Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Paul Smith/SWQ Thunder

SWQ Thunder Women reversed the trend of recent results by dispatching Souths United Women 10-2 at Wakerley Park on Sunday.

Despite the hosts doubling their season scoring tally in the space of 16 second-half minutes, Talitha Doro and Abbey Lloyd both feasted on four goals as Thunder cruised to their third win of the campaign.

The visitors might have opened the scoring in just the third minute through Lloyd but after the crossbar denied her on that occasion, the attacker went one better in the 22^nd minute by tapping home a low cross at the back post.

Lloyd turned provider in the 34^th minute for Doro to round the goalkeeper and double Thunder’s advantage and she had a second six minutes later, Doro stepping up to score from the spot following a handball in the area.

Trailing 3-0 at the break, Souths secured a way back into the game just minutes after the restart when Renee Montgomery shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

Thunder responded swiftly to restore the three-goal margin though as Grace Krautz made it 4-1 before Craig Burgess’ side truly turned it on in the next 20 minutes.

Doro first completed her hattrick with a powerful effort into the bottom left corner, followed four minutes later by Lloyd springing the offside trap for her second.

Tessa Hunt did manage to pull a second back for Souths, completing a great run by looping a shot in at the near post, but the home side leaked further goals when Lloyd secured her 67-minute treble by finishing left-sided build-up play.

Two more were still to come in the next 10 minutes courtesy of Doro and Lloyd once again while Jordan Franke finally completed the onslaught by firing Thunder into double figures at the death.

Speaking after the match, Souths United player Kate Lawson said her side would take positives into a week’s break but acknowledged there was work to be done.

“There were highs and lows. Getting two goals is pretty big for us … but obviously there’s always areas we can improve on,” Lawson said.

Thunder coach Craig Burgess praised his team’s accomplishment of their primary task.

“We have been focussing on getting our midfield to be more mobile and pushing forward to support our number nine. Today I think we found a little bit of a groove,” Burgess said.

Listen to the full post-match interviews below.

Souths United FC Women 2 (Renee MONTGOMERY 48’ Tessa HUNT 64’)
SWQ Thunder FC Women 10 (Talitha DORO 34’, p.40’, 57’, 73’ Abbey LLOYD 22’, 61’, 67’, 77’ Grace KRAUTZ 55’ Jordan FRANKE 90’)