Tara Andrews fittingly produced an extra-time piece of class to seal a New Lambton 4-3 win over three-time champions Merewether in the Herald Women's Premier League grand final at Weston on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
In the process they became only the second club to achieve the minor premiership-championship double after United first achieved the feat in 2015.
For the first time since the inception of the WPL in 2009 the grand final was determined in extra time. The match was tied up at 3-3 at the end of regulation time.
Eagles coach Keelan Hamilton praised the work ethic of his charges, who three times came from behind to secure the club their first grand final win in just their second season.
"We train three nights a week and these girls have been training since before Christmas," Hamilton said.
"This week was week 39, so they've done 39 weeks of training and over 100 sessions. I think it's work ethic that's got us to this position. I think there's some better teams on paper than us but we've proved again and again that we are the best team in this competition this year.
"I think it was our work ethic that got us over the line and obviously some key individuals that have had great seasons as well."
One of those was Andrews, who has scored 48 goals this season, and Hamilton reserved praise for his captain and Jets striker.
"Tara's got a huge amount of desire and will to win," Hamilton said. "She's been unbelievable and in the big moments when we needed her she's stood up time and time again and it was fitting for her to score the winner today."
Merewether, who had not lost a grand final in three previous appearances, took an early lead when Rhali Dobson scored in the 10th minute from the edge of the 18-yard box. But Andrews showed her class in the 14th minute to turn and level with a left-footed strike from the top of the box into the bottom right corner.
Courtney Anderson gave Merewther a 2-1 advantage in the 51st minute when she scored across the face of goal but New Lambton were back on level terms in the 61st after United conceded an own goal off a corner.
Dobson again put Merewether ahead in the 67th minute, this time from the penalty spot after Eagles defender Stacey Day was ruled to have hand-balled in the box. Four minutes later Lauren Allan tapped in at the back post.
Andrews sealed the win with another left-footed shot from range in the 107th minute and second period of extra time.
Cassandra Koppen, who told her players before the game that it would be her last after coaching United to four grand finals in five years, said Andrews "was the difference".
"She scored some great goals but that's finals football; you can't afford to have that lapse in concentration and Tara crucified us for it," Koppen said.
"I think the girls put in 100 per cent and kept pushing for the win but I think we played our grand final last week."
New Lambton also won the 20s grand final, beating Adamstown 0-0 (3-2) in a penalty shoot-out.
Adamstown beat Warners Bay 3-1 in the 17s decider and Mid North Coast won the 14s match 3-0 over Merewether.
