The time has come for Wangaratta City's senior women's side to make the last push for a finals berth. With just two matches left in the home and away season, the Lady Devils sit a single point out from making the finals, and their match against Albury United could be the very fixture which bumps them up into the eight. If they’re victorious this weekend, and United fall in their final round clash with Cobram Roar, then Wangaratta will finish the season eighth and qualify for finals. Lose, and it’s a wooden spoon. Despite sitting on the bottom of the ladder with a record of 1-11-2, senior coach Raul Pahina said the team wasn’t letting results get in the way of their enjoyment of the game. “Atmosphere’s still up and about, everyone’s still pretty keen, and we’re keen for this weekend,” he said. “I don’t think it really bothers any of the girls that we’re last. “We don’t act like a team who’s only won one game this year – we still get 16 out of 18 or 19 to training each week which is brilliant, everyone’s still super happy. “I don’t think there’s any pressure on us, really, we all know we’re a very young side that’s developing, and you can tell that we’ve gotten a lot better. “I feel like our age plays a big difference, which is probably why they’re not too stressed that they’re last, they’re just there to play football and have fun – if they win, they win, and if they lose, they don’t care.” A lot of time has passed since their last encounter with United, literally the entire season, and Wangaratta has the chance to show just how much they’ve grown. Throw in a chance for a finals berth, and there’s a lot on the line this Sunday. “It’s turned into the biggest match of the year – Albury United are quite a competitive team, they’ve gone through a rebuilding stage as well, so hopefully we can beat them,” Pahina said. “They were our first game of the season, and it was a realisation of where we were at, so it’ll be really cool to watch the difference and the growth, and hopefully get the three points. “Sickness has been getting around, so we’re hoping everyone’s healthy and fit.” The division one women fight for their season from 11.20am at Jelbart Park on Sunday. Meanwhile, the senior men will continue their finals preparations against the fourth-placed United from 3pm.
