Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend 4 (Jenna Kingsley 2, Keely Gawthrop, Libby Copus-Brown) defeated Adamstown 1 (Clare Cummings). Half-time: Adamstown led 1-0. Wallsend win the two-legged tie 7-3 to secure their first Grand Final appearance in WPL.

Saturday, August 13, 3.30pm

 Wallsend are also through to their first Herald WPL Grand Final after they recovered a 1-0 deficit at half-time to beat Adamstown 4-1 in the second leg of their semi-final at Adamstown Oval, after a 3-2 win in the first leg the weekend before.

Adamstown went ahead early in the first half when captain Clare Cummings scored from a free kick.

But the second half was all Wallsend’s way.

Newcastle Jets W-League player Jenna Kingsley scored a brace and Libby Copus-Brown and Keely Gawthrop also got on the scoresheet.

Wallsend coach Marc Hingston knew from the start of the season his squad “was something special” but said it has taken all year to gel.

“People were writing us off at the start of the year… but all of a sudden we’ve peaked and are looking like a Grand Final side,” Hingston said.

“At half-time, I just said, ‘Composure’; we needed composure because in the first half we gave them too much ball.

“We got some composure and our decision-making improved and we scored within the first 10 minutes of the second half.”

Wallsend did not look back and stormed into the Grand Final with a strong second-half performance.

Rosebud coach Ben Herron felt “over the two legs they played well and deserve to be in the Grand Final” but said there was a lot to be proud of from this season.

“It was a game of two halves. In the first half we were composed limited their chances and did well until half-time,” Herron said.

“In football, a half-time break can change things … They got two quick ones early in the second half. We threw extra numbers forward and they countered.

“But they played pretty well, they finished their chances and credit to them. They were spurred on a bit by the early goals and rode the momentum.

“But I can’t fault our girls. Obviously, they are upset today but they’ve definitely had a good season and should be happy with what they have achieved,” Herron concluded.