With minutes to go the Isaroos fought aggressively to kick that one goal in to break even but were unable to deliver on any hard earned openings. 

“They are a really tough team to play,” said Parkside captain Kerrie Dempsey.

“This is their third year straight in the A grade final. We played them last year and eventually lost to them. 

“Our main goal this season was to play them in the grand final and take that title back. And we did.” 

Dempsey said she knew that Parkside were in good shape to defeat last year’s premiership winner. 

Yet she knew it would be a tough game. 

“Our main runner Melissa unfortunately came down with the flu and could not come down tonight,” Dempsey said. 

“So that changed a few little things.

“But we did not let that put us on the back line.” 

The captain said that Parkside played a well rounded game. They were equally balanced in their attack and their defence. 

“We are stoked about our win," Dempsey said, shortly after the game was won and the team photograph was taken. 

“We have a lot of young girls in the team and it is really encouraging for the girls to play in women’s senior soccer and get a feel for those wins, and to return next season with our heads high.” 

Isaroos captain Sarah Astbury said her team was “going down fighting” until the last moment. 

“It was a very exciting game. Both teams brought their best games. They just put their goals away and we didn’t,” Astbury said. 

“We kept going until the end and that is how we play, but that is football. Some you win; some you lose.” 

While Parkside lost their main runner and was able to adapt, it proved trickier for Isaroos to recover when they lost their central defender Sarah Pizzey.

Pizzey tore her hamstring last week.

“That put a real spanner in our works,” the captain said.

“It really affected our line-up and we had to adjust. 

“It made a big difference,” Astbury said.