Six Goal Fire Scorch Pride
Words: Michael Flynn
Samara Christmas scored a hat-trick to help guide Sunshine Coast FC Women to their first win of the season on Sunday, accounting for Western Pride Women 6-0 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Christmas’ personal haul was bolstered by a brace to Kristy Clifford and a further goal in the first half to Kayla Moore.
An end to end first half saw plenty of chances for both sides, with Fire proving the more clinical in front of goal.
Pride spurned a pair of opportunities with the score still locked at nil-all - Jacinta Perrin failing to call the goalkeeper into action with her strike before Georgia Harper saw her long-range attempt fade wide of the target.
Clifford opened the scoring on 24 minutes with a well-placed strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Eight minutes later the advantage was doubled by Moore, who turned her shot in off the post from 12 yards.
Laura Welfare proved a handful for the Fire defenders throughout and came close to pulling a goal back in the closing stages of the half, twice forcing saves from Fire goalkeeper Savanna Bowtel-Harris.
However, Pride’s hopes of a comeback were thwarted midway through the second half when Welfare sustained an injury, resulting in a major structural change for the visitors.
Clifford netted her second shortly after, finishing assuredly one-on-one with the Pride goalkeeper after being released by Danielle White’s clever midfield build-up.
Christmas then unleashed a devastating spell for the hosts, her first goal delivered with a solid volleyed finish following a well-timed interception and pass from Clifford.
Christmas benefitted from a positive left-sided run and cut-back from Brooke Matheson’s for her second, before sealing her hat-trick and the six goal margin nine minutes from full-time.
Pride battled valiantly until the end but ultimately proved unable to get on the scoresheet.
The result was Fire’s first three points of the campaign in only their second match and consigned Pride to a second loss after their breakthrough win last week against SWQ Thunder.
Sunshine Coast FC Women 6 (Kirsty CLIFFORD 24’ 67’, Kalya MOORE 38’ , Samara CHRISTMAS 73’ 77’ 81’)
Western Pride FC Women 0
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