Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: John Schiavo
Images: Albert Perez

Eastern Suburbs Women's returned Westfield W-League stars struck three times in the final quarter hour to survive an early season wake-up call from SWQ Thunder Women 5-2 at Heath Park.

The teams went into half-time all square after Thunder’s Abby Lloyd twice levelled terms for the visitors in the first half – cancelling out goals to Emma Pittman and Ashlee Watkins for the hosts.

Easts stepped up a gear in the second half but were frustrated as Thunder held on until the final fifteen minutes when defender Jenna McCormick edged Easts ahead for the third time.

Rosie Sutton, who spent the summer with Adelaide United Women in the Westfield W-League, then made sure of the win with a brace in the closing stages.

Key Moments

1’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Emma Pittman gets the season underway in style by delivering the first goal in under a minute

6’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Ashlee Watkins is released by Michaela Hatzirodos but her effort crashes off the crossbar

31’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Abby Lloyd cuts a swathe though the Easts defence and buries a low drive from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

36’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Ashlee Watkins makes amends for the earlier miss to double the hosts’ advantage.

45’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Abby Lloyd again levels terms from the edge of the box with a solid strike into the bottom corner.

49’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Thunder goalkeeper Lucinda Jesen makes a sharp save to tip over a strong effort from Susanne McKeen

63’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – A well-directed free-kick from Georgina Amos is floated in to Jenna McCormick but the finish goes wide of the target

77’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – A pass from Emma Pittman enables Jenna McCormick to turn at the top of the box and convert with a well-placed strike

85’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Rosie Sutton receives the ball on the edge of the box and delivers a clever lobbed finish

89’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – A cross into the far post from Rena Lustosa finds Sutton unmarked for a simple tap-in to close out the win.

What They Said

“We have a number of players across the field that are those game-breakers – they have that X-Factor. Jenna McCormick popped up a centre-half in the box to get us that third goal and then from there they sort of fell away in the final minutes.” – Garrath McPherson, Eastern Suburbs FC Women coach

“Easts are always a strong team. We’ve come up against them before and got a bit of a flogging. It’s always hard to play them away but to hold them for such a long time and really stay in the game was really good for our confidence.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder Women

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 1
Saturday, February 27
Heath Park, Brisbane

Eastern Suburbs FC Women  - 5
SWQ Thunder FC Women  - 2

EASTERN SUBURBS FC WOMEN

Goals – Emma PITTMAN 1’, Ashlee WATKINS 36’, Jenna MCCORMICK 81’, Rosie SUTTON 83’ 88’
Yellow cards – none
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Anastasia MAVRICK, 6. Harkana DIXON, 8. Susanne MCKEEN, 9. Tiffany ROBERTS, 10. Georgina AMOS (2. Mikaela DI SAVIA 72’), 12. Ashlee WATKINS, 13. Emma PITTMAN, 18. Rosie SUTTON, 19. Michaela HATZIRODOS (7. Rani LUSTOSA 56’), 23. Anna WEBBY (15. Renee COWAN 45’), 25. Jenna MCCORMICK

Unused – 16. Ellen HEPBURN

SWQ THUNDER FC WOMEN

Goals – Abbey LLOYD 31’ 45’
Yellow cards – none
Red cards – none

Squad – 3. Lucy POPLE (18. Sophie FULLER 72’), 6. Kate BEECHAM, 7. Tiffany DIBLEY, 8. Jordan FRANKE, 9. Emma BEECHAM (5. Angela POTTER 62’), 10. Sarah SHERIDAN, 11. Rosanna BERRY, 12. Harriet KILLEN, 13. Abby LLOYD, 14. Jenna NOKES, 20. Lucinda JENSEN

Unused – 1. Elizabeth HOLLITT