It wasn’t to be for Echuca in 2025.

After winning the 2024 Goulburn Murray senior women’s grand final by one point, Echuca couldn’t repeat the feat as Shepparton United finally prevailed in this year’s decider.

United did most of its work in the first half and held on in the second for a 7.2 (44) to 4.4 (28) win.

After nearly a decade involved with the Demons’ women and girls, coach Grant Searle finally broke through for a premiership with this side.

“(I'm) relieved. It’s been a long time,” Searle said.

“I’ve been involved in girls and women’s football at Shepp United since 2016-17.

“We’ve lost two grand finals by a point, one in youth girls and one last year, so relieved to finally get the runs on the board and the win is magnificent.”

Ideal weather and a league record crowd greeted the teams at Moama Recreation Reserve for what was expected to be a balanced encounter.

Echuca started with momentum and was unlucky not to have its first major within a minute as an attempt slid just wide.

Neither goalmouth saw much further action until 10 minutes into the game, when a period of Demons pressure eventually resulted in the opening goal for Charlotte Artavilla-Bennett.

Minutes later Jessica Allen soccered one through, taking advantage of broken play near the goal, putting United two goals to the good at the first break, 13-1.

Former Murray Bombers hero Paige Baksh turned the tables on her old side in the second period, taking a tough mark inside 50 to open the goal scoring for the term.

Another Demons goal later in the half compiled the pressure, but strong tackling in attacking 50 earned the Murray Bombers a lifeline, Olivia Dewar pulling one back from close range before the break.

It looked like 19 would be the half-time margin, but Baksh made another forward raid 12 seconds from time to restore a 25-point advantage for United, 32-7.

It quickly went from bad to worse for Echuca as the Demons continued to find numbers in attack, Renee Scott on the board within the first two minutes.

Amy Mathers pulled one back almost immediately and an extended period of pressure finally yielded another for Dewar as Echuca began to claw its way back into the game.

The sense was Echuca probably needed one more before the break to really have a go in the last, but United held out for the final five minutes to hold a three-goal lead at three-quarter time.

The Murray Bombers needed to eat into the lead quickly, but were frustrated in attacking 50 by a resolute Demons backline.

Kate Dixon made a coach’s contribution with eight to play, making a strong tackle and converting on the resulting free kick to get the margin under two goals.

Good opportunities went begging over the following minutes and, as Echuca’s hopes began to slip away, Payten Johnson broke free at full-forward and slotted the sealer for United.

Searle was pleased with the way his team took control of the game early.

“We wanted them to chase us, we didn't want to have to chase them,” he said.

“We wanted to sort of stamp our authority on the game early, we had a few plans in place to do that and I thought we executed it pretty bloody well.”

Molly Kennedy grabbed best-on-ground honours, Searle praising her as a quiet and consistent contributor.

“What doesn’t she add to the team?” he said.

“She’s sensational, she goes about her job.

“I've coached Molly since we started in youth girls back 2016-17 and she loves her netball, but she’s a sensational footballer and just having her in the side has just been sensational.”

Having now featured in the last six senior women’s grand finals, Echuca has come home with two premierships.

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Wednesday, 31st May 2023

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