Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Paul Smith
Images: Paul Smith

SWQ Thunder Women moved back into the top four with a comfortable 4-1 win over Sunshine Coast FC Women at Tom Alford Oval.

The hosts never relinquished a lead gained eight minutes in via Sarah Sheridan, as sisters Abbey Lloyd and Melanie Lloyd added to a second-half Fire own goal to see out the result.

The visitors only consolation came on the hour when Linley Archard converted a consolation goal as Fire lost their second match in succession.

The win extends a five match unbeaten run for the Thunder and moves the Toowoomba based club back into fourth position on the table.

Key Moments

8’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Melanie Lloyd lays the ball up for Sarah Sheridan on the edge of the area with the inch-perfect shot sneaking in just under the crossbar

36’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Gemma Nokes plays a throughball for Abbey Lloyd, who touches the ball past Fire custodian Katie Offer and converts into an empty net

51’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Jordan Franke’s freekick is headed on target by Melanie Lloyd but parried away by Offer, however Fire defender Martha Benstead turns it across her own goal line under heavy pressure from Rosanna Berry

59’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Linley Archard turns on the edge of the penalty area and delivers a pin-point shot over Thunder goalkeeper Lucinda Jensen to pull a goal back

78’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Abbey Lloyd pushes the ball out of midfield to release Melanie Lloyd one-on-one against Offer, with the attacker winning the contest by slotting the finish past the Fire goalkeeper

What They Said

“It was weird to play at home but not at home. I think we started off slow and our first half wasn’t that great and I don’t really know what was going on. But second half we did pick it up a bit. We have a lot of improvement (in us) after having a few weeks off but it was a team effort and we got the win and that’s all that matters.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder FC Women captain

“We played really well actually and dominated most of the game. Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes and conceded some silly goals. We are a good passing side and we like to move the ball quickly, so on a nice surface like this out here we really enjoyed it.“ – Tom White, Sunshine Coast FC Women coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 7

Sunday, April 24
Tom Alford Oval, Kingaroy

SWQ Thunder FC Women – 4 (Sarah SHERIDAN 8’, Abbey LLOYD 36’, own goal 51’, Melanie LLOYD 78’)
Sunshine Coast FC Women – 1 (Linley ARCHARD 59’)

Further details in the official Match Centre

Referee – Sitha MEAD
Assistant – Thomas CARROLL
Assistant – Maxine EVANS