Daniella Castellano was named the "Most Valuable Player" for Eastern Counties United after helping her team seal a hard-fought 3-1 win over Cardinals Football Club in the Concept Coaching Under-20 Girls' Football League on Monday in the opening match of a double-header.
This was in the final round of matches in the inaugural competition played at the D'Abadie Recreation Ground and it was Eastern completing the preliminary round unbeaten to tally nine points and book a spot in Friday's final.
Coincidentally, the leader will face off against the same opponent, as Cardinals finished in second place with six points to earn a place in the title match.
Castellano netted the third item for Eastern in the 32nd minute to give them a 3-0 lead going in at the half in the 80-minute match. This after Sharice Nickie scored the opening item in the 12th and Shania Edwards (20th) put Eastern up 2-0 some eight minutes later.
Eastern did not get any more goals in the second half but their performance in the opening session was enough to hold off Cardinals, who managed to pull one back thanks to captain Cayona Patterson in the 56th.
"The game was very challenging but my team and I fought through the second half and ended up getting one goal and that was very good for us," said Patterson, who will attempt to help her team bounce back from the loss to grab hold of the title when Cardinals meet Eastern from 6.30 pm at the same venue, following the third-place match between Legion FC and Malick Girls.
Both teams met in the second match on Monday and it was Chelsea Steele notching a hattrick to help Legion win its first match of the competition, a 4-1 victory over Malick Girls. Steele, who scored in the 40th, 50th and 55th, was later adjudged the MVP for Legion.
Monday results
Eastern Counties Utd 3 (Sharice Nickie 12th, Shania Edwards 20th, Daniella Castellano 32nd) vs Cardinals FC 1 (Cayona Patterson 56th). MVPS: Daniella Castellano (Eastern), Ariel Williams (Cardinals)
Legion 4 (Chelsea Steele 40th, 50th, 55th, Annalisa Mc Millan 58th) vs Malick Girls FC 1 (Kernesha De Vignes 47th). MVPs: Chelsea Steele (Legion), Nikiesha Matthews (Malick)
Today (Friday)
Venue: D'Abadie recreation ground
Third place match
Legion FA vs Malick Girls, 4.30 pm
Final
Eastern County United vs FC Cardinals, 6.30 pm
Final Standings
Place*Team*P*W*L*D*GF*GA*Pts
1*EasternUnited*3*3*0*0*28*2*9
2*Cardinals*3*2*1*0*17*6*6
3*Legion*3*1*2*0*5*1*27*3
4*Malick*3*0*3*0*4*23*0
Top goalscorers
11 - Aaliyah Trim (Eastern County United)
10 - Moenesa Mejias (Cardinals)
8 - Daniella Castellano (Eastern County United)
5 - Chelsea Steele (Legion FA)