Belconnen United star Jessie Williams has vowed to keep chasing her W-League goal and she sent a perfect reminder to Canberra United of her potential with a superb title-winning performance on Sunday.
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Williams played a crucial role in lifting Belconnen to back-to-back women's Premier League titles as the competition's most dominant team launched a second-half blitz to beat the ACT Academy of Sport 3-0 at McKellar Park.
It was Belconnen's third title in four seasons, but Williams' first after moving to Canberra from Tasmania and missing a W-League contract in the past two years.
The 19-year-old hopes her Premier League form can help her edge closer to a W-League berth and she was awarded the Julie Murray Medal for the grand final's best player.
"I've just moved to Canberra and to get a premiership in my first season is great," Williams said.
"I've never played for a club at women's level, this is all new to me. In Tasmania I was in a state development program, you don't get the club environment when you're in that.
"I have trialled for Canberra United the past two years but I wasn't ready. I want to get another crack at it now that I've settled.
"I'm not sure what I've got to do ... I've struggled a bit with ankle and hamstring injuries so hopefully I can get it right and take that next step."
Belconnen capped off a stunning season by beating the young ACTAS side in the grand final.
The teams played out a tight first half with neither able to break the deadlock. But Belconnen hit its straps late in the second half to storm into the lead and clinch the title.
Jordan Buchanan put Belconnen ahead after 66 minutes before Mikaela Day hammered another shot into the top corner with six minutes remaining.
Talia Backhouse then sealed the result with a goal in the 91st minute.
Belconnen lost just one game in the season, scoring 98 goals and conceding just 13.
"The girls really pulled it out in the second half," coach Antoni Jagarinec said.
"They showed that they're better this year than we have been in previous years. We had 11 players missing from all grades this weekend, it's awesome.
"Our biggest goal was not conceding 10 goals [in the season], that was something we used as motivation for the whole year."
The grand final was played without Canberra's W-League players, who were competing in the season opener against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Campbelltown.
United players haven't been allowed to play for their Premier League clubs since training for the W-League season began in August.
Belconnen was missing Caitlin Munoz, Grace Field, Catherine Brown and Sally Rojahn, while Julia De Angelis and Grace Maher were absent from ACTAS' line-up.
ACTAS was also missing coach Raeanne Dower, who is Canberra United's assistant coach, and Aroon Clansey and Obi Shaadman stepped up to fill the void.
"It was a hard game, it wasn't our best performance," Clansey said.
"The girls have had a busy few weeks with the NTC challenge and a few players in the under-17s Matildas camp, [the performance] showed how tired the girls were.
"It was a strong season, but the last step wasn't meant to be. It didn't matter if Rae was here, at the end of the day we weren't good enough today."
WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL
Sunday: BELCONNEN UNITED 3 (Jordan Buchanan, Mikaela Day, Talia Backhouse) bt ACTAS 0 at McKellar Park.
Other results: Under-12s: Belconnen United 1 bt Canberra City 0; under-14s: Belconnen United 2 bt Tuggeranong 2 (Belconnen win 5-3 on penalties); under-16s: Canberra Olympic 3 bt Tuggeranong United 2 (in extra time); women's premier league under-16s: Belconnen United 4 bt Monaro Panthers 3 (in extra time).
