Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Paul Smith/SWQ Thunder FC

Peninsula Power Women are through to the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Women’s 2015 Finals Series thanks to a 4-0 win over SWQ Thunder Women at Clive Berghofer Stadium on Saturday.

Brittany Whitfield’s hattrick secured the three points Power needed to seal sixth spot ahead of Olympic FC Women.

While the Brisbane side now meets Eastern Suburbs Women in an Elimination Final, Thunder’s season has concluded with five wins and ninth place.

Despite earlier making a pair of saves in quick succession, Jessica Broadfoot was unable to keep the visitors from making it 1-0 lead just prior to the 20-minute mark.

Whitfield led a counter-attack from inside her own half and did enough to beat Broadfoot in a one-on-one despite the shot-stopper getting a hand on the finish.

The Power striker made it a double just three minutes later, again going clean through on goal and this time rounding Broadfoot to put one foot in the Finals Series.

The away side spurned a chance to move further ahead before the break and were almost made to pay at the other end, but Jess Scicluna did well to keep out Kiama Gray on the stroke of half time.

Power regained the ascendency after the restart and made it 3-0 when Samantha Harrington converted a byline cutback at close range.

Thunder had the chance to cut the deficit through Kate Beecham’s ball across the face but failed to force home from two attempts.

Both teams struck the crossbar in the final 15 minutes, though there was still time for Whitfield to notch her hattrick and ensure maximum momentum for Power heading into the first week of finals.

Speaking after the match, Power coach Gary Ellis looked forward in anticipation to next week’s knockout match against Easts.

“Next week we’re in with a shot. I think we’ve improved since we last played them so it’s going to be a cracker of a game,” Ellis said.

Thunder coach Craig Burgess felt his side had enough opportunities to make for a closer final score.

“We didn’t penetrate as much in the second half as I would have liked and again Peninsula were clinical in front of goal,” Burgess said.

South West Queensland Thunder FC Women 0
Peninsula Power FC Women 4 (Brittany WHITFIELD 19’, 22’, 85’ Samantha HARRINGTON 50’)