Maddison Dean starred with five goals as the Thornton Redbacks under 18s earned a place in the record books with a 8-1 grand final win against Warners Bay.
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Dean had a hat-trick by half-time and benefited from great work up-field.
The massive win, at Rockwell Automation Park, Weston, on Sunday, is the the highest score of any grand final in the Herald Womens Premier League history.
The Redbacks, who finished the regular season in third, progressed to the grand final on penalties against South Wallsend in their two-leg qualifying final.
The two teams had been locked at 1-1 after the two fixtures and the Redbacks prevailed 4-2 on penalties.
Warners Bay had also done things the hard way progressing to the big game after beating minor premiers Wallsend
Redbacks director of women’s football Michael Hurn said the the girls were focused on the job at hand and the soccer gods were with them on the day.
“We opened our account after three minutes with a well placed shot from out wide by Zoe Ford that beat the Warners Bay keeper as it curved into the back top corner of the net,” Hurn said.
“Three minutes later Maddison Dean slotted home our second in a one-on-one with the keeper. “
Warners Bay scored in the 20th minute with a well placed shot from near the penalty to bring the score back to 2-1, but that was the beginning of a six-goal onslaught by Thornton.
“It seemed to fire the girls up and Maddison Dean again proved lethal in front of goal scoring her second goal for the half to take the score to 3-1,” Hurn said.
Katie Smee then chimed in about five minutes later with a runaway pass and slipped the ball under the keeper.
Dean completed her hat-trick beating the Warners Bay keeper with a chipped shot from about 30 metres from goal.
The score at half-time was 5-1 to the Redbacks, but Thornton were not going to take any risks.
“After the break Warners Bay came out firing but were soon out of the game when Maddie scored her fourth goal from distance,” Hurn said.
“This was followed by another quality goal to give her 5 for the match and the score line was starting to look ominous for Warners Bay at 7-1 down.
“Teeghan Burgess finished a well placed cross into the box where she slotted our eighth goal near the back stick.
“It was a pretty exciting moment with the Redbacks now with an 8-1 lead and only minutes left on the clock before they could celebrate.”
The Thornton Redbacks grand final team featured Skye Preston, Hannah Elphick, Zoe Ford, Marni Richardson, Emily Wicks, Luci Maddison, Courtney Muddle, Maddison Dean, Maddison Bradbury, Danielle Redding, Isabella Primmer, Jenna Kennedy (captain), Bethanee Lloyd, Sophie Milton, Katie Smee and Teeghan Burgess.
The support staff included coach David Redding, assistant coaches Al Primmer and Rob Richardson, manager Alison Lloyd and team doctor Larry Jongbloed.
