Gold Coast United’s under-15 girls make club history with first female NPL title

GOLD Coast United are celebrating their first female NPL title after their under-15s delivered the goods against Souths United on Tuesday night.

GOLD Coast United’s under-15 girls have claimed the club’s first female NPL title after producing a clutch 3-2 win over Souths United in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Facing a Souths side yet to taste defeat at home this season, United headed to Runcorn’s Wakerley Park knowing a draw would be enough to deliver the title.

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Coach Keith Garland with Gold Coast United's under-15 girls' team.

The Surfsiders fell behind early when Gold Coaster Kailey Lincoln netted for Souths, but they rallied to level through Ryleigh Saunderson, the club’s leading goalscorer this season with 33.

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United then took the lead via some magic from Mullumbimby product and captain Reese Donnelly, before the hosts pulled one back with 25 minutes to play.

It was Laura Elliott who then emerged as the heroine for United, with the Emmanuel College student scoring just her second goal of the campaign.

Gold Coast United under-15 girls' players Laura Elliott, Ryleigh Saunderson and Rees Donnelly.

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The result took United’s season record to 20 wins and three draws from 24 games.

Coach Keith Garland will now prepare the squad for a semi-final encounter on September 16, with the grand final to be played a week later.

Garland’s team is one of five United NPL Academy sides that will feature in the upcoming finals series, with the under-14 boys the only outfit — junior or senior — across all NPL competitions to go through the season undefeated.

The under-13 and 14 boys’ teams finished first, while the under-15s and 16s are first and fourth respectively.