Thunderbirds Cup report and photos

Albion Park reaffirmed their standing as the state's best Under 18s women's team by winning the Thunderbirds Cup at Gibson Park for a second consecutive season.

The 2016 Football NSW Under 18s Champion of Champions winners beat Shellharbour Under 16s in the final of the tournament, which was played last Sunday as part of Female Football Week celebrations.

The win completed a successful start to the 2017 season for Albion Park, who will this year play in the newly created Football South Coast Women's Under 21s competition, after earlier defeating Bulli Under 17s and Bulli Under 21s.

With eight teams from Thirroul, Warilla, Shellharbour, Bulli and Albion Park, the Thunderbirds Cup again featured some of the best young female talent in the South Coast region playing in a round robin format.

Thirroul, who will also field a team in the FSC Women's Under 21s competition after the club's success in last year's Champion of Champions tournament, beat Warilla Under 17s in the Plate final.

The organisers of the tournament would like to thank all of the teams who took part and everyone who helped make the third annual Thunderbirds Cup a success, including the referees.

A gallery of photos taken by Lin Hampton are below.