Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Troy Belford
Image: Brandon Dymock

SWQ Thunder Women have ended a four-match losing streak with a dominant 9-2 win over Peninsula Power Women at A.J.Kelly Park.

Thunder asserted themselves early and established an insurmountable four goal advantage in little over half an hour as sisters Melanie and Abbey Llouyd book-ended Jordan Franke's double.

Power flirted with a comeback when Michelle Le Roux pulled a goal back before the break, however Thunder responded with four further goals without reply – Abbey Lloyd rounding out her hat-trick and Melanie Lloyd completing a brace.

The hosts found late consolation via a Jessica Eccles’ goal before Thunder underlined their performance as Emma Beecham rounded out the result in the final minutes

The win marks a much-needed return to form for Thunder, who now move to fifth in the competition standings but still seven points shy of the top four.

For Power, the result continues a frustrating season that sees the club second from bottom and winless in their past six outings.

Key Moments

3' - GOAL FOR THUNDER – Power goalkeeper Tallulah Vearing fumbles a contested corner kick with the ball falling invitingly for Melanie Lloyd to turn in the finish

6’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Power turnover results in Jordan Franke speeding into the penalty area before smashing home into the top right corner

20’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Free-kick is whipped in to the back post and headed down for Franke to ultimately send an unconvincing finish over the line

29’ – CHANCE FOR POWER – Teramia Rowlands cuts inside her marker then lays the ball off for Michelle Le Roux but her powerful strike fades just wide of the post

33’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Abbey Lloyd is released by a defence-splitting pass and draws the substitute goalkeeper Hideka Shikata before unselfishly cutting back to Kate Beecham to convert into an open net

35’ – GOAL FOR POWER – Le Roux controls with aplomb from Jessica Eccles cross, bringing the ball under control with her head before cutting inside a defender then slotting a clinical finish

37’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – A reply straight from the kick-off as Melanie Lloyd plays a through ball for Abbey Lloyd, who touches the finish past the goalkeeper

51’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Franke beats her defender down the line with speed then crosses to an unmarked Abbey Lloyd to coolly slot home

56’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – A lobbed pass again sets up Abbey Lloyd who once again makes no mistake with a one-on-one finish past Shikata to wrap up her hat-trick

74’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Melanie Lloyd nets her second by touching past two defenders then releasing a strike that sees Shikata get a hand to but unable to keep out

80’ – GOAL FOR POWER – Le Roux’s corner kick results in a scramble in the penalty area until Eccles gets the decisive touch as the linesman adjudges the ball to have crossed the goal line.

89’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – The visitors wrap up their afternoon as Franke’s pull back from the byline is volleyed home by Emma Beecham.

What They Said

“Slightly disappointing thing was that we knew exactly how Thunder were going to play. We gave very specific instructions to all the players to how to counter that and the girls failed to follow out those instructions. Some of that is naivety because they are young. But that was a negative because we knew what we were up against and still didn’t cope with it.“ – Michael Cook, Peninsula Power FC Women coach

“We had last week off and it was good to get back into it. I think the girls passed the ball around really well. We did work on some other things at training and I think that showed on the field. Obviously there is still a few little things we need to work on for other games and improve throughout the year. But I’m proud of the girls and we had a really good game today.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder FC Women captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 13

Saturday, June 11
A.J.Kelly Park, Moreton Bay

Peninsula Power FC Women – 2 (Michelle LE ROUX 35’, Jessica ECCLES 80’)
SWQ Thunder FC Women – 9 (Melanie LLOYD 3’ 73’, Jordan FRANKE 6’ 20’, Kate BEECHAM 32’, Abbey LLOYD 36’ 50’ 56’, Emma BEECHAM 88’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/1UrJ52i

Match Officials – Amanda WIEBE (referee),Kianna AQUILINA-HENDERSON (assistant), Caitlin RUHLAND (assistant)