Words: Garry McKenzie

Coach David Thompson says his Gold Coast City Women side will look to further build on their combinations and fitness in their first pre-season match of 2016 this weekend.

Thompson’s team will line-up against Western Pride on Saturday at Kippen Park in Ipswich in the first of six further pre-season games scheduled ahead of their PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues Women’s season.

City will call on a much-changed squad to last year’s team that, under the previous guise of Palm Beach SC, qualified for the inaugural PlayStation 4 NPL Women’s Queensland Grand Final.

Thompson guided Palm Beach SC to a top of the table finish in the Youth Women’s division in 2015 and said that squad will make up the core of the senior team this year.

“We are fortunate in having an under 20s team that performed very well last season playing some very good football,” Thompson said.

“I was lucky enough to work with these girls last year and looking forward to working with them again this year.”

City have not publicly confirmed any members of their PlayStation 4 NPL Women’s squad but Thompson said he is pleased with the squad’s progress.

“Preseason is going well we are seeing improvements in fitness and the players are looking much sharper with their play."

“It's also been good to see some of the new players and existing players getting a better understanding of each other.”

Thompson said despite last season's success he was refusing to set targets for his young team so early in pre-season.

“That is a talk I will have with the players a little later in the preseason,” he said.

City played their first pre-season match prior to Christmas, falling 2-0 to Brisbane Women’s Premier League outfit Logan Lightning.

A summary of pre-season action for PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s teams is available in the Pre-Season Hub - http://bit.ly/1n5hgnr

Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, January 23
Western Pride FC Women v Gold Coast City FC Women
Kippen Park, Ipswich
Kick-off at 3:00PM