Goulburn Stags sweep Association Cup to continue unbeaten streak

The tournament featured four local sides - the Stags, Crookwell, MBK, and Marulan - who all usually play in the Highlands Soccer Association's Women's Premier League.

But following the cancellation of all HSA games last weekend due to growing concern over the recent COVID-19 outbreaks, the Association Cup was held at Cookbundoon on short notice.

"We took the chance to get the four teams together and run the Association Cup," STFA director of football, Craig Norris, said.

"The girls were keen just to be playing football, so it was something for them to do. We're now going to have a winner's cup against the Highlands team that won their pre-season cup."

The competition featured shortened games of 20-minute halves over two rounds.

The Stags won their first game against Crookwell 2-0, before another win over MBK in the second round by the same margin.

Their pair of victories put the Stags women on top of the ladder by the end of the day, and continued an unbeaten streak which stretches all the way back to the first round of the HSA competition in late April.

The result of the tournament was pleasing to coach and midfielder, Donna Eddy.

"It was good to play, we only found out earlier in the week that the Highlands comp had been suspended," Eddy said.

"It was just good to get a game in. It was a bit more relaxed, the games were still good and competitive.

"We were just happy to get a game in on the weekend and play against the local teams."

Though the STFA does not have a senior women's competition running in 2021, there is a lot of quality among the four teams which play in the HSA competition.

The Stags, MBK, and Marulan are currently ranked second, third, and fourth on the Premier League ladder respectively, which made the Association Cup a high-level event.

It was, Eddy added, also a good opportunity to test out some of the team's younger players.

"Of course we wanted to win, but it was good to get up in the first 20 minutes and then we could experiment a little bit in the second half," she said.

"We moved players around, and gave some of the less experienced players some time on the field."

The Stags' second match, against MBK, had held more relevance for both sides as they had played out a nil-all draw just the week prior, on June 26.

"It was nice to redeem ourselves there a bit and get the win over them," Eddy said.

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