AN amazing season came to an end for the Port United Ladies team yesterday with a superb grand final performance.
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The girls in green came away with a 3-0 victory over the Macleay Valley Rangers in front of a large crowd at Dixie Park in Port Macquarie.
The win ensured that United remained undefeated for the season as well as being declared deserved champions for 2014.
Across 20 matches, the side recorded 17 wins and three draws whist scoring an incredible 125 goals and conceding just 15.
From the kick off, the Port side took it too their Kempsey opponents as they went in search of the go ahead goal.
The pressure told in the 21st minute, when a great strike from 25 yards out by Heidi Lavis found the top corner of the goals.
The goal was the 36th of the season for Lavis.
Just four minutes later, it was 2-0 to United.
Good lead up play and passing from the Port outfit resulted in Leah Wilson finding space at the top of the penalty box.
United's top scorer calmly controlled the ball and placed it past the Rangers keeper for her 41st goal of the season.
Lavis had a chance to add another goal not long before half time, however her penalty shot went just over the cross bar.
As the sides went to the break, it was United well in control with goal keeper Cheryl Davis rarely troubled.
With 25 minutes remaining in the match, the home side put the result beyond doubt to the cheers of the vocal United crowd.
A stunning strike from around 25 yards out by Danni Mifsud found the top corner of the net to make it 3-0.
Full credit needs to go to Rangers for their season having lost just the two games, both to United.
It was their fourth grand final appearance in a row having won the previous three titles.
Player of the match, United's Danni Mifsud quoted basketball great Michael Jordan.
"talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championship,” she said.
"That pretty much sums up our game to a tee. We went out as a team just playing our game the way we always do.
“There was not one player out there that gave up or that didn't give 100 per cent and that's why we won.
“We wanted it so much and it showed.”
Defender Cam King praised the clubs supporters.
"The support we have had has been great.
“During the season we get so caught up in our games etc and we don't always take the time to say thank you to the amazing people that make it all happen for us or to appreciate how much goes on behind the scenes to make our season run smoothly.
“It's a family thing at United and we have the strongest bond, we take a win or loss from the juniors through to Premier League to heart.
United's Skye Lacey had tears of joy as she lifted the winners trophy.
A trophy named the Izzy Garratt Memorial Trophy in honour of Lacey's Mum who put so much time and effort into local football, especially the ladies game and not just for Port United.
“It was a fairy tale ending to a superb season,” Lacey said.
“To be the first team on that trophy with mum's name on it is just amazing and it was a very proud moment.
“Thank you to everyone who has been with us on this journey. We did it mum!" she added.