SHUTTING down Samarra Schmitzer will be crucial to Cundletown’s hopes of wresting the Football Mid North Coast Southern League women’s premiership off Tuncurry-Forster in the grand final to be played tonight at the zone field at Taree Recreation Centre.
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Schmitzer, a former Football Mid North Coast captain in the Herald Women’s Premier League who has also had experience in the Newcastle Jets system, will play in the midfield for Tuncurry-Forster.
Cundletown coach Sally Geary said her side can’t afford to give Schmitzer any latitude, describing here as the ‘danger player.’
“But I have every confidence that our players can handle her,’’ Geary said.
There’s been little between the two sides in matches this season, with a penalty shoot out required to break the deadlock when they met in the finals series. Cundletown prevailed here.
However, Geary said Cundle has suffered a setback with the loss of striker Jenna Ryan, who has succumbed to an ankle injury. Carisa Black will be shuffled from the midfield to cover for Ryan, with Geary yesterday unsure who she'll promote into the starting XI to fill Black’s position.
Recent history is against Cundletown, having lost the last two grand finals, including the 2016 decider to Tuncurry-Forster. However, Geary believes those setbacks will make her side even more determined tonight.
She nominates midfielders Amy Love and Sarah O’Connor as players who can swing the game in Cundle's favour. Geary said both have been in strong form.
O’Connor will be looking for a premiership double, having captained Old Bar Pirates to the Group Three women’s league tag title last month.
Geary returned to the coaching ranks this season after a 15 year hiatus. She has registered to play and will sit on the bench tonight, but thinks it’s unlikely she’ll take the field
“There are players younger and fitter than me who can do the job,’’ she said.
Cundletown warmed up for tonight’s match with a strong 4-0 win over Old Bar in the preliminary final.
A header from Carisa Black opened the scoring and from here Cundle dominated, although Old Bar applied plenty of early pressure.
However, Cundletown put a seal on the match in the second half when Amy Love put two goals in while Sarah O’Connor added the fourth.
Tuncurry-Forster booked a grand final berth but had to work hard before beating Wingham 3-1 in the preliminary final in a disappointing end to the season for Wingham.
Wingham were the minor premiers this year, finishing on 42 points clear of Tuncurry-Forster with 39 while Cundletown were third on 38.
Tonight’s game will start at 7pm.
