After seven matchweeks, seven teams and 21 games, the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership all boils down to one match between the top two – this Sunday’s Grand Final, as Canterbury United Pride host Capital at English Park.

Following Auckland Football’s points deduction for fielding an ineligible player for the first three games of the season determining the identity of the finalists came down to results of the final matchweek. Capital Football were confirmed as minor premiership runners up after Northern Lights failed to fell the Pride last week.

The Grand Final offers a challenge that Capital has taken to with aplomb, says head coach Maia Vink, who has guided the Wellingtonians to the Grand Final in her first season as head coach in the ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership.

“It's been a real roller coaster two weeks for us, where we went from basically being on a summer break to winding back up to play in the Grand Final. The response from the girls this week has been absolutely incredible,” she says.

“We’ve been focused on at the task at hand. We’ve added in layers to our game model, and this has finished off the evolution that was shown throughout the season and been working on throughout the season. So it's been a very enjoyable week of preparation, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to play in the Grand Final.”

“We accept that the tag of underdogs lies with us, but funnily enough that spurs us on to work harder and play more as one united team. As the Pride go in as the favourites - aiming for a three-peat with some players of real form and a track record of winning big game - we come into the match with no pressure on us: nothing to lose, but everything to win.”

Coach of the reigning champions Alana Gunn, has been at the Pride’s helm since 2018 (and served as assistant coach prior to that). As the Cantabrians chase that historic three-peat this weekend, she says they’re focused on the task at hand.

“There's a really good vibe in the squad. We love finals footy, so the girls are really focused. We’ve had a little bit of recovery the start of the week and now we’re heading towards the end of the week, close to the game where we're amping up.

“We have been preparing this week like we do every week, so concentrating a lot on ourselves and how we’re going to play for the weekend. The staff have been working hard looking at footage from Capital, and coming up with a plan on how we want to attack Sunday and hopefully win the game.”

Should the Pride win, they will be the first ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership team to win three titles in a row (after being thwarted by Auckland Football in 2017), with this being their eighth Grand Final appearance in a row. They’ve previously won the championship for the 2004 and 2010/11 seasons.

New Zealand Football would like to thank Sport NZ, ISPS Handa, and the numerous volunteers throughout Aotearoa New Zealand without whom the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership could not have happened.

ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership Grand Final Details

When? Sunday 20 December, 1 pm kick off

Where? English Park, Christchurch

What’s the history between the two sides?

Canterbury United Pride and Capital Football last played each other in Matchweek 6 – Capital’s last game of regular season. The Pride won 4-0, courtesy of goals from Britney-lee Nicholson, Rebecca Lake, Alyssa Whinham and Gabi Rennie.

The game also marked the return of Pride talisman and Football Ferns legend Annalie Longo from an injury she picked up in the first game of the season, Alyssa Whinham’s maiden Women’s Premiership goal (a moment that Alana Gunn describes as a season highlight), and the 50th appearance for Capital Football for captain Katie Barrott.

In the games prior the form book has generally favoured the Pride, with Capital last beating the Cantabrians in 2018.

Today’s Grand Final is also a rematch of the 2016 Grand Final, which Canterbury United Pride won courtesy of a Holly Pascoe double.

Canterbury United Pride and Capital's last game marked a maiden goal and major milestone for Alyssa Whinham and Katie Barrott respectively. Copyright photo: Masanori Udagawa / www.photosport.nz

Squads as at Friday 18 December

Canterbury United Pride

1 Una FOYLE GK 2 Emma CLARKE 3 Rebecca LAKE C 4 Lara WALL 5 Mikaela HUNT 6 Kate TAYLOR 7 Gabi RENNIE 8 Tahlia HERMAN-WATT 10 Annalie LONGO 11 Britney-lee NICHOLSON 12 Amelia ABBOTT 13 Whitney HEPBURN 18 Alyssa WHINHAM 19 Ellena FIRTH 21 Nicola DOMINIKOVICH 23 Lily BRAY

Capital Football

1 Georgia CANDY GK 2 Hope GILCHRIST 3 Anna GREEN 4 Ellen FIBBES 5 Nina KONDO 6 Katie BARROTT C 7 Michaela ROBERTSON 8 Charlotte WILFORD CARROLL 9 Kaley WARD USA 10 Tupelo DUGAN 12 Olivia INGHAM 16 Molly WOODHEAD 17 Jemma ROBERTSON 18 Molly SIMONS 21 Nea BLACKHAM 22 Helena ERRINGTON

Officials

Referee: Sarah JONES Assistant referee 1: Allys CLIPSHAM Assistant referee 2: Rebecca BLAKEMAN 4th official: Lindsey ROBINSON

Watch live on Sky Sport 7

Article added: Saturday 19 December 2020