IT has taken a few attempts and lots of heartache, but Wallsend finally have a piece of silverware.
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The Red Devils beat Warners Bay 1-0 in a tense final of the State Cup at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facilty on Sunday.
The win ended a run of near misses. They went down to Adamstown Rosebud in the final of the knockout last year and were beaten in the Northern NSW premier league grand final by Warners Bay in 2016.
"It's fantastic to finally get the win," Wallsend coach Brad Jones said. "We have gone close a couple of times and the girls really deserved it. They played good football all weekend."
Wallsend defender Alesha Clifford was named player of the final.
The decisive goal came midway through the second half from a corner.
"I don't even know who got the final touch," Jones said. "The ball was whipped into the box and there were bodies everywhere. It could well have been an own goal. I'm not 100 per cent.
"We did have a few nervous moments at the end. With the quality Warners Bay have, you know they are going to create some chances. Our goalkeeper, Daniel Reading, and centrebacks Alesha Clifford and Sophie O'Brien made a couple of crucial plays late. Still, on the balance of play, I thought our girls had the better of it."
Wallsend made a clean sweep of their pool games, beating New Lambton, Cooks Hill and Alstonville. In the semi-final they accounted for Mid North Coast 4-0.
