Economic Girlymen FC have wrapped up the Division 5:12 title with a hard fought 3-2 win over second placed Dirty Mongrels.
The hosts raced to a 2-0 lead early, with strikes from Ajie Sandria and Gao Ye appearing to put the Girlymen in control within the half-hour. However, a couple of enforced substitutions saw the hosts lose Kasmadi Amri and Antunes Graixas, hence providing the Mongrels with a route back into the match.
Red Gibbs pulled one back on 72 minutes, but a 76th minute header from Gregório Bastinhas made the Girlymen breathe easier. Allesandro Smith successfully tried his luck from distance on 83 minutes to set up a tense finish, but the undermanned defence of the men from Surfers Paradise held firm to secure the title. Manager Pacific Panache insists his team's triumph was well-deserved.
"In the last three weeks, we have systematically neutralised each one of our rivals, starting with Maribyrnong Edgewater, them Rio de Mauro and now the Dirty Mongrels. We should have won it last season, but we made some mistakes along the way. This time we've made sure of it. Now we can sit back and watch the others fight among themselves."
The battle for second and the final play off spot will be an interesting one. Dirty Mongrels (second) and Rio de Mauro (third) are separated by just one goal and will meet. However Maribyrnong Edgewater, who host Peking Rovers, are just a point behind, and could take advantage should Rio or the Mongrels drop any points.