FOOTSCRAY Hockey Club’s State League Three women capped off a successful season with a thrilling 2-1 grand final win against Mornington last Sunday.

The Bulldogs, who finished the season on top of the ladder, five points clear of their nearest rival, did things the hard way in the biggest match of the season.

With the game all tied up at 1-1 the match went into golden goal extra time.

In the opening minutes of extra time the ball was worked immediately into attack where a Footscray penalty corner was won. With the first shot on goal saved, the rebound made it out to Jane Luckett on the left side.

Her first attempt at goal did not produce the result but her second attempt - a reverse stick flick - was a cracker. Luckett’s shot sailed across the goal face and hit the inside of the right hand post for the winning goal.

After the game Footscray coach Glenn Lloyd was understandably jubilant.

“I was really happy with their effort and hard work, not only today, but a year of hard work has paid off,” he said.

“The team had belief, and the kids stepped up another level.

“Achieving promotion was our expectation; however, winning the premiership was a bonus.

Just like their previous encounter, Mornington was first out of the blocks, taking a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the match.

The Bulldogs slowly worked their way back into the game but were having a tough time finding the back of the net. They headed into the second half still down by one, until a break away out of defence saw the ball carried up the right through half back Lexie White.

The ball was released deep into attack where it was promptly crossed from the right to the top of the penalty circle. Rachael Doody picked up the ball, quickly took control and fired off a shot into the bottom right of the goals for the equaliser. The last 10 minutes were intense, with both sides searching for the winning goal and with minutes left in the match, a late infringement resulted in a send-off and Footscray was reduced to 10 players.

The game was eventually forced into extra time when Luckett became the hero of the day with her miraculous strike.

It topped off another successful season for the club, which won five premierships in total from nine junior and senior grand finals.

The State League men’s team, which along with the women will return to State League Two next season, suffered a loss in the grand final

Club president Neil Coster said having both the club’s top sides in the grand final was a feat that had not been achieved in more than 40 years.

“It’s a tremendous achievement,” he said.

“Add to that the fact that we’ve just been awarded the Sue Houslow Cup for the best girls junior club in Victoria for the second season running, it’s been a great year and the future looks even better.”