Words: Matt Dorman
Image: The Gap FC

The Gap Women overcame early misfortune to end Sunshine Coast Women’s five-match unbeaten run with a 3-0 win at Walton Bridge Reserve on Saturday night.

The hosts hit the crossbar on several occasions in the first half but didn’t let that keep them from running away with the match after the restart against a Fire side featuring several teenagers.

Ruth Blackburn was first to test the woodwork when she headed against the post and over from a corner in the 14^th minute.

Gabe Marzano and Leah Curtis were both also denied by the bar in quick succession as Fire rode their luck to keep it scoreless at the break.

The visitors could survive only a further seven minutes though as Marzano finally broke the deadlock after the restart, the Perth Glory player firing in a low effort from outside the area to make it 1-0.

Gators goalkeeper Hannah Smith-Roberts was called into action on a couple of occasions midway through the second half and her saves proved vital as Curtis made it 2-0 in the 69^th minute.

Bethany Ashton sealed victory almost immediately Curtis’ goal with a lofted finish to put the hosts out of sight at 3-0.

Speaking after the match, Gators coach Rob Askew had praised for his own team’s performance as well as that of the opponent.

“I was very pleased. I thought it was more The Gap of the old, it was an impressive performance against a very impressive opponent,” Askew said.

Fire coach Dave Bensted was not downhearted by defeat, believing the result could have been different.

“I thought the turning point was when one of our strikers missed a one-on-one. If we had gone 1-0 up perhaps things would have changed,” he said.

Listen to the full post-match interviews below.

The Gap FC Women 3 (Gabe MARZANO 52’ Leah CURTIS 69’ Bethany ASHTON 70’)
Sunshine Coast FC Women 0