Premier Women’s title