Words: Michael Flynn

Lop-sided scorelines gave an early indication to the lay of the land in this year’s PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s title race following a series of pre-season matches at Dalton Park on Sunday.

Five Star Olympic Blitz UQFC

MORETON BAY | A four goal blitz in the opening twenty minutes helped Olympic FC Women cruise past University of Queensland FC Women 5-0 in the opening match of the day.

Olympic stormed into the lead on the back of quick-fire goals to Liz Doherty and returned Westfield W-League star Allira Toby before Doherty struck again to round out her brace.

Jazmyn Perin all but sealed the win a minute later with Olympic’s fourth before off-season recruit Kirsten Jamieson delivered the final goal just before half-time.

UQFC fortified in the second half on the back of several telling saves from goalkeeper Dani Harbot to prevent the score from blowing out further.

Olympic FC Women  5 (Liz DOHERTY 11’ 18’, Allira TOBY 13’, Jazmyn PERIN 20’, Kirsten JAMIESON 39’)
University of Queensland FC Women  0

Gold Coast Ride Over Redlands

MORETON BAY | Jayde Lowe struck four first-half goals as Gold Coast City Women stormed to a commanding 9-0 win over Redlands United Women.

Lowe’s impressive returns was complemented by a brace from Neesa Doyle as the duo combined repeatedly to tear through the Redlands lines.

Georgia Elliston and Jade Horricka also chimed in to ensure an insurmountable seven goal advantage at half time, while Chelsea Teveluwe added her name to the scoresheet in the second half before the heat took the impetus out of City’s attack in the final half-hour.

Gold Coast City FC Women  9 (Jayde LOWE 5’ 21’ 36’ 39’, Neesa DOYLE 17’ 60’, Georgia ELLISTON 30’, Jade HORRICKA 41’, Chelsea TEVELUWE 56’)
Redlands United FC Women 0

Gators Too Hot For Fire

MORETON BAY | The Gap FC Women warmed up for their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s Queensland title defence with a comfortable 5-0 win over a youthful Sunshine Coast FC Women side.

Megan Price opened accounts for Gators with a rifled finish from distance before Greta Bodey scored the first of her two goals ten minutes later by tucking in at the near post.

Bodey then turned provider for fellow off-season recruit Talitha Doro to convert a bulleted header to all but seal the win prior to half-time.

Gators dominance continued into the second stanza as Fire were forced to defend in numbers – Bodey securing her brace just after the hour before Bethany Ashton iced the performance with a pin-point lob from the edge of the area shortly after.

The Gap FC Women  5 (Megan PRICE 9’, Greta BODEY 19’ 65’, Talitha DORO 38’, Bethany ASHTON 70’)
Sunshine Coast FC Women 0

Pride Fightback Downs Thunder

MORETON BAY | Western Pride Women delivered a three goal second half surge in a come-from-behind 3-1 win over SWQ Thunder Women.

Thunder grabbed the early advantage when Melanie Lloyd steered in the opener with a first-time finish, but were never truly settled against a Pride side that saw the better of possession.

Thunder managed to keep Pride at bay until the second half when Nicole Quinn levelled terms on the back of a sharp passing build-up.

Pride then stormed home late as Emma Barnes converting a firmly struck finish from distance and substitute Nikki Hubbard snuck in behind the line to seal the result.

SWQ Thunder FC Women  1 (Melanie LLOYD 14’)
Western Pride FC Women  3 (Nicole QUINN 53’, Emma BARNES 78’, Nikki HUBBARD 86’)

Easts Take Peninsula To Power Of Seven

MORETON BAY | Eastern Suburbs FC Women suggested they will again be a Premiership threat in 2016 with a dominant 7-0 win over Peninsula Power Women in the final match of the day.

Despite missing a raft of returning Westfield W-League Easts took a two goal advantage inside the opening half-hour on the back of two penalties – Emma Pittman converting the first before Michaela Hatzirodos slotted the second.

Ashlee Watkins added the third before an own goal just before the half ensured a near insurmountable four goal advantage.

Power survived a further penalty when goalkeeper a Tallulah Vearing denied Rita Lustosa’s effort, however Easts powered home with three more goals in the final stages – Breanna Maxwell and Susanne McKeen book-ending Power’s second own goal of the contest.

Peninsula Power FC Women  0
Eastern Suburbs FC Women  7 (Emma PITTMAN 16’p, Michaela HATZIRODOS 23’p, Ashlee WATKINS 43’, own goal 45’ 77’, Breanna MAXWELL 71’, Susanne MCKEEN 82’)