Roar get shot at W-League repeat

One goal was all defending champions Brisbane needed in its quest for a berth in next weekend's W-League grand final, downing the Mariners 1-0 at Gosford on Sunday afternoon.

The inaugural W-League title-holders will face Sydney FC at Shark Park on December 19 after the Lady Sky Blues downed Canberra United in Sydney yesterday.

The Roar ground out a scoreless first half with Central Coast and it was Karla Reuter who ended the home side's season one week short in the 61st minute.

The left-footed delivery from Reuter caught out W-League goalkeeper of the year Jillian Loyden with the ball looping over her head as she moved off her line anticipating a cross into the penalty area.

Keeping a clean sheet meant Brisbane has still never conceded a goal - or lost a game - to the Mariners, who finished runner-up in the regular season.

The Roar had an extra challenge ahead of them in keeping out Central Coast, with only 10 players on the field after Sasha McDonnell copped her second yellow card and was subsequently sent off after 68 minutes.

Few gilt-edged chances were created in the oppressive heat with players often resorting to trying their luck from distance.

McDonnell came closest to breaking the deadlock just prior to the interval but her glancing header narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Mariners striker Michelle Heyman, who was named the golden boot winner and the Julie Dolan player of the Year at this week's W-League awards, beat the goalkeeper 11 times this year but was unable to do so against Brisbane.

Casey Dumont was kept busy in the Roar goal, but the home side could not get one past her.

The result concluded a disappointing end to the season for the plucky Mariners who defied preseason predictions by staying in the top two throughout, only to miss the premiership by a point.

"We are very happy that we won the game, though maybe as a group a little disappointed with the performance, but the main thing is that we are in the grand final," said Roar coach Jeff Hopkins.

"The conditions had a big bearing on the game which slowed the pace down."

Next Saturday's grand final at Shark Park will see premier Sydney, on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, looking to take the crown from Brisbane and seek revenge for a penalty shootout defeat in last season's finals.

"Next week is going to be a cracking game," Hopkins said.

"We have a healthy respect for Sydney and they have a lot of high quality players.

"I think we will be underdogs which is unusual for us and it offers us a different perspective going into the match.

"If we play the way we know we can, we are confident that we can beat anyone but Sydney will probably feel the same way."

- ABC/AAP