A clearly shaken and nervous Queenstown side received an early setback when Maniototo got its first goal on counter attack and held out to go into halftime up 1-0.
Nothing went right for the Queenstown side.
It suffered two setbacks when it lost left inner Hope Bates to a suspected broken thumb after 20 minutes, and captain Ruth Peddie late in the second half, when a ball deflected off an opposition stick into her head.
Maniototo had come into the game determined and hungry for the ball and it seemed Queenstown lacked composure for the entire first half.
After a halftime talk from coach Brendon Martyn, the Queenstown women arrived back on to the turf a different side and were able to perform some brilliance from the forward line to penetrate the attacking 25 line.
Stellar defensive performances once again came from halves Sarah Gaston and Laurel Collins, while Jen Andrews stood out on the left wing in what was her best match of the season.
Although top-of-the-table team Queenstown dominated most possession and territory, it was unable to convert this advantage into goals.
With about five minutes remaining in the game, Queenstown found composure to gain its third penalty corner of the match, which it was able to convert through right inner Olivia Caldwell.
This meant the game was a 1-1 draw and a stroke off was looking likely.
However, Maniototo fought hard into its attacking circle with only seconds remaining and got a penalty corner opportunity.
Queenstown held out the first, but Maniototo sealed the deal on its second and left the Queenstown girls devastated and looking to the 2013 season for its next opportunity to reach the final.
The Queenstown side will play off for third and fourth in Cromwell next weekend, while Maniototo will face defending champions Alexandra.
Coach Brendon Martyn said he was disappointed for his side, but found positives in the improvement he had seen develop through the season.
If the team was to stick together next year, it would have learned from Saturday's shock loss, he said.
