THE Rosewood United Crusaders have a valuable ally supporting them as they strive to capitalise on a second opportunity to make the Senior Women’s grand final.
The Crusaders finished the regular Queensland Christian Soccer Association (QCSA) season as Division 4 premiers guaranteeing them two shots at glory.
They need the extra game to qualify after losing 3-2 to the Dinmore Bushrats Cougars in the qualifying final at Norm Rule Field.
The Crusaders can challenge the second-placed Cougars again in the grand final if they win Saturday’s preliminary final.
Rosewood’s bid to end the 2024 season on a high note has been boosted through having former Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) coach Kim Bennett guiding the players, many of whom are mums.
“I’ve come back to the church [competition] to try and help these girls develop their game and learn a bit about how it’s played in federation,” she said.
“It’s been really helpful for them.
“The club [women’s team] has never been in a final so it’s all new experience and it’s the best season they’ve ever had.
“Just teaching them how to work as a group. There’s no stars in our team.”
Mount Marrow-based Bennett is coaching at the Rosewood club for the first time after serving with the QAS from 2019-21. She has C Licence qualifications.
“They’ve come together,” said Kim, who also played for 28 years.
“Most of them are from around this area.
“A lot of them play for fun.
“It’s about them developing friendships and enjoying the game and learning all about the game.
“It’s just a bonus we’ve been winning.”
The Rosewood team had secured the premiership with 12 wins, three draws and only two losses. They scored 45 goals and only conceded 10 in 17 previous games.
The Dinmore side entered the final series with nine wins, four draws and four losses.
In the final, Rosewood led 2-0 at halftime and looked in command before a second half penalty awarded to the Cougars reinvigorated the Crusaders’ opponents.
The Cougars equalized and nailed a third decisive goal as the Rosewood women ran out of proverbial legs.
“We just got pretty tired, it was really hot,” Kim said, reflecting on their latest result.
The Crusaders will play Riverlife in Saturday’s preliminary final.
“I think the girls will be able to regroup,” Kim said.
She praised her team’s commitment.
“The girls are hanging in but we have a lost a lot of primary players,” she said.
“We started with 19 and then at the end here we’ve had 12.
“We get to go back to the drawing board and talk about how we can sustain that last 15 minutes because that’s where we lost it.”
One of Rosewood’s best performers in the final was goalkeeper Emma Brien, who made multiple saves.
“She was awesome,’’ the coach said.
Regular goal scorer Brooke McAllan created some fine attacking opportunities.
Brooke and Meg McKinney scored Rosewood’s goals, working well up front with striker Kerri Rowe.
Rosewood United’s under 15/16 boys side finished their Division 3 QCSA season with a 3-2 elimination final loss to Dinmore Bushrats Gladiators at Redbank Plains.
The young Crusaders qualified for the finals in third ahead of the Bushrats who advance to this weekend’s preliminary final.
