Belconnen United 5 (Nicole Jalocha 4’, Jasmine Maguire 34’, Karen Clarke 42’, Michaela Day 63’, Caitlin Munoz 69’) def. Canberra United Academy 2 (Hayley Taylor-Young 13’, Sarah Morgan 38’)

Belconnen United booked their spot in yet another NPLW Grand Final with a strong 5-2 win against the Canberra United Academy on Saturday at McKellar Park.

The hosts nearly got off to the perfect start as Maddy Whittall was impeded in the box in the first minute and awarded a penalty as a result, but Sally James did brilliantly to save Caitlin Munoz’s spot kick down low.

But just a couple of minutes later they were on top anyway, this time Nicole Jalocha was sent through with a good ball and made no mistake to finish from close range past James.

The lead only lasted 10 minutes though as the Academy hit back in typical fashion, with Hayley Taylor-Young cutting in from the left side and rifling an effort across Nat Lacey and into the far corner of the goal.

Both sides settled from there though as the game quietened down momentarily before a burst of activity shortly before the half.

Jasmine Maguire raced onto a through ball 11 minutes before the break and took a touch around James before firing home, only for four minutes later the Academy to respond as Sarah Morgan’s strike from outside the area nestled in the top corner.

But Belconnen were determined to take their lead into the break and three minutes before half-time Karen Clarke launched a long range effort from just inside the attacking half that flew over James and just under the crossbar to put her side in the lead at the break.

Antoni Jagarinec’s side came out of the blocks strong for the second half and had a great chance a couple of minutes in when Maddy Whittall poked a pass through for Jessie Williams but James saved the shot well with her legs to keep the margin at a goal.

They were beginning to take a stranglehold on the game though and with just over 25 minutes to play Michaela Day curled a sensational free-kick from long range into the corner of the goal to push the lead out to two goals, and six minutes later Day found Munoz inside the area and she appeared to have all the time in the world to compose herself and finish past James to seal the scoreline.