Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Western Pride FC

Tegan Riding netted five goals as Eastern Suburbs Women hit top form in a 16-1 win over Western Pride Women at Briggs Road Complex on Sunday.

Riding’s haul marks a timely return to her prolific best ahead of the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series, where third-placed Easts will host a sudden death clash in week one.

Defeat brings an end to a promising three-week period for Pride which reaped two wins and a single-goal away loss.

Riding almost instantly grabbed a brace to begin the landslide, first smashing in a long-range rocket before again beating Amelia Quabba from distance a minute later.

The Pride ‘keeper produced a left-hand save to deny Riding a quickfire hattrick but was unable to prevent Ashlee Watkins from making it 3-0 in the 16^th minute.

Riding, Ryder and Watkins then shared a goal each in little time before Rosie Sutton capped a seven-goal opening half hour by converting a close-range overhead volley.

Two more finishes from Riding further ballooned the scoreline and increased her season tally to 26, bettered only by Deeanna Thompson and Greta Bodey.

Michaela Hatzirodos still found time before the break to improve Easts’ half-time advantage to 10-0.

The visitors still required another nine to finish second and set about reeling in Palm Beach SC Women through two Natalie Mueller goals, the first arriving on the hour and the second 10 minutes later.

Pride had managed to stem the flow after half-time and had substitute goalkeeper Alicia Brown to thank for a pair of saves in quick succession.

Jenna McCormick became Easts’ fourth player to net back-to-back goals when the Westfield W-League defender struck twice in eight minutes to help Garrath McPherson’s side to a 14-0 lead.

However, the hosts claimed some consolation when a foul inside the area on Kara Mowbray allowed Caitlin Turner to convert from the spot.

With their clean sheet sullied, Easts responded by adding another two through McCormick and Hatzirodos to complete the 16-1 rout.

Speaking after the match, Riding said her five-goal effort was a boost ahead of the Finals Series.

“I haven’t really had a good run with goals, missed a few one-on-ones, so it’s a bit of confidence for me,” she said.

Pride substitute Courtney Bascunan said a positive attitude led to an improved second-half performance.

“The score was high but we forgot about that and kept pushing,” Bascunan said.

Western Pride FC Women 1 (Caty TURNER 88’)
Eastern Suburbs FC Women 16 (Tegan RIDING 5’, 6’, 20’, 33’, 35’ Ashlee WATKINS 16’, 27’ Chantelle RYDER 22’ Rosie SUTTON 30’ Michaela HATZIRODOS 37’, 90’ Natalie MUELLER 59’, 70’ Jenna McCORMICK 75’, 81’, 89’)