MID Coast Football failed to recover from a poor start in the Herald Women's Premier League reserve grade football preliminary final against Adamstown in Newcastle.
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Down 1-0 after just two minutes, Coast conceded another goal just before halftime to go into the break down 2-0. A further goal early in the second half sealed the result, with Adamstown finally winning 4-1, so ending Coast's season.
Coast coach Jonathon Newman said a couple of errors in the first half proved costly.
"A few of the heads went down after we conceded the second goal,'' he said.
"And we didn't beat Adamstown this year, so letting in a goal so early was always going to make things difficult. It certainly wasn't the ideal start.''
However, Newman said his side kept trying to the final whistle.
"We managed to pull a goal back - and it was a good goal to Saffron Grass,'' he said.
"Even at halftime I thought we were still in it - 2-0 isn't a big lead by any means in football.''
However, Newman made changes after Adamstown scored the third goal in an attempt to get a goal back.
"That left us exposed at the back and we let in another goal,'' he said.
Grass and Kiana Osmond-Dryer were outstanding for Mid Coast.
"Kiana played the role of a utility for us this year but I shifted her into the midfield for the final and she was fantastic,'' the coach said.
He said Grass was busy throughout the encounter and kept pressure on the Adamstown defence.
Newman rates the season as a success for his young side.
"Last year we came fifth and fell away towards the end of the year,'' he said.
He said three players were in under 14s last year and stepped up to the challenge of senior football.
"They went from being big fish in the under 14 pond to being little fish in the reserve grade pond. But they accepted the challenge,'' Newman said.
Mid Coast finished third after the competition-proper but were sitting in second place at one point. Newman said a couple of injuries - particularly to star striker Jess Watts almost derailed the season. Watts missed most of the campaign with an ankle problem and she wasn't 100 per cent fit for the finals series.
Mid Coast also had to play four consecutive games in Newcastle mid-season, which proved a difficult assignment.
"I think most of the players will be back next year - that's the indication they've given,'' Newman said.
"I think we're only losing one player.''
He added that Mid Coast is still the only side to defeat minor premiers Newcastle Olympic this year.
Olympic will now meet Adamstown in the grand final this weekend.
