Just 24 hours before the pain of the Senior Men’s preliminary final, International experienced the high of witnessing its Senior Women’s side fly into the competition’s maiden finale by defeating Gambier Centrals 7-2.

In the cut-throat playoff at MGA Park to meet United in the first ever Limestone Stone Coast Football Association Senior Women’s grand final, the black and blue proved too good for the Lions.

Despite the comfortable margin on the scoreboard, Inter women’s coach Ricky McRobert suggested the game was anything, but relaxing.

“We got caught sleeping twice by Centrals and they punished us,” he said.

“After we conceded the first goal we put three past them.

“Five minutes into the second half we conceded another in the second half and I thought this could be a hard-fought game here.

“That woke up my girls because it made them realise you have to keep proving yourself.

“They snapped back on and scored four more goals which showed true character.”

Stephanie Gilbert led the scoring charge with a hat-trick, while April Hockey also joined in the fun with two goals of her own.

Ella Doody and Satomi Unayama were the others to score for the black and blue.

But there were many more contributors for the victors all over the pitch.

Naomi Zwijnenburg put her body on the line defending the goals which inspired her team mates to perform as did the “immense” work rate of Tess Andrews against her old club, while Unayama flourished in a new position in the midfield.

Clean strikes from Olivia Gwilym and Skye Robertson breathed live into the contest, but they were not enough for the Lions to prevail at home.

McRobert said to achieve the victory against Centrals made the win extra special.

“Centrals has been a team that has smacked us around for a long time including 12-nil victories in the past,” he said.

“They have lost some players in the last few years but it is still a massive confidence booster for the girls ahead of the grand final.”