Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Joshua Martin
Images: Chris Simpson

An early send-off couldn’t halt The Gap FC Women’s perfect start to the season as they hit five second half goals to dismiss SWQ Thunder Women 5-1 at Walton Bridge Reserve.

The league-leaders record 23 match unbeaten continued unabated despite influential defender Catherine Neill receiving a straight red card midway through the first half.

Gators attacker Greta Bodey struck a double while Megan Price and Talitha Doro also added to an own goal to see the defending Premiers move eight points clear atop the standings.

Thunder found their only consolation in the final minutes when Abbey Lloyd converted her thirteenth goal of the campaign.

The result ends a five match unbeaten run for Thunder, who drop to sixth on the table but hold a game in hand on many of their rivals.

Key Moments

5’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Fullback Catherine O’Neil lobs a cross deep into the box which Ruth Blackburn heads the ball powerfully, but it sails a metre over the crossbar.

12’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS - Greta Body makes a strong run down the left wing beating one defender. She shoots but Thunder goalkeeper Elizabeth Hollitt dives to her right saving the shot.

21’ – RED CARD FOR GATORS - Catherine O’Neil pulls down Thunder attacker Jordan Frankie outside the 18-yard-box and is dismissed as the last defender

30’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Charli McLennan looks destined to open accounts with a stunning long-range strike but despite getting the better of Hollitt it is denied by the woodwork

48’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Megan Price delivers a dipping effort from outside the penalty area which is out of reach for Hollitt

58’ – GOAL FOR GATORS - Bodey receives a pass on the 18-yard-box before dribbling past a defender and hitting a low driven shot across the keeper into the bottom right

63’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Kate Beecham is on hand to send in a stinging volley on the edge of the penalty area but the ball smashes into the crossbar

74’ – GOAL FOR GATORS - McLennan makes a break down the left wing before hitting a low cross into the feet of Bodey, who bounces her shot in off the left hand upright.

81’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Price strikes a rising shot from distance that comes back off the crossbar and is caught by Hollitt

89’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Talitha Doro skirts around her marker from the edge of the box and places a shot into the top corner just grazes the fingertips of Hollitt

90’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Abbey Lloyd spots Gators goalkeeper Noran Abaza off her line and launches an audacious effort from 30 yards out that sneaks in off the underside of the crossbar

90+1’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Jessica Dillon curls dangerous cross in towards Blackburn, who sees her header deflect sharply off a Thunder defender to wrong foot Hollitt for an own goal

What They Said

“I think we really played well as a team and that made it easier for all of us after losing a player early in the first half. We lost a midfielder by dropping them back, but after half-time we changed it and rearranged and that really helped us to score a few.“ – Greta Bodey, The Gap FC Women

“The first half I think we played really good football. To hold a team like The Gap out nil-all is an awesome accomplishment and the girls worked really hard. Second half we did let them through a little bit. I don’t think the score really showed what the game was. We did have our chances too and I think we played really well. I think we challenged them a lot and they got a bit scared as well. “ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder Women captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 9

Sunday, May 8
Walton Bridge Reserve, Brisbane

The Gap FC Women – 5 (Megan PRICE 48’, Greta BODEY 58’ 74’, Talitha DORO 89’, own goal 90+1’)
SWQ Thunder FC Women – 1 (Abbey LLOYD 90’)

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - John VASILIADIS (referee), Madeleine RAPISARDI (assistant), Lana PRIOR (assistant)