AFTER scraping through to the semi-final on goal difference, Maitland saved their best for last to overpower Newcastle Olympic 3-1 in the final of the women's State Cup at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday.
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Sophie Stapleford starred with a double for the Magpies and earned the player of the final.
The striker put the Magpies ahead from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Olympic handballed in the area.
Olympic keeper Natalie Wiseman tipped a long-rang effort from Lisda Cochrane over the bar five minutes later. But the Magpies only had to wait another minute to double their advantage, with Kaitlin Radstaak finishing from a corner.
After going close just before half-time, Olympic got a goal back in the 37th minute when Jemma House stabbed home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
House, last season's leading goal-scorer in the Women's Premier League, was one of only four regulars alongside Georgia Little, Georgia Amess and Wiseman in the Olympic squad.
Maitland in contrast were at full strength and put a fullstop on the result when Stapleford hit a low drive from just outside the 18-yard-box which arrowed into the bottom left corner with five minutes remaining.
The Magpies beat New Lambton before losing to North Coast in their pool games and only snuck into the semi-finals.
Again they did it the hard way, beating Broadmeadow 5-3 on penalties after neither team could manufacture a goal in regulation time.
Olympic secured their place in the final after coming from 1-0 down to beat Adamstown 3-2, with House netting a double.
In the plate final, Nelson Bay edged Kempsey Saints 1-0.
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
