In a match that brings together a raft of players from both clubs who have worn the New Zealand shirt at U-17, U-20 or Football Ferns level, a tight contest is expected in their second meeting of the season after a 2-2 draw in their NRFL Women’s Premier League competition in May.
Forrest Hill Milford team captain Kate Seatter says the work done by the club’s Junior Football Ferns contingent in Canada in reaching the quarter-final stage has boosted the feeling around the team heading into Sunday.
“It’s been really exciting for us,” Seatter said, “especially when they were over there and we were all gearing up to watch them every morning. The girls are really proud of what they’ve done and we’re really proud of them so there’s good vibes at the moment.”
After a testing cup run which has included wins over two recent competition champions in Claudelands and 2013 winners Coastal Spirit, Seatter says her team is battle hardened.
“Both Claudelands and Coastal Spirit were quite tough games for us so we know we can play under pressure and we know that the final is going to be as tough as those games. We also know that we can come back if we are down.
In the Claudelands game we were down 2-0 at halftime. I don’t know what happened at halftime but somehow we pulled it back and won 3-2.”
Seatter says that the Forrest Hill cause will be helped by a number of players with not only international experience but also domestic big match experience in both club and national league finals as the team look to imprint their style on the occasion.
“Nicole Stratford and Michelle Windsor have played in previous finals and we’ve got quite a few girls who have played in the National Women’s League finals which are similar with the level of play and preparation for that sort of game.”
“The way we play best is when we keep the ball on the ground, keep moving it around and we know we can play well when we’ve got the ball down and under control. That’s our aim, to play like that as opposed to going long too much.“
With a league and cup double firmly in her sights, Seatter is eager to get the first leg of that taken care of on Sunday.
“It would be pretty amazing for us to get both titles. We’ve worked really hard since February when we had first trials since the squad was put together. Mauro [Donoso] and the club have put a lot into us this year and it would be pretty amazing as new club at this level to win both titles.
“It would mean a lot for me. It would probably be one of my greatest achievements as captain of these girls and I’m sure we’re quite capable of achieving it.
Meanwhile, Glenfield enter Sunday’s showpiece similarly confident of being able to lift their second cup trophy in four years after winning the 2011 competition and falling agonisingly short last year, conceding a stoppage time own goal as Coastal Spirit claimed the title.
Glenfield captain Rebecca O’Neill, who played in both games as well as the 2007 final – leading Western Springs to the crown, says her side’s big match experience will be a factor on Sunday with her team lifting their level throughout the season.
“Finals can be a little bit nerve wracking if you’ve never been there before and don’t know what to expect,” O’Neill said. “For us having the experience of having won it before and then last year having lost it, that definitely adds extra motivation for us.”
“I think we’re really peaking at the right time. We’ve got better and better throughout the season and our performances just keep building so I think going into the game on Sunday we feel pretty confident and pretty happy with where we are at as a team.”
Like Seatter, O’Neill knows her side has clear blueprint for success which has served the side well in recent years and has the team still able to run down the NRFL Women’s Premier League leaders in their local competition.
“The key thing for us is how we defend, that’s always been a very strong part of our game. We defend really high and from the front and we play at a really fast pace and I think it’s something that benefits us a lot against other teams.”
“If we get up early on in a match, we’re a team that can defend really well, we’ve got an excellent structure, we’re very well organised and very well prepared tactically, so if we do those things well on Sunday we’re in with a really good shot.”
As a bit of a cup veteran, O’Neill is looking forward to another special occasion on Sunday.
“I absolutely love the cup run and making it to the final is a highlight of the season. It’s something I look forward to every year. And certainly this year, after a massive disappointment last year, to be back in the final is massive for me and I can’t wait to get back out on the park. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Tickets for Sunday’s ASB Women’s Knockout Cup Final are on sale now via Ticketek and the match will be LIVE streamed for the first time (full details below).
ASB Women’s Knockout Cup Final
Forrest Hill Milford United AFC v Glenfield Rovers
Sunday 7 September, 11am (gates open 10.30am)
QBE Stadium, Albany
Story courtesy of NZF
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