Olympic Women Silence Thunder
Words: Matt Dorman
Image: David Wadsworth
Eight separate scorers ensured Olympic FC Women were untroubled in an 11-1 win over SWQ Thunder Women at Goodwin Park on Saturday.
The visitors had hopes of building on last week’s win over Souths United Women, but a four-goal burst midway through the first half put Olympic on track for a fourth win in five.
Jessica McLean fired the hosts ahead in the 8th minute when her left-footed shot on the turn whistled by Thunder ‘keeper Jessica Broadfoot.
It was 1-1 just four minutes later though as a mixup in defence allowed Elle Mollenhauer to nip in ahead of Olympic ‘keeper Katie Ronan before being fouled in the area by Bronte Watson.
Talitha Doro slid the resulting penalty home, but parity was only fleeting for the visitors.
There was little they could do to prevent going behind again with Leah Miles unleashing a spectacular long-range effort in off the post.
Miles’ stellar strike inspired Olympic to pile on three more in quick succession, blowing their scoreline out to 5-1 by the 33rd minute.
Winger Matalena Daniells netted a double in that time while Nat Tathem launched her own stinging drive from distance.
Thunder regrouped to see out the remainder of the half but were unable to stem the flow after the restart as Jazmyn Perin got on the end of Ai Matsuzaki’s cutback to make it 6-1 in the 48th minute.
Allira Toby was introduced by Olympic coach Phil Canham at the break and the speedy striker immediately increased the margin, getting in between defenders Madison Franke and Kiama Gray and finishing with aplomb.
Matsuzaki soon became the second substitute to score with a 12-minute brace sandwiching a fine Tathem finish, before Bianka Topalovic completed the scoring in the 79th minute.
Speaking after the match, Olympic coach Phil Canham hoped his side could continue to mount a title challenge for the remainder of the season.
"It's nice to be up there and challenging. If we're there in a couple of months' time we will be happy," Canham said.
Listen to the full post-match interview below.
Olympic FC 11 (Jessica McLEAN 8’ Leah MILES 23’ Matalena DANIELLS 30’, 31’ Nat TATHEM 33’, 68’ Jazmyn PERIN 48’ Allira TOBY 56’ Ai MATSUZAKI 66’, 78’ Bianka TOPALOVIC 79’)
South West Queensland Thunder FC 1 (Talitha DORO p. 12’)
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