Conquering Raiders clinch dramatic League 2 title match

But the girls in green pulled off a McEwen miracle on a hot Shepparton day, booting the final three goals of the decider to notch a win for the ages.

Erika Love was the first to get the Raiders on the board, sending her team into half-time with a glimmer of hope to track down La Trobe’s one-goal lead, 2-1 the scoreline.

It was an improved Raiders who emerged from the half-time break hoping to topple La Trobe for the first time this season.

“I thought the first half was pretty open, and we probably didn’t deal with threats at the back well,” Raiders’ coach Pat Hicks said.

“We adjusted that at half-time, and obviously, the second half was a lot better.

“We changed our shape a little bit, we shifted Jess (Hicks) from centre-forward to behind the midfielders, and then we made sure we were doubled up at the back all the time, especially on that (La Trobe) number six who was a goal threat out there.”

Jess Hicks and Paige Pinson lifted the occasion to help the Raiders hold possession, though opportunities on goal were hard to come by in a warm slog.

That was until a Pinson cross hit Love in front of goal, and while the ball spilled away from Love, Hicks capitalised on the loose ball just inside the box, striking the ball past La Trobe’s keeper to equalise.

A tense 30 minutes ensued.

As both teams began to weary, the ball swung from end to end, with chances nearly grasped in both boxes.

Then, with around 10 minutes to play, the goal that delivered the Raiders a hard-fought title arrived.

And who else but striker Asha Davies to fire her team to victory.

A well-hit through pass from Katie Barnes found Davies streaming into goal and, with her 31st and final goal of the season, struck the ball firmly past the keeper to go 3-2 up and spark scenes of jubilations among the Raiders players and travelling supporters.

But the game was far from over.

From that point, it was a grim battle to the end and on one of the last corners of the game, La Trobe believed a deflection had spilled past Raiders goal-keeper Amelia Richardson.

The referees disagreed despite their protestations, and the Raiders held on in the frantic remaining minutes to claim the League 2 women’s championship 3-2.

“They’re a fantastic group of people first and very good players second,” Hicks said.

“They obviously gel well, get along well, they hang out outside of training, and I think that’s a key part to why they’ve been successful.”

Raiders co-captain Jess Hicks was named best on the pitch for her performance, crediting her “amazing” side for digging in in trying conditions.

“It was a hot day,” Hicks said.

“We’re not acclimatised to this weather. The team played amazing, the spirit was amazing, and we tried hard until the final minute.

“We struggled to find our feet early on, but we made a few changes at half-time, and then we really came about.

“We held on tight for the last few minutes because we ran out of legs.”

As for her equalising strike midway through the second half, Hicks said she was “my number one cheer squad for that one.”

But Asha Davies’s premiership-winning goal and the team claiming the title after two strong seasons was the cherry on top for Hicks as she and Carissa Hamilton stamped their name as championship-winning captains.

“It’s been awesome,” she said.

“Pat (Hicks) has brought the level up dramatically over the last two seasons, and it’s awesome to get the result today.”