ZOE ASKEW
SOCCER
LVSL
By ZOE ASKEW
SALE United Football Club’s senior women topped off their maiden Latrobe Valley Soccer League league championship winning season, claiming the Browne-Huizer Cup for a second consecutive season.
Tenille Page netted her first career goal to seal Sale’s 2-1 victory over adversaries Fortuna in a highly physical Cup final at Latrobe City Stadium on the AFL Grand Final public holiday (Friday, September 29).
Following Sale United’s first league championship-winning season, losing just one game throughout the 2023 campaign, the Swanettes braced for one last hoorah with a clear objective: defend the Browne-Huizer Cup.
The 2022 Browne-Huizer Cup Grand Final marked the first time Sale United’s senior women made a Grand Final appearance in more than a decade, with a 6-0 thrashing against East Gippsland securing the Swanettes’ first-ever silverware.
Sale’s road to this year’s Browne-Huizer Cup final was rather anti-climatic, particularly given last year’s thrilling Cup campaign – defeating Fortuna 5-1 in the quarter finals and 2022 league champions Falcons 2000 4-3 in the semi to book a ticket to the big dance.
With a bye in Round 1 this season (drawn at random), Sale eagerly awaited results. The Swanettes were to play the winner of Moe United versus Falcons 2000 in the quarter finals.
Miley Cooper put two goals away for Moe, but the Red Devils fell short in their efforts.
Falcons’ Madison Rossi netted a brace, with Kristina Mezentseff, Monique Lapenta and Chloe Martin put one past the keeper to seal a 5-2 victory for Falcons.
Fortuna also had a Round 1 bye and awaited results from the Churchill United versus Monash game, with the Lions to take on the winner in the quarter finals.
An Ebony Webb goal claimed Churchill a 1-0 victory.
Sale progressed to the semi-final, having yet played a single minute, after Flacons was unable to field a team for the semi, giving the Swanettes an automatic 3-0 win on forfeit.
Fortuna played their quarter final against Churchill, breezing through the round with a 5-0 victory.
Sophie Jarvis scored a hat-trick, and Tenae Shankland netted a brace.
Fortuna played Tyres Lightning in the semi-final, following Lightning’s 1-0 win over Newborough/Yallourn United, while Morwell Peagasus’ 1-0 win against Traralgon City put the Flying Horsemen up against Sale.
Lightning’s efforts, as valiant as they may have been, fell devastatingly short, with Tyres unable to overcome the roaring Lions.
Emily Brabazon slotted the winning goal, progressing Fortuna to the final after beating Tyers 1-0 at Traralgon’s Harold Preston Reserve.
A captain and coach goal booked Sale United’s ticket to the Grand Final.
Zoe Askew and Madelaine Breakspear netted goals before the break, giving Sale United a two-goal buffer when teams returned for the second leg of the semi-final.
Pegasus challenged the league champions with a Mabior Anyieth goal, curtailing Sale United’s lead.
Anyieth’s goal was ultimately a consolation, as Sale thwarted a chaotic Morwell without untoward occurrences before the final whistle’s blow.
And so, with Fortuna’s 1-0 win over Tyres Lightning and Sale’s 2-1 victory against Pegasus, the 2023 Browne-Huizer Cup grand finalists were decided.
Oh, what a game was in store.
It is fair to say there has been a long ongoing rivalry between Fortuna and Sale, and with the Lions having yet to defeat the Swanettes in 2023, they were out for blood.
Losing to Sale 4-2 in Round 1 of the Nike FC Cup, 2-1 in Round 1 of the LVSL and 8-0 in Round 12, the Lions were looking for something like fourth time a charm.
A goal from young gun Dani Wilson, lashing into the top left corner from the top of the box off a Hollie Ryan corner, gave Sale an early advantage in the final.
Sophie Jarvis netted an equaliser before the break, with scores levelled 1-all.
The first 45 minutes of the 2023 Browne-Huizer Cup Grand Final had proved a nail-biting affair, with things heating up when teams returned to the stage.
With play congested in the middle of the field and little chances at both ends, overtime looked a possibility as the clock ticked closer to the hour mark.
In what can only be described as a fairytale ending, Sale United’s Tenielle Page struck a half-volley off a Madelaine Breakspear corner, burying her first-ever career goal and the match-winner.
Fortuna pressed aggressively, desperately looking for the goal to make things level.
Sale remained steadfast in their defence, with young gun Millie Harbour outstanding in the midfield – her work rate and tenacity unmatched.
The final whistle sounded, spelling victory for Sale United.
Madelaine Breakspear and Romi Bitar’s league champions defeated Fortuna 2-1 to claim the 2023 Browne Huizer Cup, completing a historic double.
Breakspear was awarded best-on-ground.
