ADAMSTOWN coach Shelley Youman believes her players have proven they are worthy of a W-League opportunity after dismantling hot favourites Lakes Macquarie 6-1 in the Herald Women’s Premier League final yesterday.
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The result was the biggest boilover in the fledging competition’s four-year history as the Roosters had not been defeated since joining the WPL this season.
Lakes’ aura of invincibility had been built on defence as the conceded only 19 goals in 17 games.
But with Adamstown’s Jets duo Stacey Day and Gema Simon constantly threatening from free kicks and through balls, Rosebud tore the Roosters apart.
Simon scored a brace inside 26 minutes to carry Adamstown to a 3-0 half-time lead, and she completed the hat-trick in the second half.
The majority of the Rosebud team crossed over from Broadmeadow’s grand-final losing side last season after Magic chose not to enter a team.
Rosebud were without former Matildas midfielder Amber Neilson (overseas) and lost captain Ash Wilson to a suspected medial ligament injury 15 minutes into the final and that made the win sweeter for Youman.
‘‘We were missing two major players, but could still do it and I just think the girls really stepped up today,’’ Youman said.
‘‘We only have two Jets players [Simon and Day] and they have about 10. You look at that and think there’s a few of our girls that could step up and have a future in soccer if given a chance.’’
Lakes injured player-coach Kate Hensman (calf) was forced to reshuffle her backline after left back Jessica Radstaak withdrew yesterday morning with the flu.
‘‘It was obviously our poorest performance of the year in a game when you should be standing up and making a difference, but we didn’t,’’ Hensman said.
Hensman said the favourites tag also weighed heavily.
‘‘The girls just didn’t stick to the game plan and I think some of them must have been nervous,’’ she said.
Simon showcased her speed in her opening goal by latching onto a through ball and then delivered in the air by heading home a second from a Day free kick into the box.
Midfielder Kim Witt scored the third goal six minutes from half-time with a powerful strike on the edge of the box to further shock the minor premiers.
The Roosters defence continued to crumble after the break when Simon tapped on a ball for Taylah Smith to smash home a goal.
Simon then grabbed her third by pouncing on a Day free kick which ricocheted off the crossbar for a 5-0 lead.
The Roosters finally had something to crow about when Tara Andrews scored with a tidy finish in the 70th minute, but Rosebud inflicted more pain with a goal to substitute striker Louisa Murcott off another defensive error.
