Words: Matt Dorman

UQFC Women and Eastern Suburbs Women shared eight goals in an epic 4-4 draw at University of Queensland Field 5 on Wednesday night.

In an all top-four affair, the hosts led 2-0 before Easts mounted a fightback to close the gap on Palm Beach SC Women to a point.

UQFC’s opener came from a familiar source in the 16^th minute when Greta Bodey poked home to make it 1-0 after the visitors failed to clear a corner.

It was 2-0 just six minutes later as Georgia Chapman continued her fine form in front of goal, lobbing Tash Mavrick following a through-ball from Chloe Williams.

Easts, whose star striker Tegan Riding started on the bench, soon found a way back into the match though with Ashlee Watkins pulling it back to 2-1.

They were level before half-time when Natalie Mueller capped a frantic first 45 minutes by tucking away from inside the area after UQFC were unable to clear in defence.

Goalscorer Watkins was central to the attacking action again shortly after the restart, winning a penalty from goalkeeper Dani Harbot which teammate Michaela Hatzirodos put wide of the left-hand upright.

The drama only intensified as UQFC midfielder Lulu Pullar planted a long-range effort against the crossbar in the 55^th minute, while Easts introduced Riding in pursuit of a winner.

However, it was fellow free-scoring striker Bodey taking control of the crunch clash as she squeezed home Chapman’s right-sided cross to restore the hosts’ lead.

Easts wouldn’t be denied though and restored parity through Jenna McCormick, before turning the match on its head in the 77^th minute courtesy of a classy Riding solo effort to make it 4-3.

Amazingly, a third goal in the space of 10 minutes levelled matters once more with Shannon Merrington converting Bodey’s cross from close.

The away side saw a trio of glorious chances go begging late in the match as the two teams settled for a point apiece.

Speaking after the match, UQFC coach Wayne Gibbon rued the errors which crept into his team’s play leading comfortably.

“I think panic started to set in a little bit towards the end and we started to lose our composure. That being said, it was a very good game between two teams trying to win the competition,” Gibbon said.

Easts coach Garrath McPherson was always confident of a comeback despite falling 2-0 behind.

“There’s one thing I know about our team and it’s we have goals in us and plenty of goals in us. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” McPherson said.

Listen to the full post-match interviews below.

University of Queensland FC Women 4 (Greta BODEY 16’, 65’ Georgia CHAPMAN 22’ Shannon MERRINGTON 80')
Eastern Suburbs FC Women 4 (Ashlee WATKINS 26’ Natalie MUELLER 37’ Jenna McCORMICK 70’ Tegan RIDING 77’)