The Vikings secured a gritty 3-1 win over North United Black in windswept conditions at Morshead Park on Saturday afternoon.

North United, an overwhelming underdog, used a heavy tailwind to its advantage in the opening stages.

League leading goal scorer Jessica Dart found the back of the net 15 minutes in for the Panthers as the Vikings struggled with the difficult conditions.

Dart’s attempt at a brace skimmed the crossbar at the half-hour point before the favourites began to work their way into the

match.

Sebastopol levelled scores shortly after with a beautifully weighted strike from Breanna Coombes, and then hit the front through Jess Steicke just before the half-time 

whistle.

A largely uneventful second-half yielded just one goal, with Coombes striking again to give her side a two-goal lead midway through the closing

stanza.

The Panthers pressed hard in the final 10 minutes, but were unable to break through a Sebastopol defence that remains undefeated in the past two

seasons.

Joann Lardner was awarded player of the match honours after a stellar performance in the middle.

“They got the jump on us pretty quickly,” Vikings coach Peter Maggi said.

“I think our experience and skill saw us get over the line in the end.

“A good team will always find a way to win and that’s what we’ve been like this year.

“They (Coombes and Steicke) hit their strikes cleanly. It’s the stuff we practise and it pays off in the end.”

Maggi paid tribute to brother Anton and Vikings state league coach Michael Busija for assisting with coaching duties during the season.

“It makes for a great atmosphere at the club when you’ve got those high-level guys helping out,” he said.

Outgoing Panthers coach Jeff Muscat praised his young side’s performance.

“The main aim was to hold them out for 20 to 25 minutes, which we did,” Muscat said.

“We said if we’d won the toss, we’d go with the wind and we’ve always given them tough games.

“I’m very proud of their efforts.”

Muscat has called it quits as head coach after seven years at the helm – a period in which North United played in five grand finals, winning three.

michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au