Two mother and daughter combinations ran out for the Strikers women on Sunday at O'Connor Park as five teenagers made their first grade debut.
Julie Smart and her daughter Niketa, together with Annette Parkinson and daughter Heidi, were part of the team's 3-1 win over Wagga United.
Both Niketa and Heidi played their junior soccer in Cootamundra, together with other debutantes Stevie Hartshorn, Anissa Rees and Emily Bodycott.
For the girls, all aged 14 and 15, the chance to play Leonard Cup was a special moment in their young soccer careers.
For their mothers on the playing field with them, it was even more special.
Annette, who also co-coaches the side with Ash Holder, said Heidi had been keen to play with the women for a couple of years now.
"It was pretty exciting," Annette said.
"I was able to play with my father years ago and I remember how much that meant to me," she added.
I was able to play with my father years ago and I remember how much that meant to me.
- Annette Parkinson
After the Strikers had a first round bye the weekend before last, Sunday marked their first game in what has been a heavily disrupted season with Covid19 restrictions and delays.
Annette said she could not have been happier with the way the women played given the disrupted start.
They were allowed to train following the initial lockdown in NSW but had to maintain a 1.5m social distance at all times. From July, restrictions relaxed again to allow teammates to play practice games in closer proximity.
"I'm excited to see what we can do this year," she said.
With just five teams playing Leonard Cup, the women are guaranteed a finals start and as all sports fans know, anything can happen come finals time.
The men did not enjoy the same success as the women, going down 2-nil on Sunday.
